^{Shammstein, at P.A.'s on Friday}

Halloween weekend is the only time of year during which you can choose between two -- yes, two -- Poison cover shows. Check out the local rock fare this weekend as Boston bands strap on their best imitation gear and pay homage to the greats in venues across the city, from The Talking Heads to Black Sabbath to Rammstein and back again.

^{The nerdy, boy-next-door types who have enough money to purchace and immolate everything you've ever loved, just for the sheer bleeding hell of it.}

Weezer + Jack's Mannequin + Motion City Soundtrack | Monday, December 7 at the Agganis Arena, Boston | $45.50 | On sale Friday, October 30 at 10 am | http://www.

No secret here: Google and YouTube, arguably the two most powerful entities on the web, are way, way behind in the live-streaming video space. While they've lagged, UStream and Livestream -- to name just two companies in a rapidly-evolving niche industry -- have made live broadcasting an everyday part of most bands' digital arsenal.

We were surprised to learn that JULIANA HATFIELD has completed a new album called Peace and Love, which she produced, performed and recorded entirely on her own on an eight-track in her Cambridge apartment.

We were even more surprised, however, to learn that the liner notes to Peace and Love were written by "Boston Phoenix music editor James Parker."

Lake Street Dive

It's hard to say what in particular cast such a giddy glow over New England Conservatory's "Generations of Jazz" show at Scullers on Wednesday night. Maybe it was semi-matching cardigans worn by openers Lake Street Dive (green, pink, and GoodFellas canary yellow). Or the stories the former students told about writing some of their smart, funny songs as NEC assignments.

Bad luck for indie-pop band the Pains of Being Pure at Heart: they drove up from New York for a concert in Southie on Sunday night, only to be greeted by a lackluster turnout, most likely due to the wet snow that soaked a city still moaning about how it didn’t get a summer.

Berklee-schooled Boston rap vet Edan might be second to Doom when it comes to hip-hop reclusivity (new word!). Like Metal Face, he surfaces with infinitely inspired projects whenever the hell he feels like it. A few hundred fans were fortunate enough to dine with Edan this past Thursday at the Good Life, where he previewed his latest project, Echo Party, which drops on Five Day Weekend this November 17.

^{In her affection for facepaint and shiny things, Lady Gaga is often mistaken for a raccoon.}

On sale Friday, October 23

Super Time Pilot + Ken Reid + Chris Coxen + Mehran + Sarah Heggan | Music/standup comedy show | Thursday, November 19 at the Middle East upstairs, Cambridge | $6 | On sale Friday at 10 am | http://www.

This weekend, most of us went to see Where the Wild Things Are and went "Damn, that's awesome."

And then there's that other guy. Kanye West went to see Where the Wild Things Are this weekend and went, "Damn, that's awesome. I should totally leak that fucked-up unreleased 11-minute short film I did with Spike Jonze."