Cristina Daglas

I’m pretty sure I saw more music in 2011 than in any year past, and I’m frankly amazed. There was the summer of festivals, including Lollapalooza and Summerfest with its pretty decent lineup. I had the privilege of tagging along with the Mindpool crew for all 11 days, interviewing musicians. Of course, there were countless club shows throughout the city as well as a considerable amount of time logged at Turner, the Pabst and the Riverside. It’s been a treat spending a few days thinking through the year in music because, for me, a concert is about so much more…

For a minute there, it was beginning to look like the White Rabbits were pulling their own kind of disappearing act. Had they gone into the magician’s hat to never return? No, they hadn’t. (PHEW.) The Brooklyn-based indie rockers toured relentlessly behind 2009’s It’s Frightening and hunkered down in an Austin studio to record their latest effort, which is pegged for an early 2012 release. Now, they’ll embark on tour, hitting Cactus Club Dec. 3 and undoubtedly delivering the signature, energetic-as-hell show we’ve come to expect. Stephen Patterson, vocals/piano, took time pre-weeklong rehearsal to chat recording and touring, and even…

To reiterate the headline: Any and all indie rock enthusiasts should have hit Club Garibaldi Saturday night. Y’all missed out. Those who were there, however, saw something drop-drown drag-out awesome. Simply put: Milagres killed it. The Brooklyn, NY, five-piece graciously took the Garibaldi stage pre-Peter Wolf Crier, opening with “Here To Stay” and continuing through a solid set primarily consisting of tracks off its new album, Glowing Mouth. A more energetic Grizzly Bear with a bit of Antlers mixed in (well put concert buddy, Andy),  Milagres were extraordinarily polished and well-spoken, grateful for every body in the room. Melodies were spot…

As Seattle’s The Head and the Heart hit the first chords of “Cats and Dogs” Thursday night at Milwaukee’s Turner Hall, the near-capacity crowd erupted with glee.  The six-piece folk/rock/pop act was polished, enthusiastic and, frankly, fantastic sounding. The crowd clearly agreed. A glance around proved puzzling as everyone from children to middle-aged drunk men were eating up every word sung by Josiah Johnson, Jonathan Russell and Charity Rose Thielen. It was a crowd (and show) more indicative of a well-known local band, the kind of band that brings out family members, young and old, along with everyone who’s ever…

For a full gallery of photos, click HERE! *   Photo by CJ Foeckler Covered in sweat, with a tight two-hand grip on the microphone, Dan Boeckner of Handsome Furs jumps into the engaged yet small crowd at the Rave’s side bar, singing up toward his wife Alexei Perry, who is working the drum machine on stage and dancing maniacally. Belting “What About Us,” the track off newly released Sound Kapital that accompanies the nonsensically controversial music video, Boeckner is putting every ounce of energy into this side project turned main project. And the result is infectious. How they get…

  Justin Vernon “Everyone wants to be here.” A Pabst/Riverside/Turner employee spoke that simple sentence (and a rather large understatement) Wednesday night after Bon Iver’s friends and family rehearsal. Playing to around 100 people inside the Riverside, the nine-man band ran through the set complete with light show, lighter shtick, encore and “Wolves” singalong tutorial. At one point, my rehearsal companion turned and said, “No one’s going to be talking about that cabin anymore.” Indeed. Post-rehearsal, band members made the rounds among the crowd, chatting and preparing for another night on the town. Here since Saturday, they had taken in…

For a review of the show, click HERE.   The proclamation. Bon Iver Day.   Bon Iver   Justin Vernon   Bon Iver   Bon Iver   Bon Iver   Justin Vernon