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MKE Concert Picks: From local to legendary to Lifeguard

This week's standout live shows include (clockwise from left) Fellow Kinsman; Earth, Wind and Fire; and Lifeguard.
Courtesy of the artists
This week's standout live shows include (clockwise from left) Fellow Kinsman; Earth, Wind and Fire; and Lifeguard.

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 locals are taking all the stages in this week of Milwaukee music, and we’re giving our headline spot to Fellow Kinsman at Cactus Club this Saturday with Ladybird and Mol Sullivan.

Fellow Kinsman are a dynamic indie-rock group whose psychedelic influences dance around each track. This band has carved a crispy and dreamy niche in the Milwaukee music scene with songs like “Mind Made” and “Find a Way” (the single they just released not too long ago). Their music calls to mind the ’70s but with a modern twist. Surf-rock rhythms drive each song with a headbanging accord, while frontman Nate Kinsman’s vocals latch onto the listener.

Fellow Kinsman fully realizes the possibilities of music making, pushing their instruments to bend to their wills. It’s a constantly evolving sound that will take another step any moment now on an about-to-drop track yours truly will help share later this week. Stay tuned.

On the non-local side of things, the legendary Earth, Wind and Fire will be at the Miller High Life Theatre this Saturday to pack a 50-plus-year career into one show. They’ve built a discography very few bands can live up to — an accomplishment proven by the Lollapalooza crowd who roared when Sabrina Carpenter brought the trio on stage during her performance.

EWF’s ability to combine elements of funk, jazz, R&B and more is a testament to their skill set as musicians. The Miller High Life Theatre will be ablaze in a cacophony of soul-swaying elegance.

One last show to mention: Indie stalwarts Lifeguard are coming to X-Ray Arcade this Wednesday, with Autobahn and TV Buddha opening. The band signed with Matador early in their career and have developed within a new cohort of indie rockers that includes contemporaries Horsegirl.

Lifeguard brought their scuzzy jangle form of punk to the stage here at Radio Milwaukee once upon a time, and their solid sound that begs for headbanging long hair will make the rest of the week feel like a breeze.


Best Milwaukee concerts this week