Night Owls hosting Halloween show Saturday

Fans of Hope’s Night Owl Country Band are invited out for a special howling evening of spooky fun as the guys return to take the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday for their Annual Halloween Show at the Elks Lodge 521 in Columbus.

Offered as a celebration of the most frightful time of year, this year’s show will be emceed by Ed Boston from Ed Boston’s Podcast, says Matt Lee, NOCB lead singer.

Also joining the band that evening is Columbus’ Soul Express Band, who is known for their Motown sound, Lee says, as well as the Southern Indiana Ghost Hunters.

NOCB guitarist Tim Dooley says his inner ghost hunter is definitely looking forward to seeing the Hoosier ghost hunters again, especially considering all the evidence they bring with them.

“They always bring some really cool videos and literature and information about different hauntings around Indiana,” Dooley says. “There are quite a few more than you think.”

Fans of the Discovery Channel show “Moonshiners” will be excited to hear that the show’s Jerry Benson will also be in attendance this year.

In a recent phone interview, the moonshiner said he is no stranger to Indiana, but this will be his first time to Columbus.

“I am excited, I can’t wait,” Benson says. “I am thinking we will bring some merchandise, have a table set up and do a meet-and-greet.”

Though he hasn’t had the opportunity to speak to him yet, Dooley says he is looking forward to meeting Benson.

“I am not a moonshine drinker, but there is an art to it and I appreciate art,” Dooley says. “And Benson has a rockin’ beard so he is on the good list.”

Lee says he is anticipating the return of a great crowd who regularly comes out to enjoy the fall season’s show and all the great things that come with it, including pumpkins, costumes and a few surprises.

“That show is something different from what we do normally,” he adds. “We try to do something different with everything we do and it has worked for us.”

Reflecting on shows past, the guys say they are staying true to form this year by carrying on tradition. Yes, they are dressing up, but, of course, they won’t tell. And fans will be none the wiser until the guys walk out on stage.

If history is any indicator, though, the guys will be sure to not disappoint.

Take, for instance, some costumes of concerts past when Brett Denney dressed up as the Tiger King or that one year when Tim Dooley dressed up as a Viking. And then there was the memorable year Lee dressed as America’s favorite spinach advocate, Popeye.

When further pressed, neither Dooley nor Lee would divulge what this year may hold. However, Lee did offer a bit of a hint as to where he is drawing his inspiration from, but promises it won’t be a thriller.

“I have been listening to a lot of Michael Jackson lately,” he says.

Lee admits that this concert always affords the guys an opportunity to step outside their Outlaw persona into the unconventional. Last year, the guys peppered their list with performances of some ghoulishly fun favorites like the theme from “Ghostbusters” and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London.” And, of course, who could forget the guys’ rendition of “Sweet Dreams” performed in the style of Marilyn Manson.

Whatever creepy surprises the guys are working on, one thing is for sure, they are ready to gather and celebrate the season with fans who are down for a frightfully good time on an extraordinary night.

“I am just looking forward to seeing everyone and seeing how they dress up,” Dooley says. “They don’t have to, but it is fun when you do. It is always one of our really fun shows of the year and, of course, it falls on the anniversary for when the band was founded so it is a special night for us.”