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 the week of January 14-20, 2019.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
414 Live: Amanda Huff @ 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Amanda Huff came to local consciousness in 2018 with her first true solo effort, the genre-jumping Hemiptera. The Strangelander member wasted no time making her presence known by showing her amazing vocal range amid flamenco guitars in opening track “Neighboring Moons,” followed by the lounge-y, jazz-infused “Caroline’s.” And yeah, that voice; the fact that Huff organized a tribute show to Björk in 2017 should give you a pretty good idea of where she’s coming from. Tonight’s 414 Live show serves as a preview for Huff’s appearance at Friday’s Local Coverage show, where she’ll be performing the music of LUXI.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18
Milwaukee Record presents: Local Coverage @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Following four years of fun philanthropy, Milwaukee Record‘s Local Coverage benefit returns to Turner Hall Ballroom. An eclectic cast of seven local acts from all corners of the stylistic spectrum will each play 15-minute sets, covering material of artists they personally selected from the pool of participating projects. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see your favorite Milwaukee outfits as you’ve never seen them before. From Direct Hit! adapting the music of Nickel&Rose, Paper Holland re-imagining Immortal Girlfriend, and Amanda Huff covering LUXI shortly after LUXI gives an electronic re-dressing to the ska stylings of Something To Do, Local Coverage is an incomparable event for a great cause. All proceeds will be donated to Milwaukee Women’s Center.
Sex Scenes + Solid Freex, Dogs In Ecstasy @ Circle-A Cafe
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
Voces Benefit: Snag + Pleasure Thief, Winterbourne, Plvgues @ Quarters Rock ‘n’ Roll Palace
For the past 25 years, Milwaukee-based Voces de la Frontera has been fighting for immigrant rights; in the past few years, the group has been working overtime. Tonight’s show, highlighted by Cat Ries’ Pleasure Thief project, and “anti-fascist black metal” group Winterbourne, directly benefits the grassroots group. Admission will be on a sliding scale.
Frozen Toe Winter Block Party: Platinum Boys + Dogs In Ecstasy @ Nomad World Pub
Max Devereaux (full band) + Amanda Huff @ Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
Bernice + Strangelander, Caley Conway (full band) @ Cactus Club
Toronto-based Bernice has garnered comparisons to Brooklyn’s Dirty Projectors, which seems apt; both groups are equally fractured and art-damaged, though Bernice singer-songwriter Robin Dann takes her band to dreamier, more esoteric heights. For proof, look no further than 2018’s Puff: In The Air Without A Shape, which contains a reworked version of the sublime “St. Lucia.”