Milwaukee 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 April 17-23 2023.
TUESDAY, APRIL 18
Joseph Huber + Todd Day Wait @ Cactus Club
Before he made a name for himself in roots and Americana music in Milwaukee, Joseph Huber was a punk kid living in the country. While growing up on the outskirts of New London, Wisconsin, the mohawked Huber learned how to play guitar on an Ibanez before spending most of his high school years playing in The Inserts and writing regrettable songs in The Rogues. After moving to Milwaukee for college, Huber hit it off with Jayke Orvis and formed the wildly popular and influential .357 String Band. Huber has released a number of solo records since .357’s demise in 2011; his sixth, the excellent The Downtowner, was released in 2022.
Bearings + Tiny Voices, Clementine @ X-Ray Arcade
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19
Bikini Kill + Soup Activists @ Riverside Theater
The bad news: After releasing four albums, revolutionary Washington punk band Bikini Kill disbanded in 1997. The good news: The band has reunited for occasional tours since 2017, and the current/rescheduled Bikini Kill tour includes a stop in Milwaukee. This looooong-delayed show was originally announced way back in November 2019, and was originally set for May 2020. One pandemic, one reschedule, and one venue flip-flop later, Bikini Kill FINALLY plays Riverside Theater tonight.
Argopelter + Caley Conway @ Boone & Crockett
Argopelter is an improvised experimental trio composed of Barry Paul Clark (bass), Devin Drobka (drums), and Christopher Porterfield (guitar). The group’s frequent residencies at Boone & Crockett are always appointment viewing/listening, especially when coupled with incomparable singer-songwriter Caley Conway. The musicians’ spring residency continues tonight, with another show on May 10 to follow.
Milwaukee Record Presents: MacGruber (2010) @ Times Cinema
We know what you’re thinking. As you read this, we’re sure you’re wondering to yourself, “Wait, isn’t MacGruber based on a bad, one-note Saturday Night Live sketch?” and “Wasn’t MacGruber a box office bust that was critically panned at the time of its release?” And, yes, both those things are true. Of course, if you’ve ever seen MacGruber, you absolutely understand why we’re screening it as part of our “April Powers” film series: it’s goddamn hilarious. If you missed it in theaters, you now have a chance to see MacGruber on the big screen. If you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a treat! Don’t make us beg. We’ll do it.
Franks & Deans + Size 5’s, Courtesy Of Tim, Meskales @ X-Ray Arcade
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
2023 Milwaukee Film Festival @ various locations (through May 4)
It’s finally here! For 15 glorious days, the 2023 Milwaukee Film Festival will screen 135 feature films and 148 short films at the Oriental Theatre, the Avalon Theater, and Times Cinema. (As always, Milwaukee Record will be the proud presenter of the Cinema Hooligante program, which rules.) Opening Night film Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory—yes, Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory—screens tonight at the Oriental’s Abele Cinema. “After his wife Randi survives breast cancer and a mastectomy,” reads the synopsis for the Eau Claire-based documentary, “Brian Johnson, a serial entrepreneur and tinkerer, embarks on an extraordinary journey to help her feel complete. From a bedroom in Eau Claire, WI, director Justin ‘Justinsuperstar’ Johnson’s parents pursue the perfect prosthetic nipple, transforming what began as an intimate labor of love into a ‘factory’ with the power to change thousands of survivors’ lives in this fascinating tale of resilience, dignity, and family.” The Opening Night film will be followed by an Opening Night Party at the Historic Pritzlaff Building (143 W. St. Paul Ave.). Click HERE to explore the rest of the fest.
Daikaiju + Devils Teeth, Nasty Boys, Fight Dice @ X-Ray Arcade
While its members call Texas and the Pacific Northwest home, Daikaiju is something of a frequent visitor to metro Milwaukee. The multi-genre musical spectacle known for its fondness of fire returns to X-Ray Arcade for the third time since September 2021. Milwaukee surf rockers Devils Teeth and local D&D-themed band Fight Dice will play before things (literally) heat up in Cudahy.
State of Sound: Trapper Schoepp @ Radio Milwaukee
Pescatarian At Best + Rat Bath, Unitaskers, Death Is A Business @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Begonia + Mark Waldoch @ Shank Hall
Gold Steps + Suitable Miss, Clementine, The Fall Sound @ Promises
Twen + Waltzer, Diet Lite @ Cactus Club
FRIDAY, APRIL 21
Trapper Schoepp (record release) + Mike Viola @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
Back in 2019, Milwaukee troubadour Trapper Schoepp published a long-lost Bob Dylan song called “On, Wisconsin,” becoming the youngest musician to share a co-writing credit with Dylan in the process. (What did you do in 2019?) Four years later, Schoepp is looking to another legendary musician (and Dylan pal) for inspiration: Johnny Cash. Schoepp’s new full-length album, Siren Songs, was recorded at Johnny Cash’s Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Tonight’s can’t-miss Back Room show serves as Siren Songs‘ hometown release.
