A new musical side project between indie-rock heavyweights Matt Berninger (singer from The National) and Brent Knopf (multi-instrumentalist/producer from Ramona Falls and Menomena) explores new territory for the musicians. EL VY (pronounced as the plural form of “Elvis,” a rhyme of “hell pie,” according to the band’s press release) finds Berninger examining a lighter (relatively) side from his work in the brooding National—That’s to say, it’s still pretty dark.
The singer embodies many characters throughout the debut album, Return to the Moon, like ‘80s seminal punk heroes D. Boone and Mike Watt from the Minutemen. He got the inspiration after watching a documentary on the duo. His renaming isn’t too far off from the original—Didi Bloom and Michael. The opening title track has the added parenthetical: “(Political Song for Didi Bloom to Sing, with Crescendo),” a play on Double Nickels on the Dime track “Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing.”
“This record is more autobiographical than anything else I’ve written,” Berninger said in the press release, “but the details aren’t true. It’s written in the voices of a few invented characters, composites of different people – myself, my wife, and other people I was thinking about.”
Berninger and Knopf have been musical buddies for more than a decade—Menomena played with The National back when both were essentially unknowns—but this is their first time working together on an album. The project has been in the works for a few years. Knopf initially sent Berninger a folder called The Moon with more than 400 song ideas. Berninger would send back lyrical ideas for the ones he liked. The two finally got together at the end of 2014 to record their finished sketches. The album doesn’t sound disconnected, though. It moves about in a stealthy and confident manner.
EL VY headlines Turner Hall Ballroom on Friday, November 20 with opener Soren Juul. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $24.50.
Punk House Kegger
Perennial best beer bar in Milwaukee (according to endless click-baiting listicles) is indeed one of the best beer bars in Milwaukee. With its constantly rotating taps, near endless bottle collection and unpretentious corner bar atmosphere, Burnhearts really stands out in a city with no loss of very good bars. But what makes the place the pinnacle of local watering holes is its penchant for great parties. The annual “Punk House Kegger,” now in its second year, is certainly outshined by the more established outdoor festivals, Mittenfest and Pabst Street Party, but it’s the only one that transforms the bar into an intimate house show. The party commences at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night with music from Dorth Nakota and Piles. There will be a tap takeover by Three Floyds Brewery, who will have six different selections on tap, including Zombie Dust, Alpha Naught, Arctic Panzer, Battle Priest and Yum Yum.
Stream(s) of the Week
Punk band Scrimshaw celebrates the release of two (!!!) new albums this week, Welcome to The Henry Herschel Commercial and Scrimsides 2. They play an album(s?) release show this Friday night at Cactus Club with Wood Chickens and Ravi/Lola. The show starts at 9 p.m.
This Week in Live Music
Monday, November 16: Skinny Puppy with Youth Code at the Rave, 8:30 p.m. ($25-$30)
Tuesday, November 17: Local/Live Presents Midnight Reruns at Club Garibaldi, 5:30 p.m. (FREE)
Thursday, November 19: Steve Earle and The Dukes with The Mastersons at Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m. ($35.50)
Friday, November 20: Alverno Presents Greil Marcus, Jon Langford, Sally Timms: The History Of Rock & Roll In Ten Songs at Wehr Hall, 8 p.m. ($30)
Saturday, November 21: Tapebenders (album release) with The Rashita Joneses (EP release), Body Futures and Brat Sounds at Cactus Club, 9 p.m.
