Monday, May 2: D12 with Young Buck, Static, Trick Trick and Steelo @ Turner Hall, 7:30 p.m. ($20/$25)

As Eminem has been experiencing his career renaissance in recent years, I always felt like something was missing. And now I see clearly what it it: his entourage. Well have no fear, Detroit-based D12, who rode the quintessential white rapper’s coattails for as long as they could, are back at it with a new member (Fuzz Scoota), a new album and a new tour. The crew is still kicking the darkly whimsical rhymes that made for such unforgettable anthems as “Purple Pills” and “S**t on You,” but the new stuff definitely skews more dark than whimsical. (1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)

Tuesday, May 3: The Andreas Kapsalis and Goran Ivanovic Guitar Duo @ Tonic Tavern, 7 p.m. ($8)

(2335 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., TonicTavern.com)

MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK

Captured! By Robots. Photo courtesy of SNAPCULT.

Thursday, May 5: Captured! By Robots with The Pills @ Cactus Club, 10 p.m.

Ask any random musician to describe their band and many will go on and on how difficult it is to classify their style and how unique their sound. Most are lying to your face. Not so for the truly indescribable Captured! By Robots.

The story goes a little something like this: Guy gets tired of playing with human musicians and decides to build a band of robots. The robots become self-aware and enslave said guy. The group of maniacal robots tours the world, mercilessly mocks their human slave every chance they get, and actually plays real instruments. The kicker: The music is actually pretty listenable.

Heard it a hundred times.

Also: Air Sex World Championships @ Stonefly Brewing Company, 10 p.m. ($5)

Alright, so it’s not necessarily music related, but tell me it doesn’t at least pique your interest to see a bunch of drunk people feigning sex noises for 2-minutes at a time to a funk music backdrop. (735 E. Center St., StoneflyBrewery.com)

Also: Blue October with The Soldier Thread @ Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($25)

(144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: Colin Hay @ Turner Hall, 7:30 p.m. ($25)

(1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)

Friday, May 6: Face to Face with Strung Out, The Darlings, and Black Lungs @ The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($20)

Southern California punk rockers Face to Face saw marginal success throughout the ‘90s, though they probably should have seen more. Possibly falling victim to an over saturation of loud and rowdy, yet melodically gifted punk outfits during the era, the band remained underrated throughout its tenure. The band got back together in 2008, just in time to ride the latest wave of listener-friendly punk to hopefully higher, more appropriate heights.

(2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

Also: YACHT with Light Asylum and Jeffrey Jerusalem @ Turner Hall, 9 p.m. ($12/$14)

(1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: 1956 @ Bay View Brew Haus, 9:30 p.m.

(2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., BayViewBrewHaus.com)

Saturday, May 7: Social Distortion with Chuck Ragan and Sharks @ The Rave, 8 p.m. ($30.50)Following in The Rave’s old-school punk revival format for the weekend, punk legends Social Distortion takes to the stage Saturday night. But whereas Face to Face took an extended hiatus and never really achieved a high level of success, Social D has been a (mostly) steady iconic force through the years. With a penchant for catchy hooks and a singularly distinct sound, the band continues to influence young people everywhere to get tattoos, start smoking and pick up a guitar. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

Also: Toki Wright with Kid Cut Up @ Bay View Brew Haus, 9:30 p.m.

(2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., BayViewBrewHaus.com)

Also: The Hussy (Album Release) with Midwest Beat, Wheels On Fire and Hue Blanc’s Joyless Ones @ Cactus Club, 10 p.m.

