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 April 18-24, 2022.
TUESDAY, APRIL 19
Olivia Rodrigo + Gracie Abrams @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Ah yes, it’s this year’s “Wait…This Show Is At The Rave?” show. So yes, wildly popular pop star (and former Disney actress, natch) Olivia Rodrigo is playing The Rave. How is she playing The Rave and not, say, Riverside Theater, the BMO Harris Pavilion, the Miller High Life Theatre, or, hell, Fiserv Forum? Who knows! Did this show sell out almost instantly! Of course!
Skating Polly + System Exclusive, LUXI @ X-Ray Arcade
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20
Milwaukee Record Presents: Dazed And Confused @ Avalon Atmospheric Theater
Dazed And Confused presents a fictionalized last day of school in 1976 through the linked experiences of several groups of Texas teenagers and one seriously creepy older Texas weirdo. Over the course of 24-ish hours, the various teens get involved with fast driving, freshman hazing, shop class bongs, baseball, fighting, Ben Affleck, nose-touching, jalapeno burgers, soggy fries, and so much more. Tickets to the 7 p.m. screening are $11, and our generous sponsors are Lakefront Brewery and Educators Credit Union! You don’t have to go to this screening…but it’d be a lot cooler if you did.
Midweek Music: Jon Knudson + Kyle Rightly (of Driveway Thriftdwellers) @ Crafty Cow Tosa
Midweek Music is back! Join us at Crafty Cow Tosa every Wednesday in April and May for a total of eight Midweek Music performances. There’s no cover for these all-ages shows, which run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If a free weeknight show isn’t already great enough on its own, Crafty Cow Tosa will offer $4 Indeed Brewing Company pints. They’ll also have a “Cheap Date” special, which includes two entrees, an appetizer, and two drinks for just $39. This week: Jon Knudson and Kyle Rightly of old-school country outfit Driveway Thriftdwellers!
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 recent Wednesday-night winter residency at Boone & Crockett was appointment viewing/listening, especially when coupled with accompanying solo performances from singer-songwriter Caley Conway. Now, Argopelter and Conway are back for a Wednesday-night spring residency. The remaining dates are April 20, May 18, and May 25. The shows are free and wonderful. Be there.
THURSDAY, APRIL 21
2022 Milwaukee Film Festival @ various locations (through May 5)
Buckle up: The 14th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will feature 134 features and 150 short films from 43 countries. All films will screen in-person at either the Oriental Theatre, Avalon Theater, or Times Cinema; sixty-nine features and all of the shorts programs will also be available virtually. Want indie films with big indie stars? Get your tickets now for The Good Boss with Javier Bardem, 892 with John Boyega, or Cha Cha Real Smooth with Dakota Johnson. How about music documentaries? There’s Charli XCX: Alone Together; Look At Me: XXXTentacion; Buddy Guy: Chase The Blues Away; and the Courtney Barnett doc Anonymous Club. Craving the midnight movie vibe? Then you’ll love the Milwaukee Record-sponsored Cinema Hooligante program, featuring everything from urban slasher flicks and sci-fi (Bitch Ass, Neptune Frost), to slow-burn thrillers and anime (Watcher, Belle). Oh, and a 35mm screening of John Carpenter’s The Thing, complete with a live post-film episode of the Cinebuds podcast!
Humbird + Ellie Jackson @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Humbird—a Minneapolis-based experimental folk project fronted by Siri Undlin—makes its way to the Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery as part of a tour supporting last year’s excellent album, Still Life. Milwaukee’s own Ellie Jackson opens.
Man Random + Goalkeeper, House & Home, Courtesy @ X-Ray Arcade
Lunar Moth + Toadskin, The Mothman Cacophony @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Cat Power @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Over the course of the project’s lengthy run, Cat Power—the captivating musical endeavor helmed by prolific singer-songwriter Chan Marshall—has released 11 studio albums. A few months after putting out her latest album, the just-released Covers, Marshall will treat Turner Hall to songs from that record and material from various other points in Cat Power’s impressive and accomplished career.
Katt Williams @ UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
ANDII + The Love-In, Fellow Kinsman @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Little Blue Crunchy Things @ Shank Hall
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
Joe Pera @ The Back Room @ Colectivo (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows)
If you’re new to this website and somehow unfamiliar with Joe Pera, the comedian/actor is the star and namesake of Joe Pera Talks With You, a heartwarming and hilarious Adult Swim series that’s filmed primarily in Milwaukee by a largely local crew. While we wait for Season 4 (please let there be a fourth season!), this live show will be a nice way to pass the time. Unfortunately, tickets to both of Pera’s Back Room shows sold out almost instantly, though some tickets may still be available.
Spoon + Margaret Glaspy @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Fresh off the release of the band’s 10th studio album, the excellent Lucifer On The Sofa, Spoon will play songs from that well-received record and various other celebrated songs from its extensive catalog.
Valerie Lighthart (EP release) + Lila Realm, Bisca Rae @ Cactus Club
Singer, model, and actor Valerie Lighthart will officially complete her “By Moonlight” trilogy with the release of her third EP, Pt. III: The Banshee. Joining the Milwaukee multi-hyphenate in this Cactus Club release show extravaganza is Lila Realm (Amanda Huff’s artistic alter ego) and Bisca Rae. The lineup also features the work of up-and-coming local designer Maria Olsson.
Old Pup (record release) + Colorblind Chameleon, Dandy L Freling @ Company Brewing
Mad Mojo Jett + Fun Bois, Delicious Monsters @ Last Rites
Rick Donner (Bicentennial Drug Lord) + Jay Matthes, Elephonic @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Little Blue Crunchy Things @ Shank Hall
SUNDAY, APRIL 24
“Bloody Sunday” @ Nice Times
As part of our Cinema Hooligante sponsorship for the 2022 Milwaukee Film Festival, we’re hosting two “Bloody Sundays” at new plant-based East Side bar/eatery Nice Times (a.k.a. the old Hotel Foster). These free events will feature Bloody Marys and other food and drinks sold by Nice Times, free cold pizza supplied by Milwaukee Record, and goofy horror movies projected on the wall. Oh, and Nice Times’ regular Sunday markets will be happening at the same time! Fun! What will we show? Who knows! The only thing we do know is that, unlike the time we did this way back in 2013, we will absolutely NOT screen The Human Centipede.
The Schizophonics + Primitive Broadcast Service @ Cactus Club
Exclusive articles, podcasts, and more. Support Milwaukee Record on Patreon.