From Queer Country, to jam bands, to hip-hop violins, there's a lot of interesting music happening in Milwaukee this weekend.
I've got five suggestions for your weekend below.
And yes, the weekend starts today!
#1
Tenth Mountain Division
This would be a good start to getting this late winter spring off of your mind as the Ivy House has a little bluegrass function in Walker’s Point. Colorado bluegrass jam band Tenth Mountain Division infiltrates Milwaukee with Milwaukee’s Sleepy Gaucho and Big Dill and The Boys opening. TMD is billed bluegrass but seem to align their mandolin jams with a rock and roll vibe; fans of jam bands should dig it. Sleepy Gaucho is our Milwaukee Pick of the Week if you didn’t know, while Big Dill and The Boys are no strangers to freaking the funky bass as they also mix a jam rock sound. This is the perfect show to roll into without expectations and it’ll probably be a good night of music.
Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. @ The Ivy House
#2
Lady Lamb
Lady Lamb is a secret handshake. Intimate and open – magic in plain sight; a sound both deeply personal and existentially contemplative. Aka Aly Spaltro, she’s a fearless performer who can center a stage with her unique singularity. However, she’s not alone and her band elevates and amplifies her clear talent.
Saturday at 7 p.m. @ The Back Room
#3
Black Violin
Black Violin is lead by classically trained string players, violist Wil B. and violinist Kev Marcus. Joining them onstage are DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes. Yep, you heard that correctly, classically trained string players making live hip hop! I can’t think of anything that’s simultaneously so atypical and quintessentially, hip hop. Check your stereotypes, I’m pretty sure this is going to be a surprisingly fresh show.
Saturday at 7 p.m. @ The Marcus Center
#4
Two for Four Twenty
This Saturday is also 4/20 and you know what that means…lol. As far as “holidays” go, this definitely isn’t one. Nevertheless, it’s a theme that endears never-ending iterations in every imaginable form. That said, Shank Hall is hosting Grateful Dead Party with Mike & Friends this weekend and getting irie listening to some Dead tunes doesn’t really sound like a bad idea at if you can get your mindin the ‘right’ head-space. And if you'd prefer your 4/20 with a bit more reggae, King Solomon is performing on Saturday night as well at Rock Country on Silver Spring.
Grateful Dead Party on Saturday at 8 p.m. @ Shank Hall
Reggae from King Solomon on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. @ Rock Country MKE
#5
Queer Country
Seattle-based country outfit Lavender Country is the only queer country band I’ve ever heard of. All of my ignorance aside, they’re interesting not only because of who they are but also for the fact they were doing their thing in the early 70’s. To call them pioneers is an understatement. New York’s Paisley Fields are another queer country band, unapologetic about pushing boundaries and seeking inspiration in the unexpected. Together with Milwaukee’s Nickel & Rose and Duluth’s queer positive Nat Harvie Trio, this Saturday night at Cactus Club looks pretty dope—not your average Saturday night in Bay View.
Sunday at 7 p.m. @ Cactus Club