Sunny Day Real Estate + Appleseed Cast @ Pabst Theater
Bands like Sunny Day Real Estate don’t come along very often. Fortunately for us, Sunny Day Real Estate decides to reunite and tour from time to time. The influential emo stalwarts swing by Milwaukee tonight to head up a Pabst Theater outing that also features support from the experienced likes of Appleseed Cast.
Will Phrang And The Goodland Gang + Cozy Danger, Blind Hill @ Company Brewing
Writers Round: Merrill Miller + Ben Harold, Ali J @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Spring Gallery Night @ various locations (also April 22)
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Record Store Day @ Lilliput Records
For this year’s Record Store Day, Lilliput Records and Milwaukee Record have ambitious plans for a day full of live music, DJ sets, a pop-up cafe, raffles for concert tickets and other goodies, and the chance to get discounts at nearby businesses. Oh, the store will also have some new Record Store Day releases on hand and will be offering sales on a variety of non-RSD releases all day long. Come for the deals and stay for free performances by Doubter, Heather The Jerk, and William Seidel.
Record Store Day @ Acme Records
“We’re pleased to announce a return to form (somewhat) here at Acme Records for Record Store Day this year! While probably not as much of a party as it’s been in years past (we’ll get back to those eventually!), we will be hosting DJs all day & some live music as well! Events throughout the day: 12pm —> DJ Katie Rose; 1pm —-> DJ Armando Velazquez; 2pm —-> DJ Sahan Jayasuriya; 3pm —-> DJ Stephen Strupp; 4pm —-> DJ Eric Mildew; 5pm —-> live solo performance from Nathaniel Hauer (Group Of The Altos; Hello Death) from the Blight Record Project.”
KVL (record release) @ The Sugar Maple
“The show celebrates the band’s second record release on the Astral Spirits label featuring Quin Kirchner (drums, sampler, electronics), Daniel Van Duerm (keyboards, electronics) & Matthew Lux (bass, electronics).”
Milwaukee Zine Fest 2023 @ Milwaukee Central Library
“Join us for Milwaukee Zine Fest’s 15th year, hosted in our lovely home in the Central Branch of Milwaukee Public Library! FREE to attend, as always! Come celebrate independent and DIY print media in the Midwest’s longest standing zine-focused festival. This year’s fest will be bigger and better than ever with dozens of vendors, several all-day activities, and two mid-day workshops. Come make a zine of your own, print a mini-poster, and connect with others who are nerd-level obsessed with crafting wonderful paper-based media. Pop in any time and support local/regional self publishing!”
Caroline Rose + Kairos Creature Club @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Credentials + Seasaw (record release), Cullah @ Cactus Club
Florida Brothers Band + CAW, The Women @ High Dive
Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup @ Lakefront Brewery
SUNDAY, APRIL 23
The Inaugural Resurrectionists Film Fest @ Cactus Club
“The new winter isn’t new, it’s just the old one again,” yelps Resurrectionists singer Joe Cannon as he hoofs it through early-2021 Riverwest in the video for “New Winter,” a standout track from the new Now That We Are All Ghosts. “Bodies in the snow vanish with the thaw / Or, better put, they wait for the thaw to withdraw again.” The Brian Theisen-directed clip for “The New Winter” isn’t Ghosts‘ only video; no, all nine of the album’s tracks have been given the video treatment, courtesy of six filmmakers (Theisen, Eric Arsnow, TW Hansen, Conan Neutron, Wendy Norton, Erica Strout). Today’s Inaugural Resurrectionists Film Fest features screenings of all nine videos, along with other work from the filmmakers. The free, all-ages show begins at 3 p.m.
The Monkees Celebrated By Micky Dolenz @ The Pabst Theater
In November 2021, the two surviving members of The Monkees—Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith—played a fantastic farewell show at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater. And it was a farewell—one month later, Nesmith passed away. Now the last man standing, Dolenz is soldiering on with a tour celebrating The Monkees’ classic 1967 record Headquarters, which found the band handling the bulk of the writing and performing duties for the first time.
Decent Criminal + Iron Pizza, Habitat For Insanity @ Cactus Club
Pilers + Something To Do, Pulpa de Guayaba @ X-Ray Arcade
Thelma And The Sleaze + Kat And The Hurricane, Bellends @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
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