While many of the city’s larger music venues take two weeks off to avoid competing with the yearly Summerfest takeover, there are still a handful of shows at the smaller clubs around town that are worth attention. So, if you’re looking to completely avoid the Big Gig but still catch some live music, check out these shows below:
Monday, June 22: Neldöreth with Vesterian, the Noctambulant and Cyanosis at Frank’s Power Plant, 5 p.m. – (2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., FranksPowerPlant.com)
Tuesday, June 23: Filter Free Rodeo with The Rashita Joneses, Blind Tarzan and The Blue Ease at Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 7 p.m.
Newly established record label Tasty Tapes celebrates the halfway mark to Christmas (even though it’s actually halfway to Festivus) with a showcase at Quarters on Tuesday night. For those unable to secure tickets to the Rolling Stones (who play the Marcus Amphitheater that night), don’t fret, garage rockers The Rashita Joneses will be performing a cover set as Thee Rolling Stoners. (900 E. Center St.)
Also: Chill on the Hill featuring Extra Crispy Brass Band and Daley Debs Baton & Drum Corps at Humboldt Park, 6 p.m. (FREE) – (3000 S. Howell Ave., http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/chill_on_the_hill)
Wednesday, June 24: River Rhythms featuring De La Buena at Pere Marquette Park, 6:30 p.m. (FREE)
For an early taste of De La Buena (who play Burnhearts’ Pabst Street Fest on Satuday), see the Latin jazz band play the weekly downtown outdoor festival, River Rhythms, on Wednesday night. (900 N. Plankinton Ave., Westown.org)
Thursday, June 25: Winter Bear with Rabbit Holes, Kia Rap Princess and Piles at Cocoon Room, 8 p.m. ($7)
Local power pop three-piece Winter Bear emerges from hibernation for its first (and possibly last) show of the year this Thursday at Cocoon Room. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch the band’s sticky sweet melodies live in person. Sharing the bill is Minneapolis garage rockers Rabbit Holes, hip hop artist Kia Rap Princess and post-punk band Piles. (820 E. Locust St.)
Also: The Cavewives at Fire on Water, 10 p.m. – (518 N. Water St., www.FireonWaterStreet.com)
And: Jazz in the Park featuring Wifee & The Huzzband at Cathedral Square Park, 5 p.m. (FREE) – (825 N. Jefferson St., http://www.easttown.com/events/jazz-in-the-park)
Friday, June 26: The DUI’s with Burning Sons, Sniper 66 and Assault and Battery at Frank’s Power Plant, 9 p.m.
Also: Milwaukee Boat Line Summer Concert Series featuring Violet Hour at Milwaukee Boat Line, 8:30 p.m. ($19.99) – (101 W. Michigan St., MKEBoat.com/concerts)
Saturday, June 27: Burnhearts/Pabst Street Party featuring De La Buena, Klassik, Platinum Boys, Light Music, Nightgown and DJ Why B at Burnhearts, 12 p.m. (FREE)
Burnhearts’ block parties have become a Milwaukee institution. For February’s Mittenfest, Potter Avenue is packed with hundreds of bundled-up people waiting in line for bourbon-barrel-aged old-fashioneds and ginger brandy toddies. Its summer counterpart, Pabst Street Party, has all the same fun (and craft beers) without the bitter cold. This year’s line-up runs the gamut of the local music scene, with dark new wave (Nightgown), electronic rock (Light Music), sleazy garage rock (Platinum Boys) jazzy hip hop (Klassik) and Latin jazz (De La Buena). (2599 S. Logan Ave., Burnhearts.tumblr.com)
Also: Tinkerbelles with Body Futures and Neens at Bremen Cafe, 9:30 p.m. (FREE)
Sunday, June 28: Jaill (album release) with Group of the Altos, Sugar Stems and Head on Electric at Just Art’s Saloon, 3 p.m.
There are so many album release parties in Milwaukee that fail to make a distinctive impression, but that’s not true when it comes to Jaill. To celebrate 2012’s Traps, the band threw a taco party at Bay View Bowl. The night’s events were captured on film and made into a music video for “I’m Home.” Now, the jangly guitar pop group is back with a new album, Brain Cream (off Burger Records) and a party at in the parking lot of one of the city’s most underrated dive bar gems, Just Arts, with free hot dogs and corndogs. (181 S. 2nd St.)
