Friday, October 31, 2003

With a name like The Cryptkeeper Five, it's not surprising the Trenton-based band is keen on throwing Halloween bashes.

But names can be deceiving.

And so can looks.

"Yeah, our name has sometimes led to confusion," admits David Graves, drummer for The Cryptkeeper Five, which will headline the "Festival of the Dead Rock and Roll Costume Party" tonight at the American Legion in Hightstown. "Some people might expect to see a band like the Misfits, the Cramps or a band like that.

"Then, when we walk on stage with our greased-up pompadours, they think we're going to be like Buddy Holly or something like that," he adds. "It freaks some people out. They don't know what to make of it."

What to make of it, pretty much, is all of the above. And none of the above.

Graves cites early rockabilly influences - "My first love was Elvis Presley," he proclaims - but says the band "doesn't really fit into the rockabilly scene or have a rockabilly sound."

"When we've played on rockabilly bills, they don't really take to us."

Formed in 1997, the septet taps into rock, R&B and early country twang for its sound, but has dug its roots most deeply into the simple, full-throttle punk rock of the 1970s and '80s.

"Really, we're like `the Ramones meet Springsteen' more than anything else," says Graves.

As for the Wes Cravenlike name, Graves explains there's no deep message or meaning behind it. The band originally was named Novelistic Death, "which we never liked. It was a horrible name and it didn't fit what we were doing."

Lead vocalist Johnny (no last name offered) was listening to a Ramones cover version of an old Dave Clark 5 song and suggested the group rechristen itself "something Five" - in spite of the band having seven members, including guitarists Jimmy Ray Roswell and Scotty Engel, bassist Jack Arnone and saxophonist Blue Madigan.

Cryptkeeper just seemed to sound cool and did fit the band's "b-movie" image at the time.

"It doesn't have anything to do with the `Tales from the Crypt' or anything like that," Graves says.

The Cryptkeeper Five - or C5, for short - has since released three albums and appeared on a number of compilations. Its first two discs are out of print but are scheduled to be reissued on one CD on the Skully record label.

Its most recent release, "Trenton Makes the Cryptkeeper Five," came out last year on the band's own King Kahuna label and will be repackaged with three bonus tracks on Peethole Records, which is also expected to release the band's next effort, in the works.

Tonight will be the sixth "Festival of the Dead" concert hosted by the Cryptkeeper Five. The band organized yearly Halloween parties, but missed the last two years due to its touring and recording schedule.

"Halloween was always a favorite holiday, but as you grow up, you grow out of it," says Graves, noting the night will feature a "best costume" contest. "We wanted give people an excuse to dress up and have a good time listening to good music."

Sharing the bill with C5 will be the Betty Fords, Day of the Borderline, The Fiasco, Sharky's Machine and the Checkers.

"One of nice things about the Festival of the Dead," says Graves, "is it has the best independent music talent in the area" - even if, as in the case of C5, the bands' names and images may be bit . . . cryptic.

"The Festival of the Dead Rock and Roll Costume Party" featuring The Cryptkeeper Five, The Betty Fords, the Checkers, Day of the Borderline, the Fiasco and Sharky's Machine, will start at 6 p.m. today at the American Legion hall on Route 130 in Hightstown. Admission to the all-ages show is $6, $5 for those wearing costumes. (609) 278-6269.