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.
Bite-sized and flavorful is the only way to describe “Jerk N’ Turf” by Emmitt James, Milwaukee jazz-rap artist who’s a flare live on stage. It’s witty, raw and overwhelmingly personable — in other words, it’s the epitome of James, condensed into a sub-two-minute track.
The single we recently helped premiere opens by describing the diverse superiority of Jamaican cuisine before shifting to James as he spoils your ears and leaves you wanting more. The collab with Mjanja — a former Nashville and now Milwaukee-based producer who specializes in glitchy hip-hop beats — pushes James to a new level with a total beat-switch near the end of the song.
You can hear him talk about the track on his recent DJ Takeover with Carolann Gryzbowski, who also invited James to dive into what songs influence his personal soundscape. And, of course, you can catch James’ pre-release party for his full EP, We Got Food at Home, on June 22 at Anodyne with indie-pop opener dak duBois.
If album releases are your thing, we’ve got another one this week from Blacktop, the solo project of Milwaukee-based artist Austin Wood. Combining indie-pop and folk elements to craft a sound reminiscent of late 2000s indie, Blacktop’s hallmarks are breathy vocals, bright guitar and a full-bodied synth that feels like a dip into a hot bath after a long day.
Wood channels the energy of past indie giants like STARFKR and Broken Social Scene to craft a uniquely Milwaukee sound. Their release show for new album Modern Spiritualism is June 21 at Cactus Club, with Maximiano, Bitch Creek and JR Wesley opening.
One more quick pick for a unique event: the National Independent Venue Association’s annual conference is coming to town June 23-25, and several spots around the city are showcasing some of the biggest artists from our scene. You can catch three of them — Social Cig, Diet Lite and Bug Moment — at 8 p.m. June 24 at Falcon Hall and see all of the events happening next week on the NIVA website.
Best Milwaukee concerts this week
- June 18: Silvertone, Fake My Death, Blind Hill, Nothing of Consequence @ X-Ray Arcade, 6 p.m.
- June 19: Creeping Charlie, Panik Flower, Heavy Bend, Bowvee @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- June 20: Katie Dahl @ Anodyne, 6:30 p.m.
- June 21: Blacktop (album release) w/Maximiano, Bitch Creek, JR Wesley @ Cactus Club, 6 p.m.
- June 21: Insane Clown Posse, JCW Wrestling, Wakko The Kidd, Sammy Sosa @ The Rave
- June 21: Azymuth @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
- June 22: Emmitt James (pre-release party) w/dak duBois @ Anodyne, 6 p.m.
- June 22: Pictoria Vark, Breakup Tour, Buena Cara @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- June 22: Melissa Ferrick @ Shank Hall, 7 p.m.
- June 23: King Pink, The Low Blow, Heavy Bend, Royall Mill, I'll Remember April @ Sugar Maple, 6 p.m.
- June 24: Social Cig, Diet Lite, Bug Moment @ Falcon Hall, 7 p.m.