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 March 9-15.
MONDAY, MARCH 9
Dan Pfeiffer: Un-Trumping America @ Turner Hall Ballroom
The new book from Pod Save America co-host Dan Pfeiffer is called Un-Trumping America: A Plan To Make America A Democracy Again. Pfeiffer will be in town to talk about the book with Joy Powers from WUWM’s Lake Effect. That all sounds great, but, according to a thing we just made up where every time you mention national politics you have to also mention local politics, we have to remind you to vote on April 7. Races for state supreme court justice, Milwaukee mayor, Milwaukee county executive, and many more positions will be on your ballot. Vote.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Neil Davis And Steve Peplin Duo @ The Jazz Estate
It’s still winter. It’s cold. It’s miserable. It’s Tuesday. Why not spend the night in the cozy confines of The Jazz Estate and enjoy the musical stylings of longtime collaborators Neil Davis and Steve Peplin? The venue is gorgeous, the players are top-notch, and the show is free.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
The Lumineers + Mt. Joey, JS Ondara @ Fiserv Forum
Ho! Hey! It’s The Lumineers!
Tiny Moving Parts + Belmont, Capstan, Jetty Bones @ X-Ray Arcade
Bask in the “twinkly emo” of Minnesota-based Tiny Moving Parts when they cross the Mississippi River to come to Cudahy in belated support of 2019’s awesome breathe.
THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Shellac + Loki’s Folly @ Turner Hall Ballroom
After instantly selling out The Back Room @ Colectivo, Shellac’s March 12 show was promoted to Turner Hall. Miraculously, there are still some tickets left for this.
414 Live: Brett Newski (Acoustic Couch Session) @ 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Motel Breakfast + Chelsea Sidecar @ Pabst Milwaukee Brewery & Taproom
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
Flat Out Friday @ Fiserv Forum
Motorcycle racers ride on top of a track that’s slathered in Dr. Pepper syrup and it’s fucking awesome. Need we say more?
Hello Death + The Nunnery, Cairns @ Company Brewing
“The baby’s screaming, I guess we have to pay / For all the laughter we had the other day.” Who else but Hello Death could cook up a line so melancholy, so resigned, and—yes, you’re about to see this word in close proximity to Hello Death—so funny? “Take Me With You,” along with the rest of 2018’s For Those With Many Hearts, is another sepia-toned showcase for Milwaukee’s masters of the macabre. Nathaniel Heuer is back with his booming baritone; Erin Wolf and Marielle Allschwang are back with their haunting altos; life and death are back with their highs, lows, and moments of contemplation in between. For Those With Many Hearts was recorded over one rainy weekend back in 2015 (for evidence of that rain, check out the waterlogged “The Willow Trees”).
Jeff Ross & Dave Attell: Bumping Mics @ The Pabst Theater
Two words: Dave Attell. If you’re not already smashing that “purchase ticket” button after reading that, we’ll offer you 10 more words: And Jeff Ross if you’re into kind of thing. Roasted!
Flat Out Friday Official After Party: Astral Hand + Hughes Family Band @ The Cooperage
Type “Milwaukee psych-stoner-biker-band” into the search engine of your choice and you’ll land on Calliope. Beginning with a bluesy self-titled album in 2013 and culminating with the thunderous Chapel Perilous in 2018 (don’t forget about 2014’s excellent ORBIS, which boasts the forever-awesome “Casino”), Calliope has both embraced its influences and evolved over time. But in 2019, the band (Al Kraemer, Vic Buell, Anthony Smith, Dan Dahl) went through its most dramatic evolution yet, setting aside the Calliope name and rebranding itself as Astral Hand.
Operations (tape release) + Gentle Heat, Haunter @ Riverwest Public House
Operations are great. Their new album, Fog Museum, is great. Check them out. Buy the tape!
Panic On Panic (record release) + Cashfire Sunset, Saebra & Carlyle @ Cactus Club
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
Mama Tried Motorcycle Show 2020 @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Behold a sprawling indoor invitational that showcases an amazing array of more than 100 custom-built bikes on Saturday. Now in its third year at The Rave, expect big things from what appears to be the event’s largest venue to date. During Saturday’s event, a new flat track-focused film called Fast And Left will play on the hour, every hour at The Rave bar. The final round of the Boonie Bike World Series will also take place in The Rave parking lot between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. From 6:50 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Rave bar will also host an AFT Daytona TT Viewing Party.
The Golden Grenades + Open Bar Funeral, Fellow Kinsmen @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
SUNDAY, MARCH 15
Mama Tried Motorcycle Show 2020 @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Day two, baby! The final day of Mama Tried features most of the same entertainment and custom built choppers as Saturday. There isn’t a film screening, Boonie Bike race, or viewing party. BUT someone will win a Mama Tried 1951 Harley-Davidson WR. You can buy raffle tickets here.