Rock and Roll music in the Midwest

Omaha's Music Will Surprise You

2009-01-27T21:43:00.003Z

Did you know that a few solid bands came out of Omaha Nebraska? I remember the punk band Self Gratification back in the 1980's, but after that, I lost interest.

Right now, Bright Eyes is one of the biggest bands to come out of corn country. When my band played there, we blew up two p.a. systems. The gig was great.

I wonder if Bright Eyes gets a huge crowd to show up when they play back in their home town. That would require the booking of the Qwest Center. That's probably too big. They can fit a soccer field in that place.

Slowdown Music Club holds around 500 people, and it looks pretty nice too. Bright Eyes is too big of a band for that place. There has to be a middle ground. The Waiting Room looks pretty big. My guess is that it's still too small for Bright Eyes. Perhaps they can never go back?

Turner Hall Covers The Small Market

2008-12-26T20:49:00.003Z

If you don't mind standing around in what looks like an unfinished basement, Turner Hall is a place to check out touring bands that can't fill the larger theaters, but would be too much for a small club. The good folks at Turner Hall left the space in a semi-unfinished state when renovating the space. Turner Hall is run by the same folks who manage the Pabst Theater and Riverside. If you check out the website, Turner Hall seems to be the stepchild of the group. That's too bad, because it's a nice place to see a band.

A band like Buckwheat Zydeco is the perfect fit for Milwaukee's Turner Hall. He plays there on February 12th. The Drive-By Truckers will take the stage on February 25th.

St. Louis for Head On Collision

2008-12-02T22:22:00.003Z

The boys in Head On Collision came out with their disk in 2008. Their tours have brought about some interest.

For now, the only gig I see booked is a Chicago date on Jan. 31st, 2009.
To quote Diabolical Conquest- "Playing tight, ballsy, unadulterated form of thrash metal with utmost sincerity, Head On Collision have by far surpassed the expectations of this disillusioned thrash metal fan. I would strongly recommend Ritual Sacrifice to all those with the fire of real thrash metal burning in their hearts and who are disgusted by the new trend of weak retro thrash that is rampant these days."

Check them out the next time that they are within 200 miles of your home.

Binky Tunny cd almost finished

2008-10-30T13:46:00.004Z

A band that I have been tracking for quite a while is nearly finished with their cd. Binky Tunny and The Farmland Chokehold has been around since 1999, made two cd's, and are on the verge of putting out their third.

I have watched the lineup changes throughout the years. This current group of musicians leans towards the harder rock side. I got a taste of the new material through Sonic Bids. I see that they landed on the soundtrack to the movie Victim. Nice job Binky. If I could suggest a song, check out "Flower." That's the one right from the studio. It's a bit raw, but it gives you the taste of things to come.

Meanwhile, after talking with Binky about things, she said that this spring is the release target.

Old School rock posters from Wisconsin

2008-10-24T01:34:00.003+01:00

Milwaukee Rock posters just keeps getting better. You can find old posters photos, music and memories when you check out the site. Ron F. has put together a huge collection of posters that go back thirty years.

Spend some time surfing that site, and you just might relive your youth. You will come to remember the times when you could put posters up all over Milwaukee's East side, collect three dollars at the door, and still walk away with a hundred bucks in your pocket.

It's interesting to think that Milwaukee's cover charges are still so much lower than other cities of similar size. I'm off-topic here, but when you see these posters, you will be reminded just how cheap it was to get into a show back then. DIY art can be pretty funny too.

Dayton Ohio plays like this.

2008-10-07T17:49:00.003+01:00

I played in Dayton Ohio a number of times in the late 1990's. I haven't been back since then, so I decided to surf the web to see what's hot. I like the site Daytonbands.com. They keep an up-to-date listing of rock and roll happening in Dayton. There are links for non rock shows too.

If you are in Dayton, and have nothing to do, check out that website first.

Fat Wreck Chords drinking night in Chicago

2008-08-07T22:14:00.002+01:00

One club to check out is club Exit Chicago. My suggestion is Fat Tuesday, where the music is strictly from Fat Wrech Chords. The drinks are cheap and the music goes on until 4am. Other nights, there are theme parties, great bands, dj's and the like.

They claim to be open 365 days per year.
You have to get away from the family on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, all the lame holidays.

