With all eyes on Eau Claire thanks to Justin Vernon / Bon Iver, the now-Minneapolis-based Peter Wolf Crier and Laarks, it seemed inevitable that the world would discover Meridene.
The band -- whose second full-length disc, "Something Like Blood," is out now on Eau Claire's Amble Down label -- comes back to Milwaukee Sunday, Oct. 31 for an 8 p.m. gig at Linneman's. Cover is $5.
Following a 2007 EP and "You're Not Pretty, You're Worse," released the following year, "Something Like Blood" has garnered national notice, charting on CMJ. The band has been on the road for months, too, spreading the word via gigs.
"Something Like Blood" was recorded over four days at Bon Iver's home studio and was produced and mixed by Peter Wolf Crier's Brian Moen. The result is a rock and roll record built on driving guitars, emotive vocals, powerful lyrics and grabbing melodies.
Meridene's line-up has changed since the first record two years ago, so even if you saw the band in the past, you'll want to see the new version as it runs through the nine great tunes on "Something Like Blood."
For a taste of the new record, click here to download "Gone Baby Gone," the first single from "Something Like Blood."
Some other shows on tap this week in Brew City include:
Montreal's awesome Stars return to The Pabst Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 26 for an 8 p.m. show. Over the course of five records, the Toronto-born, Montreal-based band fronted by Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell create some of the loveliest pop music in recent memory.
Sometimes introspective, other times celebratory and still others dance-y, the band's latest disc, "The Five Ghosts," cements the group's already solid reputation. See you there, Milwaukee. Tickets are $20.
Atlanta-based folkie Shawn Mullins' tour for his latest record, "Light You Up" -- released a couple weeks ago -- stops in Milwaukee on Oct. 27 for a $20, 8 p.m. show at Shank Hall.
The following night Shank Hall hosts veteran rock drummer Carl Palmer's band, which plays the music of Emerson, Lake and Palmer at 8 p.m. Cover is $30.
The Morning Benders bring the music from its latest disc, "Big Echo" -- second overall and first for Rough Trade -- to Turner Hall on Friday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Mumford and Sons bring its acclaimed, rootsy music to the Riverside on the following night. The show was originally slated for The Pabst but demand for tickets bumped it up to the sister venue across the river. One of the year's buzz bands and rightfully so. Do your homework and check out the disc, "Sigh No More," before you go.
Or you could hit the annual Halloween party at the Cactus Club with a slate of metal tributes including Slayerer, Big Balls (AC/DC) and Morbid Tales (Celtic Frost). Show time is 10 p.m.
You can also still catch some of the 13 Shows for Halloween at The Rave this week, including Insane Clown Posse (Oct. 28), Suicidal Tendencies (Oct. 30) and GWAR (Oct. 31). Full details at The Rave Web site.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