(2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)

Sunday, May 8: The Felice Brothers with Shovels and Rope @ Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($15)

(1032 N. Fourth St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: Bob Schneider @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($20)

(1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)

MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK

Tuesday, Sept. 21: Rogue Wave & Midlake at Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($15)

A tough decision considering the quality of shows going on this week, but I am most excited for the return of Oakland-based Rogue Wave. The band played an amazing set at this summer’s Verge Music Festival, and the grungy, rustic Turner Hall Ballroom should provide a perfect backdrop for the band’s mellow and dreamy alternative rock vibe. Add to that a very solid opener in psychedelic folk band Midlake, and you’ve got the makings of an excellent Tuesday night. You just might want to leave your mosh shoes at home for this one. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)

 

 

 Thursday, Sept. 23: Tokyo Police Club at Turner Hall, 8 p.m. ($10)

Outside of Rush, Gordan Lightfoot and The Crash Test Dummies, I’ve never been much of a fan of anything Canadian. But Ontario-based Tokyo Police Club http://www.myspace.com/tokyopoliceclub has managed to shatter my baseless distaste for our neighbors to the north with a brand of poppy and accessible yet dynamic and thoroughly enjoyable indie rock. (1032 N. Fourth St., pabsttheater.org)

 

Also: Milwaukee Film Festival Opening Night Party at Discovery World, 8:30 p.m. ($10/free with festival pass or ticket stub from Blue Valentine)

If you’re planning on hitting up the Milwaukee Film Festival this week (and you should be), why not get it started the right way at the Opening Night Party? $10 gets you in with two free drink tickets and all the Bartolotta hors d’oeuvres you can cram down your gullet. The Four One Quartet, which features members from local heavyweights Collections of Colonies of Bees, Decibully, Volcano Choir and Made of Oak will be there playing new music compositions based on soundtracks from this year’s festival. (500 N. Harbor Dr., milwaukee-film.org/content/opening-night-party)

 

Friday, Sept. 24: of Montreal with Janelle Monae at The Pabst, 8 p.m. ($24.50)

Of Montreal has done more to push sonic experimentation and blur genre boundaries than just about any band of the past decade. Touring behind its latest release, False Priest, Of Montreal teams up with Janelle Monae (who recently released The ArchAndroid, one of the most heavily hyped albums of the year) for its live performances that are part music, part psychedelic theatrical spectacle. This is a show not to be missed. And if our editor Cristina Daglas had anything to say about it, this would have been the pick of the week. (144 E. Wells St., pabsttheater.org)

 

Also: Call Me Lightning, Protestant & Northless at Club Garibaldi’s, 9 p.m.

One of the city’s most interesting bands, Call Me Lightning puts on an incredible dirty, punk-infused live show. If you have not seen them yet, you need to. That is all. (2501 S. Superior St., MySpace.com/clubgaribaldis)

 

Saturday, Sept. 25: Natty Nation, Spade One, The J. Kroe & Og Show at The Miramar Theatre, 9 p.m. ($10)

Madison’s own hard roots rock reggae outfit Natty Nation has solidified itself through the last decade and a half as one of the Midwest’s premier touring bands. If you’ve seen them before, there probably won’t be much new here. But there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good reggae show from time to time, and Natty Nation can more than adequately provide that. This is an all-ages show. (2844 N. Oakland Ave., themiramartheatre.com)

 

Also: DJ Pauly D at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($24.50)

If you’re feeling less like passing the dutchie and more like pumping the fist, you can head over to The Rave to listen to one of the dudes from MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” I don’t know, play records, I guess? The upside of this is that you can get a VIP table for six on stage along with a liter bottle of Belvedere and a bottle of champagne for only $590. The downside of this: You’ll still be listening to Pauly D play records. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., therave.com)

 

Sunday, Sept. 26: Protestant, Weekend Nachos, Get Rad & Noose at the BORG WARD, 6 p.m.

Celebrating the release of its new LP, “Judgements,” hardcore band Protestant will also be warming up for its upcoming European tour. The real gem here though is hardcore punk band Get Rad, which holds the much sought-after distinction of being one of Tyler Maas’ favorite Milwaukee bands. The BORG WARD is the perfect all-ages setting to experience their undeniable intensity firsthand. And who could really say no to a band named Weekend Nachos? (823 W. National Ave., theborgward.org)