Tuesday, September 23: Bryan Ferry at The Riverside Theater, 6:30 p.m. ($49.50-$65)
Whether it was crafting idiosyncratic glam rock with Roxy Music during the ‘70s and early ‘80s, keeping up his quirky persona during his subsequent solo career, or perhaps most bizarre, wedding then promptly divorcing his son’s ex-girlfriend, the debonair Bryan Ferry has always appeared a little off-kilter. Nonetheless, the English weirdo has written scores of impressive songs throughout his 40-year career, earning him living rock legend status. His last album, 2012’s The Jazz Age, finds the singer’s material played as Roaring ‘20s era New Orleans Jazz. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Also: The Stevens with Sat. Nite Duets, Piles and The Visis at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($5) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
Wednesday, September 24: Crystal Bowersox at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m. ($25)
When the televised karaoke competition American Idol ran roughshod over the world, the heightened expectations that came along with winning often became a hindrance to a singer’s burgeoning music career. Case in point, season nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox has resonated much better with audiences than the contest’s winner Lee Dewyze. While both artists’ subsequent albums continue to see diminishing returns, Bowersox looks like the one with more staying power. (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Yonatan Gat with Dogs in Ecstasy at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 9 p.m. ($7) – (900 E. Center St.)
Thursday, September 25: Freeman at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m. ($16 advance; $18 door)
Addiction forced Gene Ween to break up his almost 30-year-old rock band, Ween, and enter rehab to battle his disease in 2012. After releasing an album of Rod McKuen covers and some early demos, the singer embarked on his first original solo material under his real last name, Freeman. The self-titled record, released this summer, details his struggle overcoming his drug problems. (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Milwaukee Noise Fest featuring Violator X, Stress Orphan, Indian Burial Ground, Spiteful Womb, Leo Brochu, The Bringer Of Everything, Licention, Invertabit, Citizen 2-13 and Irrelevant Mouth at Borg Ward, 7 p.m. ($10) – (823 W. National Ave.)
And: Biters with Indonesian Junk and They Live at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Friday, September 26: Lorde with Majical Cloudz at BMO Harris Pavilion, 6 p.m. ($35.50-$55.50)
Even at the tender age of 17, the precocious alt-pop chanteuse Lorde delivers lyrics smarter and weightier than singers twice her age. Fans and critics alike heralded the fresh, brash attitude from the New Zealand iconoclast on her debut, Pure Heroine, which included the incisive hit singles “Tennis Court,” “Team” and “Royals.” Popularity this young can often ruin musicians, but Lorde seems self-aware enough to break the mold. “Only bad people live to see their likeness set in stone/What does that make me?” she sings on “Still Sane.” (200 N. Harbor Dr., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Concert 4 MACC with Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Hugh Bob & The Hustle and Los Colognes at Turner Hall Ballroom, 6 p.m. ($20) – (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)
And: Sam Llanas at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 8 p.m. ($10) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
And: Soul Low with Lost Spirit, Literature and ROM at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 9 p.m. ($5) – (900 E. Center St.)
And: Lecherous Gaze with Toby Wong and Foreign Lawns at Club Garibaldi, 10 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
And: Milwaukee Noise Fest featuring Magia Nuda, Plack Blague, Scant, Swallowing Bile
Swollen Organs, Oxygen Starvation, Nummy, Plague Mother, Apollo Vermouth, Jim Schoenecker, Fake Blood Universe and Temper at Borg Ward, 7 p.m. ($10) – (823 W. National Ave.)
Saturday, September 27: The Dandy Warhols with Bonfire Beach at Turner Hall Ballroom, 6:30 p.m. ($22.50)
The Dandy Warhols will always be tied to turn-of-the-century rock music. That’s probably because singer Courtney Taylor and Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe engaged in one of the decade’s most noticeable rock feuds, as seen in the 2004 documentary, Dig! Or perhaps the early 2000s tag still applies to the band because its most popular song “We Used To Be Friends” provided the theme to the iconic teen drama Veronica Mars. (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Northless with Zebras, Oxblood and Vega at Cactus Club, 10 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Grasping at Straws (album release) with Caley Conway & The Lucy Cukes, Pay The Devil and Renegade Lightning Rebellion at at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($5) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
And: Milwaukee Noise Fest featuring T.O.M.B., Deterge, Prostate, Neil Jendon, Nicole 21
Shredded Nerve, Ground Out, Clavicula Salominis, Phoned Nil Trio, Custodian, Reptile Worship, Climax Denial, Mildew and M. Jurek at Borg Ward, 7 p.m. ($10) – (823 W. National Ave.)
Sunday, September 28: Fox and Branch (album release) at Anodyne Walker’s Point, 11 a.m. – (2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., AnodyneCoffee.com)
Also: Frankie Teardrop with Sin Bad at Circle A, 8 p.m. – (932 E. Chambers St., Circle-A-Café.org)
