Look up the phrase “Milwaukee treasure” in the dictionary (not an online dictionary, but an old Funk & Wagnalls dictionary) and you’ll find a photo of Mark Waldoch. The singer/songwriter/guitar tech/bartender/natty dresser/man-about-town has been a city staple since the days of Atomic Records. His voice, whether solo or with a band, is a roller coaster ride of joy, heartbreak, and catharsis. Waldoch isn’t just a Milwaukee treasure, he’s one of the sounds of Milwaukee.
In October 2024, Waldoch’s latest band, The Hallelujah Ward, released the terrific I Forced Myself To Live, Charlie Bee EP. A full-length record, Everybody Swoons, will be released this week. Can’t wait for that release? Then feast your eyes and ears on the video for the record’s lead single, “Your Uncertain Shadow.” Oh, and get ready to walk, because Waldoch is definitely getting his steps in in this video:
Ehson Rad of Sahñ Productions shot the video over the course of two days and one night in various Milwaukee locations. (The East Side! Downtown! The lakefront! More!) Rad says the clip “is about a man leaving his home in search of his place in the world, eventually finding that he belongs in front of the microphone singing the song that started the journey.” He also notes that the mural- and art-heavy video “intends to reinforce the group’s collective energy by highlighting art, artists, and the way they can connect us all together in a shared experience even if we are only moving through them for a short time.”
Speaking of a short time, Waldoch and the rest of The Hallelujah Ward (Dan Didier, Paul Hancock) will host a listening party for Everybody Swoons Wednesday night at The Wiggle Room. Also previewing their new record that night? Collections Of Colonies Of Bees! Nice!
We’ll be there! Also: Happy birthday, Mark!
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