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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
June 24
The Big Show: Sheryl Crow 10 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
It’s hard to believe Sheryl Crow first hit the top of the charts more than 20 years ago with her classic hit “All I Wanna Do,” or that she’s sold more than 50 million albums since. Her most recent record, Feels Like Home, was a dive into country music, but her concerts this year have been more diverse, including familiar hits like summer classic “Soak Up the Sun.” This is a great opportunity to see a likely future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member in action, but be sure and get there early if you want to have a seat. The BMO Harris Pavilion frequently fills up quickly for top acts. (BL)
Local Favorite: Doozey 5:30 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
Alt Pick: Bastille
10 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis Stage “Pompeii” is a song about a volcano, but it turns out that wasn’t even a good enough metaphor to describe the track’s impact when it hit airwaves. One of the hottest songs of 2013, Bastille’s explosive single made its reputation, but it shouldn’t have had to do it alone. In the great Britpop tradition, “Pompeii” is only the recognizable hit from a strong album American listeners otherwise ignore: Bad Blood. Bastille’s headlining slot offers a chance to see what you’re missing. (MR)
Doozey has a longer history with Summerfest than most acts its age. The Appleton band finished second in the festival’s Land the Big Gig concert last year, after making the Top 10 both of the last two years. Their performance at that event was one of the most unexpected surprises of last year’s festival. The band lists influences such as Weezer, Blink-182, and Fountains of Wayne, and the last is by far the best comparison. Head on over to Summerfest’s first evening after you get off work and catch a hard-working, fun, energetic band to kick off your festival experience. (BL)
Daytime Surprise: WhiskeyBelles 4:30 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
As their name suggests, the trio of ladies in the WhiskeyBelles have a good dose of authentic country flair, brought out through soulful harmonies and bass, violin and acoustic guitar. These women have been in the game for six years, so you can count on a well-rehearsed sound (which, for the record, has earned them three separate Wisconsin Area Music Industry awards) much different from the pop-country tracks you browse past on the radio. Infectious songs like “Whiskey Woman” or “Borrowed Trouble” should lift your spirits and get you in the mood for more dancing later on. (MH)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
June 25
The Big Show: Public Enemy 10 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis Stage
Thirty years on, Public Enemy is past its peak, but group leaders Chuck D and Flavor Flav remain revered figures of socially conscious hip-hop. The group regularly receives acclaim for maintaining one of the most raucous and high-energy stage shows in hip-hop. Look for legendary tracks like “Don’t Believe the Hype,” “Fight the Power,” “Rebel Without a Pause,” and “Welcome to the Terrordome.” The group has released new studio albums in recent years, but live shows focus on the classics. (BL)
Local Favorite: Canopies 9 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
Canopies, one of Milwaukee’s most celebrated bands in recent months, brings a special fusion of futuristic and avant-garde beach pop sounds to your ears and, ideally, the dance floor. The group, composed of five members using drums, keyboard, synth and muted vocals, released their latest album Maximize Your Faith in December of last year, along with a few psychedelic videos. They haven’t held nearly enough live shows since, so make sure you show up at this one. (MH)
Alt Pick: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness 10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
Andrew McMahon has recorded under multiple monikers — first as the frontman of Something Corporate and later through Jack’s Mannequin. His newest, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, is in many ways a logical evolution of where he was as an artist, but the inclusion of his name for the first time is telling. His work since rebranding is his most earnest and honest yet, with songs that reflect on his turbulent years in Jack’s Mannequin and concurrent battle with cancer as well as reflections on his family life and infant daughter Cecilia, the subject of anthemic lead single “Cecilia and the Satellite.” (MR)
Daytime Surprise: Land the Big Gig 5 p.m., Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage
2015 marks the fourth year of Summerfest’s “Land the Big Gig” contest, the festival’s annual opportunity for up-and-coming bands to get a prime performance slot, $20,000, and a chance for exposure. Previous winners have been as diverse as a Chicago singer-songwriter, a Houston rock band and a soulful country singer. This year’s contestants are equally diverse. Olivia Millerschein, a quirky Michigan singer-songwriter, Christopher Wild, a gritty garage rocker from Nashville, and L.E.X., a Milwaukee native who performs clean, positive hip hop, will perform successively, with the winner announced afterward. (MR)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
June 26
The Big Show: Shakey graves 8 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
Shakey Graves is quite the idiosyncratic live artist, and one well on his way to becoming a legend in the Americana music genre. Born Alejandro Rose-Garcia, he began his entertainment career as a teen actor but got caught up in NYC’s anti-folk scene and eventually returned to his native Austin, Texas. There, he took up the name Shakey Graves, performing solo accompanied by his acoustic guitar and a kick drum fashioned out of an old suitcase. He’ll surely upgrade his equipment for the BMO Harris stage, but his work needs no such improvement. His performance at Turner Hall last December left the crowd spellbound. Stick around after for the innovative countryclassical chamber music of the Punch Brothers, technically the headliner for this set. (BL)
Alt Pick: The Kooks w/ Atlas genius 8 and 10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
The Kooks’ latest album is called Listen, and you won’t be able to help it. Unexpected, resonant gospel chords are only the first indication that this band is following in the footsteps of Arctic Monkeys, adding some decidedly groovy beats to their aesthetic. But where Arctic Monkeys leaned psychedelic, the Kooks are sticking to a straight-and-narrow pop sensibility. Their rhythms are more complicated than ever, but it’s all in the service of the same goal: make rock ’n’ roll music people can dance to. If that’s not enough to put them head-andshoulders above the rest of the competition, consider you’ll also see opening act Atlas Genius, an Australian group built around similarly dance-friendly ideals. (MR)
Local Favorite: GGOOLLDD
6:45 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage GGOOLLDD’s name is unforgettable and so is their sound. The band’s music feels very ‘90s, dancey, and stylish — self-described “electro dream dance pop” — and is channeled through lead singer Margaret Butler. For such a young band (their first EP $tandard$ was only released last July) they have gained an amazing amount of hype and played six shows at SXSW this year. Just watch a single performance on YouTube, or the impressive music video for “Boyz,” and you’ll know why you should catch GGOOLLDD before they really explode. (MH)
Daytime Surprise: Little Hurricane 5:30 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
The duo behind Little Hurricane, Anthony “Tone” Catalano and Celeste “CC” Spina, met in 2010 via Craigslist and have been playing “dirty blues” together ever since. The duo creates an incredibly rich blues rock sound featuring CC’s drumming and Tone’s crunchy bluesy guitar. Their music is strongly melodic, but it maintains a rough, raw edge. This is the rougher side of what The Black Keys take to the top of the charts. (BL)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
June 27
Alt Pick: The Griswolds
6:45 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage You thought this might be for MisterWives or Walk the Moon, the other U.S. Cellular stage headliners for Saturday, huh? Sure, both those indie poppers are great reasons to show up at the Big Gig, but if you’re thinking about seeing them already set your clocks ahead an extra 75 minutes. The Griswolds don’t have the momentum of the acts they’re opening for yet, but it’s hard to argue it shouldn’t be on its way. These Australians have managed to produce sunshine pop with an edge, a feat most impressively shown on lead single “Beware the Dog,” a rhythmic, deceptively upbeat anthem about losing a friend. (MR)
The Big Show: The Flaming Lips 9:45 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
Everyone should see The Flaming Lips once — at least. The alternative rock legends have recorded classic songs like “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” “Do You Realize?,” and “She Don’t Use Jelly,” but it is live that band leader Wayne Coyne’s penchant for spectacle truly shines. You never know exactly what you will see — giant inflatable puppets, Coyne rolling over the audience in a massive inflated transparent ball, or perhaps copious amounts of streamers and confetti. But a performance by The Flaming Lips always takes on the air of a monumental celebration of basic goodness in life driven by a sort of demented contemporary hippie aesthetic. (BL)
