MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
Tuesday, Oct. 26: Sleigh Bells, Pictureplane at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. (Sold Out)
In the city’s most anticipated club show since Harlem and Holy Fuck paid Mad Planet visits last May and June respectively, Sleigh Bells makes the trek to Riverwest to unleash its beloved onslaught of larger-than-life indie electro pop on a sell out crowd. For those fortunate enough to nab tickets in advance of Tuesday’s show, make sure to bring some movement clothing, as the Brooklyn duo de jour will no doubt have the small but passionate crowd going. Pictureplane opens. (533 E. Center St., mad-planet.net)
Also: Willie Nelson at The Northern Lights Theater at Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 8 p.m. ($65-$75)
Willie Nelson needs no introduction at this point. The crossover country star, actor and pot activist drops by Potawatomi to play his massive catalog of hits. (1721 W. Canal St., paysbig.com)
Wednesday, Oct. 27: Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything, Saves The Day, Valencia at The Rave, 6:30 p.m. ($21)
Minneapolis’ Motion City Soundtrack has managed to both find and maintain mainstream appeal for close to a decade behind its catchy and boisterous brand of radio rock. Brash L.A. pop punk outfit Say Anything, who – behind the tongue-in-cheek anthems of Max Bemis – found success with 2007 double-disc In Defense of The Genre and 2009’s self-titled album, supports them. Seasoned Jersey band Saves The Day and something called Valencia round out this guilty pleasure night of nostalgia. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Also: Joan of Arc at The Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($10)
Chicago collective Joan of Arc features members of seminal Windy City projects Owen, Make Believe, Aloha, American Football, Owls and Cap’n Jazz, among others. Joan of Arc itself has sustained for 15 years on a steady diet of electronic samples, nonsensical lyrics and endearing (when not absolutely annoying) off-key melodies. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Mike Kinsella will break into an impromptu Owen set instead. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com) (Photo courtesy Polyvinyl Records.)
Thursday, Oct. 28: Insane Clown Posse, Axe Murder Boyz, The Dayton Family at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($25)
Consider this less of a musical recommendation and more of a quality-of-life recommendation. You should probably just steer clear of The Rave Thursday, unless you’re a sucker for “miracles” like people purchasing Faygo soda to spray on one another, clowns rapping about taking hatchets to people and Insane Clown Posse being considered a viable form of artistic expression by a paying audience. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Also: Max Weinberg’s Big Band and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at The Northern Lights Theater at Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 8 p.m. ($25-$50)
After decades spent between the sizable shadows cast by Bruce Springsteen and Conan O’Brien, drummer Max Weinberg has taken his rightful place at the throne (now that’s good double entendre!) for a new project. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who – with Brian Setzer – were responsible for that annoying swing fad in the ’90s, opens. (1721 W. Canal St., paysbig.com)
Friday, Oct. 29: Tony Memmel and His Band at Bremen Cafe, 10 p.m. (Free)
For those who weren’t reading the site last week, the feel-good folk story of Tony Memmel is something that must be both seen and heard to be fully appreciated. The one-handed guitarist has worked tirelessly to develop his infectious songs and has toured regularly to cultivate a following both in the greater-Milwaukee area and throughout the United States. Memmel and his band will play a hometown release show for brand new album Here We Go at homey Bremen Cafe in Riverwest. The Gazettiers and Kristen Ford open. (901 E. Clarke St., bremencafe.com)
Also: Fresh Cut Collective, Kid Cut Up, DJ Bizzon and A Biz at Bay View Brew Haus, 9 p.m.
It’s “Holla-ween” at the Bay View Brew Haus, as Milwaukee’s premier purveyors of full-band-backed hip-hop treat onlookers to scary good rhymes and music that runs the gamut of rap, funk, big band and everywhere in between. A Biz and The Mad Kids, Kid Cut Up and DJ Bizzon start things off. (2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., bayviewbrewhaus.com)
Saturday, Oct. 30: Cactus Halloween Show at The Cactus Club, 10 p.m.
It’s that time of year again. Throw on your sluttiest, bloodiest, most pop culture-relevant or (if you’re like me) probably pun-related costume and get a spooky level of wasted to the sweet sounds of, also costumed, local bands covering other bands. “SLAYERER” brings Architects of the Aftermath and Hammered together to honor – you guessed it – Blink 182 (just kidding, it’s Slayer). Centipedes and The Wildbirds will cover AC/DC under the moniker “Big Balls” while “Morbid Tales” takes on a Celtic Frost set. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
Sunday, Oct. 31: GWAR, The Casualties, Infernaeon and Mobile Death Camp at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($20)
An especially fitting show for Halloween, the elaborately costumed GWAR comes to spray fake blood (among other fake fluids) between abrasive 25-year-old metal epochs. If there’s ever a night to enjoy these cloven-hoofed beasts doing their thing (and I’m not saying there is), it’s Halloween. The Casualties, Infernaeon and Mobile Death Camp open. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Also: Young Jeezy and Twista at The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($35-$100)
The anti-GWAR. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., pabsttheater.org)
