Milwaukee is chock full of things to do, but only a handful of Milwaukee events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations—brought to you by Lilliput Records—for January 6-12, 2025.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6
Ryley Walker + Michael Vallera @ Cactus Club
“Ryley Walker is an accomplished fingerstyle guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Chicago whose music and evolution as an artist have proven mercurial. He moved from noisy avant-garde work in his nascent stages into virtuosic guitar playing and floating spiritual pop that traced lines between Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, and somehow even the Dave Matthews Band. Walker’s love of the DMB was highlighted in his dark interpretations of their songs on the 2018 covers album The Lillywhite Sessions. A series of adventurous collaborations followed before Walker returned to his original solo work on 2021’s Course In Fable.”
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7
WMSE’s Local/Live: Poison Hand @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“WMSE is excited to invite you back to Anodyne in Walker’s Point on Tuesday, January 7th, at 6pm sharp for another free, all-ages edition of Local Live, with Poison Hand! Sid and Maggie will be your hosts for this kickass live performance and interview. Poison Hand was formed in the Summer of 2021 by members of other established Milwaukee punk and hardcore bands. Their sound has a steady grounding in mid-tempo punk rock with a heavy portion of melodic hooks. But the band’s vocal delivery has a lot more chain-smoking gravel and growl than most melodic punk rock groups. Keep your eyes open for their upcoming debut vinyl release, Suspect the Vice, on Boulavard Trash Records.”
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8
Leroy Airmaster @ Nashville North
“The Blues are on Wednesday Nights at Nashville North! Leroy Airmaster were a staple every week at The Up & Under (now Nashville North) for almost a decade! They’re back for a special evening of Blues! One of Wisconsin’s most tenured and favorite Blues Bands featuring Steve Cohen, Bill Stone, Dave Kasik & Marc Wilson!”
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9
Shiner + Fight Dice, Overhand @ X-Ray Arcade
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Kansas City rock stalwarts Shiner are coming to Cudahy for a can’t-miss club outing that also features local support by D&D-themed supergroup Fight Dice and the ever-busy Overhand. Originally scheduled to happen December 4, the show will now take place tonight at 7 p.m.
Morning Train: A Tribute to John Prine @ Shank Hall
“An all-star cast of Milwaukee musicians including members of Chicken Wire Empire, Funkclub Wagon, The WhiskeyBelles and more; bring you an evening to remember the music of John Prine. A few years ago we lost one of the most prolific song-writers the world has ever known. John Prine wrote with humility, hope and plenty of humor. Join us this January as we flip through the impressive catalog he left behind and pay homage to one of the greats.”
Steve Byrne @ Milwaukee Improv (through January 11)
Steve Byrne has the distinction of being the first comic to ever headline at Milwaukee Improv. Since that run of summer 2021 performances, he’s been a regular visitor to the Brookfield-based club. You can see the veteran comedian, actor, and former star of the TBS series Sullivan & Son at Milwaukee Improv for a total of five shows January 9-11.
Oh Geeez, Not Again + Royal Mill, VLNTYN @ Falcon Nest
Moonglow + Shoobie, Dilly Dally Alley, Alley Eyes @ Cactus Club
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
WMSE’s Friday Night Freak Show: Labyrinth @ Oriental Theatre
“The first WMSE Friday Night Freak Show of 2025 will feature Labyrinth, written and directed by Jim Henson. Sixteen-year-old Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother Toby when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie). The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. with a DJ set by Sid of Squid Inc, followed by the film screening at 7:30 p.m.”
Nate Craig @ The Laughing Tap (also January 11)
While he’s now based in Los Angeles, Wisconsin-born comedian/actor Nate Craig returns to his home state with some regularity. In 2023 alone, he opened for Bill Burr at Fiserv Forum in October, headlined a Turner Hall show in November, and helped The Laughing Tap ring in the new year with a NYE-adjacent residency. Craig comes back to Milwaukee January 10-11 to headline a total of four shows at The Laughing Tap.
Zoltan Kaszas @ Shank Hall (also January 11)
“Zoltan Kaszas is a Hungarian-born, award-winning stand-up comedian known for his sharp, observational humor. Kaszas, who The Atlantic called a ‘breakout star,’ has been featured on several SiriusXM comedy channels, Laughs on Fox, Netflix Is a Joke, Scotland’s Fringe Festival and headlines comedy clubs and theaters across the country. It was his riff on why cats are better than dogs that brought viral fame, racking up over 68 million views with The Guardian’s (UK) calling it one of the ‘ten funniest things I’ve seen on the Internet.’ Kaszas has two Dry Bar standup specials and three independent standup specials on YouTube: Modern Male, White Lies and his most recent, Honorary Jones. His ability to take relatable experiences and turn them into hilarious stories has earned him both critical acclaim and a loyal following.”
