Kansas City Playlist: Everybody Playing Gatsby For Halloween

Not so long ago this blog once shared a series of "costume" parties for Halloween and it was kinda fun but a bit overwrought and overwritten. 

Now, we live in a different time wherein American life is less fun and complicated. 

Nevertheless . . . The classics resonate with us and we notice a common theme amongst are local elite. 

They're attempting to build a romanticized past that never existed. 

More to the point . . . 

Every Kansas City political & biz leader seems to think they're Gatsby this Halloween as they promise eternal bliss at costly news stadiums. 

Indulge us in a late night literary moment to set the scene . . . 

"Jay Gatsby is a secretive, self-made millionaire whose vast fortune—amassed through illegal bootlegging during Prohibition—is spent hosting lavish, glittering parties at his mansion. Driven by an intense, romantic optimism, his entire identity and extravagant lifestyle are meticulously engineered to win back his lost love. Ultimately, he stands as a tragic figure whose relentless pursuit of an idealized past exposes the hollow and corrupt nature of the American Dream." 

Similarly . . . 

We notice so many Kansas City power players and politicos selling fake mythology and the promise of halcyon days to power the triumph of their will. 

It would be impressive if it all wasn't such a familiar trope deployed throughout history by every charlatan standing next to a hole in the ground and calling it a gold mine. 

And so, this Halloween we notice that costumes never really come off in this American epoch. 

Accordingly, all of this inspires oure www.TonysKansasCity.com Halloween 2026 playlist. 

An "alt" classic which kinda reminds us that all of Halloween is just an exercize in nostalgia . . . "Time Warp" and its iconic, step-by-step dance instructions were written into the lyrics because the original stage production could not afford a choreographer.

Forgive us this hip-hop fave . . .Whodini's 1984 hip-hop classic "Freaks Come Out at Night" features 12-year-old Jermaine Dupri who made one of his earliest entertainment appearances in the music video as a backup dancer. Long before he became a legendary, Grammy-winning producer and the mogul.

This fun classic from Credence just seems apropos for the midterm silly season that's not as scary, hauting or historic as partisan hacks would have us believe . . .

For the bridge, something a bit more current . . . Unlike her more high concept tracks, Olivia Rodrigo’s chart-topping hit "vampire" was written after a sudden burst of inspiration struck while she was at a Pilates class.

Finally, Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett pretty much defined campy American Halloween celebrations for the contemporary era. And what we've always enjoyed is the realization that Pickett's song isn't actually the "Monster Mash" itself, but rather a song about a party where monsters are playing and dancing to the actual, unheard "Monster Mash," making the real track fundamentally unknowable to the listener.

As always, thanks for reading and have a safe & fun Halloween late night.