Local Favorite: Maritime 7:15 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
Given that its members were part of a seminal ‘90s emo band (The Promise Ring) and a precursor to the dance-punk movement of the ‘00s (The Dismemberment Plan), it’s pretty cool that Maritime is neither of those things. Instead, this band is dedicated to producing potent power pop, most recently with 2011’s Human Hearts and new single “Milwaukee,” a harbinger of their upcoming fifth album. With this many years of experience under their collective belts, there’s no chance this set’ll be anything but exciting. (MR)
Daytime Surprise: The Listening Party 12 p.m., Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage
Call me elitist, but any band that’ll take photos surrounded by gorgeous bookshelves earns my attention. And that isn’t all The Listening Party has going for them. Armed with a mandolin, piano, acoustic guitar, upright bass and hauntingly soulful vocals, the four-piece performs acoustic folk with a smart twist — a pulsing, driving rhythm more akin to rock music. They’re homegrown too, originally from the Fox Valley before relocating to Milwaukee earlier this year. Take the excuse to start your day at Summerfest with a bang. (MR)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
June 28
The Big Show: The New Pornographers 10 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis Stage
Canadian alternative rock band The New Pornographers most recently appeared in Milwaukee last November in support of Brill Bruisers, the group’s sixth studio album and their highest charting yet. The band is led by no less than three talented artists who have found success solo as well: A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar (frontman of indie rock band Destroyer) and alternative singer-songwriter Neko Case. Unbelievable as it sounds, the combined set are even greater than the sum of their parts, with an ease and confidence that’s infectious. (BL)
Alt Pick: Paris Hilton 10 p.m., Harley-Davidson Roadhouse Stage
Yes, objectively there are at minimum a thousand other DJs more qualified for a headlining spot than Paris Hilton. But come on. This is Paris Hilton — heir to a hotel empire, reality TV pioneer and one of the 21st century’s most successful architects in the art of turning “famous for being famous” into a compliment, not an insult. At a certain point, whether she’s good at spinning tracks is sort of irrelevant — and, with almost two years’ experience in Ibiza and elsewhere, there’s no indication that’s necessarily the case anymore. And think of the great story it’ll make. (MR)
Daytime Surprise: Wifee and the Huzz Band 4 p.m., Harley-Davidson Roadhouse Stage
The name’s part of the appeal to Wifee and the Huzz Band, but only part. This 10-piece, Midwestern Motown/jazz band got its start thanks to the implied marital duo, although founding vocalists Ruby James and Stephen Cooper are only engaged and not officially wifee-and-huzz. Their passion ignites more than romance, though — their live shows are fiery affairs, with emotionally rich ballads and bombastic backup from horns, saxes and more. (MR)
Local Favorite: Direct Hit! 9 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
Direct Hit! (exclamation point very necessary) has been part of the Milwaukee music scene since 2007 and has a dose for the cleverly dramatic in their lyrics — one EP, Brainless God, tells the story of a serial killer and his intended victim escaping a Satanic cult while anticipating a nuclear apocalypse, and comes with its own short film to boot. Like any good punk-rock band, their songs are fast-paced, loud and raunchy, though not just noise, which is perfect if you need to burn off a little angst. And who doesn’t? (MH)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
June 30
The Big Show: Gogol Bordello 9:45 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
A big music festival like Summerfest should introduce you to different music than you’ve got on your iPod, since live performances are often the best places to fall in love with new sounds. Consider introducing yourself to Gogol Bordello. The 16-year-old group defines “international aesthetic,” collecting musicians from across the globe including an Ethiopian bassist, Russian violinist, Ecuadorian percussionist and a singer/dancer from Scotland by way of Hong Kong. The combination is truly indefinable — although the common descriptor “gypsy punk” comes closest — with often-foreign lyrics, instruments galore and a theatricality you’ve got to see to believe. If you’re looking for adventure and music with a lot of layers, this show is for you. (MH)
Alt Pick: Flogging Molly