It's been a while

2008-07-21T21:56:00.004+01:00

We're near the end of the summer festival season, and so far I have seen some great bands. I checked out the Redwalls from Chicago, Coldplay in Vegas, and finally, just about every band that played at Summerfest.

With that, I have to move on. More later.

The Doctor's Office

2008-06-25T20:39:00.003+01:00

I played a gig at the Doctor's Office the night that the new non-smoking law took effect. There were a lot of sour faces in the bar. It was half as crowded as usual. Fast forward to the next year, and the place was full.

People adjusted to the new law. It wasn't the end of the world. In fact, I like to go to non smoking bars.

I'm less hungover the next day. The poison is only from what I drink.

Weather a factor for shows

2008-06-11T03:42:00.004+01:00

With the recent flooding of Midwestern states, it's been tough to get the fans out to the clubs. I can't blame people for staying home to clean up their basements. It's just that bars, clubs, and bands rely on the people to come out and support their local scene.

Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon, and we'll see you out and about. For the folks in Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, keep your chin up. The sun will come out and dry up the flooding. It will take some time before we all rock and roll again.

Broadzilla is coming

2008-05-30T00:59:00.003+01:00

The had to cancel their last show in Racine, but now they are coming back to McAuliffe's Pub in Racine. The Barrettes and Binky Tunny will be opening the show. Lots of ladies playing hard driving rock and roll is just the ticket for this poor soul. J.J. runs a great pub, and McAuliffe's is always a great time. The staff is fantastic, and the stage is cozy. You feel like you could reach out and touch the musicians, mostly because you can. The stage is 8 inches high. That makes it even more fun to see a show there.

My suggestion is to grab yourself a fine Irish whiskey, sit back and enjoy the bands. The doorman looks tough, and he probably is, but once you get past him, you realize that the entire place is really friendly (including the doorman).

That's where I will be tomorrow night: Broadzilla!

Omaha Rock and Roll

2008-05-28T15:21:00.002+01:00

The Nebraska State Fair has put together its lineup for 2008. Boyz II Men will be on stage August 25th. The christian rock band Third Day will rise up and smote down any non believers on August 27th. There are two days of talent searching on August 30th and 31st. Bringing up the rear will be Styx on September 1st. Grab some corn, see some cows, smell some pigs, and get your fill of aged rock artists or happy god loving musicians.

The Office in Rockford

2008-05-21T16:58:00.002+01:00

Do you have a taste for something different? Head for The Office in Rockford Il. Dance, check out the lovely drag queens, male strippers (if you are into that), or just head on down for some live music. This place rocks. I love a club that has free pool and great drink specials. The Office has both. From DJ's to live music to hot guys, (or gals), The Office brings spice to Rockford.

Conchords land in Minneapolis tonight

2008-05-13T15:09:00.005+01:00

Tonight, at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis, Flight of the Conchords take the stage. Their show is mostly comedy, with songs in between. I saw them in Milwaukee on Sunday night, and it was top notch. You can catch them on HBO this season. Early word is that their second season episodes have not been as funny as the first, but give it time. Their fans sold out the venue in Milwaukee. Catch that flight if you want to see some great, funny, and clever songs. These guys are about as far away from a Milwaukee Rock Band as you can be. They are Kiwi's from NZ.

Summerfest bands for 2008

2008-05-05T20:22:00.006+01:00

The notices are in the mail. Some have already come. If you are a local, or low-level touring band, and you tried to get onto the Summerfest bill, you should have a "Yes" or "No" by now.

I wonder if we will see some of those bands where the guys are 45+ years old, and wear their favorite Levi 505's because that's what they always wear when they play a show. On top of that, they can't do without their New Balance shoes. I mean C'mon, they are sporting their colorful Hawaiian style shirt, so who looks at their jeans and shoes? They have their Ray Bans on, so back off, they look so hot. At least that is what their wives tell them, and she took the latest photo that's on the home page of their website, so she should know. I'm talking about the shot where the flash from the camera has eliminated all the stage lighting, and the band is motionless, staring ahead. The Bass plaer has his guitar strap up so high that it rests on his chest. The drummer has that look on his face that says "I'm mentally somewhere else right now." You know what I'm talking about? It's the same photo from the night were they got to play on the big stage at the cool club. Never mind that there were only six people in the audience. That can be cropped. Where was I going? I guess that I was trying to point out that there are lots of bands filled with great musicians that have forgotten about the look that should go along with the sound. Perhaps they should find someone under 25 years old and ask them what you don't want to see on stage. The youth of the world seem to have more visual acuity. All hope is not lost. Here is what a local Milwaukee rock band should look like on stage. You see what I mean?

