Singer-songwriter D.B. Rouse released a new single in which he enlists Patrick Smith on lead guitar. Rouse takes a meta approach here, reflecting on how we’re all just victims of physics at the end of the day, forced to cope with reality as truth. The world’s constantly throw into states of anomalies and catastrophes, and we’re all just here for
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Jazz fusion trio Cody Steinmann Trio released a new single. Steinmann, Chris Bates and Abinnet Berhanu take a fun excursion through flavor here, led by a wandering guitar and supported by a sturdy rhythm. It’s another instance of seasoned musicians trusting each other with whichever direction they’re led in, excited by the spontaneity. We wonder if “Another Blues Head” and
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It was a bitterly cold night on Friday, but that didn’t stop Aluminum Knot Eye and Primitive Broadcast Service from the rocking the house at Circle A. DJ Timothy Triplett kept the party going afterwards.
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Velocihamster recently covered Massive Attack’s “Protection.” Bringing a metallic psychedelia feel to a trip hop classic, the song enlists Megan Williamson on vocals, Evan Paydon on upright bass and Matthew Rhyner on drums. Velocihamster delivers a stunning lap steel tribute that will send you on a top-down desert drive under the summer heat.
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Synthpop band The Quilz are known for their fun, brightly illuminated shows and retro touch to electronic pop music. They’ve released a full album of covers that they’ve regularly performed at shows, with everything from New Order to Prince to Blondie to Chris De Burgh to Material Issue and many more. The synths from Sage Schwarm whizz and whirr with
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Name Hymn is a project of Nathaniel Heuer’s, who is known for his work in Hello Death, Marielle Allschwang & the Visitations, and The Altos. He released two new songs recently with features from Mark Waldoch and Marielle Allschwang plus additional instrumentation by Todd Umhoefer. Artful and emotive, the tunes reflect the elation of a new relationship and devotion to
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Electronic pop artist Cyrus Chrome’s latest single is about toxic lovers. Y’all could be something special and you keep coming back to each other, but you find yourself always compromising and you’re trying not to let yourself down, and Chrome is over that shit. Your idea of them is different than actually being with them, it seems. Favoring electronically manipulated
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Electronic producer MallBat is out with her debut EP. These four tracks have a lo-fi aesthetic and nostalgic sheen like we’re watching childhood memories play on an old VHS tape. This is reflected in the samples, which feature kids screaming and playing along with bright keyboard melodies. They’re sweet and jolly songs but there’s immense heart and charm to them
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Back in October, genre-bending artist Micah Emrich dropped his EP “Complacent”, closing with the title track which features hip hop artist Duwayne. Now there’s a Beanboi remix of the track out, converting it into a club ready EDM banger. The song is about reinventing yourself and being ready for everything the world throws at you even when those around you
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Alt country act Ladybird released a new single and video this past week. An Ian Johnson production with additional footage by Jordy Brazo, the visual finds the band on a train from Milwaukee to Columbus, Ohio jamming, goofing off and having beers together. Shots of the band playing at Circle A are weaved in as well; shots are had and
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Electronic producer Slamhaus collaborated with vocalist Abbi Minnesale for his latest single. It’s a poignant song that seems to be about memories and wishing you could go back to the way things were with someone. Minessale’s vocals hauntingly echo against Slamhaus’ gentle, sailing production. It’s dreamy melancholy from Slamhaus and Abby Minnesale; we hope to hear more from them in
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Indie pop act Duzt are out with their sophomore LP. It’s seven songs fueled by spiritual joy, touching on topics like rebirth, self-investment, the universe unfolding as it should, living in tranquility and liberation from oppression. Rae Bu Luck and Aytan Luck bring a raw, skeletal approach to the production utilizing mostly guitars plus some piano and violin, giving things
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Hip hop artist Rated-R Playboy teamed up with Chicago rapper BAHA BANK$ for a single to conclude 2022. Produced by Powers Pleasant, this tune’s got a bounce designed to shake your rear. The song is from the perspective of two people linking up and wanting each other bad, carried by the duality of Playboy’s mysterious yet determined mood and BANK$
