Zombie Ball at ACL Live 10/29: The Craziest, Sexiest, Most Disturbing Halloween Ball of Them All!
The Zombie Ball makes a big impression on chrontourager Ashley Hardy
By Ashley Nicole Hardy, 12:00PM, Tue. Nov. 1, 2011
Blood, sex, and rock'n'roll. Whatever images those three words bring to mind, the image is probably fairly close to what went down Saturday evening at The Moody Theater at ACL Live.
Saturdays Zombie Ball was a "party to die for," literally (almost). Everyone from Gaddafi, to the Black Swan(s), to a lost sheep was gored out and ready to rock. Drinks were flowing at all of the many, convenient ACL bars as well as on stage when Erotic Rain bathed herself in what seemed to be a champagne shower. There was magic in the air as the Cookie Monster fist pumped on the mezzanine to the Bright Light Social Hour and as Sky Candy aerialist tied themselves into some pretty intense knots, dangling over the crowd.
I was able to catch the whole event, yes, all seven hours worth. My soco lime with diet was the only thing keeping me in my very high heels. At the event entrance, decked-out zombie attendees were led down the red carpet by 'dead' geisha-like models to pose for a line of busy photographers, creating a paparazzi style frenzy. Then one was free to explore the madness. Inside the theater were the musical stylings of The Bright Light Social Hour, Black Taxi, Killa Dilla, and so many others it was hard to keep track. As the night went on, the energy only intensified. Black Taxi = new obsession; Bright Light Social Hour = personal dance party. Oh wait, there was a dance club out front? Yeah! Complete with a pole, DJ, and headless art. The outdoor area also provided a nice rest stop for people to mingle in between acts. ACL Live is really spacious and was a great venue for the multidimensional affair.
Thankfully Ke$ha (my friend Kris) was snap happy and caught a bunch of awesome pictures for me! She was unafraid to stop anyone and 'anything' that caught her humoring interest. We wont soon forget the twelve-foot tall demon that walked around holding a dead baby doll who had the whole place freaked out. After seeing the elaborate zombie costumes on display I guess I need to start working on my get up for next year...tomorrow? My Kate Middleton/Dia de los Muertos look had nothing on most of these folks.
When I think about all of the amazing people I met on Saturday, I can't help but think about how the heartbeat of Austin stopped, and came out to party like there was no tomorrow. The imaginative, enthusiastic crowd really stole the show.
The Zombie Ball has become an irreplaceable staple of Austin's Halloween and there is little doubt that it will continue to grow in size and dead fabulous-ness in the years to come.
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