Say cornmeal and it makes me hungry for dinner. But for more and more bluegrass fans -- in the Midwest and beyond -- Cornmeal is code for Chicago's top-notch progressive bluegrass band.
The group comes to Shank Hall, 1434 N. Farwell Ave., Saturday, March 20 for a 9 p.m. show. Past Blue Ribbon opens, and cover is $10.
On the heels of its third disc, "Feet First," released last May, Cornmeal issued the debut volume of its "Live in Chicago" CD series and has been on the road promoting the be-jeebus out of its mix of traditional American roots music that often veers off into jazz, rock and funk.
Those discs and gigs have been helping the Windy City quintet gain a foothold on the national scene, too, leading Honest Tune.com -- "The Southern Journal of Jam" -- to rave about the band's skills on stage.
"Throughout the evening fast-pace, foot-stomping bluegrass romps intermittently transformed into intricate slow-tempo trancegrass numbers. They also built up into more folksy lyrical ballads. After only a few songs, it became clear that Cornmeal is one of those bands with the unique ability to cover a vast array of musical genres while maintaining a consistently identifiable bluegrass sound as a whole."
The band arrives pretty much straight from the south for its Shank gig, so expect them to be in the true bluegrass spirit and in fine form. To do your pre-gig homework, visit cornmealinthekitchen.com. -- Bobby Tanzilo
As many hip-hop fans can attest, it's hard to go wrong with a label like Rhymesayers. When they sign and stick with unique artists like P.O.S., it's easy to respect their business choices.
Hailing from a punk rock past, Minneapolis-based Stefon Alexander (who was nicknamed Pissed Off Stef back in his punk-fueled Om days), has since evolved to become one of hip-hop's rising stars.
His latest album, "Never Better," is the perfect example of when the marriage between rock and rap works well ... unlike so many mainstream mashups gone horribly, horribly wrong.
Catch the master of his craft at Turner Hall Ballroom on Sunday, March 20, with special guests Dessa, Astronautalis and Milwaukee's own Kid Millions. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door. -- Julie Lawrence
Here's a shameless plug for my own band, Cackle, playing this Saturday, March 20, at Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St. Cackle starts at 9 p.m. followed by the dance-tacular, always entertaining three-piece, Uncle Larry.
Cackle is a scrappy post-punk-ish pop trio with a realtively new CD, "So Mote It Be." Our penchant for Milwaukee shines through on a couple of the tunes, including "At At Random." --Molly Snyder Edler
