Blitzen Trapper
Monday, Oct. 31: Brother Ali with Motopony at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($20)
88Nine Radio Milwaukee helps usher in another Halloween night with Minneapolis-based (by way of Madison) rapper Brother Ali and Seattle’s own difficult-to-pin-down folksy rockers Motopony. Rather than harp on the fact that Ali is a legally blind albino rapper, let’s instead focus on the more impressive fact that there are few hip-hop artists currently out there that more effectively weave thoughtful, socially conscious without being preachy rhymes, effortless delivery and earth-shaking live band accompaniment. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Also: Blood On the Dance Floor with Angelspit and New Years Day at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($13.50)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Tuesday, Nov. 1: Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($10)
It can be tough to step out of the shadow of your father when you specialize in the same craft that he spent a lifetime honing. It can be even more difficult when the craft in question is country-fried music and the father in question is the legendary Willie Nelson. Fortunately for Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, the talent apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. And with a dirtier, edgier sound than the old man, Lukas has set out to blaze his own path in the industry (pot pun totally intended). (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Wednesday, Nov. 2: 3 Doors Down with Theory of a Deadman at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($32)
Few bands benefited more from the cultural void that was early ‘00s modern rock than 3 Doors Down. And few bands benefited more from blatantly copycatting bands like 3 Doors Down and Nickelback than Theory of a Deadman. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Also: Nero with Color Wars, JaKel vs. PashMash and DanAconda at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($16.50)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Thursday, Nov. 3: Reckless Kelly with Longacre at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($15)
Since the band’s inception more than a decade ago, Austin-based roots rock outfit Reckless Kelly has been the model of persistence. Working their way up from weekly bar band attraction to peer-appreciated songsters, Reckless Kelly finally broke through to mainstream success with 2008’s Bulletproof. Two highly successful subsequent albums have maintained the band’s reputation as working-class troubadours in the vein of Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen. (1434 N. Farwell Ave., shankhall.com)
Also: Karaoke Underground at Cactus Club, 9 p.m.
(2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Also: Richie Furay Band at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($29.50)
(1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Also: The Acolytes with Haz Solo at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. ($7)
(533 E. Center St., mad-planet.net)
Friday, Nov. 4: The Salford Lads Club with Maritime and Testa Rosa at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($10)
Halloween may be in the rearview mirror, but there’s no reason you have to stash away the fun of dressing up like somebody else and partying all night for a whole year. This special night of impersonation features The Salford Lads Club, The Smiths/Morrissey tribute band from Italy, headlining the festivities. But for my money the more intriguing sets of the night come courtesy of Milwaukee’s own Maritime (paying tribute to Joy Division) and Testa Rosa (doing their best The Pretenders impression). Get those costumes back out! (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Also: Mark Sultan with Trent Fox and the Tenants, John the Savage and The Lonesome Savages at Club Garibaldi, 8 p.m. ($10)
(2501 S. Superior St., clubgaribaldis.com)
Also: Takeover Freestyle Battle with Rusty Ps, AUTOMatic and Speak Easy at Stonefly Brewing Company, 9 p.m.
(735 E. Center St., stoneflybrewery.com)
Also: Group of Altos with Little Scream and Bobby at Cactus Club, 9 p.m.
(2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Also: Gym Class Heroes with The Dirty Heads and Wallpaper at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($22.50)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
Saturday, Nov. 5: Blitzen Trapper + Dawes with The Belle Brigade at Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($15)
With two dynamite Sub Pop releases in Furr and Destroyer of the Void, Portland, Oregon-based Americana alt-country band Blitzen Trapper became the crush of critics nationwide from Rolling Stone to Pitchfork. Although the band’s latest release American Goldwing hasn’t met with quite the same fanfare, it continues Blitzen Trapper’s intoxicatingly experimental exploration of West Coast ease combined with southern Americana roots.
A little less rootsy and a bit more West Coasty, folk rockers Dawes (at left) share headlining duties on this impressive bill. Credited with reviving the Laurel Canyon sound first made famous in the ‘60s by LA-based groups like The Mamas & the Papas, The Eagles and Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dawes manages to channel these influences without rehashing on the band’s stellar 2011 release Nothing Is Wrong. Brother and sister duo The Belle Brigade, which just landed a sweet spot on the latest Twilight soundtrack, open the show. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Also: Football with Fatal Figures, Ramma Lamma, The Creamers and Strange Matter at Frank’s Power Plant, 9:30 p.m. ($7)
(2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., frankspowerplant.net)
Also: Trophy Wives with Absolutely, Cave, Running and Catacombz at Riverwest Public House, 8 p.m. ($7)
(815 E. Locust St., riverwestpublichouse.wordpress.com)
Also: Umphrey’s McGee at The Rave, 9 p.m. ($25)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Sunday, Nov. 6: Owl City with Days Difference at Carroll College, 7:30 p.m. ($25)
Following in the illustrious footsteps of overnight internet sensation trailblazers like Justin Bieber, Adam Young (aka Owl City) skyrocketed to fame a few years ago with a collection of tunes crafted on a laptop in his parents’ basement. The incredibly catchy yet disturbingly Postal Service-esque “Fireflies” landed the self-made Minnesotan at the top of the Billboard charts. He has tried to recapture that magic in 2011 with the release of All Things Bright and Beautiful, though I’m not sure what it says about Owl City’s career that he has already moved on to the university circuit. (100 N. East Ave., carrollu.edu)
Blitzen Trapper photo by Tyler Kolhoff and Dawes photo by Kevin Hayes.
