Very recently, I went to a place in New Orleans called The Howlin’ Wolf. The reason I went was to see (possibly) the greatest guitarist alive today. No, I’m not talking about Esteban. I’m not talking about the guy on Nick, Jr. with the trendy glasses. I am speaking of the guitarist known as Buckethead!

It was an awesome night. I was so excited, because for many years I’ve known about Buckethead - yet I’ve never seen him perform. When I was a teenager, I remember seeing Buckethead in my guitar magazines and thinking: “This guy is awesome.” But I never had the opportunity to hear what this guy could do (in person) until last week.

(I have to insert a sidenote regarding The Howlin’ Wolf, as well. The location used to be called The New Orleans Music Hall. Back in ‘93 and through my high school career I went to see shows there. In fact, the first music show I ever saw was Rollins Band at the Music Hall. I remember being fifteen, and standing with my friends by the side door before the show - when Henry Rollins came out. He was a kinda short guy I remember. He looked at us and I said “Hi”. He said “Hi”. Then he walked to his tour bus. We were very excited about that, because he was possibly the biggest “celebrity” in our minds, besides Jello Biafra. We idolized those guys, and played Black Flag songs and Descendents and Dead Kennedys songs in our garage band. What fun days!)

The Buckethead show opened with a really interesting performance by That One Guy, who is one guy who plays a home-made electronic kinda weird guitar/bass instrument. Look him up.

What I was waiting for was Buckethead, though. When he finally came out, he did NOT disappoint. He instantly began shredding on his white Les Paul, and began to systematically tear off our collective faces with his searing guitar riffs and awesomely captivating near-constant solos. I think he played every style of modern music - funk, speed metal, raw rock, death metal-style heavy riffs, and some mellow stuff like you might hear at the Hilton lobby lounge on a Tuesday evening. He played and played and played. The set seemed to go on for hours and I wanted it to continue!!

But Buckethead is a performance genius. I don’t say that just because he wears a creepy mask and a bucket. He also breakdances. Yes, he took a break from guitar-playing and busted some serious moves. He did the robot and some other cool freestyle dance moves and brought my mind back to thee eighties.

Then, the mysterious figure known as Buckethead (a.k.a. Brian Carroll) brought out the NUNCHUCKS. (Remember kids, nunchucks are dangerous.) Remember how freakin’ awesome nunchucks were when you were a kid?? Every boy should have a pair of his own nunchucks. I never got a pair of them, unfortunately. (Warning: nunchucks can bust you in the head as you swing them. We take no responsibilty here at Maskull’s for you knocking a knot on your cranium.) But Buckethead made me want a pair of nunchucks all over again as he expertly demonstrated how to use them.

THEN…(yes there’s more)…it was TOY GIVEAWAY TIME. Yes indeed, boys and girls. This guitar-god started handing out bags of toys to the audience. And a few audience members handed gift baskets to him! The love was spread all over the smoke-filled Howlin’ Wolf.

Then. It was time to play more kickass guitar.

Buckethead proceeded to fill our ears with more audible awesomeness. Weird things happened then. A masked figure (in an old man mask) danced on stage. Weird hippie dudes did their hippie dances in the audience. And I watched as Buckethead, the real Guitar Hero, amazed all of us with his playing.

It was almost better than meeting Henry Rollins.

Halloween is upon us- finally! Time to start getting ready for all the fall festivities. Not only is it time to look for a costume for yourself and to deck out your house in scary decorations that make the neighborhood kids think twice about passing by, BUT it’s also time to pick out costumes for your pets!

Yes, your pets. It’s 2008 and many pet owners these days include Fido or Tiger in their Halloween celebrations. It all starts with the right costume. Some of the the most popular pet costumes of the 2008 season are:

1. Clown Pet!! So cute and simple, too. Adorable costume with conicla clown hat and ruffle collar. Perfect for the pet who won’t tolerate elaborate costumes.

2. “Big Daddy” Pimp costume. Vest-style jacket with leopard accenting. Matching hat included. For the pet with big personality!

3. Raggedy Ann costume. For size Large. Dress/apron with hat. For the big, lovable, sweetie.

4. Zorro Pet. Size Small. Zorro cape, hat and two spurs. For the little guy with spunk!

5. Power Ranger Pet. Includes body top and tie on mask. Perfect for the family pet with super-hero qualities. The kids are sure to love this one!

Don’t leave your pet out of the party! Halloween is fun time of year for everyone, including “other” members of the family. Besides having fun with your pet this Halloween, remember to keep them safe and comfortable for the ultimate time!

Please read these useful tips on Halloween Pet Safety and Costumes:

1. Buy the right size costume! There are size charts on the tags to guide you to the right size. This is important for comfort as well as safety. Watch out for costumes that use rubberbands, as they can burrow into fur and dig into your pet’s skin.

2. As with any pet toy or device, it is recommended to not leave your pet unattended in any costume. They could become entangled and hurt themselves.

3. Don’t put the costume on right away and expect your dog to go along with it. A few weeks before you expect him to wear the costume, use treat training to get him motivated. Drape the costume over his back for a few seconds, and then give him a little treat. Do this for a few seconds several times, then daily, longer each time, treating and praising all the while. Put the costume on loosely, and follow the above instructions, for a few seconds, then a few minutes, with praise and treats galore.

4. Make sure that no matter how you include your pets in your Halloween Celebrations, their safety should be of first concern. For example, if your bring them trick-or-treating, use a short leash make sure he is not going to get overly excited or scared by the many strangers. If your pet is going to stay home with you while you answer the door to trick-or-treaters, keep him away from the front door to prevent over-excitement, bites, and to keep him from slipping out. And remember to make sure all your pets have their ID TAGS on their collar; if your pet is lost, he’s 10 times more likely to be returned to you if he is wearing a proper tag.

5. Take extra precautions of you own a black cat. Unfortunately, there are misguided people who would harm a black cat due to the age-old myth that black cats are evil. Confine your pet indoors for a few days prior to HAlloween to keep him safe.

6. And remember, NO CHOCOLATE!!! It’s a good idea to NOT share any candy with your pet, but especiialy chocolate. Chocolate is toxic for animals and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart distubances, and even death.

So have fun with all the Fall prep work and the coming festivities, and don’t be afraid to include your beloved “best friend.”