Freaker’s Ball

Ghoulish face paint? Check. “Fire-‘n’-Brimstone” eyeliner? Gotcha. “Chicks Dig Scrawny Pale Guys” black T-shirt? Yep. Spiked dog collar? Uh-huh. Extra padding to absorb nightstick blows? Never leave home without it. After all, we are headed to the Freaker’s Ball, the annual Halloween rawk fest sponsored by KQRC 98.9, where it never hurts to come too prepared. Last year’s installment ended with pepper spray and riot police after a melee exploded when the headlining set by Marilyn Manson was scrapped after two songs because safety barricades failed to hold the swelling crowd. This year’s lineup — Chevelle, Papa Roach, Jackyl, Earshot, Atomship and local metalheads Albino Fly — probably won’t inspire quite as much chaos outside the mosh pit as the Antichrist Superstar did, but you still might want to bring along grandpa’s gas mask, just in case.