NPR's "All Songs Considered" recently did a show called "The Sound of a Generation." Host Bob Boilen asked for listeners to write in their thoughts and opinions on what defines the sound of a generation and what they considered to be the sound of the post-GenXers, those born in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
It led me to wonder what is the sound of Milwaukee? Each week Brent and I play songs by local bands from many genres, but is there anything besides geography that connects Milwaukee's musical community?
Just something to think about. In the meantime, here's what our scene looks like in the coming week. Download the podcast for some tasty samples.
Although Brady Street's Up and Under Pub is known as one of Milwaukee's best blues bars, it's been known to host bands of other genres from time to time. This Saturday, June 14 it welcomes local reggae legends King Solomon. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Milwaukee rock veterans Strangest Places head over to the BBC to play at show at its Upper Level venue that same night. DJ Miss Erika Jean and Marcella open the show.
The Steel Bridge Song Fest is an enormous, fantastically booked annual music festival in Sturgeon Bay, happening this year on June 12-14. Co-founder pat mAcdonald, of Timbuk3 fame, is a Wisconsin resident and plays the fest on Saturday, June 14 at 7 p.m. The list of 150 musical acts includes many from Milwaukee, including this next band, IhIHadAHiFi.
IfIHadAHiFi has a new eleven-song LP called "Fame By Proxy" coming out on September 23 on Latest Flame Records. In the meantime, you can hear signs like "Paradise by the Pauling Lights" when the band plays the Steel Bridge Song Fest this Saturday at 8 p.m. If you're into planning ahead, the CD release party is set for Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Cactus Club.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