D.R.I. plays in Chicago tonight

2008-04-29T17:02:00.003+01:00

Wow, D.R.I. from the 1980's. My band played with D.R.I. at the Crystal Ballroom in Milwaukee way back in 1985. That was a great show. Fast, furious, and jam packed with fans. Tonight, they play at Shubas Tavern in Chicago. I have never been to Shubas. It looks like it can fit about 400 people in the main hall. D.R.I. and Norther State are on the same bill tonight. My band had the honor of playing in Chicago on the coldest night on record. It was 26 below zero, and we had a gig at Thurston's. We were treated like dirt, and basically kicked out of the club as soon as our band was finished. I would understand that, if the club was full, but it was the coldest night in history and there were only about 10 people in the bar. That's Chicago for you. You are better off pretending that you are from Detroit, or New York City when your band plays in Chicago. I have a friend who did that with his band and he was treated with respect. I guess it can work both ways. When local Chicago bands come up to play Milwaukee, they get very little respect. At least that's what I have seen over the past 20 years.

Kraftwerk in Milwaukee

2008-04-20T16:16:00.005+01:00

Kraftwerk has only four shows in the U.S. and one of them is at the Rave in Milwaukee. Kraftwerk is famous for Autobahn, the song that goes on forever. Starting in Minneapolis, moving on to Milwaukee, and then on to Denver, before Coachella, the tour itinerary is a mystery. But Kraftwerk is not playing many shows at all here in the states, so one might think that they just like Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Denver. A friend said to me "Imagine all the gigabytes on that stage." I suppose it's mostly electronics that power their sound, but that is certainly nothing new, nor uncommon for any band. Limited tickets were to be found at the box office as of last Friday. I bet it is sold out by now.

The Brat Stop in Kenosha WI

2008-04-16T14:52:00.004+01:00

The Brat Stop has been going strong for years now. Catch a great rock and roll band, and have some food, all at the same time. The stage is top-notch, and the sound is great. The menu is sure to pleas the meat loving fans. There are daily specials and music on the weekends. This is a huge place for sure. Rock on Kenosha!

Hairy Mary's in Des Moines

2008-04-04T14:47:00.002+01:00

Hairy Mary's was one sweet spot to see a rock show in Des Moines. The venue is known for Punk, Metal and the famous band Slipknot. Des Moines wouldn't be the same without Hairy Mary's

Explosions in the Sky played the Pabst Theater

2008-04-01T16:25:00.003+01:00

I saw the Explosions In The Sky show at the Pabst the other night. I wouldn't have gone, if it were not for friends that badgered me into going. It was a Sunday night, I was tired, you know the drill. Man, I was glad that I went. The show was sublime. They pulled of the luscious riffs that they are known for. Currently, they are travelling the Midwest and East Coast. Catch them if you can. The ticket prices have been reasonable, and the music has been great. The Pabst Theater was a great venue for that show too. I hope that they come back to Milwaukee soon.

Van Halen almost bows out

2008-03-21T19:22:00.003Z

Van Halen just had to change it's show date in Milwaukee and other shows in the Midwest. They are still coming to the Bradley Center, just later in April. Eddie Van Halen had some health issues, but he's going to be fine. I have never been to a Bradley Center show. This will be my first huge Rock and Roll show in Milwaukee.

Reilly, Celtic Rock in Milwaukee

2008-03-05T14:56:00.005Z

Friday, March 07, 2008 Reilly, Celtic Rock from Milwaukee plays at the
Miller Time Pub on 5th and Wisconsin
Reilly kicks off the St. Pat's Season with the Westown Association's Annual "Shamrock" event!!

It's a bit early, and the weather is not springlike at all, but lets get together and drink some green beer. St. Patrick's Day will be upon us very soon. The snow will melt. Spring will come..trust me. Visit Milwaukeerocks for all the listings in the rock and roll world.

