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, sponsored by the Urban Ecology Center.
This week in Milwaukee music is full of storied artists gracing the Cream City’s many stages once more with a slew of new music.
It starts Wednesday night at the Riverside Theater, where Sylvan Esso will bring the dynamic sounds from new record Ow ∞ to the city. Four years after their last release, the North Carolina-based electropop darlings have delivered an album with cautiously insightful perspectives on the modern world, leaving room for simpler analysis if reality’s weight is too crushing; it really is up to the listener.
Released this past September, Ow ∞ shows Sylvan Esso with a weathered perspective on life, in that the tongue-in-cheek soundscape of breaking the rules on purpose has now shifted to a pointed outlook on chaos. The duo clearly has been struggling with the question of how you handle terrible news every waking second amid a desperate attempt for control.
The answer? Well, for the duo, it seems to be focusing on dancing in the fire with their friends and laughing in the face of societal decay. Perhaps it’s the sanest thing one can do.
Moving ahead 24 hours, L.A.-based Ian Sweet will bring atmosphere to the Falcon Nest (inside Riverwest institution Falcon Bowl) this Thursday. Longtime indie musician Jilian Medford leads this project built on moody alt-rock melodies and a piercing vocal range. Her rendition of modern indie has a methodical focus, channeling the energy of Momma with Mitski’s timbre.
Ian Sweet’s new record Shiverstruck pursues a lovelorn reality built on a bitterness she’s trying her best to run away from — a bitterness that will falter the moment that the number she’s been dreaming of rings her phone. She builds this nuanced dream (or nightmare) through a rich set of bubbly synths, discordant acoustic guitars and other sounds that make for an intriguing soundscape. The show presented by 88Nine, Kickstand Productions and X-Ray Arcade starts at 8 p.m., with Meg Elsier opening up the night.
Speaking of the Cudahy venue, Wishy will bring the noise to X-Ray Arcade on Monday, showing off new record Nature’s Pill and all its catchy tunes. The Indianapolis-based band knows how to make rock music that’s danceable, singable and so very them, with a level of consistency you don’t typically find in younger bands.
A lot of up-and-coming artists get it into their heads that the music they make must be full of innovation. Every arrangement must be the next big thing. Wishy instead focus on making good, catchy songs. They understand the importance of being themselves and making music they want to make. It’s a distinction that doesn’t seem hard to navigate, but many artists get caught up in their own ego and forget they should probably make something that sounds great.
That’s not to say Wishy aren’t innovative. They just do it from the comfort of their own pocket, which allows their inventiveness to shine in the minutia. Every track of Nature’s Pill contains something a little more Wishy, whether it’s an interesting production choice, guitar lick or beat switch. It’s all just so smooth, and it’ll be on display at X-Ray Arcade starting at 8 p.m. with opener Dead Sullivan.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Oct. 21: Sylvan Esso w/Chris Rosenau @ Riverside Theater, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 21: Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Landmark Credit Union Live, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 21: Violet Wilder, Stefan Weiner, Sam Ness @ Anodyne, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 21: Maggie Koerner w/J.R. Wesley @ The Argo, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 22: Ian Sweet w/Meg Elsier @ Falcon Nest, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 23: Buena Vista Orchestra @ Pabst Theater, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 23: The Wrecks w/Worry Club, Kid Sistr @ The Rave, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 23: Glitzy, My Melody, Casual Sex, Djambo @ X-Ray Arcade, 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 23-25: Widespread Panic @ Riverside Theater, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 26: Wishy w/Dead Sullivan @ X-Ray Arcade, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 26: All Them Witches w/Emma Ruth Rundle @ Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 27: Old Crow Medicine Show @ Pabst Theater, 7 p.m.