Tuesday, March 8: Mucca Pazza with 88Nine DJs at Turner Hall, 9 p.m. ($10)
We’ve all heard the question a hundred times in a hundred awkward conversations from work events to first dates: “What kind of music are you into?” Well, if your answer has always been “30-piece circus punk marching bands” then your ship has finally come in. Mucca Pazza, Spanish for “crazy cow,” somehow ties together mismatched marching band uniforms, a set list that can veer wildly from Sousa-esque to Zappa-esque, and a glockenspiel, among a plethora of other instruments, into an engaging, entertaining show. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Also: Northless with Protestant and Thou at Borg Ward Collective, 9 p.m.
Milwaukee sludge metal at its finest, Northless not only blasts you with a wall of sound but also impresses with a nuance and attention to detail not always synonymous with the sludge metal tag. (823 W. National Ave., theborgward.org)
Thursday, March 10: Keller Williams at Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($20/$23)
Keller Williams is about as close to a one-man band as you can get. The multi-instrumentalist is a master at looping layer upon layer of sound using guitar, bass, keyboard or whatever else he can find. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
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| Pezzettino. Photo courtesy Kevin C. Groen. |
Friday, March 11: Pezzettino at Cactus Club, 10 p.m.
Milwaukee expatriate Pezzettino makes her hometown return. The now Brooklyn-based musician has made a name for herself with an intoxicatingly unique and minimalist style fueled primarily by the equal parts goofy and haunting accordion. Don’t miss this truly one-of-a-kind Milwaukee prodigy. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Also: Sarah McLachlan with Butterfly Boucher and Melissa McClelland at Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($45-$75)
One of the most genuinely beautiful voices in pop music, Sarah McLachlan has spent her career writing fairly cliché ballads of love and loss. But her sincere, passionate delivery has made them not only tolerable but at times also masterful. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., pabsttheater.org)
Also: The Midwest Beat with Tim Schweiger and the Middlemen at Circle-A Cafe, 8 p.m.
There’s certainly no shortage of vintage ’60s throwback bands populating the Milwaukee music scene at the moment, but few do the style as much justice as The Midwest Beat. Upbeat, melodic and decidedly lo-fi, the band excels at crafting heartfelt jams that get the crowd moving. (932 E. Chambers St., circle-a-cafe.org)
Also: Ikarus Down with I Am Not a Pilot and Esh Sturdivan at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m.
(2501 S. Superior St., MySpace.com/ClubGaribaldis)
Also: Sleeping In the Aviary with La Vita Viva Cabaret and The Sensationalists at Frank’s Power Plant, 9:30 p.m. ($6)
(2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., frankspowerplant.net)
Saturday, March 12: De La Buena at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m.
One of the city’s most unique and enjoyable live acts, De La Buena combines Latin and African rhythms with top-notch instrumentalism to create a truly beautiful and rhythmically intense show. (2501 S. Superior St., MySpace.com/ClubGaribaldis)
Also: Ice Cube at The Rave, 8:30 p.m. ($26.50)
Ice Cube is taking a break from his successful acting career that has included such seminal films as Next Friday, Barbershop 2: Back in Business and The Players Club to try his hand at rapping. We’re all pulling for you, Cube.
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Cold War Kids with A Lull at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($18)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Human Eye with Drugs Dragons, The Get Drunk DJs and Mickey at Cactus Club, 10 p.m. ($8)
(2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Also: Joe Bonamassa at Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($49-$69)
(144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
Sunday, March 13: The Wildbirds with Pondarosa at Linneman’s, 9 p.m. ($7)
The Wildbirds had an intense 2010 that included a new album, extensive touring and the theft of all of the equipment from their van. And with an old school rocking sound and a healthy collection of industry contacts in their back pocket, the band seems poised to make 2011 just as memorable. Minus the theft, that is. (1001 E. Locust St., linnemans.com)
