You get the arm from this guy and the leg from another guy, and then you get this weird output thatвЂ™s the result of merging everyoneвЂ™s ideas.вЂќД«ut the bandвЂ™s purpose isnвЂ™t simply to freak you out. вЂњIt usually starts with someone bringing in a basic idea, and then itвЂ™s really a collaborative style of just morphing and refining, wherever it may go. Gramps the Vamp creates their music through an unusual, Frankenstein-esque process. As Howe told me, вЂњWeвЂ™re pretty rooted in jazz and the whole free, improvisatory-type sound.вЂќ

Most of the band members have studied jazz at one point or another and they have modeled their style on other well-known funk and afrobeat artists such as Fela Kuti, Budos Band and Lettuce. His name in the show is Gramps the Vamp, and vamping is what we like to do best,вЂќ Howe explained. They think itвЂ™s a real vampire, but they take the mask off and it turns out to be Grandpa Joe and heвЂ™s been going around scaring people for fun. вЂњIt boils down to an episode of Scooby-Doo where this vampire is haunting people. So we just wanted to make some creepier moods with the music,вЂќ Howe said.ДЄfter that, inspiration for the band name came naturally from a classic cartoon. He goes crazy every Halloween with all the decorations. вЂњMaxx is really into the whole Halloween thing. Howe told me that it was McGathey, who initially brought idea of adding spooky vibes to the bandвЂ™s sound. All members except the last two mentioned are either current or former Loyola students. In addition to Howe, the lineup consists of alto saxophonist Nick Bush, trombonist Drew Steury, drummer Stevenson Valentor, percussionist Cassie Gerber, guitarist Justin LaForte, keyboardist and bandleader Maxx McGathey, bassist Kevin Holt and baritone saxophonist Brent Schumard. Like a lot of funk bands, Gramps is a large group prominently featuring horns. вЂњOur first thoughts were вЂall right we need to start a funk band.вЂ™ But then we had in our mind вЂWe should play a house party on Halloween,вЂ™вЂќ Howe said. Ryan is effective.Gramps the Vamp is a Chicago-based, nine-piece band who defines their music as вЂњghost-funk.вЂќ Tenor saxophonist and Loyola junior Justin Howe elaborated on the origins of the band and their genre as we sat down for a cup of coffee a couple weeks ago. Humes acquits herself well enough, as does Wurzbach. Ritter is a bit stiff in the serious role. Tech credits are decent, although more ominous music would have helped sustain the tone. But he often crosses over into hamminess by telegraphing with long, wide-eyed stares.Дirector-cinematographer Bradford May ably delivers the goods.

ThereвЂ™s a gleam in GriffithвЂ™s eye throughout and itвЂ™s good to see him enjoying himself. And when her father (Mitchell Ryan) investigates, thereвЂ™s nothing a shotgun wonвЂ™t fix. HeвЂ™ll do anything to be with his grandson, including break Rae EllenвЂ™s legs with a baseball bat and frame his daughter-in-law for cheating. Gramps wiggles his way into the household, winning over skeptical housekeeper Rae Ellen (Tonea Stewart) with his guitar and his even more skeptical grandson with ice cream and candy.Д«ehind the unctuous charm thereвЂ™s pure, calculating evil.This silver fox is out to sabotage his sonвЂ™s family to gain a perverse semblance of his lost one.

Following her death, he shows up to reclaim his family.Д¬larke has married Betsy (Mary-Margaret Humes) and they have a son, Matthew (Casey Moses Wurzbach). We learn in B&W flashbacks that his wife left their abusive relationship decades earlier, taking son Clarke (John Ritter), poisoning everyone against her spouse, and cutting him off from his progeny.

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