Things are starting to heat up for Social Cig, the “Indie-skate-rock” project of Parker Schultz. In return, Schultz has decided that a high-profile show presented a great opportunity to bring a little warmth to people in need.
On the music side, Social Cig kicked off an exciting stretch of the calendar just last Friday by releasing a new five-song EP, In the Pocket. They also knocked out the first in a long run of shows (a mix of full-band appearances and solo sets) Monday night in Madison, with a schedule that will take Schultz to Kansas City, Austin and New Orleans, among other locales.
Before the Southern swing, Social Cig will host a combination release show / coat drive Tuesday night (that’s tonight, Dec. 12) at Cactus Club. Fellow Milwaukee outfit Honey Creek will add some power-punk flavor to the bill, with Minneapolis new-wavers Creeping Charlie also joining the fun. As part of the evening’s good vibes, organizers have asked attendees to bring lightly worn or new winter jackets as part of a coat drive benefiting Milwaukee’s Benedict Center.
Tuesday’s show adds another feather to the cap that is Social Cig’s prosperous 2023. They were part of the UScellular Connection Stage lineup that enjoyed an overflowing Summerfest crowd the night Noah Kahan headlined, they top-lined the MKE indie show at Turner Hall, and — most importantly — they played our proudly local State of Sound series back in July.
Now, they have some fresh tunes that seem like a great fit for the stage. We premiered the first track from In the Pocket back in September, an existential crisis in song form titled “Wonderin’.” Split into two movements, the single is a standout on a solid collection of new music that slips a little reggae (“Sleep) and even doo-wop (“Phone”) into Social Cig’s indie-skate-rock foundation.
To check out the new EP and pick up tickets for Tuesday night’s show (don’t forget your coat donation!), head over to Social Cig’s Linktree.
