Our fat-free, dolphin-safe Milwaukee calendar is chock-full of things to do, but only a handful of events contained therein are worthy of the lofty “Record Recommended” (patent pending) honor. Here are our recommendations for the week of January 4-10, 2016.
Thursday, January 7
414 Music Live: Riverwest FemFest Preview @ 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
From Thursday, January 21 through Sunday, January 24, more than 50 combined musical acts, poets, and spoken word storytellers will take the stages at Riverwest Public House, Company Brewing, the Jazz Gallery, and High Dive for the 2016 installment of Riverwest FemFest. This Thursday, however, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee will offer a preview of the fest with live performances from Zed Kenzo, Chakara Blu, and Queen Tut. Like all installments of 414 Music Live, the show is free.
Friday, January 8
Midwives + Buildings, Soup Moat, Volunteer @ Frank’s Power Plant
What better way to start your year in show-going than with a stacked lineup featuring three of Milwaukee’s best punk/hardcore acts along with Minneapolis’ own Buildings? After putting out two great releases (totaling 24 minutes) last year, Midwives look to start 2016 strong. Soup Moat and Volunteer make it necessary to show up on time.
The Squish + Phylums, The Ornerys @ Cactus Club
Not two weeks removed from hosting The Promise Ring’s semi-secret reunion show, Cactus Club will serve as the site for another well-liked local commodity that called it quits more than 10 years ago. Yes, The Squish are back. Joining the punk rock reprisal are Phylums—fresh off the release of their great 2015 debut record Phylum Phyloid—and gritty drummer-fronted punkers The Ornerys.
Also: Color TV + Helta Skelta, Ramma Lamma, The Pukes @ Riverwest Public House
Saturday, January 9
GGOOLLDD + Canopies, Rio Turbo @ Turner Hall
It’s incredible to think that GGOOLLDD has only been around for two years. Originally intended to be a playful project that would dissolve after its inaugural show in an East Side attic three Halloweens ago, the group decided to keep playing, and has quickly made an indelible mark on Milwaukee music. Even crazier than the electro-pop project’s rapid rise to consciousness in Cream City and well beyond is the fact such quick growth was accomplished through just a handful of songs. $TANDARD$ was a formidable four-pack of intensely infectious numbers, as were subsequent single “Boyz” and the small batch of demos and remixes included with it on the small-run 2015 cassette. In November, GGOOLLDD put out its For The Night EP, which was quickly followed by a surprise LP of past favorites called GGOOLLDD+ in December. Joining the bill for the local staple’s belated release show are Canopies and Rio Turbo.
Tenement + Laffing Gas, Fine Young Casuals @ Lucky Cat
Predatory Headlights—last year’s ambitious and oh-so-awesome 25-track album by Tenement—was one of the best records of 2015, both locally and otherwise. Though Tenement has earned a break, the Appleton/Milwaukee pop-punk trio isn’t showing signs of slowing down. They’ll lend semi-local support for two Indiana bands at this all-ages affair.
Also: Absolutely + Show Me The Body, Straya, Bad Wig @ Riverwest Public House
Hello Death + We Are The Willows, Joe Crockett @ Cactus Club