Stage Buzz: Holiday of Horrors at Reggies • Chicago
Macabre
Holiday Of Horror
Saturday, December 23, 2023
Reggies
Chicago, IL
Preview by Kelley Simms
The Holiday Of Horror event has been a longtime Christmas tradition in Chicago. Initially hosted at the Fireside Bowl in 1998, it has since moved to the iconic Reggies Rock Club, which took over the event at least a decade ago and is pulling out all the stops for this year’s event on December 23.
Rodney Pawlak, who runs The Chicago Metal Factory (www.theCMF.com), has been promoting the Holiday Of Horror since the beginning. “I like to think of it as the metal scene’s annual holiday get-together,” Pawlak says through email. “If you have any involvement in the scene, you will know people there. Most bands aren’t touring around Christmas, so it’s the perfect time for a big local show.”
Holiday Of Horror will be running on both sides of the venue with staggered set times, with each band beginning as the last one ends. Chicago’s horror metal trio Macabre (who also played the very first HoH) is headlining the 17+ showcase in the Rock Club with openers Molder, Through N Through, and Advorsa, while the crusty death metal horde Nequient (who replaced Bones) headlines the 21+ crowd in the Music Joint, with openers Imminent Terror and King Hell.
“This will be my first Holiday of Horror, both attending and performing,” Molder guitarist/vocalist Aaren Pantke says during a recent email chat. “Both the event and the venue have been going strong for over a decade each, with no signs of slowing down. It’s pretty cool to be asked to be a part of it.”
There’s also a free midnight after party in The Joint with Black Sabbath tribute band After Forever. Reggies is synonymous with the Chicago metal scene, and the Holiday Of Horror will be a guaranteed night of nonstop metal from beginning to end.
For more information, including times and admission prices, visit www.reggieslive.com.
Category: Featured, Stage Buzz
