Monday, November 3: Rings of Saturn with Devolving Messiah, To Set Ablaze , Pangaea, Encryptor and Wicked World at The Metal Grill, 5 p.m. ($10)
The Bay Area deathcore band Rings of Saturn boasts a vast, young audience, a super polished, hyper-technical, punishing metal sound and throws in some heavy science-fiction themes. Those qualities have lead to numerous attacks from critics, who find their growing success unwarranted in the metalcore scene and bemoan the band’s inability to reproduce their extremely difficult songs live. See for yourself Monday night at The Metal Grill in Cudahy. There’s nothing quite like a metal show to kick start the week. (5036 South Packard Ave., Cudahy, themetalgrill.com)
Also: Paperhead with Tapebenders, Jen Heebz and DJ Job Heibler at Frank’s Power Plant, 4 p.m. (FREE) – (2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., FranksPowerPlant.com)
Tuesday, November 4: James Taylor and His All-Star Band at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, 8 p.m. ($65-$85)
When the 66-year-old folk singer James Taylor takes the stage Tuesday night, he’ll appear to be a singer better suited for intimate theaters than the expansive Bradley Center. While sitting on a stool playing an acoustic guitar doesn’t translate well to the larger arenas, the graceful troubadour’s impressive, extensive catalog does stand up to the bigger stage. With hits like “Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Handy Man,” and many more in his back pocket, Taylor has the power to make you feel like you’re the only person in the room. (1001 N. Fourth St., BradleyCenter.com)
Also: Sammy Kay and the Fast Four with Something To Do and DJ Tom Nolan at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 8 p.m. – (900 E. Center St.)
Wednesday, November 5: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with Ad, Almost Kings, Skinny and Sir Triggy at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($29-$119)
The Cleveland, Ohio-based Bone Thugs-N-Harmony proved that good rap music didn’t just come from Los Angeles and New York City, but that the Midwest had important things to say, as well. The group did receive some help from Compton rapper and former N.W.A. member Eazy E, who paid for bus tickets to L.A. in order for the band to sign to Ruthless Records. Eazy-E’s subsequent death became the subject of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Grammy winning song, “Tha Crossroads” in 1996. The group plans to call it quits after their final record E. 1999 Legends—a call back to their No. 1 album, 1995’s E. 1999 Eternal—due out next year. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Yonder Mountain String Band with Larry Keel Experience at Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m. ($24.75 advance, $27.25 door) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
And: Sat. Nite Duets with Be Forest and Blue Unit at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 9 p.m. ($5) – (900 E. Center St.)
Thursday, November 6: Bikes & Beats featuring Peter Mulvey at Turner Hall Ballroom, 5:30 p.m. ($15)
The city’s bicycling community has made significant strides over the past few years thanks in part to the Wisconsin Bike Fed’s activism. Thursday night Turner Hall Ballroom hosts Bikes & Beats, a fundraiser to support the non-profit organization. The event includes some food and drink from local vendors and a set from the maybe the city’s grittiest folk singer, Peter Mulvey. (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: ABBA MANIA at The Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($35) – (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
Friday, November 7: The 1975 with Cruisr and Young Rising Sons at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($27-$32) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Rah Rah with Light Music at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: David Allan Coe with Confederate Railroad at Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m. ($32.50) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Saturday, November 8: Miltown Beatdown Finals featuring Salvva and Kid Cut Up at The Miramar Theatre, 9 p.m. ($10 advance, $20 door)
The Miltown Beatdown is a one-of-a-kind event that pits local producers head-to-head in a tournament style format to determine the king or queen of beatmaking in Milwaukee. The numerous preliminary rounds held at the Jackolope Lounge in the Third Ward culminate in the final three rounds between DJs edi S-B and DMT, Jazzward and Came One, Mike Regal and Bennie Densmore, and Strehlow and Lex Luther. There will also be performances from Milwaukee expat Kid Cut Up and Los Angeles producer SALVA.
Also: Caroline Smith with Klassik at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
And: Damion Romero with Peter J. Woods, Nummy and Dan of Earth at Cactus Club, 10 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Tapebenders with Sleep Comes Down at Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m. ($5) – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
Sunday, November 9: Irrelevant Mouth with Citizen 2-13, Kleptix and Hideoous Replica Riverwest Public House, 8 p.m. ($5) – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
