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 21-27, 2019.
MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Louie Anderson @ Potawatomi Northern Lights Theater
In a time when stand-up comedy is in a state of controversy and upheaval, Louie Anderson stands out as a warm, comforting presence. For 40 years, the Minnesota-born comic has entertained crowds with jokes about growing up in a dysfunctional family, dealing with his weight, and, in his latest special, being the proud owner of Big Underwear. But Anderson’s resume includes much more than self-deprecating stand-up. His 1989 book Dear Dad: Letters From An Adult Child chronicles his attempts to make peace with his abusive, late father. His Emmy-award-winning cartoon Life With Louie ran from 1995-1998 on Fox. He (briefly) hosted Family Feud, for goodness’ sake. His performance as Zach Galifianakis’ mother on the FX series Baskets, meanwhile, has netted him three consecutive Primetime Emmy awards. For other comics, being called over by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show would be hard to top. Anderson has managed to do so in his own idiosyncratic way.
SIN BAD + Gramma, Action Jelly @ High Dive
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Insane Clown Posse’s Violent J + Esham @ Club Garibaldi – CANCELED
This January and February, the two insane clowns from Insane Clown Posse—Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope—will play Milwaukee’s venerable Club Garibaldi. No, they won’t be playing together as ICP; rather, they’ll be playing separate solo shows, each with a fellow Psychopathic Records artist in tow. Fucking competing solo tours, how do they work?
Louie Anderson @ Potawatomi Northern Lights Theater
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Milwaukee Record Presents: MacGruber @ Avalon Theater
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 going to screen it at Avalon Theater. 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.
Neil Young @ Riverside Theater
Dirty Few + Rexxx, Saebra & Carlyle, Platinum Boys DJs @ Cactus Club
Louie Anderson @ Potawatomi Northern Lights Theater
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band + Grand Funk Railroad @ Fiserv Forum
Following five decades of rock and roll and countless timeless chart-topping hits, Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band are ready to say goodbye. Before he officially calls it a career, the Midwestern musical mainstay will come by the brand new Fiserv Forum as part of the “Roll Me Away Tour.” Even though another “last tour” isn’t necessarily off the table, when Bob Seger says he’s calling it quits, you’re inclined to believe him.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Lyric Advisory Board + Faux Fiction @ Circle-A Cafe
Allen Coté isn’t one to mince words. Lyric Advisory Board’s first album of original material, The Great American Novelty, is a caustic takedown of society set to loose, country-fried rock and roll. “There ain’t no wrong or right / When you’ve got god on your side / Just another asshole down on his knees” is how Coté sets the tone on the opener, “American Carnage,” and the energy rarely lets up from there. Punctuated by some sizzling lead guitar work in songs such as “Drunk On Power” and “Heaven In The Suburbs,” the album is unabashedly political and ramshackle, even obnoxious at times, but not without its tender moments; the mellow interlude of “Chapter XI” and “Death In The Afternoon” provides some of the record’s most memorable melodies before kicking back into high gear with “Little Bourgeois Lice.” Radio-friendly, it ain’t.
Umphrey’s McGee + Marcus King Band @ Riverside Theater
Spillage (record release) + Lost Tribes Of The Moon, Cold Black River @ Club Garibaldi
Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound @ Shank Hall
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
IshDARR + EMAAD, BoodahDARR @ The Rave/Eagles Club
What more can we say about IshDARR at this point? Since bursting onto the scene in his teens, the rapper—now in his early 20s—has taken both Milwaukee and the hip-hop world by storm. In the process, he’s amassed an impressive catalog (most recently punctuated by November’s awesome Slow Down, KID), earned millions upon millions of streams, and acted opposite Matthew McConaughey in last year’s White Boy Rick. The sky is the limit for IshDARR and you can see the Milwaukee emcee’s star continue its ascent during this show at The Rave. Emaad and IshDARR’s brother BoodahDarr will open.
Pablove Benefit Concert: Violent Femmes First Album All-Star Singalong @ Turner Hall Ballroom
OQ (EP release) + NO/NO, Ruth B8r Ginsburg @ Company Brewing
Umphrey’s McGee + Marcus King Band @ Riverside Theater
SUNDAY, JANUARY 27
Panic! At The Disco + Two Feet, Betty Who @ Fiserv Forum
If you missed Vegas-y Las Vegas group The Killers at Fiserv Forum back in September, please enjoy the Vegas-y Las Vegas group Panic! At The Disco at Fiserv Forum tonight.