Author Lauren Keene

Efren Ramirez talks ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ Riverside screening, voting for Pedro

November 8, 2018

There are few films from the early aughts that are as quotable as Napoleon Dynamite. The low-budget 2004 high school comedy went from a sleeper hit to a cult classic in a matter of months. Nearly 15 years later...

Fleetwood Mac blends old with new at Fiserv Forum show

Lauren Keene

October 29, 2018

Despite various marriages, divorces, breakups, and makeups, the members of Fleetwood Mac have continually performed alongside one another for nearly half a century. Aside from a repertoire of legendary tunes, t...

Courtney Barnett is a force to be reckoned with at sold-out Pabst Theater show

Lauren Keene

October 18, 2018

Australian native Courtney Barnett made a stop in Milwaukee Wednesday night, traveling halfway across the world from her hometown of Melbourne to perform in front of a sold-out crowd at the Pabst Theater. The f...

CHVRCHES put on yet another terrific show at Riverside Theater

Lauren Keene

October 5, 2018

A lot of people cringe when they hear the phrase "electronic music." Sure, it's almost exclusively produced via computers, and the genre is often synonymous with sweaty festival bros. We'll be honest here—it is...

Frankie Cosmos show vulnerability, strength at sold-out Colectivo show

Lauren Keene

September 28, 2018

It's almost possible to read about bands who receive a lot of internet attention without seeing the word "hype" somewhere throughout a body of text. (Yep, even a few concert reviews here on Milwaukee Record hav...

MKE Music Rewind: The Shivvers, “Remember Tonight”

Lauren Keene

July 24, 2018

In our weekly MKE Music Rewind, we revisit a notable Milwaukee song that was released before Milwaukee Record became a thing in April 2014.It's sometimes said that the Midwest rocks the hardest. That may or...

The War On Drugs bring beauty, boldness to sold-out Riverside show

Lauren Keene

July 23, 2018

Over the weekend, a congregation of the biggest and baddest names in indie music gathered in Chicago for Pitchfork Music Festival. The three-day gig boasted an impressive lineup of artists who were fortunate en...

The Pretenders deliver full-force set at Riverside Theater

Lauren Keene

July 11, 2018

Summerfest 2018 ended its 11-night run on Sunday, and one might think Milwaukee audiences are completely out of concert-going energy. Well, it turns out they aren't–at least, not yet. On Tuesday night, Riversid...

Stephen Malkmus lives up to his legacy at sold-out Colectivo show

Lauren Keene

June 3, 2018

In his 2007 book Love Is A Mixtape, author Rob Sheffield describes his introduction to Pavement, the '90s indie rock band that put singer/songwriter Stephen Malkmus on the musical map: Our friend Joe in New Yo...

John Prine reminds audiences of his timeless talents at Riverside Theater show

Lauren Keene

April 26, 2018

Very few touring artists have a career breadth as expansive as John Prine's. The 71-year-old crooner has been cranking out songs, EPs, and albums since the early '70s after being "discovered" by fellow folk leg...

In Love With The Modern World: An interview with Jonathan Richman

Lauren Keene

March 13, 2018

What’s left to say about Jonathan Richman that hasn’t been said before? The prolific Modern Lovers front man-turned-solo artist has rightfully earned his spot in rock and roll history, but you don’t need us to ...

Lorde is the electrifying voice of Generation Z at BMO Harris Bradley Center

Lauren Keene

March 2, 2018

Music fans of a certain age undoubtedly remember when Lorde's magnum opus, "Royals," made its radio debut back in 2012. The indie-influenced track was unlike anything else on the dreaded top-40 radio stations, ...

Tucked Away: Layton Fruit Market

Lauren Keene

January 23, 2018

Between beloved and well-established local staples and a steady wave of new bars and restaurants, worthwhile dining and drinking gems can occasionally get lost in the shuffle. With Tucked Away, Milwaukee Record...

Suburban staples: familiar places to chow down on the outskirts of town

Lauren Keene

January 15, 2018

It’s no secret Milwaukee has been trying really hard to appeal to millennials in recent years. For those of us who have spent our entire lives in this city, millennial engagement is (for the most part) a laugha...

Mandatory Milwaukee: Mars Cheese Castle is a tourist trap fit for a king

Lauren Keene

January 11, 2018

When driving north on I-94, it’s easy to miss the dark, foreboding sign that reads “Wisconsin Welcomes You!” on a long pilgrimage back to Milwaukee. Only a few miles upstate stands the Mars Cheese Castle, the u...

Witnessing the coldest Polar Plunge in more than 40 years (because I was too scared to actually do it)

Lauren Keene

January 3, 2018

Even though the Polar Plunge is a Milwaukee tradition spanning almost 100 years, I'll be honest: there's pretty much nothing that sounds appealing about it. Getting up bright and early on New Year's Day to…swim...

Tearing myself apart at a midnight screening of ‘The Room’

Lauren Keene

December 19, 2017

I’ve always hated the concept of cultural “guilty pleasures.” I don’t understand why anyone should be ashamed of liking things just because society (or writers) say they’re “lame” or “bad.” I’m not at all asham...

Confessions of Non-Binary Fieri, Yokohama’s fourth-place karaoke team

Lauren Keene

November 30, 2017

In the criminally underrated film Mermaids (1990), Bob Hoskins invites the ethereal Cher into his attic and shows her his collection of paintings. When Cher is unimpressed, as Cher would be, he explains: "I sai...

Mandatory Milwaukee: Caroline’s Jazz Club hits all the right notes in Walker’s Point

Lauren Keene

November 22, 2017

Some places come and go, while some places become icons. Mandatory Milwaukee is all about the latter. Join us as we revisit beloved and well-worn local staples with fresh eyes, and explore how they might figure...

Harambe tweeters and Kylie Jenner superfans: Catching up with two unconventional Milwaukee internet stars

Lauren Keene

November 14, 2017

Writing research papers, listening to music, watching porn: these are only a few of the things that the internet has made immensely easier. Activities that once required copious amounts of effort and travel are...