1. Milwaukee Record's Local Coverage
The ultimate insider event for those that dig the local music scene and love to support nonprofits that strengthen it, is happening tomorrow at Turner Hall. Milwaukee Record is throwing down for a benefit for Girls Rock Milwaukee and The Guest House at Turner and has a lineup of ten Milwaukee bands playing small sets inspired by other local acts. In the second annual edition of the event, not only have they moved to a larger venue, after packing the house at Bay View's Club Garibaldi, but they've expanded the lineup to ten and tonight's show will feature those bands interpreting each other live. This is how it'll look:
Decibully (playing Soul Low) GGOOLLD (playing Maritime) Klassik (playing Decibully) Tigernite (playing GGOOLLDD) Soul Low (playing Tigernite) Maritime (playing Sat. Nite Duets) Twin Brother (playing Klassik) Sat Nite Duets (playing Whiskeybelles) Whiskeybelles (playing Fox Face) and Fox Face (playing Twin Brother)
Friday at 6pm ($10) Turner Hall 1038 N 4th St Downtown
2. MAM After Dark: Carnival!
Even though winter's finally caught up with us, you can keep some hotter habits like Milwaukee Art Museum's annual Carnival celebration this Friday. MAM After Dark generally curates a pretty cool, wide-open scene for anybody to enjoy and the thematics are always on point. I may be a bit biased because I'll be spinning afro-latin and Brazilian Carnival grooves there in a sort of Sound Travels-like gig but I'm not the only attraction; Milwaukee's premiere afro-latin ensemble De La Buena will keep the dancefloor hot in the main hall. Salsabrosa Dance Company will be teaching salsa, samba and other latin hot-steps and I think somebody's bringing some Brazilian food too! If past After Dark's are any clue, it will be a beautiful and well-dress crowd of good-timers at one of the town's most iconic locations.
Friday at 8pm ($12) Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N Art Museum Dr, Downtown Lakefront
3. Living Colour!
I gotta admit to having a soft spot for late '80s and '90s acts I grew up with. Few rocked harder than rockers Living Colour. I always admired them for being one of the few black rock acts in the super-segregated '80s music scene. Their 1988 album "Vivid," found unlikely support from Mick Jagger. The song "Cult of Personality" is as anthemic today as it was in the late '80s. After years of inactivity, the band has recently reunited and even has a new album in the works. You can catch up with them tonight at Potawatomi's Northern Lights Theater.
Tonight at 8pm ($25) Northern Lights Theater at Potawatomi Casino 1721 W Canal St. Menomonee Valley
4. Reggae at the Rave!
This Friday the Rave is having their own version of a punky reggae party. The legendary band that once backed Bob Marley, The Wailers, will visit Milwaukee for the first big reggae show of the new year. Though most of the lineup has changed, Family Man Barrett still keeps the crew anchored in deep roots. I must say, I'm surprised at how dope the band is despite being so far from their origin story, consistently hitting hard with a great live show. Milwaukee's reggae scene is in support mode here with Recalcitrant, RAS Movement and the Chalice in the Palace Soundsystem also on a bill perfect for Milwaukee's small, but dope reggae scene.
Friday at 8pm The Rave 2401 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
5. Get Bully!
Normally, 5TTDTW focuses on weekends. This week, I'm making an exception for an event that's next Tuesday. That's because Radio Milwaukee favorite Bully is playing the Cactus Club in Bay View. That's a better idea than a bunch of other stuff happening this weekend. You can get to know this little Nashville outfit. We did a nice interview with them recently and you can hear "Trying" on our airwaves. Milwaukee band Fake Limbs opens. Tuesday seems like a better day to end the weekend on anyway.
Tuesday, Jan 19 at 9pm Cactus Club