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Psych pop band Ravi/Lola dropped a Christmas single this year. Starting with a warm and sweet glockenspiel, the song tells the story of a mouse who comes out from its cozy mini village every Christmas to befriend the narrator, swelling into a playful and bouncy tune that ultimately ends with a freakout by the narrator because the mouse leaves right
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Chillwave artist L o k o dropped a new single and this one is different in the sense that he’s singing here! The tune is about those patterns you notice in life that you can’t seem to break away from, and it’s undercut by introspective, floating production. L o k o hits us with a rumination on self-aware monotony with
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Indie rockers Tigera released a new single and video this weekend. Shot by Sam Kirby, the visuals find Devon Huckstep in high spirits as he jumps around singing jubilantly about the girl of his dreams. He sees her around in spots like Dandy, The Daily Bird, Arts @ Large and the Waukesha Metro Center where the rest of the band
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Singer-songwriter Ryan Schmidt dropped his debut album. We first heard from him last month tackling duality of the self with “Bipolar”, and Schmidt expands on the topics of personal struggle and turmoil with these songs. He touches on co-dependence, guilt, despondency and pressure in a blend of funk, folk and rock. Ryan Schmidt shares poignant pictures of hardship with “Portrait.”
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Duck Earnhardt closes 2022 with another Gorilla Knifefight tape. Hardcore punk is as fast and furious as ever here, balancing personal angst with societal angst through igniting riffs and a pounding drum machine. Earnhardt battles greedy capitalists and the Internet while also holding on tight for love and for his friends, ultimately prevailing. Gorilla Knifefight emerges victorious with “THIS KNIFE
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Zolton caps off the year with his sophomore full-length album. Marrying hip hop with alternative R&B, Zolton skillfully balances struggle and tension with confidence and prosperity. Moments like “First Times”, “December” and “Tough Nights” find him navigating personal and interpersonal conflicts, but he levels it out with the flex on tracks like “RUNNIN” and “CLV” where he’s chasing dreams with
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The Basement Collective hosted a stacked bill at Cactus Club featuring Milwaukee bands HUMID, Overhand and Shamewave alongside Chicago-Rockford dark post-punk band Bleached Cross; the show was the first stop on a weekend tour Shamewave and Bleached Cross embarked together. HUMID are a shoegaze band consisting of vocalist-guitarist Matt Tomashek, guitarist Ben Schuelke, bassist Sam Gargulak, and drummer Cody Ratley.
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Electronic producer Travvy Trav recently dropped a new single celebrating bisexuality. As the title suggests, it’s an ecstatic, intoxicating tune that takes a jovial piano sample and lays it down with punchy bass. The song could have you feeling yourself in your room but is perfectly capable of getting the club moving too; be proud of how you identify with
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Synth lords Immortal Girlfriend’s latest single was featured in the hit new Netflix show Wednesday. It’s out on streaming platforms now, and the song itself is quite a change in direction for them. With a danceable house flavor, the song has a knack for adventure with someone you’ve been waiting your whole life for. Immortal Girlfriend have a club-ready banger
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Singer-songwriter Caley Conway returns with a new EP today. These three songs build from lyrics from Joni Mitchell’s “The Last Time I Saw Richard” into full concepts of their own; each song arranges Mitchell’s words into elaborate snapshots, carried by Conway’s feathery yet bold vocals. This lucid exercise is amplified by a substantial orchestra of musicians behind Conway consisting of
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Psych rockers Robot Witch are out with their long-awaited debut EP today. These four songs bubble explosively with shouted group vocals, swelling horns and industrial strength riffage. “Hello Again” starts things off slow and provocative before erupting into a thundering storm, followed by “Bad Dream” and “Bubblegum” which kick into full-blown hysteria, then finishing with “Switch” which concludes things with
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Indie pop act Cozy Danger released a video accompanying their recent EP “Yeah No For Sure.” The fellas are found at the Wisconsin State Fair having a blast doing just about everything there is to do there. The three members plus Kelly Jo Brandt take turns filming as they explore the grounds. Cozy Danger bring another fun, quirky visual with
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