Noah Gundersen at The Back Room @ Colectivo: A Review
Noah Gundersen is an artist in transition, and that was apparent Friday night.
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Banks at Pabst: A Review
As it goes with a lot of artists, I distinctly remember first hearing about Banks. It was 2014, and I was in my dreaded magazine writing class, a few months from graduating journalism school in Arizona. Word to the wise, not from the wise–wait, what’s that saying? Never. Take. Magazine. Writing. Do listen to Banks. My friend Patrick who’s now
Read moreDeafheaven at Turner Hall: A Review
I read the other day that Deafheaven has faced grief over the vocalist being too attractive. Ok, I kind of get it. George Clarke–save some beauty for the rest of us, please? This criticism, among many other ones Deafheaven has faced from metal “purists,” is the reason the metal scene in general sometimes turns me off. The instinct to bash
Read moreMayhem at Turner Hall: A Review
There’s something special about seeing a band whose song names alone are enough to scare someone. Mayhem, one of the most iconic black metal bands in history, played at Turner Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 24. With songs such as “Deathcrush,” “Chainsaw Gutsfuck” and “Necrolust,” it leaves you wondering,”Am I bad person for listening to this?” Not in the slightest. This
Read moreMarian Hill at Turner Hall: A Review
Marian Hill played at Turner Hall in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Two openers, SHAED and VERITE, began the night with indie pop that grazed electronic. Although both great performances, there was something missing that turned me into a Will-Ferril-SNL-esque monster, yelling: more saxophone – it needs more saxophone. Cue Marian Hill. I don’t remember when I first heard Marian
Read moreWye Oak at Turner Hall: A Review
Wye Oak played at Turner Hall Ballroom Tuesday, Aug. 2. It is a band I listened to constantly throughout college, kind of a darker indie rock duo that gained tons of traction through the song “Civilian” on its 2011 album named the same. I want to say it was used in a Walking Dead teaser. Don’t quote me on that.
Read moreAngel Olsen at Pabst: A Review
Angel Olsen performed in Milwaukee for the first time on Thursday, June 16 at the Pabst Theater. She’s one of those artists I had been dying to see live for quite some time, mainly due to her other-worldly set of lungs. Occasionally, I hear a voice so spectacular that I want to witness it live on a stage, for a
Read moreAndrew Bird at The Riverside Theater: A Review
Andrew Bird visited Milwaukee April 18, where he graced The Riverside Theater’s historic, grandiose stage. Fittingly, this was the warmest day of the year thus far, with uncharacteristically high temperatures in the upper 70s. I like to think he flew here for the spring, but maybe that’s a bit presumptuous. Bird is one of those artists that transcends age and
Read moreJose Gonzalez at Pabst: A Review
Jose Gonzalez preformed at the Pabst Theater on Saturday, March 19, joined by classical sextet yMusic. If the thought of a Saturday night show at the Pabst gives you visions of whiskey cokes, crushed PBR cans and heavy guitar riffs drowned by a screaming crowd, you are deathly (or sweetly) mistaken. Jose Gonzalez put me to sleep on a Saturday
Read moreBully at Cactus Club: A Review
Bully played at Cactus Club on Tuesday, Jan. 19, accompanied by tour mates Fake Limbs that served as the opener. Perhaps an unlikely pair, as Fake Limbs’ almost theatrically boisterous presence was countered by the paradoxical subdued aggression of Bully. If you’re unfamiliar with Bully, it is a punk-y, grungy alt-rock group formed by audio engineer, vocalist and guitar player
Read moreBest Coast at Turner Hall: A Review
Oh, Best Coast. You are so dreamy. I can’t quite remember when I first heard their music, but I think my sister described the California-raised indie pop duo as “a girl who smokes weed all day and loves her cat.” Cue angels singing. Of course, she was referring to Bethany Cosentino, the singer, songwriter and vocalist of Best Coast, who
Read moreField Report at Pabst: A Review
“Folk” is not a word I lovingly throw around. A genre that once symbolized American tradition and roots, it now leaves a bad Mumford-ized taste in my mouth, and seemingly, the mouths of many. The ebb and flow of trends, the social and cultural relevance behind the manifestation of them fascinates me. Folk music is no exception, as it has
Read moreBenjamin Booker at Turner Hall: A Review
Benjamin Booker is not a wholesome folk singer. He graces the stage with a toughness. He is aloof, he smokes cigarettes, and he is unafraid to spew some obscenities toward drunken crowd members begging for recognition. What initially intrigued me about Booker was his subtle mesh of influences. I’ve heard him described as punk, blues and folk, but none of
Read moreCold War Kids at Pabst: A Review
On Sunday, Feb. 1, Cold War Kids graced snowy Milwaukee with its presence at the Pabst. When I say snowy, I mean I had doubts about the show even going on. Mere hours earlier, I had spent a disgusting amount of time unburying my Civic with a stranger’s shovel, frozen fingers and some momentary remorse for ever moving back from
Read moreInstrumental Rock: A Quick Dip
Far be it from me to ever call words overkill, but instrumental music has captured my heart and ears during these cold, cold months. I’ve always dipped my toes in various, usually pretty specific music genres, but you can bet nearly all of them have included the word rock. You probably won’t catch me two-stepping anytime soon, but hey, four
Read moreGlass Animals at Turner Hall: A Review
In light of its debut album “Zaba”, Glass Animals did Wisconsin the honors of playing at Turner Hall in Milwaukee on Sept. 8. The four strapping, young British talents took the stage following Rome Fortune, a blossoming rapper from Atlanta who donned blue facial hair and dished punching, introspective lyrics. People love to categorize emerging artists, perhaps rightfully so. You
Read moreTransition music happens
It’s easy to pass time without recognition of routine impulses. As an avid creature of habit, I like to consider greater purpose when my standard large coffee with a splash of cream or running route through the neighborhood gets revised. “An extra shot of espresso? What does it mean?” Ok, it probably just means I got an hour less sleep.
Read moreMusic is personal; let’s talk about it
If I’ve learned anything from trial and error in exhausted pursuit of conquering social etiquette, it’s that there are steadfast conversational murky waters. Tread at your own risk—and if I may—tread gently with music. “So, what kind of music do you like?” Blame it on my naivety, inept social graces, or inclination toward painful sincerity, but I used to ask
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