Here's some hot stuff to do this weekend in Milwaukee for the cold nights ahead...
#1
Jim James + Hurray For the Riff Raff
Jim James has spent the better part of almost two decades as the beating heart of My Morning Jacket. Seven albums in, My Morning Jacket is exactly what an acclaimed rock and roll band should look and sound like. Even though the amount of praise they get makes me puke a little, when I think about their last three albums—2008’s "Evil Urges," 2011’s "Circuital" and 2015’s "The Waterfall"—I gotta give it to them that, lucky or not, it’s deserved. But this is Jim James solo and seeing all that MMJ in condensed form might be well worth a Thursday night out.
Thursday 7:30 p.m. @ Turner Hall
#2
Colors and Chords
Man, I never get tired of people trying to make a difference. People all jacked up on believing in something positive. Some may call it a weak spot on me but you gotta try if you’re gonna make a difference. For me, Colors and Chords is doing that this season as they hold a music/art event this Friday to benefit Islands of Brilliance.
Islands of Brilliance is the cause within the event, as the show is essentially a benefit. IOB does project-based learning with students to practice communication and nurture skills and talents to prepare kids with unique challenges for independence as adults. Their technology-focused workshops focus on creativity to grow technical skills and confidence in critical social and peer-to-peer interactions, like a very professional/practical Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
So Colors & Chords is the event that showcases and celebrates music and art, pairing bands with prominent local artists live onstage for a 40 minute set. Food and music and giving back to kids in need is a good Friday night if you ask me…
Live performances by…
Testa Rosa
Suitcase Junket Golden Coins Jay Anderson & Honey Voodoo
Friday at 6:30 p.m. @ Turner Hall
#3
Radiograffiti Label Night! Doormouse + Nullsleep + The Demix
True story, I used to be cooler before I had a kid… but when I was kind of a kid I used to go see kick ass shows like the one happening at Club Garibaldi this weekend. 91.7 WMSE is teaming up with local record Label Radiografitti for an evening befitting Radiogarafitti’s commitment to the avant garde electronic fringe. They put out some high quality stuff and Friday’s showcase brings back ex-MKE, Florida based hardcore musician Dan Doormouse back to town to highlight a show that also features electronic music from Nullsleep (NYC), Black Lines, Din Sky, The Demix, Hot Science and CCDM (CHI). Get cool at this fresh for Friday show in Bay View.
Friday at 10 p.m. @ Club Garibaldi
#4
Deeper Than Rap
Art and healing are adjacent in this Saturday's Deeper Than Rap event at Cactus Club in Bay View. Hip-hop is what's on tap but the event is much more than that; as Milwaukee remains a segregationist outpost that belies its image as a city of breweries and baseball, of sedate suburbs and superb radio, the event's purpose is the healing of the divide that remains.
Saturday's event focuses on more than the music as story, tragedy, trauma and triumph take center stage with a hip-hop soundtrack featuring Milwaukee emcees Armstrong Ransome, Kareem City, MGK as well as Milwaukee poet and motivational speaker Muhibb Dyer and Chicago’s very own edutainment duo Organized Muzik. Sounds provided by 88Nine Radio Milwaukee DJ and Host Kima Hamilton.
Saturday at 9 p.m. @ Cactus Club
#5
War and Treaty
So, normally, Mondays proximity to Sunday is the difference between week and weekend–not here. Michael and Tanya, aka the War and Treaty, are in town on Monday. And as good as they sound on “Down by the River” on our airwaves, they’re even better live. This isn’t some Ashford & Simpson married musicians for millennials, this is live soul music delivered with love. W&T’s live shows are literally what they’re known for! Don’t let them sneak into town without seeing them.
Monday at 8 p.m. @ Turner Hall
