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.
We’re getting down to the last few weeks of the year, which is the perfect time to point out that we did 40 Milwaukee Music Premieres in 2025 (including two video premieres). That’s 40 times we helped a local artist share a never-before-heard (or seen) track on the air, on our social channels and here on the website.
The one area our premieres don’t touch are concerts, which is why we’re very glad that in addition to local artists, we have local venues to help showcase the kickass talent in this town. Case in point: this Saturday at Falcon Hall, which will bring four Milwaukee Music Premiere veterans to the stage — Ladybird, Long Mama, Maximiano and Old Pup.
Even if none of those bands were debutants with us, this show would get a big thumbs up from us because of the collective skill on site. While each of them bring a distinct skillset to the proceedings, there are some through lines among them: vivid lyrics, layered production and a dose of countrified sonic goodness (hooray for pedal steel).
Those unified elements have us looking squarely at a night of music that’ll warm you right up in these cold and snowy times of ours. Catch it at Falcon Hall this Saturday, with doors at 6:30 p.m. and music starting at 7:30 p.m.
While we’re on the local wave, let’s also give a shout to Thursday night’s bill at Anodyne topped by a celebratory So Zuppy. The project led by Micah Foust is still riding high from releasing Gone in a Quick Flash Silver just a little while back, and this week’s show is a belated “woo hoo” in honor of the solid seven-track album. Forktail and Rainbow Cobra will help set the tone when music gets going at 7 p.m., with doors open an hour earlier.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Dec. 10: Cheap Perfume, Jinskie, Mural Hall @ X-Ray Arcade, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 11: Nate Smith @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 11: So Zuppy (record release) w/Forktail, Rainbow Cobra @ Anodyne, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 11: Osseo, The Hatchets, Dark Psychic @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- Dec. 11: Kamikaze Relief Fund, Full Nelson, Broken Demeanor, Fake My Death @ X-Ray Arcade, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 12: The Big Wu w/Billy Bronsted String Band @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 12: The Moth @ Turner Hall, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 12: Season for a Smile feat. Lack of Reason, The Grovelers, Palm Ghosts, The Quilz @ X-Ray Arcade, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 13: Them Coulee Boys w/TAE & The Neighborly @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 13: The Band Feel w/Pearl @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 13: Zappafest XXVII feat. Ray White @ The Cooperage, 8:30 p.m.
- Dec. 13: Ladybird, Long Mama, Maximiano, Old Pup @ Falcon Hall, 7:30 p.m.
- Dec. 13: Walter Salas-Humara, Freedy Johnston @ Anodyne, 7:30 p.m.
- Dec. 13: Spun Out, Jaff Graffner, Lavish Waste, AJ, DJ Rooney @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- Dec. 13: TNGNT (EP release) w/Jeans @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 15: Styrofoam Winos, Angelica (EP release), King Courteen @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- Dec. 15: Chris Isaak @ Riverside Theater, 7:30 p.m.
