TGIT: Our Weekend Picks

 

photo courtesy of Google

Thursday, June 25th

Summerfest: day one @ Maier Festival Park (through July 5th)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know. Summerfest is being crammed down Milwaukee’s throats and for some, it means a bad case of indigestion. Maybe acid reflux. Still, some are reveling in the fact that today is the start of the 700 + band lineup over the next eleven days. Check out the local sounds of The Invaders, Cougar Den, Fresh Cut Collective and Testa Rosa at the well-stocked Cascio Interstate Groove Garage with WMSE and the Shepherd Express or one of the many nationals such as KISS, Rodrigo y Gabriela the Meat Puppets or Lupe Fiasco. Even if you’re not into the music the day of your attendance, at least the fireworks will put that sparkle in your eye.

 

photo of Shellac courtesy of Google

 Friday, July 26th

Shellac + Three Second Kiss, Bear Claw @ Club Garibaldi’s, 2501 S. Superior, 8 p.m.

Minimalist rock’s favorite bitter pill and engineering guru Steve Albini will spend Friday night on the stage of Club Garibaldi in Milwaukee, dousing his audience with shards of guitars and gnarled, meaty lyrics while drummer Todd Trainer provides the controlled variable percussion of Shellac. Best consider trading your ear plugs for gauze pads, because Shellac does not play nice. 2007′s Excellent Italian Greyhound is evidence of the band not planning to sugar-coat their music anytime soon. Also, get there early, as half the tickets were pre-sales and space is limited.

 

flier courtesy of MySpace

Saturday, June 27th

Masonry + Bored Straight, Armada, Parrhesia @ The Borg Ward (823 W. National), 7 p.m.

For those looking to get exercise their inner aggro without getting arrested, the Borg Ward offers enough in hardcore, fastcore and heavy post-punk to loosen the worst hot weather-addled nerves. Sweat it off while Milwaukee’s Bored Straight pays homage to Black Flag and Parrhesia (Chicago) tears it up, claiming they [play as though] “stuck in a whirlwind of shit”; maybe a shitstorm of pummeling guitars and crash cymbals? Masonry rounds out the bill with their brainy guitar/bass/drums instrumental catharsis, sans vocals. Heavy and layered, Masonry is captivating, live.

Review: The Invaders w/ the Socialites @ Club Garlibaldi’s (2/13)

Words and photo by Nick Tavorek

Club Garibaldi’s was a different world on Friday night. Under the golden disco ball kids with porkpie hats, checkered ties, and bowling shoes talked and drank at every corner of the room. A Ska show is unlike any other show, and it’s not just the silly garb either.

The evening started as the seven members of the Socialites took their places on the cluttered stage and set up to perform their Bay View debut. Their set consisted of sketches of reggae and two-tone inspired songs, amplified through an animated band. Mid-set, they eased into a few covers, including Bob Marley’s “Mellow mood”, and the Slackers “Wasted Days”, yet even familiarity wouldn’t bring the audience from out of their chairs.

Half of the fun came from watching them explore the stage. The singer swung from side to side as the keyboardist struck the keys like they were hot to the touch, creating staccato chords and melodies. As the trombone player took her turn at vocals on a good song, that turned better when the double-time chorus came in, it became clear that this was the standout of their set.

As The Invaders took to the stage, the audience left their tables and shifted towards the front. They started with a set of songs from their latest release, and within minutes had everyone up in the front shakin’ legs. With a following like this, it was unsurprising that the audience knew nearly every word to every song.

“Over the End” sounded about as melancholy as a Ska song allows it to be, whereas the classic “Shame and Scandal,” had nothing but smiles around the room.

“See what I have to deal with in practice”, announced lead singer Max Wisniewski after the band busted into a sexed-up version of “Rollercoaster” between songs. That however didn’t stop him from singing along, falsetto and all.

By the end of the night, sweat was dripping from beards, tables were turned, and the audience was swooning in unison. And it became apparent: If Ska never gets its fourth wind, there will always be bands like the Invaders – catering to a room full of fans that shout the lyrics to all their songs and skank until the bar closes.

TGIT: Our Weekend Picks!

Image of The Invaders courtesy of MySpace

Friday, February 13th

Lonely Hearts Valentine’s Show with The Invaders and The Socialites @ Club Garibaldi’s (2501 S. Superior), 10 p.m.

When Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend, it almost works in the favor of the sweetheart-less. The weekend means more shows and more opportunities to divert one’s attentions. Milwaukee’s Invaders are taking part in the celebratory rather than the sulking mood of the holiday by performing their instant-party starter ska and rock steady antics at Club Garibaldi’s. Also joining the Invaders for the “Lonely Hearts Valentine’s Show” are Madison’s Socialites.

 

Image courtesy of MySpace

Saturday, February 14th

Farms in Trouble + Trash Crack (split cassette release), Possible Fathers, Charles De Gaulle @ the Cactus Club (2496 S. Wentworth), 10 p.m.

With more bells and whistles, loops and layered bits packed into the smallest of songs, Farms in Trouble provides a dizzying audio array that is enjoyably chaotic. Pop song pros Zack Pieper (Trusty Knife) and Riles Walsh (Trusty Knife, the Candliers) along with several other Milwaukee musician notables, will perform a rare live set of songs from their recent Gas Station Soundtrack and EP releases. Also in the works for the evening is a split cassette release with show-mates, Trash Crack. Also playing: Possible Fathers and Charles De Gaulle.

 

Photo of Diamonds courtesy of MySpace

Diamonds + OCD Automatic, Double Drop @ Stonefly (735 E. Center), 10 p.m. 

Nobody knows how to get a Valentine’s Day dance-party started quite like Diamonds. We’re talking about the DJ — not the glittering jewels, but very well may be, for the man behind the turntables churns out some of the most sparkling concoctions to hit Milwaukee’s dance floors. This time around he brings his spit and polished skills to Stonefly. With OCD Automatic and Double Drop.

 

Photo of Sometime Sweet Susan courtesy of MySpace

Atomic Valentine: Benefit and Tribute to Atomic Records: Liquid Pink + Boy Dirt Car, The Lovelies, The Etiquette, Sometime Sweet Susan, The Blowtorch, Cherry Cake, The Mighty Deerlick, Mark Waldoch and His Good Grief @ The Miramar Theater (2844 N. Oakland Avenue), 6:30 p.m.

Atomic Records has been fueling the Milwaukee music community for over twenty-four years, and will be missed tremendously. Honor the local legend before the doors officially close on an era by attending a benefit and tribute show featuring some of Milwaukee’s long-gone and great acts (as well as a couple current ones) — a fitting salute to the irreplaceable space on the corner of Locust and Oakland. 

 Read more on the Atomic Valentine show on Fan-belt, tomorrow…