10 p.m., Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage Los Angeles band Flogging Molly are legends of Celtic rock, sharing the influence of both Irish punk band The Pogues and Irish folk act The Dubliners. Expect a boisterous show filled with traditional instruments like the banjo, accordion, and bodhran as well as the usual guitar, bass and drums. With their last two albums landing in the top 10, Flogging Molly has found its way into the rock mainstream, but that doesn’t remove any of the raw energy from its stage show. If you are a veteran, look forward to the possibility of new songs — the latest Flogging Molly studio album is expected later this year. (BL)
Daytime surprise: Mt. Olive 3 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis Stage
If you’re going to see a cover band at Summerfest, make it Mt. Olive. They focus on dance music, making them an easy kickstart to your day! Their promo photo features a dude in a martini glass aggressively pointing his finger at you, yes, you! They come with their own light show! … which maybe isn’t going to pan out at 3 o’clock, but it’s the thought that counts. Cross your fingers for cloud cover and enjoy. (MR)
Local favorite: Whips
7:15 p.m., KNE New Music Stage Is that Karen O? You’d be forgiven for mistaking Whips’ Ashley Smith for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman, both because their voices sound eerily similar and because the Milwaukee-based quartet has a similarly classic-punk feel that doesn’t bother with the radio-friendly nature of the post-punk revival movement at large. Not that Whips isn’t tuneful — on its debut album, Turn It On, it’s arguably a focus on melody and harmonics that gives the act a different feel than their more famous inspiration. Whips is a band that’s frequently been heralded as one of Milwaukee’s best, and they more than deserve the reputation. (MR)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
July 1
The Big Show: Aloe Blacc
Local Favorite: Local H
9:45 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
9 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
Although they will be performing on the “New Music Stage,” this Chicago-based rock duo is anything but new. Fans of ‘90s music are likely to remember their top 5 alternative radio hit “Bound For the Floor” from 1996. Leader Scott Lucas covers both guitar and bass sounds through an extra feed in his electric guitar while Ryan Harding (replacing 14-year veteran and co-founder Brian St. Clair) covers drums. Two-person rock bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys are commonplace now, but take this chance to see the pioneer that came first. (BL)
When Aloe Blacc provided the vocals for the worldwide no. 1 pop smash “Wake Me Up,” by Avicii, his fellow Americans woke up to the soulful talents of this singer and songwriter. This will be Blacc’s second consecutive appearance at Summerfest, after opening for Bruno Mars’ memorable Marcus Amphitheater show last year. Expect an affable, socially conscious show that draws strongly on the music of legendary soul figures like James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Stevie Wonder. His own hit single “The Man” is likely to be a centerpiece. (BL)
P h oto : Da n M o n i c k
P h o t o : M at t h e w Pa n d o l f e
Alt pick: Delta Spirit
10 p.m., Johnson Controls World Stage Delta Spirit has a lot of things going for it. Matthew Vasquez’s raw vocals bring out emotional complexities in the music. The band features a wide range of instruments, harmonizing to produce soulful songs even better on live shows than on record. That’s especially promising in the wake of their dense sixth studio album Into the Wide, released last year. Created after Hurricane Sandy destroyed the band’s studio, the album is powerfully charged, and a lot to digest — so expect to have a lot of feelings at this show. Just trust that even if the music is heavy, it’s totally going to be worth it. (MH)
P h oto : K e n L a M e r e P h oto g r a p h y
Daytime Surprise: Bailiff
3 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage When its members start playing, Bailiff sounds like any other indie blues rock band. Then they start singing, and the Chicago-based trio’s Indian influences start trickling in. Between the use of ragas (melodic modes originating in Indian classical music) and chant-like vocals, the band creates something very new out of components very old. It’s an exploratory adventure worth dropping in for. (MR)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
July 2
The Big Show: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes w/ phox 8 and 9:45 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
Coming early on in the folk rock revolution of the late ‘00s/early ‘10s, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes felt like a blast from the past, neo-hippies in both form (with ever-fluctuating membership and 10 to 12 members at any given time) and sound (rocking tambourines, ukuleles, mandolins and harmonicas). Their subsequent releases haven’t captured the same lightning-in-a-bottle feel as 2009’s Up From Below, but the group’s aesthetic has always been to create and perform songs that sound better live than on a record, and they deliver — attending an Edward Sharpe concert feels like a micro-Woodstock. This particular gig is an especially great time to catch the band due to its opening act: Phox, a Wisconsin sextet that features a similar folky, free-form aesthetic. (MR)
