PREVIEW: Horror on the Hilltop, a Halloween Show at Lark Hall
10/31 @ Lark Hall, Albany
**This article originally appeared in our October 2026 issue**
Photo by Frankie Cavone
“For our listeners who come to a lot of our shows and hear the songs the same way, this is an opportunity to get a new version with some intention behind it…”
For the first time, Metroland has been given access to top secret government information.
The Capital has received reports of unidentified hostile organisms referred to as “alternates.” This announcement was made via Hilltop’s Instagram. These highly intelligent creatures are identified only through improbable physical characteristics. Lock your doors. Keep the lights low. Don’t make a sound. They might just find you.
We have been told that the only way to assure your safety is to attend the Hilltop show at Lark Hall on Halloween night. To understand why these creatures have targeted Hilltop, I spoke with guitarist Aris Nieuwkerk for more information.
“We have done two previous Halloweens at Lark Hall. The first one, I believe, was in 2022, and the theme was cowboys. We did a bunch of cowboy-themed songs,” recalls Nieuwkerk. “Last year, we did a funk tribute set. We got our percussion player and drummer's father, who played saxophone, to put together a horn section, and we got a female singer, ZZ Abdelaal, and she killed it. This year, we’re going the classic horror route.”
Perhaps these otherworldly beings have been watching Albany for some time, even as early as 2022. Maybe Hilltop’s shows are the reason they have been spotted lurking around Lark Hall. But how is Hilltop preparing for the weighty task of protecting the city? By changing up their songs to throw off the alternates.
“For our listeners who come to a lot of our shows and hear the songs the same way, this is an opportunity to get a new version with some intention behind it and it's never going to be like that again.”
We have been informed that one of the best ways to protect yourself is to arrive at the show in costume, especially as icons of classic horror. That way, the entities might not recognize you. Prizes will be given to the best costumes. Even the band will be in disguise.
“We're going to be doing our part to scare the crowd for sure. It's an inclusive experience,” Nieuwkerk explains. “It’s 4D. The crowd is always a fun bunch. I'm really excited to see what they do with it because we can always prepare and make the space, but [the fans] always determine how the night goes.”
When asked if there are any more surprises in store for the night, Nieuwkerk has this to say: “A special thing that's also happening at this show is we have a DJ, SM Ink, after our set. The after-party is going to be right there in the same room where the main event was, and we're going to be able to hang out with our listeners after we’re done playing, which is something that we never really get to do.”
Space Carnival will also lend their psychedelic sound to the evening. Ideally, this combination of musicians will be powerful enough to keep the audience safe on Halloween night.
Until then, stay alert and get ready to party.
Hilltop’s show starts at 8 p.m. on Halloween and ends around midnight. Costumes are highly encouraged. Get ready to get scared and be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram, @hilltoptheband, for updates.
