Monday, March 30: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Living Room Show, 8 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Living room shows can establish an intimate connection between the musician and audience that’s just not possible in a club or theater setting. Since the space has much cozier confines, it’s also harder to snag tickets, as was the case for tonight’s sold-out Clap Your Hands Say Yeah solo performance from lead singer Alec Ounsworth. Perhaps it takes the pressure off that only ardent fans of the former buzz band get to see them in the smaller space, ones that are willing to listen to cuts from the follow-ups from its debut self-titled album, the underwhelming trio Some Loud Thunder, Hysterical and Only Run, without smirking the slightest.
Tuesday, March 31: Circa Survive with Balance & Composure and Chon at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($19.50-$24.50)
The Philadelphian five-piece Circa Survive merges post-hardcore and emo with more indulgent genres like progressive rock, and while the formula sounds overwrought and tedious, it works well within the scope of Anthony Green’s howling falsetto. The band seemed to hit its stride on 2014’s Descensus, an album that only took a couple weeks to make. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Wednesday, April 1: Big Data with On an On and Chappo at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($15)
Looking for a dance floor party this Wednesday? Look no further than the pulsing electronic jams of Alan Wilkis, aka Big Data, who lights up The Rave with tracks from debut full-length, 2.0. The lead single “Dangerous” is a remarkably infectious cut that is a synthesizer-based anxiety-ridden track about the fears of digital surveillance. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Randy Bachman at Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater, 8 p.m. ($35-$45) – (1721 W. Canal St., PaysBig.com)
Thursday, April 2: Dead Horses with Devil Met Contention at Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($8 advance; $10 door)
The Oshkosh four-piece Dead Horses fills Shank Hall this Thursday night with its inviting, rustic folk songs. The gruffier, Tom Waits-ian Devil Met Contention opens the show. (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7j0Bu0QlQ
Also: Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts with The Sleepwalkers and Hayward Williams at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. ($7) – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
And: The Middle Ground with Fields and Planes, Jack Tell and King Courteen at Bremen Cafe, 9 p.m. (FREE) – (901 E. Clarke St., BremenCafe.com)
Friday, April 3: Comedy and Music Night with Twin Brother and comics Jeff Wheatley-Heckman, Allison Dunne, Matty Field, Jason Hillman, Tavaris Smith, KC Michelson and Ryan Holman at Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m. ($7)
Local comedy is going through a renaissance; it’s become easier and easier to see comedy on any given night throughout the city and the talent has just gotten stronger and stronger with all the practice. Anyone still wearisome about stumbling into a bad, awkward comedy set should try Cactus Club on Friday night, which showcases some of the city’s funniest stand-ups. In addition to the comedians (and because this is a music roundup, you know), Twin Brother, one of the city’s finest folk bands, provides some musical accompaniment. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Robert DeLong with Jungle at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($10.21) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
And: Al Scorch with Joseph Huber, The Grasping at Straws and Pay The Devil (album release) at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 9 p.m. – (815 E. Locust St., RiverwestPublicHouse.WordPress.com)
Saturday, April 4: The Sea & Cake with Nightgown at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($15)
Long-time indie rock band The Sea & Cake return to the Cactus Club this Saturday night with local newcomers Nightgown, a band which features members of Group of the Altos. The Sea & Cake’s career resembles Tim Duncan’s consistent NBA prowess. Much of their game hasn’t changed the past two decades and they don’t employ the flashiest strategy, but when all’s said and done, they’ll be remembered as one of the greats due to their ability to hit a solid mid-range jumper off the glass. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Sam Hunt with Michael Ray at The Rave, 9 p.m. (SOLD OUT) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
And: Ourmada (album release) at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
And: Kalin and Myles with Anjali at The Rave, 7 p.m. ($25.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
