The Civil Wars
Monday, Nov. 7: Wax Idols at Quarters Rock ‘N’ Roll Palace, 9 p.m.
No-Cal quartet Wax Idols manages to effortlessly walk the line between abrasive punk rock and affable girl pop. The Hether Fortune (Hunx & His Punx)-fronted outfit will have you tapping your toes to and singing along with strangely catchy ditties about loss. Terry Malts, Radar Eyes, and Technicolor Teeth open. (900 E. Center St.)
Tuesday, Nov. 8: The Civil Wars at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($18)
In April, the oh-so-attractive indie folk duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White (pictured above) – better known as “The Civil Wars” – rocked the ever-crumbling Turner Hall ballroom foundations to its core as part of the venue’s $10 show series. An $8 hike and slightly over a half year later, TCW returns. At this point, the band’s biggest claims to fame are being used as the musical backdrop for one of those stupid end-of-show montages on “Grey’s Anatomy” and being subject of a Taylor Swift tweet. But this may be your last chance to see this skilled pair at a venue as small as Turner, as the band seems to be on the ups. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Also: Panic At The Disco and Patrick Stump at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($24.50)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., theRave.com)
And: Gringo Star at Club Garibaldi, 8 p.m.
(2501 S. Superior St., clubgaribaldis.com)
Wednesday, Nov. 9: David Bazan at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($12)
Although he’s best known for his dozen-year tenure fronting seminal Seattle indie rock band Pedro the Lion, David Bazan set out on his own, decidedly ending the Lion in the process. Regarded as a legend in certain circles, Bazan will treat a devoted Cactus Club crowd to a personal evening chock-full of songs off his new Strange Negotiations and, hopefully, a Pedro song or two. Milwaukee’s own Worrier opens. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactuscubmilwaukee.com)
Also: The Jayhawks at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($25-35)
(1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
And: Ray Davis at Pabst Theater, 7 p.m. ($35)
(144 E. Wells St., pabsttheater.org)
Thursday, Nov. 10: Rachael Yamagata at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($15)
Rachael Yamagata isn’t exactly a household name (is it even possible for “Yamagata” to be a household name?), but the singer-songwriter has quite the impressive resume to her credit. Between collaborations with Jason Mraz, Ryan Adams and Bright Eyes, a cushy opening slot on a Mandy Moore tour, and having her songs featured on a cluster of television shows and films, the pianist is one of the better pop singers you’d maybe never heard of. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Friday, Nov. 11: Paul Simon at Riverside Theater, 7 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Speaking of under the radar musicians, this Paul Simon kid has potential. The more famous half of Simon & Garfunkel brings his time-tested hits – good for 13 Grammy Awards – and his Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame legend to the Riverside. At merely 70 years of age, Simon can still command an audience. If you’re fortunate enough to score a ticket to this sold out show, you’ll see. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., pabsttheater.org)
Also: Yonder Mountain String Band at Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($19.75)
(144 E. Wells St., pabsttheater.org)
And: tUnE-yArDs at Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($12)
(1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
And: The Game at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($23.50)
(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
Saturday, Nov. 12: Mastodon and Dillinger Escape Plan at The Rave, 8 p.m.
Simon may deserve Show of the Week status for his lifetime achievement, but few bands have more buzz surrounding them right now than the likes of Mastodon. Atlanta, Ga. isn’t exactly regarded as a hotbed for progressive metal. At least that was the case until Mastodon hit the scene in the late ‘90s. The band experienced its first taste of mainstream appeal after the release of 2009 metal masterpiece Crack The Skye (featuring the hit Oblivion), but its latest effort, The Hunter, has seen the band crack the top 10 on the Billboard charts and work the late night talk show circuit—getting better with each new note. Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang open. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)
Also: Crooked Fingers at Cactus Club, 10 p.m.
(2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)
And: 12th Planet at Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($10)
(1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Sunday, Nov. 13: Noah and the Whale at Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($15)
What The New Pornographers is to Canada, indie collective Noah and the Whale is for England. The quintet has already disposed of four additional members and churned out almost an album per year since hitting the scene in 2008. Since then, the band’s appeal has hopped the pond, finding Noah and the Whale gaining popularity in the states with American appearances at such festivals as Sasquatch! and SXSW. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)
Mastodon photos courtesy of mastodonrocks.com.
The Civil Wars photo courtesy of thecivilwars.com.
