Tuesday, January 27: MegaRan and Danimal Cannon at 42 Lounge, 8 p.m. ($7)
Playing old school video games all day can leave that glitchy, 8-bit soundtrack stuck in your head for days. It’s not hard to tell that the two musicians, MegaRan and Danimal Cannon, coming to the nerdy downtown gamer bar 42 Lounge on Tuesday night have spent their fair share playing video games all day. Their material fuses those 8-bit sounds with more contemporary pop music (hip hop, electro-pop) that gives an updated feel to classic games. (326 E. Mason St. 42Lounge.com)
Wednesday, January 28: Bahamas with David McMillin at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($15)
Similar to his Caribbean island moniker, Afie Jurvanen, who goes by the stage name Bahamas, promises to bring breezy folk music to Shank Hall on Wednesday night. The Canadian guitarist has a knack for crafting distinct pop melodies in that style—he’s a former member of Feist’s touring band. His third record, appropriately titled Bahamas is Afie, makes you feel like he’s finally getting comfortable in his own moccasins, even though it’s been difficult to escape comparisons to its record label owner Jack Johnson. (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
Also: Wicked World with Volition, Arkham, Pangaea and Delingquents at Borg Ward, 6:30 p.m. ($5)
Thursday, January 29: Myles Coyne with Cherryball and Heavy Leaves at Boone & Crockett, 9 p.m. (FREE)
Local troubadour Myles Coyne continues his month-long Thursday night residency at Boone & Crockett this week with openers Cherryball and Heavy Leaves. If you haven’t had a chance to catch Coyne at the Bay View bar, this will be your last opportunity, as Thursday marks the last night of his residency. (2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., BooneAndCrockettMKE.com)
Friday, January 30: Ahab’s Ghost with Wolf Blood, Strange and Cannabinol Synapse at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 9 p.m. ($5)
In the mood for some metal? Then Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace has you covered on Friday night. Milwaukee-based heavy metal group Ahab’s Ghost and the brooding, ambient noise of Cannabinol Synapse share a bill with two Minnesota bands Wolf Blood and Strange. Quick word of warning: it’ll be loud. Bring some earplugs. (900 E. Center St.)
Also: Lil’ Rev & John Sieger at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 8:30 p.m. ($8) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
Saturday, January 31: Jon Mueller’s Death Blues: Ensemble at Pitman Theatre, 8 p.m. ($25)
Jon Mueller’s Death Blues project produced the best Milwaukee album of 2014. Ensemble was, in short, a masterpiece. The album eschewed the harsh tones of Death Blues’ earlier work for a broader palate of brighter sounds. That’s thanks to San Francisco-based composer William Ryan Fritch, whose dedication to the album is astounding. He says he spent 800-1000 hours recording the detailed arrangements in his secluded barn studio. The live performance is another beast altogether, and it will be interesting to see how Mueller, Fritch and a handful of other bandmates can pull off an album this intricate live. (3431 S. 39th St., AlvernoPresents.alverno.edu)
Also: Low Down Sound (album release) with Mortgage Freeman and Ryan Holman at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. ($7) – (533 E. Center St, Mad-Planet.net)
And: Tapebenders with MC Mikal and KIINGS at Cactus Club, 10 p.m. ($7) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Couch Flambeau with Go Go Slow and The Grovelers at Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m. ($6) – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
Sunday, February 1: Cold War Kids with Elliot Moss at the Pabst Theater, 8 p.m. ($22.50)
Feeling some PTSD after the Packer’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship? Skip the Super Bowl festivities and check out the blues-y indie rock band Cold War Kids at the Pabst Theater on Sunday night. Their latest album, Hold My Hand, doesn’t reinvent the band’s piano-driven, jangly-guitared formula, but the Long Beach, Calif., outfit will be able to commiserate since their city doesn’t even have a football team. (144 E. Wells St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Post Super Bowl Party with City Mouse and Iron Pizza at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 10 p.m. – (900 E. Center St.)
