There’s a pivotal moment many bands face in which they must decide whether to trudge on with a name they no longer enjoy or risk confusing (or downright upsetting) loyal listeners and bookers by keeping an identification that no longer suits their sound. Most acts opt for the former, figuring the music will resonate more than its now-regrettable nomenclature. However, a full-fledged re-branding is not at all unheard of in Milwaukee music. The latest local act to join the likes of Tapebenders (née Elusive Parallelograms) and Field Report (Conrad Plymouth) is Bad Wig, who was steadily making a name for itself in Wisconsin and beyond under the moniker The Midwestern Charm until now.
Singer-bass player Connor LaMue says the name change came as a result of a slight lineup change, a different approach to songwriting, and a new sound—not to mention “the fact that [they] hated the name,” LaMue says. “There are a lot of ‘Midwest’-named bands. We’ll leave The Midwest Beat with the crown.”
According to LaMue, the name Bad Wig has no real meaning beyond being “just a good mind-brain image and it wasn’t taken.” Despite the new name, look, and sound, he says Bad Wig hasn’t ruled out playing some Midwestern Charm material live. Speaking of, the band will reintroduce itself to listeners with shows at Lucky Cat on November 4, at Lyric Room (Green Bay) November 5, and Reptile Palace (Oshkosh) November 13 before its EP release show at Bremen Cafe with Shellshag, Dusk, and Iron Pizza on November 20.