Monday, October 27: Insane Clown Posse with Mushroomhead, Da Mafia 6is, Madchild and Jellyroll at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($26.50-$94)
Even bands with fervent cult followings don’t hold a light to the obsessive Insane Clown Posse fanbase. ICP devotees, lovingly dubbed Juggalos, adhere to a certain band-approved lifestyle of drinking the disgusting soda-brand Faygo, twisting their hair in spider legs style and wearing creepy facepaint. The following has definitely turned into a prominent subculture, spawning countless derivative rap groups and culminating in a notoriously sketchy festival in central Ohio called Gathering of the Juggalos. The music isn’t very inclusive—it’s basically brazen rap music that incorporates brutal themes like murder and cannibalism—but the shows are a sight to see—from the back. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Tuesday: October 28: Reigning Sound with Space Raft and Phylums at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($12)
Influential Memphis songwriter Greg Cartwright has led the garage-rock four-piece Reigning Sound for the past 13 years following the breakup of his ‘90s garage-punk band Oblivians. Reigning Sound’s latest record, Shattered, marks its first release for North Carolina’s Merge Records—where the band recently relocated. Recording at the Daptone’s Brooklyn studio certainly lent some polish to its typical, fuzzed-out sound. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Wednesday, October 29: Jon Bellion with Rhetorik at the Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($12) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Thursday, October 30: Ladders (album release) with Lousy Trouts, Ugly Brothers and King Courteen at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($10 with CD)
Don’t let the cheeky, feline-adorned cover art fool you, Ladders’ debut record is no laughing matter. Rather, Suha, the first official release from Riverwest’s Breadking collective, highlights the jaunty folk four-piece’s aptitude to yield graceful, beguiling results. Ladders celebrate the release of Suha at Linneman’s this Thursday. (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
Also: Volunteer (album release) with Child Bite and Like Like The The The Death at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: The Hood Internet with Hologram Kizzie and My Gold Mask at The Miramar Theatre, 9 p.m. ($5) – (2844 N. Oakland Ave., TheMiramarTheatre.com)
Friday, October 31: 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Halloween Bash featuring Sonny Knight & The Lakers, BJ Daniel’s Drag Review and Kid Millions’ Soul Dance Party at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m. ($14)
It’s fitting that Sonny Knight headlines 88Nine Radio Milwaukee’s Halloween party this Friday because the Minneapolis singer’s music career rose from the dead just a few years ago. The demise of the disco-era and subsequently his R&B group Haze in 1979 forced Knight to look for work outside the music industry—he would become a truck driver. He would eventually make his way back into music, and he now heads his own outfit The Lakers, which released their first record, I’m Still Here, in April. (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Platinum Boys with Jaill, Sat. Nite Duets and Midnight Reruns at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. (FREE) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
And: Killers (Iron Maiden tribute) with Indonesian Junk and Skategoat at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: The Milk Carton Kids & Sarah Jarosz at The Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($30) – (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
Saturday, November 1: John Prine with Jason Wilber at the Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($33-$73)
“Ya know that old trees just grow stronger/ And old rivers grow wilder every day,” John Prine bellows on “Hello in There” from his eponymous 1971 debut. Decades later, those words describe the singer-songwriter’s steadfast career behind the acoustic guitar. Although his original output has been scaled back during the latter half of his career, the witty troubadour, who’s overcome battles with neck and lung cancer, still tours relentlessly. (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Death Blues with Hello Death and Jeff Mitchell at the Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m. – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
And: Teenage Moods with New England) Patriots, Columbia Fasciata, Sin Bad and NO/NO at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 9 p.m. ($7) – (900 E. Center St.)
And: The Cavewives (album release) with Whips and Soul Low at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($10 with CD) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
Sunday, November 2: Gov’t Mule at The Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($29.50)
Anyone bemoaning the recent dissolution of the Allman Brothers Band can still catch guitarist Warren Haynes hammering away with jam band Gov’t Mule. Their last effort, 2013’s double-disc Shout!, split the album in two parts—the first, jamming by themselves in the usual manner and the second, enlisted some extremely talented friends such as Dr. John, Elvis Costello, Ben Harper, Grace Potter, and Dave Matthews. (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
