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.
A historic Nor’easter is hitting the East Coast this week, and a flurry of musicians from that part of the U.S. are trickling into Milwaukee, bringing with them a range of music — from harmonious indie rock to disco funk to post-hardcore.
Kicking off the weekend Friday night is Rainbow Kitten Surprise. The North Carolina-based indie alternative band known for their unique harmonies and poetic lyrics is making a stop at Landmark Credit Union Live (the venue’s very first “official” show, by the way) as part of their “bones” tour.
RKS are known globally for songs like “It’s Called: Freefall” and “Devil Like Me,” but also for the causes they advocate for. That holds true for this show, with $1 per ticket donated to the Rainbow Kitten Surprise Fund, which is “dedicated to building a more just and compassionate world by uplifting marginalized communities, expanding access to vital resources and delivering critical support in times of need.”
Rainbow Kitten Surprise will be joined by Common People at Landmark Live for an 8 p.m. start, with doors opening at 6:30 PM.
On Saturday, another funky harmonious group from the East Coast makes its way to the East Side, as NYC-based discodelic trio Say She She hit the Vivarium (but not before making their return to our own space for a noontime Studio Milwaukee Session!).
The group’s most recent album, Cut & Rewind, is full of psych-funk dance beats and political undertones. But you’re not just showing up for the music. The trio — made up of Nya Gazelle Brown, Sabrina Cunningham and Piya Malik — give their live audiences unforgettable experiences built on eye-catching choreography and unforgettable melodies.
Jumping ahead to next week, Milwaukee’s beloved Cactus Club has another killer triumvirate for you: Glitterer, Graham Hunt and Prize Horse for a Tuesday night triple threat.
Glitterer’s cheekily titled album erer uses post-hardcore sound to illuminate emotional themes of the current moment. This show’s undercard is as strong as they come, too, with Wisconsin’s own Graham Hunt swinging through town on the back of Timeless World Forever, yet another top-notch power-pop collection with a strong focus on the Midwestern experience.
The two will get support from more Midwest muscle in the form of Prize Horse, who bring their heavier alt approach down from Minneapolis for the 7 p.m. show.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Feb. 25: Amelia Day, Hanna Simone @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 25: Community Preview Night @ Landmark Credit Union Live, 6:30 p.m.
- Feb. 26: Jasno w/Bowvee, No Thanks to You @ Falcon Nest, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Steve Martin & Martin Short w/The Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Bako @ Miller High Life Theatre, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Ellie Banke, Ellee Grim @ Cactus Club, 6 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Landmark Credit Union Live, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Smoking Popes, Scott Lucas, Menthol @ X-Ray Arcade, 7:30 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Heavy Bend w/Oh Well OK, Disposable Thumbs, Wyvern @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Yonder Mountain String Band @ The Cooperage, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 27: Radio Caroline w/Pareidolia, Crash House, Courtesy @ Falcon Hall, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 28: Say She She w/Katzù Oso @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 28: Josephine, Julia Minkin, Blacktop @ Anodyne, 7:30 p.m.
- Feb. 28: BossMan Dlow @ Landmark Credit Union Live, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 28: SSAANN w/Faded Places, Fairy Astronaut @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
- March 1: Crash House, Swim 2 Birds, I'll Remember April, Candle Wax @ X-Ray Arcade, 7 p.m.
- March 3: Glitterer, Graham Hunt, Prize Horse @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
