In the scheme of music and holidays, there’s no better fit than rock ‘n’ roll and Halloween (other than Phish and 4/20).

True rock stars live like it’s the 31st of October every day. KISS made a killing by playing dress-up and eating fire on stage, Alice Cooper fooled around with guillotines and live snakes during his gigs and Ozzy — well, you know.

Local bands love a good chance for shock and awe as well — that is, if they aren’t already doing it anyway.

“Every day is Halloween for Depth & Current,” said Chris Harris, lead singer for the band. “Every time we play, it’s a show designed to shock and horrify you. We’re on a constant mission to scare the audience into letting loose.

“The best part about it being a Halloween show is that we can dress the part without feeling like Slipknot or ICP (Insane Clown Posse).”

With bands loving the freedom and audiences clamoring for the resulting fun, Halloween shows are usually in high demand and Hallopolis — a two-night affair at Opolis — has been filling that niche for five years now, recruiting both local and touring acts, all united by having a slight taste for the freaky.

This year, local favorites, including Colourmusic, Jacob Abello, Depth & Current, Student Film and the aptly named Gentle Ghost, will all be performing.

Abello said he can’t wait to hit the stage and even has a few surprises up his sleeve.

“Playing a Halloween show requires a bit of theatrics,” Abello said. “And I love theatrics.”

The spontaneity of the performances makes for a fun, relaxed and casual atmosphere. Abello said that makes for a better show all around.

“Everyone is in the best mood on Halloween because it’s just the perfect holiday,” he said. “You don’t have to buy anyone presents. [You] play dress-up and drink with your friends. This makes for an entertaining crowd.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes, and it wouldn’t be a Halloween show without a costume contest.

Musician and comedian James Nghiem, an OU grad and former Student Media employee, is hosting the costume contest — which is judged by the performing bands — and is excited to see what comes of this year’s gig.

“I want to see a pirate interact with Robocop, or some other weird combo,” Nghiem said. “Where else but a Halloween show, right?”

But he was tight-lipped when asked what he would be doing.

“I’m dressing up ... I’m putting something together, like, a costume within a costume,” Nghiem said. “But I don’t want to say what that is or means.”

Abello added that he will have high standards when judging what he assumes will be a bevy of “Bad Romancers.”

“I’m looking forward to all the Lady Gaga costumes,” he said. “I’ll be judging for authenticity so don’t half-ass it.”

With the performers having just as much fun as the audience, Hallopolis has proven to be a loose and spontaneous event where you never know what you are going to get.

“When you put a whole room full of people behind masks, you have a room full of people with loosened inhibitions,” Harris said. “Add some loud music, and it’s love, sex, death ... it’s whatever you want it to be, but it’s definitely the night of the freaks.”

If you go
WHAT: 5th annual Hallopolis
WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
WHERE: Opolis, 113 N. Crawford
PRICE: $8 advance/$10 day of show; $2 surcharge under 21
9 p.m. Friday: Colourmusic with Lets Be Clear and Low Litas
9 p.m. Saturday: Jacob Abello with Depth & Current, Student Film and Gentle Ghost
Both nights: costume contest; free beer for those 21 and over 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.