Local radio station 103.7 KISS FM celebrates the holiday season this week with three nights of music at The Rave for its annual KISSmas Bash.
Dutch DJ Martin Garrix kicks off night one on Tuesday. While Garrix is only 20 years old, he’s one of the hottest stars in electronic dance music currently. He skyrocketed to stardom three years ago, on the back of the multi-platinum house hit, “Animals.” Now, Garrix is starting to toe the line as a crossover pop star producer. He helped write and record “In the Name of Love,” a collaboration with singer Bebe Rexha (also on the night’s bill) that showed Garrix’s musical dexterity. Cash Cash and Jay Sean round out the show.
On Wednesday night, Jon Bellion returns to the Rave for the second time this year. The rapper last stopped by in July to deliver tracks from his debut full-length, The Human Condition, which found its way to No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The album was buoyed by the single “All Time Low,” a bouncy track that ambles along like a summer day at the beach that’s ruined by an overcast sky. Hey Violet, We The Kings and Jordan Fisher open the show.
Closing out the three-day festivities on Thursday is Panic! at the Disco. Once upon a time they were Fall Out Boy understudies, now the theatrical pop-punk group runs the show. January’s Death of a Bachelor, the band’s fifth album, debuted at No. 1—its first chart-topping hit. On the album’s title track, singer Brandon Urie embodies another successful crooner: Frank Sinatra. Kungs and Charli XCX are also on the bill.
The KISSmas Bash runs from Tuesday, December 13 through Thursday, December 15 at The Rave. Shows start at 7 p.m.
Video of the Week
Watch the arresting music video for Marielle Allschwang’s Dead Not Done track “Aquarium,” which premiered Friday night at an Anodyne Coffee performance. Director Heather Haas uses a cinemagraphic technique in the video, in which some objects in frame appear motionless while others move. Coupled with elegant mise en scène, the visual effect results in scenes where Allschwang appears to be a living piece of art.
This Week in Live Music
Monday, December 12: The Sleighriders at Shank Hall, 7 p.m. ($20) – (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
Tuesday, December 13: The Supersuckers with Jesse Dayton and Gallows Bound at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($20) – (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
Also: Martin Garrix with Cash Cash, Jay Sean and Bebe Rexha at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($40-$200) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Wednesday, December 14: Jon Bellion with Hey Violet, We The Kings and Jordan Fisher at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($30-$35) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Celtic Woman Home for Christmas The Symphony Tour featuring The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at The Riverside Theater, 7:30 p.m. ($45.50-$125) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Thursday, December 15: Panic! at the Disco with Kungs and Charli XCX at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($40-$50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Sacred (album release) with The Cherrypops and Bellevue Suite at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. ($10) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
And: EASY with Fox Face and Momotaros at High Dive, 9 p.m. – (701 E. Center St., HighDiveMKE.com
And: Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound at Walker’s Point Anodyne Coffee, 8 p.m. ($10 advance; $12 door) – (224 W. Bruce St., AnodyneCoffee.com)
And: The B Justice Immortal Tour featuring Snack Daddy at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($7) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: The Bad Plus at The Back Room @ Colectivo Coffee, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($30) – (2211 N. Prospect Ave., PabstTheater.org)
And: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone In Concert featuring The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($25-$75.50) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Friday, December 16: Mirror Mirror with Tenement and Platinum Boys DJ set at High Dive, 10 p.m. (FREE) – (701 E. Center St., HighDiveMKE.com)
Also: King Dude with Blood and Sun and Hello Death at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($13 advance; $15 door) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Mind Over Mirrors with Black Lake Ensemble at Acme Records, 8:30 p.m.
And: Zomboy with Kill The Noise and Boombox Cartel at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($29.50-$150) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
And: A Very Mouse Corn Christmas Hosted by Myles Coyne with Friends, Caley Conway, King Courteen, James Sauer and Christopher Haise at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($5) – (1001 E. Locust St., Linnemans.com)
And: Porter Nickerson (album release) with Mike Mangione at Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m. ($20 advance; $22 door) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
And: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone In Concert featuring The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($25-$75.50) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
And: Pat McCurdy at Shank Hall, 9 p.m. ($6) – (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
Saturday, December 17: Whips with Dramatic Lovers at Cactus Club, 10 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: The Mighty Deerlick with The Mercurys at Club Garibaldi, 9:30 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
And: Riverwest FemFest Holiday Pajama Party featuring Airo Kwil, Rio Turbo, Lex Allen and The Fatty Acids at Company Brewing, 10 p.m. ($7) – (735 E. Center St., CompanyBrewing.com)
And: WintersongMKE featuring Zach Pietrini, Devil Met Contention, Mead Lake’s Most Wanted and Foreign Fields at Walker’s Point Anodyne Coffee, 8 p.m. ($15) – (224 W. Bruce St., AnodyneCoffee.com)
And: Jon Pardi And Maren Morris with Jason Mizelle at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($26.50-$36.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
And: Club Ritual at Landmark Lanes, 9 p.m. – (2220 N Farwell Ave., LandmarkLanes.com)
And: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone In Concert featuring The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at The Riverside Theater, 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. ($25-$75.50) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Sunday, December 18: Rookie of the Year with Volent Pink, Steven Pitzl and City Under Siege at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis with a nine-piece orchestra at The Riverside Theater, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ($45-$75) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
