TGIT: Our Weekend Picks!

photo by Jim Sponholz

We aren’t exactly trying to be escapists, but this weekend in Milwaukee music is pretty overwhelming (but overwhelming equals good, in this case). To attempt to pick the usual pick-three-or-four-shows-out-of-x-number-of-shows-going-on would be pretty tough, because ‘x’ equals about twenty this time around. So, with that, here is a tribute list to the multitudinous things one should consider forking it over for because you are too broke to go to Coachella, or think that Coachella is for losers (it’s either one or the other). Milwaukee-dwellers, here’s the wind-up, and the pitch:

Thursday, April 16th

Turner Hall Ballroom: 1032 N. 4th: (“no-buck show”) The Parlor Mob + Invade Rome, 8 p.m.

Linneman’s: 1001 E. Locust: Robert Sarazin Blake + Jonathan Burks, 9 p.m.

Friday, April 17th

Linnemans: 1001 E. Locust: The Maze, The Vega Star, Cedarwell, 10 p.m.

Shank Hall: 1434 E. Farwell: Adrian Belew Power Trio, 8 p.m.

Frank’s Power Plant: 2800 S. Kinnickinnic: Rapid Adapter, Mechanics of Romance, The Empty Faces, 10 p.m.

Sugar Maple: 441 E. Lincoln: Jed Bishop

Stonefly: 735 E. Center: Fresh Cut Collective, 10 p.m.

Turner Hall Ballroom: 1032 N. 4th: Gallery Night Fashion Show with Codebreaker, The Etiquette, Perfect Little Monster, Kid Millions, King Hell Bastard, Chalice in the Palace, No Request, The Glamour

(Gallery Night)

Saturday, April 18th

Exclusive Co.: 1669 N. Farwell: Record Store Day, details *here*, additional story *here* 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Alverno’s Pitman Theater: 3431 S. 39th: Rachid Taha, 8 p.m.

Cactus Club: 2496 S. Wentworth: Somebody Talked (last show!), Year of the Scavenger, 10 p.m.

Shank Hall: 1434 N. Farwell: Pezzettino (Lion CD release) + Jentri Colello, Miles Nielson

Mad Planet: 533 E. Center: Kings Go Forth, NXMW DJs (northern soul DJs from around the Midwest) 10 p.m.

Turner Hall Ballroom: 1032 N. 4th: Jeff Beck, 8 p.m.

Art Bar: 722 E. Burleigh: Quinn Scharber, 9 p.m.

Frank’s Power Plant: 2800 S. Kinnickinnic: Tina Sparkle, Grand Disaster, The Aimless Blades, 10 p.m.

BBC Upper Level: 2022 E. North: The Saltshakers, Slo-Fi, Maudlin, 9 p.m.

Riverhorse: 701 E. Center: Architects of the Aftermath, RAZORFIST, Party by the Slice, 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 19th

Cactus Club: 2496 S. Wentworth: Extra Golden + The Chain, 10 p.m.

Borg Ward: 823 W. National: Yellow Crystal Star, Child Bride, Blessed Sacrifist, 7 p.m.

Carroll College: 100 N. East: Death Cab for Cutie, Cold War Kids, Ra Ra Riot, 8 p.m.

TGIT: Our Weekend Picks!

Thursday, April 9th

The Junior League Band + Liberty Bluegrass @ Stonefly (735 E. Center), 9 p.m.

Bluegrass isn’t a flavor the city of Milwaukee chomps down on too often. When we do get a hit of bluegrass, it’s usually in the warmer, more festival-y months that drone with outdoor grilled food smells and smoky fireworks. Consider this show a prep course in what’s to come. Milwaukee’s own Liberty Blues Band is no stranger to the outdoor show circuit, bringing a touch of twang to the city-folk. All the way from Washington D.C. the Junior League Band joins the Liberty Blues with their youthful spirit and energy on one of the most string-centric genres of all.

Saturday, April 11th

Bear Proof Suit + Quest for Fire, Modern Problems, Lemmy Caution, Party By the Slice @ the Borg Ward (823 W. National), 6 p.m.

Bear Proof Suit’s name lives up to its music, sounding as tough as choosing to chew and digest a can of domestic beer in addition drinking it. The Milwaukee hardcore trio who brings its city such classics as “People Die Everyday” and “Science is Dead” have this to say about themselves: “We talk like we grew up in Wisconsin. We think like scientists that get called ‘mad’. We look like what Milwaukee smells like. We play like 1972 smacking 1982 in the head and teling it to get out of it’s goddamned bedroom and go see the world”.

Quintron + Miss Pussycat, Psychedelic Horseshit, Juiceboxxx, the Get Drunk DJs @ Cactus Club (2496 S. Wentworth), 10 p.m.

Each one of these musicians/bands/acts has been creating a distinct name for themselves: Quintron for catchy and brash beats and tunes and his dancing, maraca-wielding counterpart, Miss Pussycat (who is almost as adept at puppetry as the folks behind “the neighborhood of make-believe” on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood), Psychedelic Horseshit for creating a new and audio-ly messy genre last spring called “shit-gaze” Juiceboxxx for his wack-rap and the Get Drunk DJs for spinning songs between sets that will never leave a gap in the energy of a solid show. Expect nothing less than the weirdest of weird energy.

 

Sunday, April 12th

The English Beat @ the Turner Hall Ballroom (1034 N. 4th), 8 p.m.

From the dust and grime of England’s political and economic troubles came some of the most upbeat music in the late 1970s. The English Beat, the 2-Tone band that started a movement, captured a sound that fielded fellow punks the Buzzcocks and the Undertones but threw out sonic vibes of reggae/ska vets Toots and the Maytals. Their second time back to play Milwaukee within almost a years’ span, The English Beat are back to bring their message of resilience To the Turner Hall Ballroom with a new lineup (but still with Dave Wakeling) along with new songs.