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 7-13, 2019.
MONDAY, JANUARY 7
Jab Jugular + Werewolf Jones, Rexxx @ High Dive
Want some jagged, pissed-off, vaguely threatening art rock? You’ve got it, kid. The great Sarah Long (formerly of Fahri) fronts this new-ish Milwaukee outfit, which shares tonight’s bill with Detroit’s Werewolf Jones.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8
WMSE Local/Live: Trapper Schoepp @ Club Garibaldi
Milwaukee troubadour Trapper Schoepp made big news in the waning days of 2018 when it was revealed that he had a.) taken some unfinished 1961 Bob Dylan lyrics for a song called “On, Wisconsin” and put them to music, and b.) received the blessing of Dylan himself, leading to an impossible-dream Dylan co-writing credit. Whoa! “On, Wisconsin” will appear on Schoepp’s upcoming album, Primetime Illusion, due January 25. He’ll surely play the song (and more) at this live, free, and open-to-the-public recording of WMSE’s weekly Local/Live.
Credentials + Empathy Family, Drool, Taylor Campbell @ Cactus Club
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10
The Brian McKnight 4 @ Potawatomi Northern Lights Theater
Though it has been 20 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 intimate Northern Lights Theater show. Emphasis on “intimate.”
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11
Brendan Kelly + Sincere Engineer (solo), Bobby Flowers @ Cactus Club
Brendan Kelly is the best. While you certainly know and love the Chicago punk legend and former Slapstick and Broadways member’s modern-day work in The Lawrence Arms, The Falcon, and on his hilariously bleak Nihilist Arby’s Twitter account, you might be happy to know that Kelly also has an outlet for his solo material. A few months after that solo venture—Brendan Kelly And The Wandering Birds—released Keep Walkin’ Pal, Kelly will make his return to Milwaukee after, like, 500 years away to play a solo show in the intimate confines of Cactus Club. Red Scare labelmates and Chicago’s own Sincere Engineer will also be part of this can’t-miss winter affair.
The Grovelers + Powerwagon, Certain Stars @ Pabst Milwaukee Brewery & Taproom
Amanda Huff + Ms. Lotus Fankh, B~Free @ Landmark Lanes
Gauss + CRLSS, Operations @ Bremen Cafe
Soup Moat + Cave Curse, Wash, Nastos @ High Dive
Knaaves + Thieves, Falter, Payasa
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Journal Sentinel’s Bands To Watch: Field Report + Lex Allen, Dead Horses, Buffalo Gospel, LUXI, Versio Curs @ 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Say what you will about the incredible shrinking Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but Wisconsin’s paper of record sure knows its local music. Credit music writer Piet Levy for that; this annual show rounds up some of the Levy’s top artists from 2018 and lets them loose in the posh confines of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. If you’re unfamiliar with these acts (even we whiffed it on that Versio Curs record), here’s your chance to get caught up.
Trampled By Turtles + Those Coulee Boys @ Riverside Theater
Undercover Organism + Lunar Ticks @ Company Brewing
DAVE BEGEL: SOLO WORLD TOUR BIRTHDAY BASH @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn