UPDATE: THE CAVE SINGERS SHOW WAS CANCELED TODAY.
The day I write this, two folks have referenced "Led Zeppelin III," not widely hailed as a masterpiece, but certainly one of the British blues band's discs most beloved by fans who have a taste for dramatic and mysterious, heavily acoustic, British folk-infused rock.
When someone dropped the reference while describing Seattle's The Cave Singers, who play in Brew City this week, it seemed spot on. You could add Fleet Foxes, Will Oldham and even Wisconsin's own Bon Iver, too, and still be on the money.
The trio is on the road hawking its latest Matador Records disc, "Welcome Joy," which follows The Cave Singers' acclaimed debut, "Invitation Songs."
For this record, the basic trio -- singer Peter Quirk, guitarist Derek Fudesco and percussionist Marty Lund -- invited Black Mountain and Lightning Dust singer Amber Webber and her Lightning Dust cohort (and twin sister) Ashley Webber.
The Cave Singers' sometimes raunchy, sometimes richly textured reading of folk music is a breath of fresh air and experiencing the satisfying rollercoaster dynamics of "Welcome Joy" -- the way the acoustic folk of the opener, "Summer Windows," leads into a couple of uptempo electric tunes into the moodiness of "Shrine" and on to the atmospheric electric folk of "Hen of the Woods" and beyond -- we come right back to "Led Zeppelin III," a record that shares a similar dynamic.
It'll be interesting to hear these songs live, on stage in the intimate setting of The Mad Planet, E. Center St., when the band plays there on Monday, March 29. Show time is 8 p.m. and Milwaukee's fine Juniper Tar opens. Tickets are a mega-bargain at $10. -- Bobby Tanzilo
It's been almost four years since Joanna Newsom charmed the pants off
NPR music critics (and their loyal indie rock following) with sophomore
album "Ys," an epic, meandering composition that pays tribute to a
mythical city thought to be built along the coast in France and later
swallowed by the sea. When she agreed to an interview, the focus was her
process, not her personal life, and when she toured, it was brief but
big. Lucky for us, Milwaukee was one of something like six cities chosen
to host the elf-like harpist and her 29-piece orchestra and what a
magical night at The Pabst Theater it was.
This Friday, April 3,
the singer-songwriter returns to the iconic theater for an 8 p.m. show.
She comes to us this time sans orchestra, but instead brings with her
the weight of her third album, "Have One On Me," a triple-disc release
that more than satiated critics' thirst (again, NPR went bananas for it)
for sprawling, complex song structure with indie rock sensibilities.
Regardless of whether you've had a chance to absorb the new stuff yet or
not, her live performances are warm and enchanting and worth the $25.
-- Julie Lawrence
Poison lead singer Bret Michaels has been so busy with other pursuits the past few years -- such as the blockbuster reality show "Rock of Love" and a stint on "Celebrity Apprentice" -- that it's easy to forget that music made him famous.
Michaels is getting ready to release his sixth solo project, "Custom Built" in May and is touring with his solo band. They'll stop at Northern Lights Theater for shows Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are $35 and $25. --Drew Olson