Long Line Riders @ The Wiggle Room
Conniption (record release) + Imperial Fall, The Truck @ Miramar Theatre
Vapid Soul + These Fading Visions, Empty Graves, Ego Death, Haunter @ X-Ray Arcade
Florida Brothers + M545, Billy Dreamer @ Last Rites MKE
An Evening With Harmonious Wail @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Billy Joel Jr. + Sterling, Oyeme @ Falcon Nest
thisworldisnotkind + Rose Ceremony, I H8 It Here, Courtesy @ Sugar Maple
Retro Dance Party: DJ Don Black @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11
The Sound Of Kareem City: A Tribute To Twan Mack @ The Cooperage
In November, Milwaukee lost one of its most accomplished and influential hip-hop voices when Twan Mack passed away at the age of 54. Many of Mack’s friends, collaborators, and contemporaries will come together at The Cooperage for a day-long event that will pay tribute to him. “The Sound Of Kareem City” will run from 3 p.m. to close. There will be performances by BLAX, Dame Ellzey, DJ DRiPSweat, King Myles, Rusty P’s, Kamonzi, NilexNile, Spacecrime, and many more. The event is free, but donations and money raised from merch sales will be given to Mack’s mother.
Ira Glass @ The Pabst Theater
“Ira Glass is the host and creator of the public radio program This American Life. The show is heard each week by over 5 million listeners on public radio stations and podcast. Glass began his career as an intern at National Public Radio’s network headquarters in Washington, DC in 1978, when he was 19 years old. He put This American Life on the air in 1995. He also served as an editor for the groundbreaking podcasts Serial, S-Town and Nice White Parents. Under Glass’s editorial direction, This American Life has won the highest honors for broadcasting and journalistic excellence, including seven Peabody awards and the first Pulitzer Prize ever awarded for audio journalism. In 2021 This American Life episode ‘The Giant Pool of Money’ was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, the first podcast ever so honored.”
Spirit Bomb @ X-Ray Arcade
“Spirit Bomb is an explosive anime tribute band making waves across the nation with their high energy ‘Anime Music Experience’ concerts. Fronted by Japanese American singer ‘Elaina Sekino,’ guitarist YouTuber Kevin Samuel, aka ‘Tuning the World,’ the multi-talented drummer and vocalist Damian Hyde, aka ‘Daymo,’ and the enigmatic bassist known as ‘Oni,’ Spirit Bomb is truly a one-of-a-kind act based in the USA delivering to an underserved market of Japanese Anime fans.”
LoBi LoBianco (record release) + In Shining Armour, Midwest BMO @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Subspace Presents: Madame Reaper + LUXI, Lavish Waste @ Cactus Club
The New Nineteen Thirteen + Neal Lucas @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
The Get Down @ Quarters Rock ‘n’ Roll Palace
The New New – A New Popular Music Dance Party @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Lack Of Reason @ Cactus Club
The Green Bay Football Team™ is in the playoffs! Not only does that mean “The Pack” lives on for another week, it also means our Milwaukee Record Halftime Show series will continue on at Cactus Club until Green Bay either loses…or wins it all. Milwaukee rockers Lack Of Reason will perform a FREE set during halftime of the Green Bay-Philadelphia playoff game on Sunday, January 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. As always, Miller High Life and MKE Distilling Company bloody marys will be on special. There will also be free touchdown shots (both regular and N/A), Transfer Pizzeria Cafe will be serving up pizza, and yours truly will be DJing commercial breaks. The regular season might be over, but the Milwaukee Record Halftime Show series isn’t done just yet.
Big Head Todd And The Monsters: 40th Anniversary Tour @ The Pabst Theater
“In this life, very few friendships withstand the test of time. Naturally, people go their separate ways and chase their own dreams. As rare as it may be for friendships to last a lifetime, it might be even rarer for a band to stick together for the long haul. For close to four decades, the members of Big Head Todd and The Monsters—Todd Park Mohr [vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica], Brian Nevin [drums], Rob Squires [bass, vocals], and Jeremy Lawton [keyboards, lap pedal/steel guitar, vocals]—have continued to both throw down in the studio and light up stages worldwide. Rallying around a core vision, the platinum-selling Colorado quartet kick out the kind of blues-drenched rock ‘n’ roll bangers that make you want to rev the engine a little louder, sing along like no one’s looking, and live a little freer.”
Clayton Ryan + Zander, Carl Erikstrup Trio @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
The Hungry Williams @ Ope! Brewing Co.
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