Confessions and Concessions...

photo courtesy Ilana Gilbert, IG Photography

The Riverwest Public House Co-operative seems to be establishing a reputation as frequent host to some of Milwaukee's more avant-garde performers: unconventional folk rock ensembles, piano soloists and other such demiurgic musicians more inclined to use violas and xylophones as their lead instruments than electric guitars and drum kits.  

This past Friday's Women In Music headliners there - The Lady Cannon, Ilysa Spencer and Meadow Parish - while adhering to the use of the more traditional bass, guitar and drum arrangements (though The Lady Cannon did, of course, employ her oft used five string banjo), provided performances that night that were no less intriguing.  Meadow Parish, in particular, lead by Flojo pendant Sarah Marie Spielmann, put on a noteworthy and captivating set.

The Rise Of The New Red Moons

With their determinedly stylistic, often decidedly moody, jazz-folk compositions, it comes as no surprise that the release of The New Red Moons debut album this past July would be received more as an album just discovered rather than one just released.

There's No Rust On Miles Nielsen

Supporting their second album release, titled only as Miles Nielsen Presents The Rusted Hearts, Miles Nielsen and his band put on a thoroughly entertaining show Friday evening - for a sizable crowd of enamored fans inside the Fire Pit Bar at Milwaukee's Potawatomi Casino. 

Tom Waits' Bad As Me, The Same Kind Of Good

Few artists can hold a 38 year career, and a 20-some album discography, but continue to instill the kind of maddening excitement that Tom Waits does whenever the crooked bone tree of his mind bears new fruit.  There isn't any diminishing value of return whatsoever in what he utters.  Sure, his broken glass and gravel voice, accompanied by his oft use of dusty and antiquated instruments - most commonly a deranged sounding Chamberlain, a musical saw, and occasionally a Stroh Violin (though none of them appear on this outing) - make it impossible to mistake a Tom Waits song when you hear one.  Yet, each and every release Waits offers over the course of his illustrious career is its own individual gem.  And his newest collection, Bad As Me is no exception.  In fact, it's the most encompassing of his overall appeal than any before.

Welcome To The World Of Daniel Knox... You've Been Here All Along

photo courtesy John Atwood

Daniel Knox is not of this place and time. He's a phantom, a shadowy figure occupying the most starkly contrasted recesses of the human psychology - or more appropriately - psychosis.

He traveled to Milwaukee to perform at The Riverwest Public House this past Thursday evening, to a room full of people who more likely than not had no idea what they were in for.

Blues-Punk And Women: The Delta Routine's Regime

Milwaukee rock outfit, The Delta Routine by and large have the art of vintage blues-punk down to a specific science.  Science being the key word, and the variable being the assortment of objects of attraction that are lead singer/songwriter Nick Amadeus' muses.  From "Donna", who earned herself a full album title in 2007, on out to the apparently too much for the senses "Felicia" - the singer caricatures himself as somewhat snaky and philandering, but who ultimately isn't doing anybody any harm, and whose barbed and upbeat "letter to her" compositions are voyeuristically engrossing.

The Unsung Heroics of Hero Jr.

Nearly every active new band in the modern day that tries to present themselves with any sort of integrity draws from the tried and true, solid musical tenure of the '90's.  In the '90's, though, new bands that sought the same sort of respect, took their inspiration from the '80's underground.  The Indianapolis threesome Hero Jr., however, decided to skip the '90's middle man entirely, and design themselves instead around that very distinct underground rock influence - drawn directly from the generation that spawned it.

Milwaukee's Own Crooked Keys Play It Straight

Everything about Milwaukee's Crooked Keys is cool, modest and unconcerned with trite little things like current trends and pop culture fads.  Everything right on down to their simply packaged, single sleeve EP, entitled The Birds.  Bearing only the band's name and the album title on the front - and nothing more than the song titles on the back - it's a shrugging statement of the necessity of only the most basic essentials.  No website is listed for more info (though it's at crookedkeys.com), no personnel credits, not even a copyright date.

Annie B & The Vagabond Co. - Just Left Of The Middle

Forging in her own direction, after a few year stint with L.A. indie rock group Shut Up Marie, singer/songwriter Annie B and her band, The Vagabond Company, attempt to carve a niche into Milwaukee's music scene with their debut album Fancies of a Random Heart. 

Obviously dedicated, and painstakingly committed to her craft, one trip to Annie's official website (anniebmusic.com) removes any doubt about just how very seriously she takes herself.  She's blogging until she wins a Grammy.  Every day.  

Primus' "Green Naugahyde" A Disappointing Return

Two decades past their 90's era heyday, their magnum opus Sailing The Seas of Cheese, and 11 solid years past a full length CD of new material (though they released an EP of new material in 2003 bundled with a DVD retrospective of music videos), Primus returns with the unfortunately disappointing Green Naugahyde.