Porter Robinson’s headlining Summerfest set on the Fourth of July was an unabashed home run. His emotionally iridescent electronica translated to a truly breathtaking live show, earning a spot as one of the very best acts that the festival saw this year.
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It felt like every person who has ever lived on Milwaukee’s east side was at MJ Lenderman’s Summerfest show on Thursday night. Your downstairs neighbor, your USPS driver and the barista at your favorite coffee spot were all an arm’s length away, united by the somber twang of the Asheville singer-songwriter’s lonesome, lovelorn tales of losers.
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“I don’t know why we’re playing on a stage this big, but f*ck it,” said Kevin Krauter, vocalist and guitarist for Indianapolis group Wishy during their Friday night slot at Summerfest’s BMO Harris Pavilion. As the sun began to set over Lake Michigan, the band translated their buzzy shoegaze-indebted sound to arena-sized power pop. “You could be watching The Killers right now. Means a lot that you’re watching us.”
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“Milwaukee! It’s good to be back,” yelled Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast a few songs into the band’s headlining set at Summerfest’s BMO Harris Pavilion. In the pale strobelight shining down on her, a swarm of lakeflies buzzed around the singer. “There are so many bugs on this stage!”
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Milwaukee’s Oogwé swing for the fences and spin together six tracks of blissful noise on their debut EP “Staggering Beauty”, melding the intricate rhythms of math rock with anguished textures of emo and post-hardcore.
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A debut single is unquestionably a defining milestone for any young, burgeoning group. East side Milwaukee math rockers Oogwé know this, making their proper entrance into the city’s scene by letting sublime, progressive rhythms drive their wordless new track “Rose”.
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There’s something so sublime about Faye Webster’s heart-strung, often droll soft-rock balladry. At her first show in Milwaukee, the Atlanta singer-songwriter was of few words, often wandering in and out of the spotlight – but the confessional nature of her lyricism took center stage in an eccentric performance.
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Bug Moment are back online with their new EP “The Lazer Collection”, channeling the grungy emo and post-hardcore of the 2000s through a fuzzy, digitally warped lens.
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Superstar Sel’s first tape of 2025, “Soldier” is a victory lap that begins before the starting pistol sounds off – the Milwaukee rapper bobs and weaves through manic melodies and bitcrushed beats on his most consistent work to date.
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Khal!l doubles back on an enigmatic, sleek sound with “Please, Take Me With You”, a 5-track EP that floats in between ethereal, cryptic R&B and synth-laced throwback goodness.
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Oshkosh midwest emo group Tiny Voices are gearing up to release their long-awaited debut album in March – their new single “Backseat Therapist” is a manic joyride through euphoric highs and anguished lows.
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Ahead of a new EP, Bug Moment dives into scuzzy emo on “Chaos Emerald” – getting dirt under their fingernails on a grungy kiss-off that pulls no punches.
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Following the official dissolving of Milwaukee pop-punk supergroup Honey Creek last year, the band’s former vocalist and guitarist Ellee Grim is carving out a solo career in the world of internet-conscious digi-pop – her new track “on the news!!” is very online and absolutely irresistible.
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Milwaukee indie folk singer-songwriter Old Pup is back with another single ahead of the release of his sophomore album Spider Towns – “House of Wind” is a freewheeling alt-country number that rolls along at the pace of a calm autumn breeze.
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kill.dawn’s new track “motocross” is intoxicating underground rap at its most potent, fittingly accompanied by a music video shot around the Harley-Davidson Museum.
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After a year of working with Milwaukee creatives and cutting his teeth both on the city’s biggest and smallest stages, New York rapper Polo Perks embraces the lowend sound on his new AMERICAN PIE EP – proving once and for all that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
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A small boat has been stranded on the shoreline of Bradford Beach since early October, and has since been completely plastered with graffiti – Milwaukee’s own Superstar Sel is the first artist to shoot a music video in front of it.
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Releasing a debut album on New Year’s Day is no small statement for an emerging band, but Bronco arrives fully-formed with big emotions and bigger riffs on For Friends and Family.
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