From banjo-heavy hardcore to an iconic Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble, the Milwaukee concert scene has packed plenty of can’t-miss shows into the upcoming weeks. Here are 10 to kick off the busy fall season.
Rat Bath w/Lung, Noun, Bug Moment
Saturday, Sept. 7
X-Ray Arcade
Think late My Chemical Romance mixed with the darker rockabilly undertones of the Gun Club, and you’ve essentially got the gist of murder country rock opera enthusiasts Rat Bath. The self-described Milwaukee “y’allternative” band is shifting gears with their latest project, cleverly titled Idk Guys…Does This EP Even Pass The Bechdel Test? They’ll celebrate at this show with local alt-emo outfit Bug Moment; cello-heavy art rock duo Lung; and Noun, the solo project lead by former Screaming Females vocalist and guitarist Marissa Paternoster.
Spoon w/A Giant Dog
Sunday, Sept. 8
The Rave
This year marks the 10th anniversary of indie-rock champions Spoon’s highly acclaimed album They Want My Soul, which they’re commemorating with the release of a forthcoming 2xLP deluxe edition. Fellow Austin band and glam-punk aficionados of debauchery A Giant Dog join the show at The Rave this Sunday.
Los Shadows, Mas Verde, Participants
Wednesday, Sept. 11
Cactus Club
Slinky, washed-out surf guitars; hazy dream-pop; and cumbia coalesce on Los Shadows’ latest record, Mojomojo. Fusion-rock band Mas Verde and local post-punks Participants join the San Diego quartet as openers.
Buena Vista Social Orchestra
Saturday, Sept. 14
Pabst Theater
Trombonist and composer Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos steers Buena Vista Social Orchestra, an offshoot of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club. The Cuban jazz ensemble combines the sounds of son, bolero and danzón music for a captivating repertoire that harks back to the classic sounds of Havana in the 1940s.
Melissa Carper
Saturday, Sept. 15
Shank Hall
Bastrop-based singer and songwriter Melissa Carper fuses twangy country and bluesy soul on her new album, Borned in Ya. While 2022’s Ramblin’ Soul leans into the sound of warm, vintage Americana, her latest project delves into more uptempo swing-influenced territory.
Arlo Parks
Tuesday, Sept. 17
The Rave
Diaristic vignettes and poetic, conversational verses backed by soft lo-fi instrumentals carry much of Arlo Parks’ music, like her hit single “Hurt,” which has remained in heavy rotation on 88Nine’s airwaves. The Mercury Prize-winning and Grammy-nominated indie-pop singer makes her long-awaited Milwaukee debut this month after a handful of dates opening for Mitski.
Gel w/MS Paint, Destiny Bond, The Mall, Strange Joy
Thursday, Sept. 19
X-Ray Arcade
Hardcore-punk devotees will rejoice in this whopping five-band bill featuring some of the most exciting acts from across the country. Headlining act Gel makes “hardcore for the freaks” and first captivated the hearts of everyone on the internet a couple of years back with a viral rowdy set that took place in the parking lot of a Sonic Drive-In, while Houston’s Strange Joy brings forth some of that Texas heat with their massive melodic breakdowns.
KASE, Drive-a-tron, Shontrail
Thursday, Sept. 19
Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.
Those seeking a mellower alternative to Thursday’s show at X-Ray, be sure to catch local improvisational-jazz-meets-hip-hop trio KASE, along with Madison-based synth-rock wonder Drive-a-tron and moody pop-punk songs speckled with buzzing electronics courtesy of Shontrail.
Pile, Oceanator
Saturday, Sept. 21
X-Ray Arcade
On last year’s All Fiction, Boston DIY heroes Pile nestled into a more ambitious sound fitted with string arrangements and atmospheric synths. But the sawlike guitars and raging percussion that fill out most of the post-hardcore trio’s discography are sure to resonate with fans of bands like Drive Like Jehu, Protomartyr and The Jesus Lizard. Singer and songwriter Elise Okusami, aka Oceantor, joins Pile at X-Ray with pummeling grunge-pop riffs off her newly released album, Everything is Love and Death.
Show Me The Body, High Vis, Special Interest, BIB, BEARCAT
Monday, Sept. 30
Turner Hall
Chugging guitars, knotty electronica and … banjo? Show Me The Body, the NYC experimental hardcore band with a cult-like following, has a style that may be a bit hard to define, but one thing is definite: Their live shows always manage to summon wild responses from the crowd. The trio make a stop in Milwaukee as part of their massive “Corpus Grows” tour with an impressive roundup of genre-defying acts like Special Interest and High Vis in what is sure to be a big, big night.
Nayeli Portillo is a music journalist based in Milwaukee. She has also written for Remezcla, Pitchfork, them and the Austin Chronicle.