TGIT: Our Weekend Picks!

photo of Wilmot Proviso courtesy of MySpace

Thursday, May 14th

Solo Night @ The Cactus Club (2496 S. Wentworth), 8:30 p.m. Featuring: Mark Waldoch, Steven Look, Quinn Scharber, Wilmot Proviso and Mike Skorcz

Singer/songwriter night takes on a new identity as Cactus does its take on the barroom standby by fitting its stage with some of the finest talent in the city; and this is no knockoff of American Idol. Both the talent and intention of Cactus Club’s Solo Night is solid, with the entire proceeds of the evening turned over to 91.7 FM, WMSE.

photo of the Scarring Party courtesy of Myspace

 Saturday, May 16th

The Scarring Party (CD release) + Mark Waldoch @ LuLu (2261 S. Howell), 10:30 p.m.

Like an Edward Gorey-an orchestra rehearsal, Milwaukee’s the Scarring Party takes on its melee of accordions, tubas and chimes in the most sinister of tones, giving them an edge even with the most up-tempo of compositions. Saturday sees the release of their latest work at Bay View’s notorious home of Asian slaw and homemade potato chips: LuLu.

photo of William Elliott Whitmore courtesy of MySpace

William Elliott Whitmore + John the Savage @ Stonefly (735 E Center), 10 p.m.

With a baritone as deep as the stories that said voice outputs, Iowa native William Elliott Whitmore  is a walking take on musical history. His style mixes gospel and folk, coming across with the solo oomph of Holly Golightly, the rebellious spirit of the Pogues and the energetic folk rock of Lucero. Following the release of his most recent Animals in the Dark, Whitmore is experiencing even more time in the spotlight. He won’t remain a fans’ secret for much longer. Opening is Milwaukee’s John the Savage. Singer Mike Skorcz will be giving Whitmore’s gravel-y voice a run for its money.

photo of Across Tundras by Andrew Weiss

 Monday, May 18th

Across Tundras + Admiral Browning, Northless, This Specific Dream @ the Borg Ward (823 W. National), 7 p.m.

With song titles such as “Last Breath Over Venom Falls”, “Death Dealing Man” and “Tectonic Shifts”, Nashville’s Across Tundras bring folk-metal to the masses with substance. Their droning haze of echoed wails, vast wall of guitars and plodding percussion seem to evoke a west-destinied trek in the dead of winter. Bleak? Yes, but Across Tundras fill their music with enough chutzpah to give it the fighting power that should please both zone-outers and thrashers.

 

 

TGIT: Our Weekend Picks!

Photo of Eric Blowtorch and the Welders courtesy of MySpace

Thursday, March 26th

Eric Blowtorch and the Welders + the Chalice in the Palace DJs, Public Property @ the Miramar Theater (2844 N. Oakland Avenue), 8 p.m.

According to The Beat magazine, “Public Property has a sound that is full-tilt reggae even though they don’t try to sing in fake patois and write original material that actually sounds original. Lots of syncopated rhythm breaks, bursts of pure groove and passionate musical interludes, flesh out songs written by various band members.” The Iowa City group should be a good match-up for Milwaukee’s own Eric Blowtorch and the Welders, who will be featuring a new line-up to keep things sounding fresh and the audience on their toes.

 

Photo of This Specific Dream by J. Arpke

 Friday, March 27th

This Specific Dream + Thunders, John the Savage @ The Cactus Club (2496 S. Wentworth), 10 p.m.

This Specific Dream started out as an instrumental rock band in the early ’00s, but have since morphed into something more realized and focused than just a re-creation of a high school symphony ensemble. They now have the chops to sink into their gauzy guitars and layered rhythms which have always served as the focal point, creating dreamy soundscapes familiar to fans of Canadians, Godspeed, You Black Emperor and locals canyonsofstatic.

 

Photo of Streetzn YoungDeuces courtesy of MySpace

Streetzn YoungDeuces @ Club Rain (906 S. Barclay), 9 p.m.

With their hit single “Shawty So Strapped”, Milwaukee’s Streetzn YoungDeuces, rappers and cousins, have been putting the city on the map as far as local rap and hip hop goes. On their own co-founded EMP Entertainment, they’ve just released a mix tape, and finished up a stint with Crunk Energy Drink. In a recent interview with Yo! Raps, Young Deuces said, “…the city is behind us one hundred percent…we rep Milwaukee everywhere we go, always in a Mil hat or throwing up our ‘M’s’ for the city, so when they see us it’s love, because we show love back.”

 

Photo of Bored Games courtesy of MySpace

 M.O.T.O. + Bored Games, Tony Sagger, Pigs On Ice, All Creatures @ Frank’s Power Plant (2800 S. Kinnickinnic), 10 p.m.

“Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron” proclaims Bored Games‘ MySpace page as an indicator as to what to expect from the local pop four-piece if you’ve never heard of them, prior. Featuring members of Beach Patrol, Uh-Oh, Jambox and the now-defunct Lefty Loosie, the emphasis is heavy on the pop vocal harmonies and the catchy song composition that had pop bands in the sixties creating impromptu dance parties for people everywhere, anywhere.

Review: Headlights + At Latl + John the Savage @ Stonefly (3/11)

Headlights @ Stonefly (3/11)

Photos by Jared Guess
Words by Erin Wolf

 The cavernous Stonefly Brewing Company was packed on an unlikely Wednesday night for the joined musical performance forces of Milwaukee’s John the Savage and At Latl with the headliners from Champaign, Illinois: Headlights. People lined up in a squished thread along the huge bar, stood attentively at the stage and filled up every chair and table in the venue.