Milwaukee’s concert scene has a lot going on, so we look at the shows coming up to find the ones you’ll look back on and be glad you went. Then we add them to our weekly Milwaukee Concert Picks.
Kelsey Kaufmann has evolved Cactus Club in seemingly countless ways since taking over ownership, primarily due to her ability to deal with problems head on, regardless of their size. Accessibility at the venue is an issue big enough that the Cactus team is dealing with it in stages, the latest of which will take place on the actual stage.
This Friday, Cactus Club will host the second of their fundraising concerts for the Cactus+ Accessibility Initiative. Bully played a packed show in July, and this week the club welcomes underground legends ESG, who will be playing their first(!!!) show in Brew City.
Not familiar with ESG? You might just be and don’t know it. Founded in 1978, the “most sampled group of all time” have found their way into tracks by everyone from Beastie Boys to The Notorious B.I.G. The group formed by The Scroggins sisters got fast-tracked to Factory Records fame with their first two singles for the label (“Moody” and “You’re No Good”), capturing the punk spirit of dance music.
Talking about their sound, Renee Scroggins has said, "If I really had to put a label on it, we consider it to be music that makes you dance.” The sisters have also admitted to being heavily influenced by the music they heard at home and in their neighborhood (primarily James Brown and Latin music).
ESG’s waves of influences continue to ripple decades later, and as a live group they sound as fresh as they did when they were first on the scene. To catch a show is considered a “bucket list” item for many; but to also lend a hand strengthening the Milwaukee concert community? That’s the musical jackpot.
To make shows like this more accessible and comfortable for all is an opportunity that doesn’t come around every day. Make sure you take advantage this Friday, when ESG plays Cactus Club with openers Clickbait, Diamond Life and DJ Christreater.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Aug. 28: Jacob Slade (Vivarium in the Park) @ South Shore Terrace, 6 p.m.
- Aug. 28: Roselit Bone, Hosts, Ladybird @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Aug. 30: ESG w/Clickbait, Diamond Life, DJ Christreater (Accessibility Initiative Fundraising Concert) @ Cactus Club, 8 p.m.
- Aug. 30: Post Saga, Hanna Simone, Torcado @ Anodyne on Bruce, 7:30 p.m.
- Aug. 31: The Gaslight Anthem w/Joyce Manor, Pinkshift @ The Rave, 7 p.m.
- Sept. 1: Harlow, Max & The Fellow Travelers, Hang Ten, Logan Scott & The Fly By Nights @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Sept. 1: Lost Orange Cat w/J.R. & The Strangers, Chris Haise Band @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
