November. Summer is now far in the rear view mirror. Most of Milwaukee’s festivals are now over. By now, your Halloween costume has been washed and stored away for later use. On paper, November doesn’t offer much beyond Thanksgiving. It’s the continuation of one season and the precursor to another. Still, between lauded comedians coming to town, great local and national concerts, and can’t-miss Milwaukee Record happenings, there’s plenty to keep Milwaukee occupied as we await the impending wintry doom. Here are 15 of our top picks.
Wednesday, November 4
Strange And Found: A Bountiful VHS Harvest @ Times Cinema
What do you get when members from Found Footage Festival and Strange Tapes Zine combine hand-picked selections from their VHS collections into one 85-minute program? Why, you get the “Strange And Found: A Bountiful VHS Harvest” show! Join Joe Pickett and Scott Miller at Times Cinema to enjoy clips from strangers’ home movies, amateur UFO investigations, forgotten TV oddities, and maybe even an exercise video hosted by Joe Diffie.
Thursday, November 5
Orville Peck @ Landmark Credit Union Live
Just over a month after the release of his latest, acclaimed fourth album Mule, masked country crooner Orville Peck—face-obstructing wardrobe an all—will take the stage at Landmark Credit Union Live as part of his ongoing “Man Turned Mule” tour. Yeehaw!
Thursday, November 5
Blind Boys Of Alabama Present: Songs In The Key Of Life @ South Milwaukee PAC
Blind Boys Of Alabama are six-time Grammy winners, Gospel Music Hall Of Famers, and voices that have both inspired and endured for generations. On Thursday, November 5, those legends will come to South Milwaukee’s Performing Arts Center will pay tribute to another when they perform Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key Of Life among other celebrated selections. Don’t miss it!
Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8
Goose @ Miller High Life Theatre
Goose—the extremely popular jam band, not to be confused with extremely popular rock band Geese—is coming to Milwaukee’s massive Miller High Life Theatre for three nights of shows in support of their latest album, this year’s Big Modern! Nights one and two are already sold out, so get those November 8 tickets while you still can!
Friday, November 6
Napoleon Dynamite Live! 20th Anniversary Celebration @ Pabst Theater
Has it really been more than 20 years since the release of Napoleon Dynamite? GOSH, it really has. Does the film still retain its awkward, ridiculous, and endlessly quotable power? Do Alaskan wolverines keep trying to attack our nation’s cousins? (In other words: yes.) The original stars of the endearing cult classic—Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico)—are coming to Pabst Theater. SWEET. The event will feature a full screening of Napoleon Dynamite followed by a “lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion” with the cast. Also, the event is being billed as BYOT (Bring Your Own Tots).
Tuesday, November 10
Jack White @ Landmark Credit Union Live
Yes, Jack White is scheduled to play Landmark Credit Union Live on Tuesday, November 10. And yes, this will be a phone-free show, which means you have to lock your phone in a pouch or whatever. “WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS & IS IT MANDATORY?” asks an FAQ. “We believe this creates a better experience for everyone,” answers the FAQ. The Landmark Credit Union Live show will be almost exactly two years from the last time White played Milwaukee…at The Rave, The Vanguard, and Cactus Club. Love you, Jack! And thanks again for kicking in some serious cash for Cactus’ new ramp!
Thursday, November 12
Michelle Branch @ Pabst Theater
Want to feel old? It’s been 25 whole-ass years since then-17-year-old Michelle Branch released her debut album, The Spirit Room, which included hits like “Everywhere” and “All You Wanted.” To mark the double-Platinum record’s quarter-century anniversary, Branch is hitting the road and taking stages across the country for her “Everywhere And Back Again” tour. Thankfully, Milwaukee’s historic Pabst Theater is one of the stops on said tour.
Friday, November 13
The Best Of Steve Martin & Martin Short with The Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko @ Miller High Life Theatre
Capital L comedy LEGENDS Steve Martin and Martin Short have both managed astounding careers that have spanned decades upon decades, influenced and enthralled generations of fans, and have stood the test of time. Despite all they have done, the duo continues to act together and tour theaters to delight onlookers with their hilarious musings and their charmingly combative friendship. Martin and Short will return to Milwaukee on November 13 as part of their “The Best Of Steve Martin & Martin Short” tour, which will also include performances by Martin’s band The Steep Canyon Rangers as well as Jeff Babko.