P h oto : L au r e V i n c e n t B o u l e au
Alt pick: OK Go
10 p.m., Uline Warehouse Stage If you think OK Go is just a bunch of clever music video producers these days, get off YouTube and give your ears a chance to listen undistracted. After a super-experimental deviation with Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, the LA quartet is back with Hungry Ghosts, their most polished effort to date. Integrating all the varying forms OK Go’s tried out over the last 15 years — twee electronica, in-your-face power pop and mathematically precise synthrock — it’s a recipe for success, both on disc and on stage. (MR)
Local Favorite: Painted Caves 4 p.m., Johnson Controls World Stage
Painted Caves” is a cool name. It’s an even cooler band. The five-piece Milwaukee act (with other revolving members) plays Arab-American rock music, adding to the standard rock repertoire instruments used in traditional Middle Eastern music like trumpets, flutes, ouds (similar to a lute) and dafs (a traditional frame drum). This show will deliver something awe-inspiring and lovely, and not only because rare instruments are a treat. Painted Caves’ lyrics and vocals are beautiful too, every song so mesmerizing you will feel you have gone on and returned from a trip abroad in its span. (MH)
Daytime Surprise: Boomer Nation 2 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
There’s something almost refreshingly honest about a classic rock cover band calling itself Boomer Nation. The Milwaukeebased act consists of five veteran musicians, each as talented in presenting faithful recreations of ‘70s and ‘80s tunes as they are in dramatically improvising upon them. So it’s sort of a mix of “you never know what to expect” and “you know what you’re getting into” all in one. (MR) P h o t o : G u s P o w e ll
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
July 3
The Big Show: Lupe Fiasco 10 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis Stage
Chicago’s Lupe Fiasco is the rare contemporary hip-hop artist to score both critical acclaim and major pop success while maintaining a socially conscious demeanor. Lupe Fiasco’s songs invite careful listening for his lyrics, many of which feature a dismissal of misogyny in hip-hop. There is frequently an element of theater to a performance by Lupe, and one of the hallmark of his shows is direct engagement with the audience that gives the performance an intimate feel. So make sure you get there early, so you can get up close and personal. (BL)
Local Favorite: Hugh Bob and the Hustle 9 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
Daytime Surprise: Calamity Janes and the fratney street band 12:30 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
For a while, the calamity in Calamity Janes and the Fratney Street Band might have been that half the group decided to leave, forcing the band into hiatus. No more: The Milwaukee-based bluegrass band regrouped earlier this month with a brand-new lineup, and the Big Gig will be their highest-profile show yet. (MR)
Hugh Robert Masterson grew up in Butternut, Wisconsin, in the far north of the state. He refers to his style of music as “North Country,” incorporating folk rock sounds with lyrics that speak to the experience of those who live up north. Hugh Bob and the Hustle have received strong statewide acclaim in Wisconsin and continue to build a national reputation, with their song “Lost & Found” featured on hit TV show Nashville last month. Although Masterson relocated to Nashville six months ago, he has not left Milwaukee, his home for 15 years, behind entirely. Hugh Bob and the Hustle performed for Milwaukee Day 2015, and the Summerfest show will be a warm homecoming for the band. (BL)
Alt Pick: Sylvan Esso
10 p.m., Johnson Controls World Stage If you don’t know about Sylvan Esso, make their Summerfest gig an opportunity to find out. The pop duo formed serendipitously when singer Amelia Meath gave electronic producer Nick Sanborn a song to rework for her in 2012. There was too much musical chemistry for it to be a one-time deal, so they formed Sylvan Esso, making a splash with their self-titled debut that year and single “Hey Mami.” Both Meath and Sanborn use their voices explicitly as instruments, so the music and lyrics often become inseparable. It’s a catchy and fun technique, and the duo’s high-energy live show is not one to skip. (MH)
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest Alt Pick: Robert Delong w/ Big data 8 and 10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
