Our fat-free, dolphin-safe Milwaukee events calendar is chock-full of things to do, but only a handful of events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations for October 14-20, 2019.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Magnetic Minds @ Cactus Club
The Milwaukee Record Halftime Show concert series at Cactus Club is back! Once again, we’ve assembled a stacked roster of 16 projects to provide FREE (21+) halftime entertainment. And, once again, our friends at Miller High Life are sponsoring our football-focused festivities, meaning fans can enjoy “The Champagne of Beers” for $2.50 a bottle, or $10 for a bucket of five beers all game long. And, yes, there will be touchdown shots.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
Milwaukee Record LiveSCREAM Theater: Dementia 13 (w/cast and crew of The Field)
For five nights in October, we’re bringing you Milwaukee Record LiveSCREAM Theater! And tonight’s the third installment! Want to join host Matt Wild and the cast and crew of The Field (Tate Bunker, Kara Mulrooney, Tim Higgins, Mark Borchardt) for a live-on-the-internet viewing party of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dementia 13? NOW YOU CAN. Just tune in to the Milwaukee Record YouTube channel at 8 p.m. and comment/joke along with us! It’s all part of the 2019 Milwaukee Film Festival, which runs October 17-31.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
Milwaukee Record Presents: Little Shop Of Horrors (Director’s Cut) @ Avalon Theater – SOLD OUT
Where to begin with Little Shop? It’s a film adaptation of an off-Broadway musical that was itself an adaptation of a 1960 Roger Corman film. It stars Rick Moranis as Seymour Krelborn, who comes into possession of a plant (“I was walking in the Wholesale Flower District that day…”) that will eventually devour everything—and everyone—in its path. Ellen Greene plays Audrey, just as she did in the original off-Broadway musical. Levi Stubbs provides the voice of the people-eating plant, Audrey II, which is still a special-effects wonder today. Steve Martin, Bill Murray, John Candy, Jim Belushi, and Christopher Guest make appearances. Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell act as the film’s Greek chorus. Oh, and speaking of the Greek chorus, the songs are the best.
Sleater-Kinney + Joseph Keckler @ Pabst Theater
Good news: this show is not sold out (yet)! Weird news: how is this show not sold out (yet)?!
Abram Shook + L’Resorts, Long Mama @ Cactus Club
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
2019 Milwaukee Film Festival @ various locations (through October 31)
From October 17 through the 31st, the 2019 Milwaukee Film Festival will light up local screens with more than 300 films. It’s pretty much the best event of the year. Tonight, MFF2019 kicks off with a screening of documentary I Want My MTV, which “dives into the early days of a 1980s experiment that became a cultural touchstone, as well as its impact on the music and media industries.” Click the above link for hundreds of other movies, discussions, and events. AHHHH!!!
Negative Approach + Curbsitter, Salvation, Big Laugh @ X-Ray Arcade
Patti + Holy Shit!, Saebra & Carlyle @ Bremen Cafe
Luke & Wolf + Derek Pritzl & The Gamble @ High Dive
Lyle Lovett And His Acoustic Group @ Pabst Theater
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
Mini Meltdowns (EP release) + Graham Hunt, Telethon @ X-Ray Arcade
Following an accomplished yet personally arduous 2018 that was wrought in loss, hardship, and inner turmoil for bandleader Jon Phillip, Mini Meltdowns will release a new EP. According to Phillip, the four-song Destined For Disaster is largely about losing his father, ending friendships, battling anxiety, and fighting the urge to give up. The record will officially see the light of day during a fully loaded release show at X-Ray that also features Graham Hunt and Telethon playing in support. The outing also doubles as Mini Meltdowns’ first show.
Timeless Travel: A Collaborative Arts Fashion Show @ The Cooperage
An Acoustic Evening With Trey Anastasio @ Riverside Theater – SOLD OUT
MKE Film Fest Soundtrack Series: Lex Allen + Rx Drugs @ Hacienda Beer Co.
Vanity Plates + Emily Jane Powers, Fuzzysurf, Cairns @ Riverwest Public House
Paper Holland + Devil Met Contention, Halfloves @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Vortis + Florida Brothers Band @ Circle-A Cafe
MAM After Dark: Mystery @ Milwaukee Art Museum
Gallery Night MKE @ various locations (also October 19)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
The Low Down @ Indeed Brewing Company
It’s only been a few weeks since Minneapolis-based brewery Indeed Brewing Company opened its Milwaukee location at 530 S. 2nd St. in Walker’s Point. So what better way to celebrate than with an all-day street party complete with live music, local food, and plenty of beer? Enter The Lowdown. From noon until 10 p.m., the inaugural celebration will set up shop directly outside the brewery on South 2nd Street, between Bruce Street and West Virginia Street. Music will be provided by New Age Narcissism, No No Yeah Okay, Platinum Boys, Funk Summit Bass Team, Young Revelators, and more. Food will come courtesy of local food trucks, and beer will come courtesy of Indeed (natch).
Elton John @ Fiserv Forum
If it feels like Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour has been going on forever, it’s because it has. (It was announced in January 2018.) If it feels like Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour has been coming to Milwaukee forever, it’s because it has. (It was originally scheduled for February 2019.) But this is Elton John we’re talking about, so we’re happy to have him around for as long as possible.
MKE Film Fest Soundtrack Series: Klassik + Immortal Girlfriend @ Hacienda Beer Co.
Population Control (record release) + Tubal Cain, Scathed, Black Canvas @ Walker’s Point Music Hall
Sire + Emissary, Knaaves @ High Dive
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20
The Dollop Podcast LIVE @ Turner Hall Ballroom
In case you’re not one of the show’s millions of listeners: The Dollop is a popular podcast wherein comedian Dave Anthony reads a story from American history to his friend, Gareth Reynolds, who doesn’t know what the topic is about. Only time will tell what locally focused topic they discuss during their Turner Hall return, but it’s sure to be informative, entertaining, and likely to draw parallels between how bad things were throughout history and how terrible the world continues to be today. The show is also a homecoming of sorts for Reynolds, a devout Packer Backer who originally hails from Brown Deer.
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Fuzzysurf @ Cactus Club
The Milwaukee Record Halftime Show concert series at Cactus Club is back! Once again, we’ve assembled a stacked roster of 16 projects to provide FREE (21+) halftime entertainment. And, once again, our friends at Miller High Life are sponsoring our football-focused festivities, meaning fans can enjoy “The Champagne of Beers” for $2.50 a bottle, or $10 for a bucket of five beers all game long. And, yes, there will be touchdown shots.
MKE Film Fest Soundtrack Series: Retoro + Indonesian Junk, Mortgage Freeman @ Hacienda Beer Co.
Fauvely + Blue Unit, Motel Breakfast, Born Days @ Riverwest Public House
Milwaukee Makers Market @ The Ivy House
Nightmare Before Christmas w/MSO @ Riverside Theater (2 shows)