Milwaukee 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 March 27 – April 2, 2023.
MONDAY, MARCH 27
Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ Bradley Symphony Center
“South Africa’s Five Time GRAMMY Award winning singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was founded in the early 1960s by Joseph Shabalala, then a teenage Zulu farm boy living on the lands just outside the small town of Ladysmith. In naming the group, Joseph used his hometown to honor his family history. The word Black is reference to the black oxen, the strongest of the farm animals he worked with, so to announce the strength of the group’s vocal singing. Mambazo is the Zulu word for chopping axe, a symbol of the group’s vocal ability.”
TUESDAY, MARCH 28
Queensrÿche + Marty Friedman, Trauma @ The Rave/Eagles Club
“QUEENSRŸCHE has announced an early 2023 U.S. tour in support of its sixteenth studio album, Digital Noise Alliance. The band has just wrapped up a fall run in North America supporting JUDAS PRIEST on the “50 Heavy Metal Years” tour, and will now launch their first headlining campaign to promote the new LP. Direct support on the “Digital Noise Alliance” tour will come from former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, with TRAUMA opening each show.”
Steel Panther + Crobot, Tragedy @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Gloin + Fellow Kinsman, The Cult Of Lip @ Cactus Club
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
Milwaukee Record Presents: Mortal Kombat (1995) @ Avalon Theater
Mortal Kombat is the feature film complement to the arcade hit and subsequent Sega Genesis smash by the same name. The Paul W.S. Anderson-directed vehicle features fighters with diverse skill sets competing against one another in a high-stakes tournament in order to save the world…or something like that. With a modest budget of just $20 million, this cult classic earned an astonishing $122 million in theaters while entertaining gamers and non-gamers alike in the process. We’re screening it tonight. Get over here and join Milwaukee Record at Avalon Theater!
Dead Gowns + Caley Conway + Mark Waldoch & The Hallelujah Ward @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Bridal Party + Cabin Essence, Jacob Slade @ Cactus Club
THURSDAY, MARCH 30
Drunks With Guns + Florida Brothers Band, Aluminum Knot Eye @ Bremen Cafe
“First ever appearance by Drunks With Guns in the state of Wisconsin! Legendary noise/sludge/punk band founded in St. Louis, MO in 1984. Re-activated by mouthpiece Michael Doskocil (now based in Columbus, OH) in 2018. You do not want to miss this!”
The Home Team + Broadside, Honey Revenge @ X-Ray Arcade
Morbid Angel + Revocation, Skeletal Remains, CRYPTA @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Enumclaw + Nitefire, FOOTBALLHEAD @ Cactus Club
FRIDAY, MARCH 31
Midwest Gaming Classic @ Wisconsin Center (through April 2)
In 2001, two guys started a small show at a Boy Scout Service Center “to celebrate the Atari Jaguar,” which drew about 100 gaming enthusiasts. Since that unheralded outset, the event—which was later named Midwest Gaming Classic—has ballooned in popularity, taking over virtually every inch of the downtown Wisconsin Center. This year’s event “includes hundreds of free-play pinball, arcade, and console games, a playable gaming museum, game tournaments and esports competitions, tabletop gaming, tabletop role-playing games, trading card games, cosplay contests, live-action role-play opportunities, and celebrity and industry professional panels and meet & greets.”
“April Powers” @ Times Cinema (through May 18)
Yeah, baby! Instead of screening one film at Avalon Theater like we usually do each month, we somehow convinced Times Cinema to let us spend April—and parts of late March and May—showing all three movies in the Austin Powers franchise, along with two titles featuring dearly departed character actor Powers Boothe. The five films in the “April Powers” series will be screened a combined total of 34 times (!!!) between March 31 and May 18.
North Warren + Pescatarian At Best, Handmade Wolves, Socially Suspect @ Shank Hall
Hannah Simone + Will Pfrang, Pocket Change, Alley Eyes @ The Cooperage
Looter + Parking Lot Bandits, Sean Hendley, Already In Jail @ High Dive
1st Annual Riverwest Radio Spring Ball @ Falcon Bowl
SATURDAY, APRIL 1
Signals Midwest + Telethon, Barely Civil, Meadowers @ X-Ray Arcade
“DENT is the fifth LP from Cleveland, OH rock band Signals Midwest, recorded by J. Robbins (Against Me!, Jets to Brazil, The Promise Ring). Inspired by a stolen and ultimately totaled van, the album confronts the uncertainty of a world at halt, and transmits the shaken-up-soda-can energy that fueled its writing process. With a feedback squeal and a quick four-count, DENT hits the ground running, and what follows is just over a half-hour’s worth of big songs about little moments, ominous futures, the lure of nostalgia, and finding shards of peace in an almost all-consuming wreckage. In a world up in flames, DENT is a project born from the ashes.”
John Justus (EP release) + As Oak, Jorge Valentine @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
“Singer, Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist, tonight unveils his long awaited record! Milwaukee based ex-therapist John Justus brings a warm and engaging show to audiences of all sizes. Playing well loved covers and hopeful originals, John is a versatile instrumentalist, equally capable on both piano and guitar. Sounds like the intersection between ’60s folk rock and 2000’s pop / alternative. As a Dual Citizen (born in Australia, raised in Nebraska) John brings a global perspective to his music and invites people of all walks to feel welcome at his performances. Tonight, John plays with his band, and also unveils song with just his guitar/keyboard!!”
Tigera + The Keystones, Superkick @ Cactus Club
Dallas Ugly + The Steph Lippert Project @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Rachel Feinstein @ The Cooperage
Static-X + Fear Factory, dope, Cultus Black @ The Rave/Eagles Ballroom
Armchair Boogie + The Last Revel, The MilBillies @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Tino Valpa + Gorilla Knifefight, Vombom @ Last Rites
SUNDAY, APRIL 2
Tiki Takedown @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Following successful installments in 2019 and 2021, Tiki Takedown will once again bring warm vibes and cool island cocktails to Turner Hall Ballroom. From 1-4 p.m., Turner will host mixologists from a variety of local watering holes, each of whom will be serving up their own unique cocktail creations using Cutwater Spirits as they compete for the coveted Tiki Takedown Trophy and Tiki Master title. In addition to the delicious drinks on hand, this event will feature music by DJ E.Rich. Guests will also be eligible to win a variety of prizes from participating establishments. Milwaukee Record—the proud media sponsor of Tiki Takedown—will also be on-site to help emcee the event.
Sun Rooms (original lineup) @ The Sugar Maple
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