The Big Gig is almost upon us. And though there will be plenty of music filling the Milwaukee summer air over these next two weeks, the vast majority of it will be pouring over from the lakefront. Milwaukee’s live music clubs generally tend to lay low during Summerfest, but there’s still plenty of good stuff going on if you require some non-Fest-related entertainment.
And be sure to check out Music Notes throughout the next two weeks for daily postings on all things Summerfest.
Tuesday, June 28: Theodore at Bremen Café, 9 p.m.
(901 E. Clarke St., bremencafe.com)
Thursday, June 30: Forever the Sickest Kids with Valencia at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($16)
What do you get when you take Fall Out Boy minus any of the slightly redeemable qualities that prevent you from throwing things at the TV any time you see their stupid faces? Forever the Sickest Kids. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: The Intrinsicles at Up and Under Pub, 9 p.m.
(1216 E. Brady St., TheUpAndUnderPub.com)
Friday, July 1: White Mystery with The Fatty Acids, White Fence and The Strange Boys at Frank’s Power Plant, 9:30 p.m. ($8)
Perpetually doomed to be only the second most-recognizable brother/sister duo with the last name of White, Chicago’s White Mystery shrugs off the White Stripes anchor and proceeds to rock fans with an intoxicatingly dirty blend of hook-laden garage punk. (2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., frankspowerplant.net)
Also: Todd Richards with The Vega Star and DJ Marcus Doucette at Bay View Brew Haus, 9:30 p.m.
(2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., BayViewBrewHaus.com)
MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
 |
| The Melismatics. Photo courtesy of Alex Abercrombie. |
Saturday, July 2: The Melismatics with Revolush and Sleepwalkers at Club Garibaldi, 10 p.m.
Minneapolis saccharin-saturated new wave pop may not be breaking any new ground. But the band’s delivery is strong and there are just enough moments of transcendence to something cooler there to make this show worth a look. (2501 S. Superior St., myspace.com/clubgaribaldis)
Also: Elusive Parallelograms with Sat. Nite Duets, The Fatty Acids and Astral/Subastral at Cactus Club, 10 p.m.
(2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Monday, July 4: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($20)
(1434 N. Farwell Ave., shankhall.com)
Tuesday, July 5: IfIHadAHiFi with Stock Options, Hex Machine and Gnarwhal at Cactus Club, 9 p.m.
IfIHadAHiFi and Stock Options are two of the hardest-working bands in the local scene, both sharing a noble “play anywhere, any time” mentatlity. So it only makes sense that they would take to the stage together for a Tuesday night show during Summerfest. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Thursday, July 7: 10 Paces, Fire with Alta, Hold Tight!, This Is Your Life and Thunderbolts at Borg Ward Collective
The Borg Ward’s schedule has remained relatively unchanged during Summerfest. This is not surprising considering the collective’s typical audience is not exactly the fest-going type. (823 W. National Ave., theborgward.org)
Friday, July 8: The Stranger with The Safes and Sevenfortyseven at Frank’s Power Plant, 9:30 p.m. ($7)
(2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., frankspowerplant.net)
Saturday, July 9: Maudlin at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m.
Twin vocalists David and Priscilla Priebe deliver kitschy new wave pop sentimentalities with the best of them. Add to that a penchant for bringing a little old-fashioned rock ‘n roll edge and you’ve got yourself some solid potential. (2501 S. Superior St., myspace.com/clubgaribaldis)
Also: Chiodos with The Color Morale, Close to Home and The Air I Breathe at The Rave, 6 p.m. ($14.50)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
