Local H plays Shank Hall
Monday, October 1: Aesop Rock at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($18)
San Francisco-based Aesop Rock wears various hats: writer, artist, and producer. But the most prominent (and the best) of those caps is that of an influential and groundbreaking figure in alternative hip hop. With close to two decades and six studio albums – including newly released Skelethon – under his belt, the respected rapper rolls through town for an impassioned night refreshingly askew rhymes. (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Heidi Spencer And The Rare Birds, and Bright Kind at Hotel Foster, 9 p.m. – (2028 E. North Ave., TheHotelFoster.com)
Tuesday, October 2: Two Gallants at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($12)
Keeping the Bay area music coming, fellow San Fran performers, Two Gallants, blow into town Tuesday for a show that’s fittingly intimate for a band known for its intensely personal and emotive brand of stripped down, two piece folk. Papa and The Dead Ships open. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Bell X1 and Duke Special at Turner Hall, 6:30 p.m. ($15) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Wednesday, October 3: Gary Louris at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($20) – (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
Thursday, October 4: Local H at Shank Hall, 7:30 p.m. ($13)
While the Chicago (adjacent) guitar-and-drums rock duo was never able to fully capitalize on the steam provided by promising Island Record album As Good As Dead, Local H has somehow sustained a scant level of success in the ever-changing and largely-impatient rock ‘n’ roll landscape. Left for dead by its major label at the turn of the century, the pair has churned out releases on six other (and significantly smaller) labels, while maintaining its cult following through lively shows and an adaptive-yet-identifiable change in sound. The Ambassadors and Scott Lucas open. (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
Friday, October 5: Ingrid Michaelson at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($29.50)
At just 32 years of age, Ingrid Michaelson has compiled a resume most musicians twice her age would be proud to call their own. In addition to having close to 50 songs features on a variety of TV shows, commercials and films, the pop songstress has performed for President Obama, and put out five studio albums – that latest of which, Human Again, has touched the top five on the Billboard charts at various points this year since its January release. Sugar and The Hi Lows open. (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Latest Flame 10-year Anniversary with IfIHadAHiFi, System and Static, Victory and Associates and Heavy Hand at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Dead Man’s Carnival at Miramar Theatre, 9 p.m. ($10) – (2844 N. Oakland Ave.)
Saturday, October 6: Mustard Plug at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m.
Dig out that faded Less Than Jake shirt; pull on some argyle trousers and skank the night away with one of ska’s longest running and most popular acts. Mustard Plug blows into town (get it… because they have horns?) to transport you to back to high school, a time when your whole life stood ahead of you and the quality and genre of the music you listened to, evidently, didn’t matter very much. Fellow ska holdovers Something to Do and Avenues get things rolling. (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
Also: Latest Flame 10-year Anniversary with The Gunshy, Animal Lover, and Waxeater at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: North Mississippi Allstars at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($23.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Sunday, October 7: Motion City Soundtrack at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($20)
Minneapolis’ Motion City Soundtrack has managed to both find and maintain mainstream appeal for close to a decade behind its catchy and boisterous brand of radio rock. Rounding out this evening of pop punk enjoyment is Jukebox The Ghost, Now Now, and William Beckett open. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
