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—brought to you by Lilliput Records—for September 25 – October 1, 2023.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Alice Longyu Gao + E_DEATH, VAREONS @ Cactus Club
“Alice Longyu Gao (xe/she/xyr) is a resilient DJ, songwriter, and performance art practitioner. While Longyu means ‘dragon and universe,’ xyr last name Gao means ‘Magnificent,’ which not only coalesces true in xyr sound but xyr bubbly persona. Alice wrote and produced xyr debut single ‘Princess of Manifestation’ in Japanese. The song was premiered by V Magazine and featured by i-D Magazine. Xyr most notable release is ‘Rich Bitch Juice,’ produced by frequent collaborator Dylan Brady from 100 Gecs, who of which also produced the zany banger ‘100 Boyfriends.'”
Granular Breath + Dead Hawk, Nicholas Elert, Max Carl, Custodian @ X-Ray Arcade
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
moe. @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Hailed by American Songwriter for their ‘mind-bending musicality,’ moe. is treasured for their mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft. For three decades, the band has corralled myriad musical forms on a truly original journey rich with crafty, clever songwriting and astonishing resourcefulness. Fueled by an impassioned fan base, moe. has spent much of those thirty years on the road, encompassing countless live. performances marked by eclectic wit, deep friendship, and exploratory invention.”
Bad Omens + Erra, I See Stars @ The Rave/Eagles Club
“Bad Omens slither through boundaries, only to ultimately choke convention in the process. The quartet materialize with ghostly atmospherics, striking hooks, and the tingles of sensual high-register harmonies uplifted by cinematic production. Earning acclaim, the band present an uncompromising and undeniable vision on their third full-length album, The Death Of Peace Of Mind.
Booze & Glory + Avem, The DUI’s @ X-Ray Arcade
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Nick Cave @ The Riverside Theater
“Nick Cave has been performing, writing and recording music for more than forty years. He is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. His body of work extends across a diverse range of creative disciplines – score composition, writing of books, novels and film scripts, and more recently ceramic art.”
Kassa Overa + KASE, DJ Tarik @ The Cooperage
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Milwaukee Record Halftime Series: Ghost Cuts @ Cactus Club
Our Halftime Series is back! This season, we’ve assembled a stacked roster of 15 acts that will provide FREE all-ages entertainment during halftime of Green Bay’s games. Like previous seasons, the concert series will take place at Cactus Club. Also like previous seasons, Miller High Life will sponsor our football-focused festivities, meaning fans can enjoy “The Champagne Of Beers” and Miller Lite for $10 for a bucket of five beers all game long and “Record Recommended” High Life and Mystery Shot specials for $6. This year also brings two new sponsors into the mix. Our friends at Transfer Pizzeria Cafe will be coming by games (excluding Mondays and holidays) to drop off some pizza for everyone to share. Meanwhile, MKE Distilling Company’s new vodka will be featured in Bloody Marys and Cactus Bombs throughout the season. This week: Ghost Cuts!
Tae & The Neighborly + Moonglow @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
“Tae & The Neighborly, a Wisconsin based Soul-pop R&B group, found themselves playing music together in a very unconventional way. Critics hail the group as ‘having more kick than a bagged-up mule’ (Rotary Times) and their live show ‘…going down smoother than a can of [beans] warmed on the campfire’ (Cowboy Gazette). All in all, if you are looking for a dense show that will give you more inspiration fuel for self lovin’, world changin’, and consideration havin’ meet them where the music is made to be shared.”
Agent Orange + Spice Pistols @ Shank Hall
State Of Sound: Death Is A Business @ Radio Milwaukee
Femme Punk Record Spin @ Last Rites
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Harvest Fair @ Wisconsin State Fair Park (through October 1)
“Celebrate Harvest Fair’s 30th year from September 29 – October 1, 2023! Enjoy free live entertainment on several stages, including local artists, Amphitheater headliners, and lumberjack shows. Activities the entire family will love include Harvest Fair favorites like Pumpkin Bowling and Make Your Own Scarecrow. Don’t miss food galore, featuring many State Fair vendors, plus shopping at the Farmers Market and more!”
John Oliver @ Miller High Life Theatre
“John Oliver is an Emmy and Writer’s Guild Award-winning writer and comedian. He is the host and producer of the HBO show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which has been the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including 23 Primetime Emmys, 5 Writer’s Guild Awards, 2 Critics’ Choice Television Awards, 4 Television Critics Association Awards, and 2 Peabodys. Oliver has his comedic roots in stand-up and continues to perform to sold-out venues across the globe.”
Riverwest Jazzfest @ Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts + Company Brewing
“Riverwest is home to one of the most significant, still operating historic jazz clubs in the country, now called the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts. In the 1970s and 80s, the Milwaukee Jazz Gallery, as it was known then, featured performances by a dazzling lineup of many of the most significant musicians in jazz history. With great respect for these pioneers of jazz, contemporary jazz isn’t an art form that recycles the past but a dynamic evolving collaboration of inventive musicians whose music mirrors the present while creating the new future. Be a part of this new future with the first-ever Riverwest Jazzfest.”
Man Random (record release) + Buena Cara, Rotundos, Courtesy @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Venom Inc. + Satan, Ringworm, 72 Legions, Tubal Cain @ X-Ray Arcade
Asking Alexandria + The HU, Zero 9:36 @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Friday Night Retro Dance Party: DJs Mosh Wah @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band @ Miller High Life Theatre
“One word says it all: RINGO. The legendary singer/songwriter/drummer and so much more has been one of the world’s brightest musical luminaries since the beginning of The Beatles reign over pop culture. His warmth and humor are enchanting and contagious – manifesting in songs we know and love – ‘With A Little Help From My Friends,’ ‘Don’t Pass Me By,’ ‘Octopus’ Garden’…Peace and love are Ringo’s life’s rhythm and melody and we’re happy to be singing along with him. Don’t miss out on seeing this Ringo Starr and his All Starr band (Warren Ham, Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather, Hamish Stuart, Colin Hay, and Gregg Bissonette) LIVE!”
Macklemore @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Derek Pritzl & Friends @ Circle-A Cafe
Depeche Mode vs. New Order vs. Duran Duran @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
Roselit Bone + Craig Brown Band, Iron Pizza, Paulette D’Amour @ Cactus Club
“After over a decade of touring, Roselit Bone have perfected an infectious and intense live show that has transfixed crowds in a nightly conversion ritual. Previously described by Oregon Public Broadcasting as ‘a unique type of gothic country rock that borrows heavily from Mexican ranchera music, rockabilly and the same lonely and wide-open spaces that inspired the classic Spaghetti Western scores of composer Ennio Morricone,’ the Portland 8-piece – led by frontwoman Charlotte McCaslin – have deepened, shapeshifted, and outdone themselves on their fourth full-length record, Ofrenda.”
Wolves With Virginia + Hosts, Lonesome Cobras @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Max & Iggor Cavalera + Exhumed, Incite, Morta Skuld @ Turner Hall Ballroom
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