Who: Davila 666
What: a show: Davila 666 from Puerto Rico (see/listen to above videos for details), The Flips, The Yolks
Where: Club Garibaldi’s (2501 S. Superior)
When: Tonight, 10 p.m.
Why: you won’t have to put up with some asshat in the crowd singing along to every word — es la magica de la lengua de Espanol.
"This glow in the dark snake took the same side of the stage as Miss Pussycat. No charges were filed." - Brian Whitney
Saturday’s Quintron/Miss Pussycat/Juiceboxxx show was endangered from the very earliest moments when a hastily-made note by the door informed the gathered Cactus Club patrons that “Psychedelic Horseshit will not be playing tonight”. The Cleveland-based noise outfit (and, coincidentally, the band I had come to see) had apparently taken an offer to play a festival somewhere, no doubt sunnier and more populated, thus leaving local fans out in both the figurative and literal cold. (more…)
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.
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”.
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.
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.
Photo of Mechanics of Romance courtesy of MySpace
So, it’s established that Adam Weird is well, weird. When your backup band is a handful of pink, plastic mannequins, you are either: A. Such a stellar musician that you can carry the whole show, B. A bit imaginative, C. A wizard or D. All of the above. We choose ‘D’. The Mechanics of Romance is fueled by a stellar, imaginative and a creative wizard with the mannequin management. The Nice Outfit joins Mr. Weird’s pink, plastic caucaphony to pile on some solid power-pop. The band features a couple new members: Matt Fletcher and John Wythes, and is gearing up to hit the studio to record some new material to match. Catch an earful of some of the new stuff at the show and pay mind to recent project of former Stilettos/Hollowheads/Brutal Dildos‘ members lovingly dubbed the Nasty Teenage Lovers.
Image courtesy of MySpace
The Barrettes are bringing their whirlwind of energy to Stonefly on Friday, as they re-define chamber rock by adding an unlikely candidate: melodica. Cabaret performers, extraordinaire, Eat the Mystery will undoubtedly turn in another captivating performance, bringing a bit of Europe to whatever stage they cross, unabashedly uncaring to any sort of genre, but with one goal of entertaining their audience with a full musical/theatrical performance. Bringing in Chicago’s the Locals and DJ Lady Blackheart, Stonefly’s stage will be alive with impromptu ingenuity that promises a show centered around more than just three chords and a kickdrum.
Image of International Datelines courtesy of MySpace
The International Date Lines give razz-y girl garage pop-punk a twist of ‘whatever’ by including a couple dudes in the mix, but still carry off the same stylings that made bands like Cub popular in the 90s. Their Saturday show with Jail and Father Phoenix will definitely bring their bygone-era pop music to a completely different audience by pairing them up with local favorites from two different polarities: Jail and Father Phoenix. A definite mish-mosh of a show, each band already claims loyal following, and most likely will garner new appreciation from the ‘innocent’ bystanders present.
Photo of the Black Lips courtesy of Google Images
To even try to explain the phenomenon that is the Black Lips’ live shows is currently a bit tough, and that’s definitely the fault of the band. Their onstage ‘activities’ are starting to overshadow the music itself, especially in the media world. Although lack of onstage antics are often a deal-breaker for what could be an otherwise dull show for most bands, Black Lips’ music (although drawing from decades’-past influence) is more than enough to go on its own, with swagger-y guitar lines filled with fuzz and bravado combined with hell-to-all vocals. Add hormonal energy and booze-fueled antics, and you have a recipe for frenzied rock and roll rebellious joy. If you’re a party-pooper, stay at home.
Photo of Gut Reactions courtesy of the band
Words by Erin Wolf
Hardcore today isn’t your older brother’s hardcore: the days of Minor Threat and cold-sweating in someone’s basement watching a bunch of twelve year-olds vigorously thrash their guitars and drum kits into submission and screaming until they spit blood are not a distant memory, but the scene is definitely morphing. Milwaukee’s Gut Reactions are taking their basement-core to the stage for a rare appearance as different genres are getting better and better at ‘making nice’ at shows. Hardcore never has been completely at home on the stage, but the Gut Reactions’ natural confidence makes it that much easier to seem at ease next to bands they might not normally share a slab of concrete with. Gut Reactions are getting set to pair up hardcore with the underwater garage-rock of Rocktopus, the loud and drunk spinnings of the Get Drunk DJs and the odd phenomenon that is Nobunny, this Saturday at Mad Planet.
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