From ‘70s dance-punk innovators and iconic R&B girl groups playing State Fair to local emerging acts, the Milwaukee concert scene has packed plenty of can’t-miss shows into the weeks ahead. Here are 10 to close out one of the city’s buzziest concert seasons in recent memory.
DIIV with Horse Jumper of Love and Full Body 2
Saturday, July 27
Turner Hall Ballroom
Shoegaze four-piece DIIV will usher in the dog days of summer with their dream-pop melodies teeming with reverb this Saturday, sharing the bill with Boston indie rockers Horse Jumper of Love and Philly’s Full Body 2. After a five-year-long hiatus, the Brooklyn band reconvened and released their fourth full length album, Frog in Boiling Water, in May.
Snõõper with EvinSpragg, Misprints and DJ Gosha
Monday, July 29
Cactus Club
Nashville DIY art punks and Third Man Records signees Snõõper are known to incorporate everything from fun-house-like props to papier-mâché puppets in their frenetic-paced sets that rarely go past the 30-minute mark. Jittery vocals and scratchy zig-zagging guitars make for a fun cross between early Devo and fellow Tennessee garage rockers Be Your Own Pet.
Katy Kirby with Mei Semones
Thursday, August 1
Cactus Club
Listening to Katy Kirby’s 2021 debut album Cool Dry Place in real time felt like being in on a well-kept secret. Before her more refined, sapphic-coded, indie-pop sound on this year’s Blue Raspberry took shape, twangy folk melodies like “Peppermint” and “Cool Dry Place” on the former were reminiscent of contemporary acts like Why Bonnie and stung like Mitski deep cuts.
Following her recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and a run of shows with The Mountain Goats, Kirby makes a stop at Cactus Club. As a bonus, you also get buzzy Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer and songwriter Mei Semones, who combines soft-spoken indie rock with violins and elements of bossa nova and jazz.
TLC with Jordin Sparks
Friday, Aug. 2
Wisconsin State Fair Main Stage
Yes, you read that correctly: ’90s R&B icons TLC are one of the headlining acts at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair. This past February marked the 25th anniversary of 1999 album FanMail. And while there are no details about the likelihood of us seeing a FanMail-heavy setlist currently floating around on social media, the thought of getting to take in “No Scrubs” live after working your way through your Sporkies checklist is pretty enticing.
Peso Pluma
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Fiserv Forum
It’s been a major year for Gen Z Musica Mexicana breakout star Peso Pluma, and chances are that you’ve heard the earworm “Ella Baila Sola” by now. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this fourth time will be the charm after back-to-back cancellations and a postponement for this Fiserv Forum show originally scheduled for last year. The concert, finally, will be the Grammy-winning corrido singer’s Milwaukee debut as he brings his massive Éxodo arena tour through the Midwest.
BIG|BRAVE with Spiritual Poison and Exit Statements
Thursday, Aug. 8
X-Ray Arcade
Thick walls of scratchy feedback, droning guitars and jolting vocals make up much of post-rock trio Big Brave’s catalog. Their latest album, A Chaos of Flowers, finds the Montreal band staying true to their unique sound while diving deeper into pummeling noise-folk epics that move at sludge metal tempos. Fans of sunn O))) and Boris won’t be disappointed when they take the X-Ray Arcade stage in a couple of weeks.
ADORNER with Lunar Moth and Blacktop
Friday, Aug. 16
Shank Hall
Madeline Stadel of ADORNER writes intense prog-pop slow burns with psychedelic undertones. Singles like this year’s “Nimwe” show Stadel experimenting with a more piano-heavy direction, while 2022’s ADORNER EP captures a careful balance of soft vocals and stormy instrumentals. Be sure to catch this stacked bill with Madison doom-fuzz trio Lunar Moth and local indie-surf rockers Blacktop.
REYNA with Vic & Gab … of REYNA?
Saturday, Aug. 17
Vivarium
Local indie synth-pop sister duo Victoriah and Hannah Gabriela Banuelos of REYNA, who once performed under the stage name Vic & Gab, are set to play a double-feature hometown show at the Vivarium that will include an opening set of pre-REYNA (aka Vic & Gab) jams. Last year’s Limonada EP evinced their knack for writing sleek and spotless pop songs, but those nostalgic for the Banuelos sisters’ jangly guitar-driven era will be able to experience 2013’s Love of Mine magic in a live setting once again.
Bikini Kill with Shadow Show
Thursday, Aug. 29
Riverside Theater
Those who missed Bikini Kill’s twice-rescheduled show at The Riverside Theater last year will have another chance to catch the riot grrrl incendiaries as they make their return to Milwaukee in late August. Detroit psychedelic power-pop trio Shadow Show joins the ’90s punk legends as the night’s opening act.
ESG
Friday, Aug. 30
Cactus Club
The influence of ’70s-funk-meets-art-punk outfit ESG is almost too great to fathom. But their minimalist grooves helped shape the sound of house music, no wave and hip-hop alike, and they’ve been namechecked by everyone from Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to LCD Soundsystem singer James Murphy. Next month, the South Bronx-based band will play a fundraising concert (not to mention their first-ever Milwaukee show) where 50% of the proceeds will go to the Cactus+ Accessibility Initiative.
Nayeli Portillo is a music journalist based in Milwaukee. She has also written for Remezcla, Pitchfork, them and the Austin Chronicle.