On October 26th, Luna and the Carpets, Nancy Dunkle, Saint Luke, and Rhodes Corduroy put on a scarily good show at The Cage.

Words by Polly Gilmore / Photos by Sophie Davis / Graphic by Bea Kress

With the first night of the always-anticipated Halloweekend came a house show lineup stacked with performers that any scene regular knows and loves. On October 26th, Luna and the Carpets, Nancy Dunkle, Saint Luke, and Rhodes Corduroy kicked off Halloweekend at The Cage.

The Cage, which stands out from typical SU house venues as it’s an apartment complex rather than a rental house, served as a cosmopolitan and chic location to start the weekend’s festivities. 

“You can tell that people feel comfortable here,” said audience member Juliana McDonald. Showgoers dressed to the nines in classic costumes and niche outfits alike, all executed with flair. The tangible anticipation for the music felt unique, as The Cage’s setup allows for the music to be a focal point. The raised stage at the front of the open-air venue gave the performers room to be seen and space to be heard. The balance of party and concert, something all house venues must consider, tipped more toward concert here.

Luna and the Carpets started the opening set with a belting cover of “Sunday Morning” by No Doubt, setting the tone for the night. As they continued their set, singing their hallmark harmonies, the band gave the impression of being a true SU house scene institution. Not only was the crowd engaged, they were familiar. The duo’s originals were sung back to them verbatim, even tracks from their debut album which released less than two weeks prior. The group of performers, dressed as the Teen Titans, finished their set with “I Know the End” by Phoebe Bridgers, which had the crowd screaming bloody murder in a moment of utter Halloween catharsis. 

Following Luna and the Carpets, Nancy Dunkle and her band took the stage dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz. She immediately wowed attendees with her vocals, going from belting to crooning covers and originals alike, all of which held the audience’s attention. The singer-songwriter has a talent for bringing the energy up and chilling it out, taking the crowd on a dynamic journey as she showcases her range. Whether it was her fan-favorite single “Poster Child” or classic crowd-pleasing covers like “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins, Dunkle kept the crowd captivated through the very last song. 

By the time Saint Luke began his set, The Cage was at full capacity. The musician and his band, dressed as greasers, performed his popular single “Only One,” followed by a variety of covers whose mercurial genre-bending made the band stand out, particularly on the electrifying rendition of Tyler, The Creator’s “NEW MAGIC WAND.” The artist’s originals further proved his ability to seamlessly blend musical styles, skillfully creating a niche of his own. Bolstered by a drummer, a guitarist, a keyboardist, and a saxophonist, Saint Luke gave tastes of jazz, rap, and indie pop. The bass-playing frontman had an easy relationship with the crowd, who were especially charmed by the interlude of Minecraft music that led us into “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” by Radiohead.

Just as Rhodes Corduroy’s set was supposed to begin, the venue organizer announced that the band was running late. The speakers then played audio of the band trying to make it to The Cage and crashing their car in an attempt to race against the clock. Seconds later, the band appeared on stage, dressed in torn-up suits adorned with fake blood. They immediately launched into “Twist and Shout” by the Beatles, establishing their nostalgic yet lively rock n roll energy to the crowd and making it easy for fans to dance the night away to the rest of their set. While the group had a somewhat timeless sound, their originals “Mean Young Mystery Man” and “Always Have Always Will” exemplified features of a modern take on punk and psychedelic rock elements. 

Each artist at Spook Jam delivered in their own way, making the night a perfect example of all that there is to love about Syracuse’s unique music community, and, of course, Halloweekend. Followed by Bloodpit at the Mudpit, the return of the Harrington, and Redgate’s Halloween show, Spook Jam at The Cage was a tremendous opening act for Syracuse’s House Show Halloween festivities.