Is there some correlation between the Green Bay Packers performance and artistic productivity? November ended up being a good month for football, but a pretty lackluster one for local releases. Thankfully, there were plenty of other happenings throughout the city this month. Read the Top Picks of November below:
10. Family Guy creator, Cosmos producer and Academy Award host Seth MacFarlane adds Lucille’s lounge singer to resume
It’s hard to get away from Seth MacFarlane these days. His Wikipedia entry lists him as “an American actor, animator, comedian, writer, producer, director, singer and songwriter” and it could probably go on. While he first gained notoriety through Family Guy, he quickly went in a multitude of different directions, including off all things, a swanky lounge singer. In September, he released his second full-length record, Holiday for Swing, a collection Christmas songs backed by a 65-piece orchestra. He stripped down his sound during an impromptu mini-set in Milwaukee at Lucille’s Piano Bar to play a few Ol’ Blue Eyes covers.
Watch him perform “Luck Be a Lady” below (h/t Milwaukee Record):
9. The Brewers make a rare music headline this off-season
The Good: Following three Milwaukee Brewers games next season, Miller Park will host free performances (with admission to the game) from national acts. The Bad: Those bands are country singer Joe Nichols (May 29), Summerfest mainstay O.A.R. (June 13), and Goo Goo Dolls (Aug. 15).
8. Burnhearts transforms craft beer bar into basement kegger for one night only
Bay View’s resident beer snobs no doubt call Burnhearts home, as the bar features a rotating cast of delicious craft taps, bottles, cans, casks beers. But for one Wednesday this month, Burnhearts pushed its foamy pretentiousness (and pool table) aside to host a couple punk bands (Volunteer and Soup Moat) and a Three Floyd’s keg.
7. Sat. Nite Duets’ Stephen Strupp drops acoustic solo debut
At first glance the debut solo record from Stephen Strupp sounds like an album full of Sat. Nite Duets throwaways, but the acoustic jams on Danke Für Das Gilt are definitely growers and stand well on their own. Give a listen to the record below. Actually, give it a couple.
6. Shank Hall celebrates 25 years as music venue
The mid-sized music club Shank Hall opened 25 years ago and celebrated that accomplishment this month with an anniversary show with Semi-Twang and Mike Benign Compulsion. The club might not be first on the list of best places to catch a band in the city, but nonetheless has played host to a long list of great acts including Jonathan Richman, Swans, Black Francis and Mission of Burma and comedians W. Kamau Bell and Kyle Kinane.
5. The New Pornographers throws a party at the Riverside Theater
The Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers served the audience a cocktail of its thundering euphoric pop from its new record, Brill Bruisers. The neon-tinged backdrop gave the night a party atmosphere; all that was missing were some balloons and streamers. Read my full recap here.
4. Don’t call it a comeback; Pele announce New Years Eve show in Chicago supporting American Football
Local post-rock band Pele, which features two members from Volcano Choir (see No. 1 Pick), announced its first concert in a decade this month. The trio opens for recently reunited emo group American Football and S. Carey at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago on New Years Eve. You can purchase tickets here.
3. Travel through space with the new animated Field Report music video
The music video for “Wings” off Field Report’s impressive second album, Marigolden, follows a similar plot to James Cameron’s Avatar, but manages to insert more emotion than its cinematic counterpart. Watch the video below:
2. Miltown Beatdown crowns producer Mike Regal as champion
It took NCAA football far too long to realize that tournaments only heighten the excitement around their games. Comparatively, producing beats can seem unsexy to a live audience, but when placed in a head-to-head tournament battle atmosphere, the stakes up the energy in the room. Miltown Beatdown crowned its ninth champion this month, Mike Regal, and the final rounds at the Miramar Theater looked like a blast.
1. Volcano Choir closes out Repave tour with surprise openers Sylvan Esso
It was fitting that Volcano Choir chose Milwaukee as the final stop on its tour behind sophomore album, Repave, since it’s technically the band’s hometown. Also fitting: Sylvan Esso opening the show, which was a well-kept secret, since electro-pop duo got their start touring with Volcano Choir. Read my full review of the performance here.
