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 January 17-23, 2022.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19

Argopelter + Caley Conway @ Boone & Crockett
Argopelter—an improvised trio composed of members from Field Report—returns to the comfortable confines of Boone & Crockett for a “winter residency” that features three Wednesday night performances. Joining Argopelter at these January 19, February 2, and February 16 outings is Caley Conway, who will treat those in attendance to new iterations of her music. There’s no cover for these shows. Masks are required to be worn properly when not actively consuming food or drinks while indoors.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20

Courtney Barnett + Julia Jacklin @ The Pabst Theater
Courtney Barnett’s Things Take Time, Take Time was one of the best records of 2021, full stop. The acclaimed Australian artist perfectly captures our current hazy, pandemic-era twilight zone with songs like opener “Rae Street” (“Unless we see some change / I might change my sheets today”) and the dreamy “Here’s The Thing” (“Gonna write this letter to you that I’ll never send”). Take Time may indeed take time to sink in, but when it does, it proves to be a fine followup to Barnett’s previous records, Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit (2015) and Tell Me How You Really Feel (2018).

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21

Brian Posehn @ Turner Hall Ballroom
A perennial “THAT guy,” Brian Posehn has one of those resumes that boggles the mind. Yes, he’s primarily known for his comedy and his appearances on shows like Just Shoot Me! and The Sarah Silverman Program, but he’s also done voice work for numerous cartoons and video games, and pops up in movies like The Devil’s Rejects. In 2020, Posehn released an album of comedy-metal tunes, Grandpa Metal.

The Brian McKnight 4 @ Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
Though it has been 25 years since Brian McKnight hit charts hard with “Anytime,” the long-tenured R&B singer hasn’t stopped singing. Including six compilations and a pair of Christmas albums, McKnight has more than 20 albums to his credit. He’ll traverse that lengthy catalog during this Northern Lights Theater show.

JC Coccoli @ The Laughing Tap
With an impressive list of comic credits that includes Chelsea Lately, NBC’s Last Comic Standing, an MTV sketch show called Hey Girl, and work that can be seen on HBO Max, Comedy Central, Hulu, and even the Headspace meditation app, JC Coccoli has put together a varied and accomplished career in comedy. See the stand-up comedian, actor, and writer on Friday, January 21 and Saturday, January 22, when she comes to The Laughing Tap in Walker’s Point.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22

Riverwest Co-op’s Annual Spaghetti Dinner @ Falcon Bowl
Who doesn’t love a good spaghetti dinner? No one, that’s who. Anyway, this year’s Riverwest Co-op Spaghetti Dinner (the event’s 20th anniversary!) will largely be take-out from the Falcon Bowl Hall from 5-8 p.m. Adult tickets are $10 for pre-order, or $15 at the door. Kid tickets (6-12) are $5 for pre-order, or $6 at the door. Music, both live and livestreamed, will be provided by Tom Schwark.

Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Peshtigo @ Cactus Club
After a season away, the Milwaukee Record Halftime Show series has returned! After assembling a stacked roster of 17 performers to provide FREE all-ages entertainment during halftime of Green Bay regular season games, we’re now continuing the series into the playoffs. As always, our friends at Miller High Life will sponsor our football-focused festivities, meaning fans can enjoy “The Champagne Of Beers” and Miller Lite for $2.50 a bottle or $10 for a bucket of five beers all game long. Peshtigo will treat Cactus Club to a halftime performance this Saturday night.

JC Coccoli @ The Laughing Tap

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23

Low Cut Connie + Robert Finley @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
Over the course of a decade, Low Cut Connie—a project headed up by singer/pianist Adam Weiner—has released six acclaimed albums, toured the world, earned high praise from legendary musicians like Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, and has become a favorite of two United States Presidents. Weiner has been especially busy since last March, performing more than 100 “Tough Cookies” livestream shows to millions of viewers all over the world and releasing the latest Low Cut Connie album. Finally able to hit the road again, Low Cut Connie will treat The Back Room @ Colectivo to an in-person performance. Joining Weiner is opener Robert Finley, a blind blues singer whose album, Sharecropper’s Son, was one of our personal favorite records of 2021.

Steve-O: The Bucket List Tour @ The Pabst Theater
“FOR ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY” reads the “no shit” disclaimer for Steve-O’s Bucket List Tour. “This show contains graphic footage of sexually explicit content, nudity, self-inflicted violence, & drug use.” God bless this man.