Minneapolis Music this weekend at the Arcadia Cafe

2008-03-05T14:52:00.003Z

The very first time Steve Haskin, Don Sellers, and Terry Storhaug played together was during the Art-A-Whirl festivities in Northeast Minneapolis. Terry would turn his shop into an art and music mecca for the weekend and Steve, Don and Terry decided to jam together. The musical chemistry was explosive and people listening wanted to buy their CD and then were stunned to hear that they had never played together before. That's no surprise, because the talent was there all along. I'm going to catch these guys March 7th in Minneapolis at the Arcadia Cafe.
The above mentioned write up was pulled from the tcmusic.net website.

Playing on a boat

2008-03-04T16:46:00.003Z

The Iroquois, a boat that tools around Lake Michigan while its passengers drink, has upgraded its deck. The boat is in its second year of having live music play during its voyage. The success of the Iroquois is more about the ride, and less about the music. None the less, it's an interesting thing. Performing on a boat is not something that every musician can say that they did in their lifetime. I heard great things about the ride though. A coworker took the "taco ride" as she put it. That was a night of boating and Mexican food. She loved it.

Icy Road for the fans

2008-02-29T21:36:00.003Z

Coming back from the McAlluif's show in Racine was a dangerous ride. The snow and ice were accumulating fast. I counted 8 cars in the ditch on the way home from seeing my favorite Milwaukee rock and roll band. Broadzilla, the headliner had cancelled, so it was up to BTFC to get the job done. The club was full, so BTFC did not mind headlining. Hell ride home and I went to bed.

This photo is Harsh Reality. They rock.

Live music in Milwaukee

2008-02-06T18:42:00.000Z

Where do you go to see the best live music in Milwaukee? I think it's easier to find a great band in Milwaukee and then follow them around. Some Milwaukee venues are not the best for sound, others are better known for solid bartenders, great drinks and such. Consider Myspace, find a band that you like, and then follow them around Wisconsin. I don't agree that the booking agent for a club will bring in the best bands. You follow that route and you end up seeing some really crappy cover bands.

Summerfest Milwaukee

2008-02-01T16:40:00.001Z

Well ahead of the Summer season, Milwaukee's Summerfest starts annoucing their lineup. This year Rascal Flatts will be at Summerfest. More concert annuncements will be coming for Summerfest 2008. I would love to see Muse at Summerfest. My nephew would love it too. He flies in from Seattle and pretty much goes to Summerfest all ten days. He wouldn't miss it for anything. That's strange to me because Bumbershoot in Seattle has a bigger and better lineup when compared to Summerfest Milwaukee. I don't even think that there are cover bands at Bumbershoot. Summerfest photos abound.

Stonefly, Teddy's, Milwaukee Rock and Roll scene

2008-01-28T20:56:00.001Z

Stonefly in Milwaukee used to be Onopa. Shank Hall used to be Teddy's. The Tasting Room (now closed) used to be named The Landing. What I'm saying is that venues change ownership from time to time. What will Cactus Club be called in the future, when they have to change ownership (if they change ownership.) The Milwaukee rock and roll scene ebbs and flows with the venues that accommodate bands. If you think about it. You can pretty much depend on a venue changing their name every few years. At least that's the case in Milwaukee.

Indie music scene

2008-01-19T19:36:00.001Z

Do big time producers ever come to the Midwest? Do they ever search for the best unsigned artist in Milwaukee or Chicago? The world may never know. There are thriving musical acts all across the Midwest. You just have to find them.

Hot spots in Minneapolis

2008-01-19T14:08:00.000Z

Lifted from the 10best website, 400 bar seems to be a solid Minneapolis venue "From his previous life as a producer, the owner of 400 Bar still has connections in the music biz, ensuring that quality local, regional, and national acts (including R.E.M. and Spoon) take the stage. Alternative, punk, indie, and straightforward rock are the genres of choice, and recent renovations mean improved quality and better views of the stage."

An option for Jazz in Minneapolis is Fine Line Music Cafe' "This sophisticated venue presents live music – local and national jazz, folk, rock, blues, reggae, and gospel groups." - 10best.com

Mars Volta

2008-01-16T16:24:00.000Z

The Mars Volta disk comes out in late January. So far the reviews state that this one is a bit of a departure from their roots. I personally know a Mars Volta fan that worships them. I can take or leave them so far. If they came to Milwaukee, I would suspect that they would play The Rave. They have a following, but I don't think that they have the fans to support a US Cellular arena show.

