Rejects Rabbits and Regina

Regina Spektor is the Music Notes show of the week. Photo courtesy of ReginalSpektor.com

Monday, October 15: Balmorhea and Noxroy at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)

Tuesday, October 16: White Rabbits at Cactus Club, 9 p.m.
Little over than a year ago, Brooklyn-based indie rockers White Rabbits returned to Milwaukee after a two-year hiatus. In an interview our own Cristina Daglas did with the band to preview that 2011 show, White Rabbits’ Stephen Patterson hinted that the band would be dropping a new M.F.-initialed album early this year. The band is now touring in support of that new album – called Milk Famous, by the way – and present a worthwhile reason to be deaf and hung over at work on Wednesday. Milwaukee’s own Fever Marlene opens. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)

Wednesday, October 17: All-American Rejects at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($26.50) It seems like it was only yesterday that “Swing, Swing” and “Move Along” troubadours, All-American Rejects, were in town for a show. That’s because it basically was yesterday – well, eight weeks, to be exact. Still, the undeniably catchy hit-machines are worth repeating, if pop rock is your thing. Boys Like Girls will also play. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

Also: Yonder Mountain String Band and Brown Bird at Pabst Theater, 6:30 p.m. ($22.25) – (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)

And: Brandi Carlile and Blitzen Trapper at Riverside Theater, 7 p.m. ($31.25) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)

Thursday, October 18: Futurebirds with Juniper Tar at Hotel Foster, 9 p.m.

Seriously, what’s left for us to write about Juniper Tar? Last week, we spoke to members of the band about their productive year that included a residency at Hotel Foster and perhaps the best album released by a Milwaukee band in 2012. They released that album at a show at historic Turner Hall, cut a Daytrotter session, and hit the local festival circuit hard. However, this show marks the premature end of Juniper Tar’s unmatched year of local audio accomplishment, as the band will play its final show of 2012 before taking a short break, as singer Jason Mohr prepares for fatherhood, and the rest of the band readies itself to curate an Alverno Presents project honoring underappreciated songsmith Stephen Foster in early February. (2028 E. North Ave., TheHotelFoster.com)

Also: Paper Diamond, Eliot Lipp, and Click and Whistle at Turner Hall, 7:30 p.m. ($14) – (1032 N. 4^th St., PabstTheater.org)

And: Whitey Morganand Doghouse Flowers at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)

Friday, October 19: Smoking Popes at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m.

Founded by brothers Eli, Josh and Matt Caterer in the early ’90s, Chicago pop-punk (though closer to punk, by today’s standards) outfit Smoking Popes has been a seminal act to a small-but-devoted group of fans. After parting ways in 1999, the Popes resurrected the band in 2005, this time with Neil Hennessy (better known for his role in Windy City punk juggernauts The Lawrence Arms and The Falcon) enlisted to play drums. Roll The Tanks, and Vic And Gab open. (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)

Also: (hed) P.e. at The Rave, 6:30 p.m. ($16.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

And: Space Collector, Drumlins, Dudestorm and Asatta at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)

MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK

Saturday, October 20: Regina Spektor at Riverside Theater, 7 p.m. ($35)

Russian-born pianist Regina Spektor was said to always have an affinity for American music, which was difficult for her family to obtain during her childhood spent in then-Soviet Moscow. Fortunately, something beautiful was able to come from political all the political and religious unrest, as the Spektors managed to emigrate from Russia to New York in 1989, where Regina was immersed in musical opportunity. She made the most of her relocation, releasing six albums since 2001; logging ample stage time as an opener for the likes of The Strokes and Kings Of Leon; embarking on a host of headlining tours; and tugging at the world’s collective heartstrings with her distinct brand of ivory-tickling. Only Son opens. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)

Also: Witch Mountain, Castle, and Moon Curse at Quarter’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Palace, 9 p.m. – (900 E. Center St.)

Sunday, October 21: Justin Bieber at Bradley Center, 7 p.m. ($36-$82)

For those with their fingers firmly affixed to the pulse of modern music, this Bieber kid is probably a somewhat familiar name. For the rest of us, the Canadian crooner is one of pop music’s best-kept secrets. OK, maybe we’re under-selling him a bit. Since hitting the scene as Usher’s pet project in 2009, the singer/actor has pretty much dominated the world. The 18-year-old’s reign over pop culture has extended to the territories of music, TV and film and has found him becoming Twitter’s most followed man, selling close to 20 million albums, getting regular run in tabloids, and even being nominated for a BET Award (and actually winning, at last count, 74 other awards). This blurb serves to both preview the concert and to warn you to avoid Downtown like the plague Sunday night. Carly Rae Jepsen precedes Bieber Fever. (1001 N. 4^th St., BradleyCenter.com)