Saturday, November 14
Mustard Plug + Devon Kay & The Solutions, Meskales @ X-Ray Arcade
Skank your way down to Cudahy to see 35-year ska staples Mustard Plug headline a Saturday night show that also features support from Devon Kay & The Solutions and Meskales.
Thursday, November 19
Squirrel Flower + Sour Widows @ Cactus Club
All aboard the Squirrel Flower express! Ella Williams is getting the whole band together and hitting the road this fall. You can see the Chicago-sired indie project in the cozy confines of Bay View’s Cactus Club on Thursday, November 19. Sour Widows will open.
Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21
Sean Patton @ The Laughing Tap (three shows!)
Comedian Sean Patton has performed on network television talk shows, been a frequent fixture on Comedy Central stand-up showcases (including his own half-hour), released a few outstanding comedy albums, and has likely been a memorable guest on some of your favorite podcasts. He’s also an actor who had a recurring role on English Teacher and the final season of Hacks. Now a certified Milwaukee regular thanks to the fine folks at Milwaukee Comedy booking him in recent years, he’ll come to the Milwaukee Comedy-owned and -operated Laughing Tap for three shows.
Saturday, November 21
Ryan Necci And The Buffalo Gospel + Ladybird @ The Cooperage
Even though Ryan Necci—the founding member, bandleader, and namesake of Ryan Necci And The Buffalo Gospel—now calls Tennessee home, the Milwaukee expat and professional songwriter returns to his home region every fall and brings the band out for a local concert. Following a few years at The Back Room @ Colectivo and a couple of concerts at Vivarium, Necci and company will take the show to The Cooperage. As if you need another reason to attend, Ladybird is opening.
Sunday, November 22
Casserole Call: A Hot Dish Bake Off @ Falcon Hall
Join Milwaukee Record at Falcon Bowl on Sunday, November 22 for a celebration of all things casserole. The fourth annual “Casserole Call” will feature a wide range of area businesses descending upon Falcon Hall and serving up their own unique take on this beloved Midwest culinary favorite as they vie for the title of Milwaukee’s Best Casserole—which will be decided by those in attendance.
From noon to 3 p.m., casserole connoisseurs are invited to taste samples from the likes of Riley’s Sandwich Company, Uncle Wolfie’s, Simple Soyman, Bakehouse 23, Black Husky Brewing, Buckatabon Supper Club, Haven Cafe, Milwaukee Record, and more. Each ticket includes three sample vouchers. Additional samples can be purchased for $1 each. Best yet, ALL the proceeds Milwaukee Record brings in through ticket and sample sales will be donated to Kinship Community Food Center. We’ve officially issued a Casserole Call. Will you answer?
Wednesday, November 25
Friendsgiving with Chicken Wire Empire, Valley Fox, and more @ The Cooperage
While Chicken Wire Empire plays festivals all over the Midwest and is known to embark on the occasional European tour, the Milwaukee-based bluegrass stalwarts tend to only play sparingly in their hometown. The scarcity of those local outings only serves to make them more special and less skip-able, so you definitely don’t want to miss Chicken Wire Empire’s annual “Friendsgiving” show at The Cooperage the night before Thanksgiving. This relatively rare local performance will also feature Valley Fox and other area bluegrass-adjacent talent TBA.
Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29
Pete Lee @ Milwaukee Improv (five shows!)
After growing up in Janesville, Wisconsin, Pete Lee has gone on to perform on Letterman, guest on The Tonight Show (almost a dozen times at the moment!), and rack up a wide variety of credits that include notable TV shows like Last Comic Standing, As The World Turns, Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, and much more. He’s released comedy albums, put out a Comedy Central half-hour special, and has performed more than 500 shows at colleges around the country. Lee will return to the region November 27-29 for a total of five Thanksgiving weekend shows at Milwaukee Improv.