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 pinnacle of a Milwaukee summer is a moody night in a theater hall swaying with the crowd when Lord Huron takes the stage, bracing for a hot and stormy weekend.
A band that taps into the soul-crushing feeling of losing it all through a mesmerizing sound, Lord Huron redefined the emotional power of indie rock, pushing the envelope for what a standard rock set up can do. Adding a keyboard and even a theremin, the band has methodically evolved into an incredible slow-burning act.
Their just-released album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, reaffirms their status as one of the most mesmerizing bands going. The new release feels smoky, like staring at a campfire to make sure the embers are still burning so you can extend your time alone with the night sky. The adjectives don’t exist to describe how atmospheric this music is, so see for yourself Wednesday at the Miller High Life Theatre, with legendary soul singer Lee Fields opening the show.
Keeping the moody indie-rock train going, Lucy Dacus will pull into the Riverside Theater this Sunday night. Her latest album, Forever Is a Feeling, takes a more chamber pop approach while maintaining the captivating quality that hooks the listener immediately. It’s wrought with rich lyrics, buttery instrumentation reflective of Father John Misty and an airy quality that helps the listener soak everything in.
Dacus doesn’t need to prove her ability as a musician; the evidence is all there. From her solo beginnings to her breakout with boygenius, she’s someone who shines with talent and skill (something you’ll notice in her interview with our very own Dori Zori, which you’ll be able to enjoy later this week). Those abilities will be on stage at the Riverside this Sunday, with Jay Som opening the night.
Finally, fans of punk will want to be at the Vivarium this Friday for alt legends Soul Asylum. After coming up in the ’80s with contemporaries like Hüsker Dü and The Descendants, Soul Asylum honed a sound that carries through the ages: rhythmically driving while trading hard for soft without missing a beat.
The group found success early in their career, something reflected in their music that expresses a desire to be young and dumb in front of millions. It’s hard to have that much weight on one's shoulders, but Soul Asylum release those feelings ferociously. This Friday, it’ll be on the Vivarum’s stage, which will welcome poignant local indie outfit Brett Newski & The Bad Inventions to open the show.
Best Milwaukee concerts this week
- July 23: Lord Huron w/Lee Fields @ Miller High Life Theatre, 8 p.m.
- July 23: Joseph Huber Band w/Derek Pritzl, E.B. Albeit @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- July 24: Oh Well OK, The Paper Flames, Old Timer @ Anodyne, 7 p.m.
- July 24: Pulpa De Guayaba, Calakas Sonoras, Los Nenes Del Lago @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- July 24: Letters to Cleo, Fig Dish @ X-Ray Arcade, 8 p.m.
- July 25: Soul Asylum w/Brett Newski & The Bad Inventions @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- July 25: Alley Eyes (EP release), Bugsy, Well + Good @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- July 27: Lucky Goat w/CM Porterfield, Rustbucket Rye @ Linneman’s, 6:30 p.m.
- July 27: Alexa Russo, Kent Avenue Carpool, James Norcross, Claire Martine @ Anodyne, 6 p.m.
- July 27: Lucy Dacus w/Jay Som @ Riverside Theater, 8 p.m.
- July 28: Honeybee, Buena Cara, Royal Mill @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.