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 May 6-12, 2019.
MONDAY, MAY 6
mewithoutYou + Cursive, The Appleseed Cast @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Teenage you thinks this lineup is incredible. Adult you has no reason not to agree with that. This is going to be great, no matter how old you might be.
Partner + Telethon, Kat And The Hurricane @ Cactus Club
TUESDAY, MAY 7
WMSE Local/Live: Lauryl Sulfate And Her Ladies Of Leisure @ Club Garibaldi
Lauryl Sulfate is a product of dance music and outsider art. A veteran of Madison dance clubs and the scene surrounding Milwaukee’s long-lost art/fashion space Darling Hall, Sulfate developed an adventurous DIY ethos built on club music and the unfettered “just do it” spirit that fuels outsider art and punk rock. Having sat musically dormant after the breakup of an earlier band, Sulfate, with no one to jam with, turned to GarageBand and her bedroom and went to work. Eventually, some friends got wind of what she was working on and got pulled into/entered her orbit; eventually, Lauryl Sulfate And Her Ladies Of Leisure—and the excellent Dance Music Saves Live—were born.
Mattson 2 + Kainalu, Amanda Huff @ The Ivy House
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Nadah El Shazly + Marielle Allschwang & The Visitations (record release), Names Divine @ Cactus Club
Mention the name “Marielle Allschwang” and you’re mentioning a member of some of the best groups in Milwaukee. The singer-guitarist counts Hello Death and Collections Of Colonies Of Bees as two of her gigs; on top of that, there’s also her solo work. Allschwang’s still-stunning Dead Not Done was one of the best Milwaukee records of 2015, “full of Lynchian beauty and grace, and highlighted by Allschwang’s voice, one of the city’s best, twisting and turning in the wind.” Tonight, Allschwang and her Visitations band celebrate the release of their stunning new album, Visitations IV.
Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) + Brett Newski @ Shank Hall
THURSDAY, MAY 9
Cream City Comedy Festival @ various locations
The donation-based comedy festival returns for a fourth year from May 9-12 with close to 70 local and national comics. Comedians include Carmen Lagala and Langston Kerman, as well as local standouts like A.J. Grill, Dana Ehrmann, Elijah Holbrook, Regan Niemela, and Carter Deems. Kainalu, Immortal Girlfriend, Caley Conway, and Yung Zucchini will provide the music.
414 Live: Caley Conway @ 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Sniper 66 + The DUI’s, Avenues, Dislocation @ Walker’s Point Music Hall
Big Syn + Imelda Marcos, 1996, Apollo Vermouth @ High Dive
FRIDAY, MAY 10
Tacocat + Sammi Lanzetta @ Cactus Club
The musicians behind feminist pop-punk outfit Tacocat are neither tacos nor cats, though their music is just as delightful as both. Almost nine months to the day since they last played at Cactus Club (and a week after the release of their forthcoming This Mess Is A Place), they’ll return to the Bay View venue to share a bill with Sammi Lanzetta.
Bad Cop / Bad Cop + War On Women, Walt Hamburger @ X-Ray Arcade
Fat Wreck Chords’ own Bad Cop / Bad Cop comes to Cudahy to head up an all-ages affair at X-Ray Arcade. Tourmates War On Women will also play, with punk-tinged Wisconsin singer-songwriter Walt Hamburger slated to open things up. And if you’re deliberating between this and Tacocat on the 10th, note that this is supposed to end around 11, meaning you can catch parts of both shows.
The 1975 + Pale Waves, No Rome @ The Rave/Eagles Ballroom
Resurrectionists (first show) + Union Specific, Lady Cannon @ Company Brewing
Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Professor Brian Cox @ Pabst Theater
The Hatchets + Lyric Advisor Board @ Circle-A Cafe
SATURDAY, MAY 11
Fuzzysurf (record release) + Flat Teeth, Cashfire Sunset @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Fuzzysurf is a band suited for any era. Since formally introducing themselves to Milwaukee music fans with 2017’s great Me Wocky EP, the quartet has quickly garnered attention with their distinct sound that perfectly blends elements of ’60s-era surf pop with aspects of modern day indie rock. The winning sound looks to continue in the band’s new LP, Fuzzy & The Surfs.
Platinum Boys + Assault and Battery, Population Control @ Cactus Club
Man Random + The Unitaskers, Awkward Terrible @ Quarters Rock ‘n’ Roll Palace
David Crosby & Friends @ Pabst Theater
Caroline Rose + Kississippi @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
Sixth Annual Zucchini Party @ Company Brewing
SUNDAY, MAY 12
Cher + Nile Rodgers & Chic @ Fiserv Forum
Remember when Cher was on Letterman all the time? And there was a weird love/hate thing going on? That was great. Anyway, Cher!