This Halloween night, your best rock ‘n’ roll entertainment value might just be the return of NIL8’s long-running seasonal Hobgoblinspookadelic concert after several years’ hiatus. The all-ages show will happen upstairs at Arlington’s for a mere $10 at the door, beginning at 6 p.m. (no advance tickets). In addition to the venerable first-wave Springfield punk headliners, the show will also feature St. Louis favorites fragile porcelain mice, local metal-punk-etc. hybrids Unthynck and the always-evolving singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Ricki Marvel, who will be kicking things off at 6:30.
Still riding the momentum of her scrappy, indie-rock flavored 2024 album just happy to be here, Marvel will be leading a spare three-piece band at Saturday’s show, but has grander ambitions for the imminent musical future.
“I wrote an album, all the songs are done,” Marvel confirmed. “I wrote it in the summer, and I’ve never written in the summer before. I would write and then go outside and the sun’s up, and it’s happy. And that inherently brings me back to St. Louis because I spent my summers there as a kid on my grandparents’ property where they had an acre of land — it was a happy place.” Fittingly, Marvel plans to record the new album in St. Louis.
With the upbeat, summertime feel of the new songs contrasting with the occasionally sardonic vibe of the last album, Marvel has a grand vision for a more expansive sound for the new set of songs.
“I’m working on getting musicians together –and looking specifically for women musicians. I can’t believe how hard that is locally. I need women musicians who are confident in what they’re doing.”
In order to bring her new musical vision to fruition, Marvel has started a fundraiser, since the production values she’s seeking are above the usual DIY budget.
“I want a bigger band, backup singers and maybe horns,” she explains. “The point of me raising money is to create something that’s beautiful, and I think it’s important for people to do excellent things. Because I think there’s a self-esteem issue in the U.S. today, and especially with trans folks. And if I can create something big and beautiful, it’s gonna inspire people. Maybe make people dream bigger.”
Marvel’s stated desire to assemble an all-female group of musicians poses another challenge. “I’m having to put my foot down. I need women to play with me. And this time, I’m actually gonna commit to what I want.”
As for Saturday’s Halloween concert, Marvel is excited to play a “Hobgob” set with her current trio. “My strongest connection to NIL8 is their Halloween shows. Playing with NIL8 is a bucket list thing for me.”
Hobgoblinspookadelic featuring NIL8, fragile porcelain mice, Unthynck and Ricki Marvel is Saturday, Oct. 31, at Arlington’s, 1210 Broadway in Springfield. Doors open at 6 p.m., music starts at 6:30 p.m. $10 admission, no advance tickets. All ages are welcome.