Spoof fest Milwaukee

2008-01-09T02:27:00.001Z

Things are coming together for Spoof fest Milwaukee. Who will be represented? Will it be a Guns and Roses band, Van Halen, Zeppelin? Will someone perform as Morrissey? The first meeting at the BBC in Milwaukee took place, and from there we will find out who will perform and which Milwaukee bands suck big time.

Milwaukee rock fans will find out in due time.

Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee Music Scene

2008-01-04T21:37:00.000Z

If you are heading to Chicago this weekend, check out the Chicago music scene first.

If you are off to Minneapolis, you should link on over to the Minneapolis Music scene.
For the best in Milwaukee Music listings, you need to look no further.

Get out there and support the scene man!

Off to Manitowoc to see a punk cover show

2008-01-01T17:12:00.000Z

I'm heading up to Kenny B's in Manitowoc to see a Punk Rock show featuring Binky Tunny. It's all Ramones and Misfits songs, and it's going to be great. Ozzy, from Avery's Boneyard hosts this show. Wisconsin has lots of punk bands, Rock and Roll bands, and everything in between. This night it will be the Rock Band doing Punk covers.

Intense Ink at The BBC in Milwaukee

2007-12-27T19:07:00.000Z

The snow will fly tomorrow, but I'm still going to the Intense Ink showcase at the BBC. Some of the finest Milwaukee Rock and Roll will be represented there. Also on the bill will be Harsh Reality from Minnesota. Guido's Race Car is going to open the night. I'm going to put the truck in 4X4 mode and race down for some great rock and roll.

Manitowoc Rocks at Kenny B's

2007-12-21T21:52:00.000Z

You have to catch a rock and roll show at Kenny B's in Manitowoc. Kenny B's has karaoke on one side and Wisconsin Rock and Roll on the other. Their Halloween shows have been legendary. Ozzy books most of the shows, and he tattoos like an artist. If you go to Kenny B's sometime, bring a designated driver. Avery's Boneyard is the house band and they can't be missed.

December 28th at The BBC in Milwaukee

2007-12-19T15:32:00.000Z

Intense Ink magazine is throwing a three day bash. The bands lined up for the December 28th show at The BBC in Milwaukee are Guido's Race car, Harsh Reality, Binky Tunny, and others. Jendeen from Harsh Reality is quite possibly the best drummer in the Midwestern United States. Catch Jendeen in all her rock and roll glory at the Intense Ink show on December 28th at the BBC.

Minneapolis presents 20 Dollar Love

2007-12-16T17:47:00.000Z

I saw 20 Dollar Love in Racine Wisconsin last summer. What a great bunch of guys. They are on Round 13 records. It's a small label out of Minneapolis, but hey who cares if you are on a small Midwest label. They were on the bill with another Rock Band from Milwaukee.

That was an interesting show for sure. When the singer from 20 dollar love took off his shirt, I thought ok, this guy has no problem showing off. If you ever get a chance to see either Binky Tunny, or 20 Dollar Love, go for it. I hope they come to a Rock Club in Milwaukee sometime.

Venues in Milwaukee

2007-12-14T16:06:00.000Z

Where do you play a live Rock and Roll show in Milwaukee. That depends on what audience you want to impress. Stonefly is a nice club on Center Street. Points East Pub is just north of downtown Milwaukee. The Cactus Club is in Bay view, but I haven't been there in years. I don't like the smell of Lysol floor cleaner and standing all night in a tiny room, so Cactus Club is out for me. I am a big fan of Racine Wisconsin. The shows there tend to turn out lots of people.

It's always worth a shot at seeing a Rock show at Miramar Theater.

I haven't been to a basement show in a long time, but I hear that the Milwaukee Punk scene has some good underground shows.

Rock and Roll is the best

2007-12-13T23:21:00.000Z

The Midwest United States has a solid Rock and Roll scene. Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, all have a thriving music scene. Yea, Chicago has that haughty attitude, and honestly, what great band has come out of Chicago since the Smashing Pumpkins. I don't know. The reason I don't know is because I spend most of my time working the Milwaukee Rock and Roll scene. So I plan on commenting on whatever I feel like, because this is my Rock and Roll blog.

I don't know what else to day but we will see what comes of my blog in the future. For now, keep rock and roll alive and support your local music scene.