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.
Make sure you wear earplugs for this week in Milwaukee music, ’cause it’s gonna get loud.
Hip-hop extraordinaire Billy Woods is coming to Vivarium this Saturday, hot off the release of his ninth studio record GOLLIWOG. Woods is a hard-to-define artist with musical inclinations that paint an obscure yet enrapturing picture. He embodies the feeling of being diasporic, a culture thrown against the wind that clings on to whatever it can call home.
GOLLIWOG reintroduces his African and West Indies roots to an American monoculture, seeping into the cracks of so-called American prosperity and making it rear its ugly head. It’s his second collaboration with producer Kenny Segal following their stellar partnership on the album Maps in 2023.
On this new record, Segal crafts an uncomfortable soundscape that latches onto your eardrums with its masterful production. The whole thing feels like sitting in a hot theater with the sound of the tape rolling in perpetuity. “STAR87” is a prime example, as ringing landlines and cellphones paired with Woods rapping off a groovy bass line make the whole track feel deeply sinister. Some online users have even deemed it “horrorcore,” especially considering the track ends with a brutal 911 call.
Channeling this toned down version of MC Ride and Zach Hill, Woods and Segal craft an addictive record that shows off a real dystopian America — one that makes reality feel just so eerie. It’s a nightmare you actually want to be a part of at the Vivarium, which will open its doors at 7 p.m. Saturday and start the music at 8 p.m.
On the same day, Danny Brown will hit the Rave with a different sound from the same genre, as he tours behind his new critically acclaimed album, Stardust. Where Billy Woods channels old school hip-hop, Brown paves the path forward for a new school of musical thought.
His recent collaborations with hyperpop/electronica artists like Underscores or Jane Remover were just samplings of what showed up on Stardust. The record required a robust team of producers to craft effortlessly bumping beats for Brown’s iconic voice to dance over. It’s music of pure intention that invokes a visceral feeling within the human body.
The third track — “Copycats” featuring Underscores — sets this explosively digitized instrumentation with a dynamic back-and-forth between the two artists. Following as few musical standards as possible, it demolishes the notions of what hip-hop is supposed to sound like, while the record as a whole is the future of a new genre that scoffs at tradition. If you’re looking to be a rap pioneer, catch Brown at The Rave/Eagles Club at 8 p.m., with Underscores and Femtanyl opening.
For those looking to throw down at a show full of locals, Cactus Club is gonna be lit up Monday night with a five-band bill. The eclectic lineup is a smorgasbord of Milwaukee artists who each carved their own niche in the local music scene.
In Shining Armour and I’ll Remember April bring an explosive emo sound, balancing Pareidolia’s psych-punk tones. These first three artists all reinforce the DIY work ethic, with each one having played shows in the 414 relentlessly. The show slides into the more indie-rock side of things with Sky Pine Drive and headliner Offtide ending the night by providing some clarity through the distortion. It’s a pure Milwaukee lineup to get your week started right.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Nov. 12: Matt Pond PA, Anya Marina @ Anodyne, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 12: Sushi Cowboy, Mas Verde, Royal Mill @ Cactus Club, 6 p.m.
- Nov. 12: Kayla Ruth, Diego Avila, Kevin Schwartz @ Falcon Nest, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 13: Brett Dennen @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 13: Boney James @ Uihlein Hall, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 13: GZA w/The Phunky Nomads @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 13: Bruiser and Bicycle, Cusp, Bowvee, Health Club, Socially Suspect @ Sugar Maple, 6:30 p.m.
- Nov. 14: Dogs in a Pile w/Sneezy @ Turner Hall, 7:45 p.m.
- Nov. 14: Ann Marie & The Fever Dreams w/Gypsum Sunflower, Kid Elephant @ Linneman’s, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 15: Billy Woods @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 15: Willie Watson, Gabrielle Hope @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- Nov. 15: Danny Brown w/underscores, femtanyl @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 15: The Wrecks w/Phoneboy, Wall Carpets @ The Rave, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 15: Wisconsin Space Program w/Shadeseeker, The Erly @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 16: Florry, Dick Texas @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 16: Thomas Dolby @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 17: Offtide, Sky Pine Drive, I’ll Remember April, Pareidolia, In Shining Armour @ Cactus Club, 6 p.m.
- Nov. 17: Will Varley @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 17: Modeling, Friendly Spectres, Shontrail @ X-Ray Arcade, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 18: The Metric Ton, Shoobie, Waterspouts, Okay Omen @ 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.