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.
Minnesota-raised, Vermont-based folk-rocker Lutalo Jones’ family tree includes Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker (a cousin), so Lutalo’s poetic sensibilities snug up (although it’s a true wonder the two have only collaborated as tourmates up to this point). On top of the family bonds, their connective tissue is a day-to-day existence hooked into nature, building a strong inner world.
The hook that drew me to Lutalo’s music was his thoughtful lyricism and baritone voice, and every single release pulled me in further. His latest single, “I Figured,” riffs on the poetic wave of Lutalo’s pen to create a brooding, wintry vibe. It speaks to a relationship that holds tension and resentment, and the reserved vocals and delicate acoustic guitar tell the tale with profundity by approaching the subject with a more gentle touch.
It’s an easygoing balance between early releases and their latest full-length, The Academy. On that album, Lutalo’s “highly visceral folk” goes more electric and finds the artist cloaked in a literary approach, turning memories into impressionistic folk-rock compositions. It’s the perfect world to get both lost and stay grounded in — something you can do this Friday at Cactus Club, where Lutalo headlines a show featuring runo plum, Nalani and Blacktop.
Best Milwaukee concerts this week
- Jan. 16: The Hatchets w/Vanity Plates @ Falcon Nest, 8 p.m.
- Jan. 16: Forktail w/Maximiano (solo), Loveblaster @ Anodyne, 7 p.m.
- Jan. 16: Quiet Confidence w/Well + Good, 5PM To Nowhere @ X-Ray Arcade, 7 p.m.
- Jan. 18: Scam Likely w/Toadskin, Fake My Death @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Jan. 18: The Mighty Deerlick w/Lack Of Reason, The Dirty Sweet @ Last Rites, 8:30 p.m.
- Jan. 19: Rebirth Brass Band @ The Cooperage, 7 p.m.
