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.
It’s gonna be a hot October and an even hotter week in Milwaukee music. So, with a variety of shows coming up, let's dive in.
Milwaukee’s golden boy Trapper Schoepp will be at Anodyne’s location in Walker’s Point next Tuesday for a free all-ages edition of WMSE’s Local/Live, the station’s weekly concert series that shows off a Milwaukee artist for all to hear. Schoepp will be the latest in a long line of venerated locals to perform on the show, bringing his dynamism as both a singer and songwriter.
Starting with his breakout record, Rangers & Valentines, Schoepp has channeled the essence of truth-tellers like Bruce Springsteen throughout his career. Much of his discography follows this musical standard, surfing the modern blues Americana wave with a distinct instrumentation that makes the listener want to dance in the dark.
Schoepp brings different elements to his records, but this fall we’re seeing a new side of him. His newest album, Osborne, has a darker inspiration that touches on Schoepp's time in a rehab center in Minnesota. With a necessary turn inward, the Milwaukee musician poured out his heart while recording in a California church basement and will deliver his new sound live at Anodyne next Tuesday.
A few days before that, Cactus Club will once again fire up its Beet Street Festival — the annual Bay View block party that brings together a lineup of a dozen artists playing the whole day and night. The daytime portion of the event is free to enter starting at 1 p.m., with five acts leading up to headliners Os Mutantes, the Brazilian psych-rock band.
At 7 p.m. the Beet Street Afterparty gets started with a whole host of electronic musicians lighting up the night, with up-and-comer Ninjirachi leading the encore at midnight. This part of the fest is $25 at the door and beholden to Cactus Club’ss capacity, so get there early.
One last show to mention is Bowvee hosting their album-release celebration this Sunday, also at Cactus Club. The pop-rock ensemble will unveil new record Pumpkin Pie, with its catchy mix of Dayglow-inspired love songs to woo the heart. It’s filled with so much kindhearted quirkiness that’ll make you dance and giggle all at the same time. The show starts at 7 p.m., with openers Jasno, Human Ant Farm and Limber Brain.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Oct. 1: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Turner Hall, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 2: White Reaper, Lip Critic, World’s Worst @ X-Ray Arcade, 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 3: Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Population II @ X-Ray Arcade, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 3: Destroyer w/Jennifer Castle @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 3: Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound (album release) @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 3: Peppers & Pineapples w/Cozy Danger, Bellends @ Linneman’s, 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 4: Beet Street @ Cactus Club, 1 p.m.
- Oct. 4: Beet Street Afterparty @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 4: Collections of Colonies of Bees, Field Report, MATTHÚ @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 4: Robot Witch (album release) w/Fake Twin, The Quilz DJ Team @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 5: The Beaches w/Fightmaster @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 5: Bowvee (album release), Limber Brain, Human Ant Farm, Jasno @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 7: Bob Mould @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 7: Trapper Schoepp (WMSE Local/Live) @ Anodyne, 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.