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.
This week in Milwaukee music is full of local staples and national surprises.
Social Cig is coming to the Turner Hall Ballroom this Friday for a double purpose: to debut their new album, Patchwork: A Road Dog Story, and kick off their fall tour.
Social Cig is the brainchild of Parker Schultz, Milwaukee native and DIY duke of indie whose music channels the soul of skate rock. His previous albums are like pages in his diary, showing off the struggles of teenage love, youthful ambition and Rust Belt woe. It’s a local insight to all things Milwaukee and the way this city has changed throughout Schultz’s life.
Schultz has released music and played shows for years, but his three-album run from 2020 to 2022 shows off his technical ability and personal growth. His first two albums — Prettier In Person and Nothing Is Ever For Sure And Everything is Always Changing — are skate-rock hits. Catchy hooks backed by slick instrumentation make these records memorable, but on top of that they’re technically tight and excel at conjuring a nostalgic wistfulness in the listener.
His third album, CHEESEHEAD, refined this model with an added maturity while retaining that classic Social Cig charm. It’s been three years and multiple tours since then, so it’ll be an interesting night seeing just how far this project and the people involved have grown. Get to the 7:30 p.m. show on time to catch openers Mary Don’t Care, Moonglow and The Dead Bolts.
Widening our gaze to the national level brings The Rave into focus, with a Saturday show featuring L.A.-based indie rockers HAIM. The sibling trio’s familial take on music makes for deeply personal and narrative-driven pieces that have racked up critical acclaim. Their new album, I Quit, builds off their foundation of R&B coupled with ’70s rock to create a sample-heavy nu-folk piece.
The project is an interesting turn for the band’s career, as it revolves around dour but determined writing that trained on the catharsis of just stopping everything. It’s a refreshing take into the theme of giving up, because sometimes it’s better to pump the brakes than drive blind. Go along for the ride at HAIM’s 8 p.m. show, with Dora Jar opening.
Since we’re already at The Rave, let’s mention one more quick one coming to the venue next Tuesday: New York indie-rock outfit Momma boosted their up-and-comer status with the release of 2022 album Household Name, and have expertly tapped into a modern sound with their atmospheric and relentless approach.
The group plays around with electronic elements that pair well with the staple instruments of indie rock while also being just plain catchy, putting them on par with contemporaries like Wishy and Water From Your Eyes. Momma’s new album, Welcome To My Blue Sky, represents the band reaching another level. They clearly understand that not everyone can make this musician thing work as a career, and the appreciation shines through their music. Hear it live at 8 p.m. next Tuesday, with Lawn opening the night.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Sept. 12: Social Cig (album release) w/The Dead Bolts, Moonglow, Mary Don’t Care @ Turner Hall Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 12: Bryan Cherry, The Belle Weather, Micah Olsan @ Anodyne, 7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 12: Helado Negro, Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart, Whitney Johnson @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- Sept. 12: Live! Fest (AyooLii, Uglyworld, DJ Devario, The Camp Kiid, Raskol) @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- Sept. 13: HAIM w/Dora Jar @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
- Sept. 13: Tropa Magica, Pulpa de Guayaba @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- Sept. 14: Harlow, Chutes, Blacktop, The Taxmen @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- Sept. 16: Momma w/Lawn @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
- Sept. 16: Bonnie Raitt w/Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band @ Riverside Theater, 7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 16: Whiskey And The Devil, Wonderful Bluffer, The Panoptics @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
Jonathan Joseph is a Milwaukee-based multimedia freelance journalist who specializes in art and culture writing (and all things Milwaukee), with work appearing on Radio Milwaukee and in Milwaukee Magazine. Contact him via email or find him on LinkedIn.