Photo by Christopher Patrickernst
Screaming Females @ Borg Ward, July 30
Thursday, July 30
Screaming Females w/ Vacation and Midwives @ Borg Ward, 7 p.m.
New guitar gods don’t come around too often, and when they do, they almost never stem from punk circles. Screaming Females shredder Marissa Paternoster is breaking from tradition. Over six albums with her New Jersey power trio, she has honed a loose and gnarly, yet endlessly hooky, guitar style inspired by first-wave British punk bands, pairing her slashy riffs with a strident, Johnny Rotten snarl. The group’s latest album is this winter’s Rose Mountain, a typically compact record that makes time for a few truly moving slower numbers.
Wendy Williams @ The Riverside Theater, 7:30 p.m.
Most radio personalities struggle to make the leap to television, but that wasn’t a problem for Wendy Williams, an outspoken former shock jock whose syndicated “Wendy Williams Show” leans heavily on celebrity news and gossip. Williams’ current “Sit Down Tour” promises to be less tied to the news cycle, offering a mix of comedy and storytelling modeled more after her talk show than a traditional standup tour. To keep the energy up on stage, she’ll be joined by a DJ as well as comedian Roy Wood Jr.
Friday, July 31
Ike Reilly Assassination w/ Jay Matthes @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
After graduating from Marquette University, songwriter Ike Reilly settled in Chicago, where he continued writing politically charged heartland rock songs in the spirit of Joe Strummer. On albums like The Last Demonstration and Hard Luck Stories, Reilly shared stories of the downtrodden 99%, and that populist lean carries through his latest record, Born on Fire, an album that reflects Reilly’s fascination with soul and R&B music. It features a guest appearance from another political-rock hero, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, on the track “Paradise Lane.”
Rise Against w/ Killswitch Engage and letlive @ The Rave, 7:30 p.m.
|
|
Over the last 15 years, Chicago’s Rise Against has blurred the lines between punk and classic rock, offering political anthems for the activist set. Their 2011 record Endgame was a musical tinderbox detailing the perceived demise of civilization via the devastating effects of homophobia, bullying, Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Last year’s The Black Market was even more focused in its political critiques, concentrating in particular on the petroleum industry’s sins against the environment.
The Tallest Man on Earth w/ Basia Bulat @ The Pabst Theater, 7 p.m.
As The Tallest Man on Earth, Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson has emerged as one of contemporary folk’s leading wordsmiths, blending dark and clever lyrics in a voice that bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Bob Dylan. And like Dylan, Matsson’s sound has grown fuller over time. His latest album, Dark Bird is Home, is his richest yet, featuring big arrangements loaded with saxophones, French horns, clarinets, synthesizers, violins and violas. Amazingly, that bigger sound doesn’t come at the expense of intimacy. These are some of Matsson’s saddest, most personal songs yet.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Tigernite w/ Haunted Heads and North By North @ Cactus Club, 9 p.m.
Milwaukee’s Tigernite never forget that rock ’n’ roll is supposed to be fun. Centered around the steely voice of singer Molly Roberts, their big, glammy take on alternative rock imagines Paramore through the prism of The Darkness, pairing wily songs with roaring classic-rock guitars. As this show they’ll celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album, which features some grandiose sci-fi artwork from Brian Ellis that would make Journey jealous.
Urban Island Beach Party @ Lakeshore State Park, 11 a.m.
For the fifth year in a row, NEWaukee hosts a party as Wisconsin’s only urban state park. A fundraiser for Lakeshore State Park, the Urban Island Beach Party will feature hula hoop and limbo contests, wilderness skills training sessions and a dog-friendly happy hour, along with 12 hours of music from local acts like Kiings, Whips, Greatest Lakes, Light Music and Devil Met Contention. Bring an empty stomach, since more than 20 street food vendors will be there as part of the Shepherd Express’ Street Eats series. Parking is limited, so come by bike if you can. Cyclists will be rewarded with a free beer.
Bronzeville Cultural & Arts Festival @ North Avenue, 10 a.m.
From Aug. 1-8, Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood celebrates Bronzeville Week, with a lineup of cultural activities. It kicks off with this street party on North Avenue between Martin Luther King Drive and Seventh Street featuring vendors, food, arts and crafts displays, family games, face painting, bounce houses and three stages of music and entertainment ranging from funk and gospel to spoken word.
Center Street Daze Festival @ Center Street, 11 a.m.
Traditionally held in the fall, where it often took place on some very chilly days, Riverwest’s annual Center Street Daze festival moved to August last year. Aside from the nicer weather, not much has changed: It’s still a colorful festival with all the trappings you’d expect from a Riverwest street party, including tons of local music. Performers this year include Stubby Chubbs Brass Band, The Thriftones, Three. Stacks. Eliot, The Longnecks, the New Boys Club and Airo Kwil. As usual, the event distinguishes itself with a host of quirky tournaments and competitions, among them a pushcart race, a street pool tournament, a dodgeball tournament and a pinball tournament.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Alice in Chains @ The Rave, 8 p.m.
Though some fans found it inherently distasteful that metal-leaning grunge rockers Alice in Chains carried on after the 2002 death of Layne Staley, replacing him with soundalike William DuVall, most didn’t seem to mind. After all, guitarist Jerry Cantrell had been one of the band’s core songwriters, and 2009’s Black Gives Way to Blue found him in fine form, providing 11 moody, convincingly bleak songs in the spirit of the band’s heyday output. They followed it up in 2013 with The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, a record that’s relatively light by the band’s usual standards. Less mournful than its predecessor, it features crisp production and some of Cantrell’s catchiest songs in a long time.
