What could be better than seeing local garage and punk bands on a Friday night? If you’re a fan of either of these genres, one ‘better thing’ could be seeing these bands perform in Milwaukee-made music videos with local settings, local music, local pals as extras (and eventually locally aired on MPTV, too). The crew behind Rock & Roller Remote Controller, (Karen Gauger and Cole Juntila, along with Mitch Rasque and Steve Deau) will be premiering their second episode this Friday night at Linneman’s that will include appearances by the Terrible Twos (Detroit), the Hussy (Madison), Sugar Stems (MKE) and Truthdealer (MKE). Gauger talks to Fan-belt about creating videos as a way to get the word out about local music. (more…)
As a musician, imagine picking up a guitar or sitting behind a drum kit and not being able to play or hit in rhythm, no matter how much prior practice. The central nervous system plays an important part in music that most musicians don’t even give a second thought to. Take away basic nervous system functionality, and undoubtedly, it would be the forefront of thought. For several locals, it already is.
Benefit shows are nothing new, but the cause behind each one is what counts. This Friday, four local bands, steered by local musician and event organizer Stephanie Swinney, are taking the stage to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, which devastates the nervous systems of thousands of people, musicians and non-musicians, alike. To raise awareness, in addition to the annual cycling ride, the MS 150, Swinney started organizing shows to garner additional funds. Swinney’s own personal experience with the disease fueled her passion for the cause, her own enthusiasm helping the event to become a growing success. Swinney gives Fan-belt the details of this year’s event, which features music by local pop-punk and pop-rock bands Molitor, The Hussy, Jail and Bored Games. (more…)
Weak Sisters + Climax Denial + Blessed Sacrifist + Hatehearted @ Borg Ward Collective (823 W. National Ave.), 7 p.m.
It’s an evening of noise, glorious noise! An extravaganza of knob-turning distortion, wicked feedback and ass-kicking — a delightful showcase of aggro-gazer headlined by Fort Collins, Colo. Weak Sisters (shown above.) Milwaukee noise-meister Climax Denial is scheduled for a set, also Blessed Sacrifist, whose layers and loops of cymbal crashes embody an awesome lesson in the possibilities that can happen when you stack bizarre sonic frequencies.
Plexi 3 (CD Release) + The Hussy + Modern Convenience @ Linneman’s (1001 E. Locust St.), 9:30 p.m.
Pop-punk outfit Plexi-3 returned home late last month from a three-week tour. This homecoming show doubles as the band’s CD release party in celebration of their debut Tides of Change. From what’s streaming on their MySpace page, it got a Ronnettes vs. Sex Pistols kind of vibe too it. Quite delicious. We told y’all how much we like the garage rock duo The Hussy a little while back; they’re adding the salt to this sweet evening of punky pop.
Saturday, June 6
Chalice in the Palace @ Mad Planet, (533 E. Center St.) 9 p.m.
Chalice in the Palace is a regularly-occurring reggae record spin happens at clubs all over town that should have got some love from us long ago; it’s one of the coolest spins in the city. Saturday’s event is a slight change-up, featuring DJ Avets (vintage funk/hip-hop) DJ Eltronix (dark dub) and DJ Marcus Garvey, aka Marcus Doucette from RadioMilwaukee.
The Hussy’s two-person garage-punk army is ready to seek and destroy eardrums. The ammo? Drums and guitar. And vocals.
Bobby Wegner (guitar, vocals) and Heather Sawyer (drums, vocals) have gained recognition in Madison (their hometown) and Milwaukee through their raucous live performances as well as in Europe, through the release of their latest 7″ Winter Daze (title track, below) on the Netherlands’ a Fistful of Records. The six-song EP 7″ was released on Fistful back in March and in April in Madison/Milwaukee. Short blasts of songs make for one speedy and thoroughly enjoyable, energetic freak-out.
Recorded by Kyle Motor/Urban (side A) at MotorCo Studios in Madison and Ricky Riemer (side B) and mastered by Justin Perkins, Winter Daze is slightly messy (but not sloppy), Wegner and Sawyer’s shout/snarl-ed lyrics ear-blasting the trials and tribulations of drinking, loud music, summer and turkeys, sub-three-minute-style.
The band’s split with Madison’s Sleeping in the Aviary is a satisfying spin of both, but the Hussy dominates the wax on their side, kicking and screaming out riffage, crashing drums and those confident, alternating vocals that demand attention, right now. Snakes? Snakes! That’s right. Everything gets punctuated to the utmost, and then some (listen to “Snakes” from their s/t split, below).
Catch information on both releases at The Hussy’s MySpace page or tag along on a performance this week as they play Madison’s High Noon Saloon on Wednesday, Minneapolis’ the Hexagon on Friday and Green Bay on Saturday. Next stop in Milwaukee? Friday, June 5th for Plexi 3′s LP release party.
The Hussy + Crappy Dracula, The Points!, Zygoteens
Madison’s The Hussy have been getting a lot of well-deserved attention for their take on the guitar/drummer combo, but they amp up the snotty vocals to gives their music a more Be Your Own Pet angle than White Stripes.
Photo of the Bryan Cherry Band by Jessica Perrault
Friday, March 6
The Bryan Cherry Band + On the Porch, Chris Otepka (Heligoats), Jeannie Mayotte @ Point East (1501 N. Jackson), 10 p.m.
The Bryan Cherry Band’s latest release, Alley Apple is a perfect testament to their funk prowess: smooth soul vocals from Cherry are surrounded by alternately gritty/fluid guitars and percussion from his band mates. Check out Fan-belt’s earlier coverage of the band, *here*.
Photo of Freight courtesy of MySpace
Saturday, March 7
Big Fun 4Ever (record release) + Terrior Bute (CD release), Freight (last show), the Emptyheads @ Cactus Club (2496 S. Wentworth), 10 p.m.
Freight, Milwaukee’s all-out rock, audio-assault is calling it quits: the best ones always do, way too early. Join the Young Widows proteges for a night of furious guitars, mechanically-precise drum crashes and plenty of slightly deadpan and yell-y vocals. Burn off your energy after the rock show with a dance-party provided by Terrior Bute and Big Fun 4Ever: Milwaukee’s Vicious Pop Records poster kids.
Nobunny + The Yolks, the Gut Reactions, Rocktopus, the Get Drunk DJs @ Mad Planet (533 E. Center), 9 p.m.
He’s a man. He’s a bunny. Nobunny is nothing easy to describe, churning out karaoke-style garage rock muffle-shouted out of a bunny head. Nobunny’s album Love Visions has been sweeping the nation and beyond, as his ‘nobunny loves you!’ idealism continues to sweep coast to coast. See for yourself in the above video: even babies love Nobunny.
In today's Kramp Cast, I talk to singer/songwriter Jewel about growing up in Alaska, hitting the road at the age of 15 and the influence her family and musical icons like Bob Dylan have had on her career.
On the latest episode of The Disclaimer, WMSE's near-weekly half hour of truth telling with the station's Ryan Schleicher, A.V. Club Milwaukee's Matt Wild and I, we dedicate the show to Summerfest, sharing our picks, praises and critiques of this year's massive (and arguably front-loaded) 11-day marathon of music. Which headliners are we […]
Chalice in the Palace @ Mad Planet, (533 E. Center St.) 9 p.m.
