Monday, April 13: Genau with Dancing Silks, Holy Gallows, Courtesy and Apollo Vermouth at Frank’s Power Plant, 7 p.m. (FREE)
Attention thrifty music fans: Frank’s Power Plant is serving up complimentary brats and hot dogs on Monday night along with free admission to this early show that features countless effects pedals from the likes of local shoegazers Genau, the experimental drone of Milwaukee Psych Fest founder Andrew Shelp under the moniker Dancing Silks, the groggy bedroom haze of Apollo Vermouth, the ambient textures of Nashville’s Holly Gallows, and the grimy sounds of Memphis’ Courtesy. (2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., FranksPowerPlant.com)
Tuesday, April 14: Hugh Bob & The Hustle with WebsterX and Greatest Lakes at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. ($10)
The initial idea for Tuesday’s celebration of everything Milwaukee may have not taken much thought—the date, April 14, matches the city’s area code, 414—but the organizers have put the work into the making Milwaukee Day a welcomed annual tradition. The party now features community-supporting events, a city hall gathering and various deals around town before culminating in a special performance a Turner Hall Ballroom. This year follows in the same vein of 2014’s reunions (of Decibully and Juniper Tar) with the return of Hugh Robert Masterson from Nashville to headline the night with his band Hugh Bob & The Hustle. Rounding out the bill is rising rapper WebsterX and the ethereal folk outfit Greatest Lakes. (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Disappears with Dogs in Ecstasy and Gallery Night at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($10) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Colleen Green with Jaill, Upset and MAMA at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. ($7) – (533 E. Center St, Mad-Planet.net)
And: The Used with Everytime I Die, Marmozets and The Eeries at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($27.50-$32.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Wednesday, April 15: Shawn Mendes with Jacquie Lee at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($32.50)
The 16-year-old fresh-faced pop singer Shawn Mendes gained massive attention on the Internet from his short videos on Vine. So, it’s a little ironic that his debut full-length out this week (from Island Records) is titled Handwritten. You’d think he’d have written the lyrics in his iPhone’s notes app or in his gmail drafts like normal people. But even for his age, Mendes is a bit of a throwback, albeit a late ‘90s one—think Jack Johnson’s guitar with the Backstreet Boys posturing. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: The James Hunter Six at Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater, 8 p.m. ($10-$20) – (1721 W. Canal St., PaysBig.com)
Thursday, April 16: Airo Kwil (album release) with D’Amato, MIGO and Bo Triplex and His Beautiful Band at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. ($8)
Milwaukee’s Airo Kwill (known previously as Airhythmatic) releases his first album Dark Cinema (A Study In Paradox) under the moniker this Thursday at Mad Planet. The rapper, whose real name is Will Rose, splits time as the drummer of Calamity Janes And The Fratney Street Band. While you won’t find folk influences in his material, his songs brim with numerous indie-rock reference points—Rose has used samples from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Modest Mouse. (533 E. Center St, Mad-Planet.net)
Also: Ghost Wolves with King Eye & The Squirts and Liar’s Trail at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
And: IAMSU! with Rome Fortune, Dave Steezy and Ish DARR at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($16.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Friday, April 17: Lyres with Drugs Dragons and Fox Face at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. ($12)
Punk rock progeny Jeff Colony formed Lyres in 1979 after the break-up of his original band DMZ and was a force in the influential Boston music scene during the ‘80s. The garage rock group hasn’t released an album since 1994’s Some Lyres, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been trying. According to a current GoFundMe campaign, the band has been working on the record for the past 21 years—Chinese Democracy, eat your heart out. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Holy Sheboygan (album release) with Ugly Brothers, Little Red Wolf and Tonbi Claw at Cocoon Room, 8 p.m. ($5) – (820 E. Locust St.)
And: Roxi Copland at The Jazz Estate, 9:30 p.m. ($7) – (2423 N. Murray Ave., JazzEstate.com)
And: Information Society with A Flock of Seagulls at Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater, 8 p.m. ($20-$30) – (1721 W. Canal St., PaysBig.com)
And: Shana Falana with Blue Unit and Pleasure Thief at Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m. ($6) – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
Saturday, April 18: Pele with Golden Donna at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. ($15)
The post-rock trio Pele reunites onstage in Milwaukee for the first time in nearly decade this Saturday night. The show coincides with a limited-run single of “Elephant” released for Record Store Day. Pele exudes a very Milwaukeean attitude toward the typically highfalutin post-rock genre, aiming to craft rock ‘n roll that’s engaging and fun at its core. Post-breakup, drummer Jon Mueller and guitarist Chris Rosenau continued working together in Collections of Colonies of Bees and Volcano Choir, as well as Mueller working on his magnificent Death Blues project, while bassist Matt Tennessen (formerly of Paris, Texas, as well) hung up performing in bands for the time being. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Jamie Lono & The Noble Heart with Future Laureates, Kieran McMullan at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
Sunday, April 19: Steve Winwood with Lilly Winwood at The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($45) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Freakabout with Cavewives at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
And: The WAMI Awards at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m. ($35-$99.99) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
