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.
The Milwaukee indie-rock scene erupted in the past year with a smorgasbord of bands, each looking to carve their niche in the 414. With dozens of new acts forming every day, it’s no wonder they decided to throw a festival of their own.
Gaze At Tha Moon will take over X-Ray Arcade starting at 2 p.m. this Saturday, with a 10-band lineup dedicated to local shoegaze. The alt-rock subgenre has sonically influenced modern indie rock on a global scale for years, with bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive pioneering the sound.
The name itself is a reference to how guitarists in the genre look down at their pedalboards. But, in a modern sense, “shoegaze” can describe a lot of different bands — including two Gaze At Tha Moon acts that delve into the sound in their own ways.
Human Ant Farm take an anthemic angle to their music, combining full-body rhythms with addicting melodies and melancholic vocals. Mizzy, on the other hand, send forth a wave of technical ability that crashes into the audience. With dozens of tonal shifters and add-ons, they dive into the minutia of music to craft something that is uniquely them.
Another interesting pick to highlight, our very own DJ Kenny Perez and local soul-pop band Moonglow will open for Chicago hip-hop and funk artist Ric Wilson on Thursday at Cactus Club. Wilson brings a diverse and eclectic range of influences into his music that develops into a rich mix of hip-hop, funk and disco. Then there’s his striking voice that feels like a ’70s pop star in their prime.
There might be a little bias toward my Radio Milwaukee colleague Kenny Perez, but the guy knows his way around a turntable. I remember one set in which he transitioned Vampire Weekend’s “A-Punk” to Genesis Owusu’s “Leaving The Light.” I mean, who even thinks of that? With the addition of Moonglow’s radiant pop music that brightens the soul, it’ll be an exciting night of music.
Best Milwaukee concerts this week
- June 25: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit @ Riverside Theater, 8 p.m.
- June 26: Ric Wilson w/DJ Kenny Perez, Moonglow @ Cactus Club, 8 p.m.
- June 26: Moonroof, Royal MIll, Alley Eyes @ Falcon Nest, 8 p.m.
- June 27: Mikaela Davis @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- June 27: Motel Breakfast, Fellow Kinsman, Hotel Burgundy, Killer High Life @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- June 28: Gaze At Tha Moon (shoegaze fest) @ X-Ray Arcade, 2 p.m.
- June 28: Disposable Thumbs (album release), Oh Well Ok, North Warren, Socially Suspect @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- June 28: Stanley Clarke @ Pabst Theater, 8 p.m.
- June 29: Forktail, In Shining Armour, Frantic Repair, Sky Pine Drive @ Cactus Club, 6 p.m.
- June 30: Standards, Floral, Cloutchaser, Oogwe @ X-Ray Arcade, 5:30 p.m.