Big Data and Robert DeLong are the perfect double bill for anyone looking to experience the latest experiments in fusing pop, EDM and alternative rock. Big Data, a project led by Alan Wilkis, is best known for the alternative hit single “Dangerous,” with vocals from Daniel Armbruster of the band Joywave. However, the debut full-length 2.0 takes listeners further into the project’s digital era concerns. DeLong is known for bringing a warmer, human, singer-songwriter touch to EDM, and is a one-man band with a variety of instruments filling the stage. Look for plenty of neon, glowing face paint, and music that will make you want to move. (BL)
Daytime Surprise: John Martin
1 p.m., Uline Warehouse Stage Get out to Summerfest early on the Fourth of July. He may be stuck in a lunchtime slot, but Chicago-based singer John Martin might be one of the best surprises of the year. Martin grew up in the St. Louis area, and last fall, he appeared on The Voice. He lost his first battle round, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing a solo career. Martin’s style is influenced by melodic pop-rock acts like John Mayer, Coldplay, and Gavin DeGraw, and his show is likely to be an easy, enjoyable way to kick off the day. (BL)
July 4
Local Favorite: Kiings 6:45 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
In a lot of ways, electronic musicians are defined by the artists they invite to join them on recordings. So consider Sean Foran and Chris Siegel of Kiings quintessential Milwaukee, since the duo’s debut album WWYDF features an array of local artists including Chris Porterfield, WebsterX, Milo, Bliss & Alice and more. But the duo are pretty solid all on their own too, as they’ll surely prove with their Summerfest set. (MR)
The Big Show: “Weird Al” Yankovic
9:45 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion The talent and magnetism of Weird Al Yankovic is truly something to behold. He and his accordion have a magical way of making light of pop culture, and despite everything, he’s gone from a clever distraction to a chart-topping artist. With an impressive discography, numerous awards, and increasing artistic expansion beyond his music, it’s impossible to completely bone up on all things Al before seeing him in concert, so don’t bother. All you need to do is show up expecting the unexpected, and stay open to the joy of parodies. (MH) P h oto : Ro b e rt T r ac h t e n b e rg
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Summerfest 2015
Our progressive, alternative guide to Summerfest
July 5
The Big Show: Smash Mouth w/ Toad the wet Sprocket 8 and 10 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis Stage
Summerfest is all about fun and celebration with a healthy dose of nostalgia, and this double-bill is one of the best examples of that formula. Toad the Wet Sprocket helped define the poppier side of ‘90s alt-rock. The band released New Constellation, their first new studio album in 16 years, in 2013, but you should expect crowd favorites like “All I Want,” “Walk on the Ocean,” and “Fall Down” as well. They will be followed by Smash Mouth, whose hits “Walkin’ On the Sun” and “All Star” are among the most fondly remembered pop-rock songs of the decade. (BL)
P h oto : A n g e l a M o rg a n
ALT Pick: De La Buena
7 p.m., Harley Davidson Roadhouse Stage Milwaukee loves De La Buena, and they have good reason to. Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz are genres that just shout “groove,” of course, but De La Buena’s mixture of tradition with new experimental sounds delivers a fresh feel that always gets people moving at shows. The group has grown into a ten-member band since starting as a trio ten years ago, so look forward to explosive brass sounds, a driving rhythm (we’ve got three percussionists here, folks, so there’s no excuse not to dance), and soulful fervor from the velvety vocals. (MH)
Local Favorite: The Midwestern Charm
4:15 p.m., U.S. Cellular Connection Stage
Daylight Surprise: Bright Kind 3:45 p.m., KNE New Music Stage
The four musicians of Bright Kind have never met a synthesizer they didn’t like, from the sound of their initial forays together. All veterans of the Wisconsin music scene, their union as Bright Kind has brought Milwaukee an exciting new electropop quartet, dedicated to churning out tight, sharp hooks and catchy tunes that use ‘80s instruments but sound definitively modern. (MR)
Their music is fuzzy and moody and heartfelt and rough, but it’s all in just the right way. The Midwestern Charm took a while to get that balance right — in an interview with the Journal-Sentinel on the advent of their latest album’s re-release earlier this year, bassist and vocalist Connor La Mue said he’d prefer their original debut not to exist at all. But their acoustic guitar-heavy, ‘90s alt rock-influenced sound is now a much more palatable recommendation for a lazy Sunday afternoon. (MR)