In what will be the first of many new shows at the Dow Event Center, alternative rock quartet Alien Ant Farm will command the venue’s Red Room this Friday night.
Formed on friendship and goodwill two decades ago in Riverside, Calif., Alien Ant Farm’s signature mix of alternative rock and metal has filled the ears of satisfied listeners worldwide for years now.
Alien Ant Farm — comprised of vocalist and guitarist Dryden Mitchell, lead guitarist Terry Corso, bassist Tim Peugh and drummer Mike Cosgrove — has produced four studio albums, the most recent being this year’s “Always & Forever.”
The band is most widely recognized for its singles “Movies” and “Glow,” as well as their cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart in 2001.
Alien Ant Farm will perform this Friday, Oct. 30, at the Dow Event Center’s Red Room, at an event called “Halloween in Hell.” The show is sponsored by local rock radio station Z93, 706 Productions, Wilson Reality Inc. and Sporty’s Wing Shack.
Detroit rockers Critical Bill, Saginaw metal heads Tension Head, tri-city headbangers Black Flower Blossom and Armada punk quintet H.R. Rustica will open the show.
“Halloween in Hell” will mark the first show booked through the Red Room for concert promoter Carl Abila, owner of C&J Music.
Abila’s experience in the music industry traces back to the mid-‘90s.
“I’ve played music and been in bands for at least the last 20 years,” Abila said. “As far as a promoter goes, I’ve been booking a lot of local, regional and national acts for the past 10 (years).”
Abila has booked national touring acts such as LA Guns, Bobaflex and Green Jelly, and will be hosting Sponge on Dec. 5 in Bay City, Mich.
Abila is very involved with the shows he books, doing a majority of the work himself.
“I kind of have to be hands-on or else I don’t really trust it,” Abila said. “I book all the bands, take care of sound, take care of the agents’ needs … pretty much everything you can think of. It’s a lot of work, but I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
According to Abila, plans for C&J Music to partner with the Dow Event Center began early this year, and the company will continue to bring shows periodically to the venue from December through at least June of next year.
Doors for Friday night’s “Halloween in Hell” open at 7:30 pm, with the show starting at 8 p.m.
Tickets are available now at www.ticketmaster.com or The Dow Event Center Box Office for $15 in advance or day of show for $20. Door sale ticket purchasers will receive a discounted ticket price if they come to the show in costume. This event is for ages 18 years and older.
