On Saturday, May 19, seminal Milwaukee band The Delphines will reunite for a one-night only show at Mad Planet. The previously hinted-at headlining performance will be part of Gloss Records’ third annual Gloss Weekend, May 17-20 at Linneman’s, High Dive, Club Timbuktu, and Mad Planet. Also, The Delphines ruled/rule, and this will be great.
“Seminal” may seem a bit much for a band that formed in 2012 and broke up in 2014, but it’s hard to overstate just how much The Delphines shaped the Milwaukee music landscape of today. The group—singer Jami Eaton, guitarist-singer Harrison Colby, bassist Lucas Riddle, and drummer Jeremy Ault—kick-started Gloss Records with their blend of sinewy garage pop, sexy shoegaze, and lo-fi new wave. Today, the Colby-run Gloss is behind some of the finest groups and artists Milwaukee has to offer, putting out records and cassettes from the likes of Lorde Fredd33, Marielle Allschwang, Dashcam, Surgeons In Heat, and more.
With the departure of Eaton in 2014, The Delphines quickly morphed into another Gloss staple, NO/NO. But in the years since, NO/NO has carved out a sound and path all its own, making the prospect of The Delphines’ return all the more intriguing.
Festival wristbands for Gloss Weekend are $25, and are available now either online or at High Dive. Wristbands come with a free Gloss Weekend comp tape featuring unreleased singles from Gloss artists. Day-of tickets, meanwhile, are $10.