After taking first place at this year’s Battle of the Bands, Two Boyfriends will return to the stage for a special Halloween show at Gabe’s this Friday, Oct. 31. The performance serves as part of their prize for winning the annual competition and will kick off a five-band lineup after doors open at 7 p.m.

Two Boyfriends, made up of longtime friends Joe Barlow, Julian Spire, Cash Riker, and Logan Kha, came together, as Joe Barlow put it, “like a boyfriend puzzle.” What started as a shared love of offbeat humor and “bad taste” has quickly turned into one of Iowa City’s most buzzed-about live acts.

The group said hearing their name announced as the winners of Battle of the Bands was a surreal moment. “Amazing. I felt like Two Canes," Spire said, referring to former champions. “Evan [Weidl] congratulated me right after we found out, which was a nice full-circle moment.” Riker added, “It felt damn crazy…everyone on the bill was a blast to watch, and it means a lot to get on the same stage as them.”

Kha says the group is going all out for their Gabe’s performance. “We’re super pumped for the Halloween show- we love a lot of the bands on the bill with us, so it’s gonna be a really fun time,” he said in an email interview. “We’ve been putting in the reps to really hone our current set with a few twists.” 

Fans can also expect a full visual experience. “We’ve been working out a plot to decorate Gabe’s like crazy with fog machines and projectors,” Kha said. The night should be nothing short of entertaining with the band’s intent to dress up “in high fantasy-themed costumes” according to Kha. 

Two Boyfriends’ eccentric styles and chaotic humor are matched by their loud, genre-blurring sound. “Love the Electric Nipple Clamps response,” Kha joked, referencing his bandmate Cash Riker’s earlier description of their music. “But realistically, I think I’d probably categorize us as a loud, weird indie rock.” He later added, “We take inspiration from all sorts of bands and artists from all over the spectrum.”

The bands influence ranges from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Talking Head to The Strokes and Car Seat Headrest, their creative process is just as electric. “We really just talk about music a lot,” Spire said. “Even when we’re not practicing, we’re sharing ideas and sending each other cool music. A lot of it stems from keeping things we like in mind and being ready with it when we’re writing.” 

While fans might have to wait a bit longer to stream their songs, Kha confirmed that the band is working toward releasing music online. “Absolutely yes,” he said. “We’ve started recording some stuff, but it’s hard to find times where all four of us are free.” 

For now, Two Boyfriends are focused on celebrating their Battle of the Bands victory and making their Halloween show one Iowa City won’t forget.