Author Cal Roach

Buckethead takes fans to Bucketheadland at sold-out Shank Hall show

March 26, 2018

Last year, reclusive guitar virtuoso Buckethead (Brian Carroll) gave an extremely rare interview on a podcast called Coming Alive. He revealed that he'd been dealing with a rare heart condition that had become ...

Bon Iver combines nostalgia, gratitude in “For Emma, Ten Year” performance

Cal Roach

February 18, 2018

"You gotta be careful about nostalgia," said Justin Vernon, three songs into a show celebrating the 10th anniversary of his band Bon Iver's seminal debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago. "There's…a lot of problems...

King Crimson stands the test of time at Riverside Theater

Cal Roach

November 27, 2017

The only thing worse than a drum solo is a pre-written drum solo with an actual title. But what if instead of one drummer, there were three? That's how King Crimson opened Sunday's show at Riverside Theater: "D...

Axl, Slash, and Guns N’ Roses mine their sleaze-rock past at BMO Harris Bradley Center

Cal Roach

November 8, 2017

During their original superstar phase in the late '80s and early '90s, Guns N' Roses never played Milwaukee, opting instead for the massive amphitheater of Alpine Valley in 1988 and a two-nighter in '91. But Tu...

Herbie Hancock shows no signs of slowing down at Pabst Theater

Cal Roach

October 21, 2017

One of Earth's most influential musicians played Milwaukee for the first time in ages on Friday night. Jazz aficionados may have been expecting merely an opportunity to cross Herbie Hancock off their bucket lis...

Dead Cross and Secret Chiefs 3 bring hardcore, shared history to Turner Hall

Cal Roach

September 18, 2017

If you're like a lot of Twin Peaks fans, you spent months out of this year in breathless anticipation of the return of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, who was right there in front of your eyes yet also not there...

Yes (or one version of Yes, at least) plays to the diehards at Riverside Theater

Cal Roach

September 11, 2017

Yes fans are in a rare but not unheard-of predicament that chiefly plagues the aging prog-rock community: There are currently two touring versions of Yes. The seminal English outfit has been in existence in one...

Ahead of new album, Primus plays one for the diehards at The Rave

Cal Roach

August 2, 2017

The news dropped on Monday that Primus will be releasing a new album next month. Titled The Desaturating Seven, it will be the first album by the band's classic lineup (bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist ...

Nelson, Dylan, Crow, more bring wild-and-wooly Outlaw Music Festival to Summerfest

Cal Roach

July 10, 2017

With Summerfest trying to brand itself a "national" music festival, allow us to point out a few differences that separate the Big Gig from all of its ostensible counterparts:relatively clean, plentiful re...

Ludacris headlines a rap paradise Sunday at Summerfest

Cal Roach

July 3, 2017

The first Sunday of Summerfest featured a bit of nasty weather during the afternoon hours and then cleared up beautifully in time for the evening sets. Many patrons were in the middle of a long holiday weekend,...

Third annual Eaux Claires festival weathers rain and growing pains, emerges triumphant

Cal Roach

June 19, 2017

When you throw a party as successful as the inaugural Eaux Claires festival, you risk setting unreasonable expectations for your next attempt. There's pressure from all sides to replicate that success, to make ...

Perfume Genius intoxicates and discombobulates at Turner Hall

Cal Roach

May 24, 2017

Too Bright proved to be a significant breakthrough for Perfume Genius (a.k.a. Mike Hadreas). The Seattle singer-songwriter's 2014 album featured what is still his trademark number, "Queen," an unforgettable sta...

Painted Caves’ Ali Lubbad talks “Solidarity: A Benefit For Refugees,” Saturday at Riverwest Public House

Cal Roach

April 11, 2017

As far as Milwaukee is concerned, the ongoing Syrian Civil War may seem like more of a political sticking point than a war, but the truth is there are victims of this crisis in need of help right here in our ci...

Umphrey’s McGee ease into latest three-night stand at Riverside Theater

Cal Roach

March 31, 2017

Flashback to summer 2004: Phish breaks up "for good." The jam-band world wonders: Who will take up the mantle? Amongst a handful of second-tier contenders in the glowsticks-and-hula-hoop sweepstakes, Chicago-ba...

PHOX says goodbye (for now) at Pabst Theater

Cal Roach

February 2, 2017

Farewell tours must be the worst. Imagine being onstage, "celebrating" this thing that has made you who you are, knowing the whole time that it's about to end. Especially when you're an iconic frontwoman gett...

Mayhem conjures up evil nostalgia at Turner Hall

Cal Roach

January 25, 2017

Believe it or not, Milwaukee was once a haven for metal. There was a time—let's call it "The '90s"—when cult European bands that American metalheads never dreamed they'd get to see in person would make a spec...

“Tribe UNCOVERED” redefines A Tribe Called Quest, showcases an eclectic Milwaukee music scene

Cal Roach

January 21, 2017

There are good reasons you don't hear a lot of rappers covering other rappers. Much of hip-hop's success lies in the idiosyncrasies of its MCs; individuality is job one, and the self-referential bent of rap ly...

Snoop Dogg and company bring good vibes, plenty of smoke to Riverside Theater

Cal Roach

December 23, 2016

Snoop Dogg's original Puff Puff Pass Tour rolled out in 2001. Its sequel, which sold out the Riverside Theater on Thursday night, featured only Kurupt and Warren G from the first iteration. Fans of '90s G-fun...

‘Milwaukee 53206’ looks for hope, solutions in nation’s most incarcerated zip code

Cal Roach

October 3, 2016

What have you heard about the city of Milwaukee lately? What have you read? Particularly if you don't live in Milwaukee, but even if you do, the media hasn't been painting a pretty picture. Along comes a docu...

MFF2016: Inside The Milwaukee Show II

Cal Roach

October 2, 2016

Here is our second and final round of interviews with local directors participating in the Milwaukee Film Festival's Milwaukee Show series. The second installment screens Sunday, October 2 at the Oriental T...