Though it feels like summer just started, we’ve now entered the last full month of the season. Summer isn’t going out with a whimper, though. Quite the opposite. Since this looks to be an active August, Milwaukee Record has attempted to help you out by finding 15 especially worthwhile (non-festival/non-State Fair) things you should do this month. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 8
Juvenile & The 400 Degreez Band @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Have you ever been listening to long-tenured multi-platinum NOLA rapper Juvenile (of “Back That Azz Up” fame) and thought, “Man, this would be even better if Juvenile was accompanied by a live band” to yourself? Well, you’re in luck! On Saturday August 8, Juvenile and his “400 Degreez Band” will take the stage at The Rave. Go to the State Fair a different night and check this out instead!
Sunday, August 9
Circle Jerks x ‘Repo Man’ @ The Oriental Theatre
This is pretty rad, so we’re just gonna stick to the facts: On Sunday, August 9, legendary L.A. punk band Circle Jerks will play a show at Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre. Wow! After that, there’ll be a Q&A with Circle Jerks’ Keith Morris and Zander Schloss, as well as film director Alex Cox. Why Cox? Because after the Q&A, the evening will close out with a screening of 1984’s Repo Man, which was directed by Cox and which features music and a cameo from none other than Circle Jerks! Doo-biddy-doo-wop-wop-say-what, etc.
Sunday, August 9
WNBA Watch Party (New York vs. Las Vegas): Raegan Niemela @ Cactus Club
Milwaukee Record, Cactus Club, and WYNK are bringing you multi-faceted monthly WNBA watch parties. In August, we’re highlighting a Liberty vs. Aces game that will be shown (with sound on) at Cactus Club, both on the bar’s televisions and on a projector in the back room. There will be specials on WYNK and Pacifico (and you’ll get a ticket when purchasing either brand for a raffle that will be held after the third quarter). Classic Slice will provide free pizza (while supplies last!). A DJ will play music during commercial breaks, and we’ve also lined up some entertainment for you. Chicago (by way of Milwaukee) comedian Raegan Niemela will treat hoopsters to a FREE halftime performance.
Tuesday, August 11
Berens Bros. Comedy Hour @ The Laughing Tap
The Berens Bros.—consisting of Wisconsin humorist Charlie Berens and fellow comedian John Berens—are bringing their comedy hour back to The Laughing Tap. They’ll be joined at the newly relocated/reopened downtown Milwaukee comedy club by Chastity Washington and A.J. Grill, making the already compelling local stand up show into a Tuesday night no-brainer.
Friday, August 14
Modest Mouse + Califone @ Riverside Theater
We have bad news for people who hate good news (did we do that right?). Influential indie rock vets Modest Mouse just released a new record—the excellent An Eraser And A Maze—and they’re hitting the road for a headlining tour in support of said album. Float on over to Riverside Theater to catch Modest Mouse and openers Califone on Thursday, August 14.
Friday, August 14
The Verve Pipe + Edie Current @ The Argo
Just over a year removed from playing Tosa Tonight, veteran Michigan alt-rocker and frequent Milwaukee visitors The Verve Pipe (of “The Freshman” fame) will scratch another Milwaukee suburb off the list when they headline a show at The Argo in nearby Whitefish Bay. New-ish (and great!) Milwaukee project Edie Current opens.
Saturday, August 15
American Football + Afternoon Bike Ride @ Turner Hall
Despite originating in not-all-that-far-away Urbana, Illinois, American Football hasn’t exactly frequented Milwaukee. In fact, we’re pretty sure the celebrated purveyors of math rock-tinted Midwest emo has never performed in the city. That’s all going to change on Friday, August 15 when Mike Kinsella and company come to Turner Hall Ballroom to play songs from its new self-titled album and its three other (also self-titled) albums.
Saturday, August 15
The Championship + Lessons @ X-Ray Arcade
Formed in 2004, The Championship was one of the bright spots in Milwaukee music for much the aughts and a portion of the 2010s before the band’s production and live outings quietly-yet-considerably slowed as new musical endeavors and other real world distractions pulled focus from the project. We’re pleased to report The Championship (including some long-departed members) will be returning to the stage on Friday, August 15 to play material from its four great records at X-Ray Arcade. Lessons, a new project featuring former members of The Promise Ring, Maritime, and Decibully, will open.
Saturday, August 15
Tori Amos + Bartees Strange @ Riverside Theater
The iconic and inimitable Tori Amos doesn’t make her way to Milwaukee very often. If our math is correct, her 2022 performance at Bradley Symphony Center broke a 13-year gap between Milwaukee shows. Thankfully, it won’t be another baker’s dozen of annals, as Amos is scheduled to return to town to play Milwaukee’s beautiful Riverside Theater on Friday, August 15. The great Bartees Strange will open things up.
Wednesday, August 19
Milwaukee Record Presents: ‘Adaptation’ @ Avalon Theater
Milwaukee Record is screening ‘Adaptation,’ the fantastic 2002 Spike Jonze film, at the Avalon Atmospheric Theater. It’s a deliriously meta story that follows real-life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) and his not-so-real-life twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage) as the former struggles to adapt a book from real-life author Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) and the latter blunders his way through his own script about a serial killer or something. This whole movie is great. See you August 19!
Thursday, August 20
Gladys Knight @ Pabst Theater
Just shy of a year removed from coming to Fiserv Forum as 25 percent of “The Queens” tour that also featured Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills, the great and timeless Gladys Knight will return to Milwaukee to perform at Pabst Theater.
Thursday, August 20
Ron Funches @ Turner Hall
We’ve been longtime fans of the incomparable Ron Funches—recapping two previous Turner Hall appearances and interviewing him back in 2017—and, like much of the world lately, we’ve loved seeing him on the most recent season of The Traitors as one of our favorite…well, no spoilers. Despite being fans of his work in the realms of television—reality or otherwise—and his extensive TV/movie voiceover résumé (including BoJack Horseman, Adventure Time, Harley Quinn, Trolls, Inside Out 2, Bob’s Burgers, and more), we’re eagerly awaiting the opportunity to watch Funches get back on stage to do what he does best.
Friday, August 21
The 4th Annual Emmitt James Big Band BBQ @ Turner Hall
The ever-active Emmitt James is always up to something, but since the hip-hop/jazz musician moved back to his native Milwaukee from Los Angeles just over four years ago, his annual “Big Band BBQ” has pretty much been his Super Bowl. After three successful installments at Third Space Brewing, the four annual affair will bring a 20-piece band (!!!) to Turner Hall for a can’t-miss performance.
Saturday, August 22
WMSE’s 16th Annual Big Backyard BBQ @ Humboldt Park
On Saturday, August 22, from noon until 8 p.m. in Bay View’s Humboldt Park, WMSE’s 16th annual Backyard BBQ will feature a night-closing DJ set from none other than Sylvan Esso—a.k.a. Amelia Meath and Milwaukee prodigal son Nick Sanborn. Legendary North Carolina indie-rock band Superchunk will play immediately before the Sylvan Esso DJ set. Midwest blues artist Ivy Ford will open the day, followed by Milwaukee’s own Known Moons and Field Report. WMSE DJs will spin throughout the day. That’s a hell of a lineup!
Thursday, August 28
The Copyrights + The Brokedowns, Avenues, M545 @ X-Ray Arcade
The pride of Carbondale, Illinois! The Copyrights manage to ably blend punk rock swagger and intensity with criminally catchy melodies and anthemic hooks. That combination has helped the band endure for almost 25 years. They’ll return to X-Ray Arcade for a can’t-miss Cudahy bill that also features The Brokedowns and local support from Avenues and M545.