2015 was a banner year for Milwaukee. The Bucks settled on an arena plan that secured the location of the franchise for years to come, the art museum finally opened a new extension after much debate, the Milwaukee Theater held perhaps the last economy-focused Republican debate, an elusive lion prowled the city’s streets, capturing the attention of the nation, oh, and Paris Hilton performed a DJ set at Summerfest. As the year begins to wind down, it’s time to celebrate the major advances the city has made over the past 11 months and laugh at the follies. This week offers an early opportunity to commemorate 2015 in music with the 8th annual 88nine Radio Milwaukee Music Awards on Thursday, Dec. 3.
No online-voting award process is without major flaws, but Radio Milwaukee’s listeners often get it right. This year’s nominees truly depict a broad scope of the local music scene. They include artists like New Age Narcissism, Kiings, Maritime, Klassik, The Living Statues, GGOOLLDD, Twin Brother and more. But the online voters don’t have the final say. They narrow down the 8 awards (album, song, band, solo artist, music video, indie release, album artwork and best album the station missed) but the station’s staff picks the ultimate winners, making the awards more than simply a popularity contest.
Award shows are usually self-serving affairs, intended to pat the presenters and industry on the back, but the Radio Milwaukee Music Awards are typically loads of fun for everyone. While the year-end galas originally had bounced around different venues, its permanent location is now the stylish Radio Milwaukee studios, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave., a space that feels both open and intimate. In between award presentations, the event features live performances from a handful of the nominees, including Klassik, Greatest Lakes, Siren, No No Yeah Okay and DJ Kiki Champ. Below is a rounddown of the top four awards being presented on Thursday night. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Album of The Year
- Kiings – WWYDF
- Vinyl Theatre – Electrogram
- Testa Rosa – III
- Klassik – Seasons
- Whips – Turn It On
Song of The Year
- Webster X – “Doomsday”
- Maritime – “Milwaukee”
- Lex Allen – “This Is Our Year”
- The Living Statues – “All My Girls”
- No No Yeah Okay – “The Morning”
Band of The Year
Music Video of The Year
- WebsterX – “Lately”
- WebsterX – “Doomsday”
- Juiceboxxx – “Walking In Milwaukee”
- Maritime – “Milwaukee”
- GGOOLLDD – “BOYZ”
Stream of the Week
Platinum Boys has already unveiled “Downtown,” the first single from forthcoming EP, Junior Varsity, premiering the corresponding music video a few days after the song’s release. This week the band comes out with a new limited-release 7 inch with a new album track, Confessions, and a frenetic rendition of CCR’s “Born on the Bayou.” Listen to the two songs below and pick up one of the 20 copies of the 7 inch before it’s gone.
Temple Farewell Show
Emo stalwarts Temple say goodbye good on Saturday night at Lucky Cat, 2541 N. Bremen St. The show features openers Marcy, Deadset and Myles Coyne. A suggested donation of $5 benefits the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation.
This Week in Live Music
Wednesday, December 2: Best Coast with Cloakroom at Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m. ($17.25) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Thursday, December 3: Midwives (7 inch release) with Doubletruck and Piles at High Dive, 9 p.m. (FREE) – (701 E. Center St.)
Friday, December 4: Naked Raygun with Direct Hit! and Death and Memphis at Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m. ($18 advance; $20 door) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Tony Bennett with Antonia Bennett at The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($56.25-$101.25) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Saturday, December 5: IshDarr with Cream City Motion at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($10) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: The Rashita Joneses with Phylums The Old Prospectors and Northside Creeps at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. ($5) – (533 E. Center St, Mad-Planet.net)
And: Trolley (album release) with Liv Mueller and The Great Lake Drifters at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($6) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
And: De La Buena with Foreign Goods and New Boyz Club at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($15) – (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
And: Buffalo Gospel with Hello Death and Christopher Porterfield at Anodyne Walker’s Point, 8 p.m. ($10 advance; $12 door) – (224 W. Bruce St., AnodyneCoffee.com)
