Favorite Live Shows in Milwaukee:

10. Titus Andronicus + special guests Ceremony + Jaill (November 23, 2012) Turner Hall Ballroom While my expectations of Titus Andronicus may have been a bit unrealistic (reading about their legendary opening spot for Bright Eyes where the singer dove off of a speaker stack at the Riverside), I was plenty pleased with their straight ahead, high octane rock 'n roll show.  This was the first show I've been to in years that contained an actual mosh pit.

9. Sea Wolf (October 25, 2012) Club Garabaldi
There is something special about seeing a band in a really intimate setting.  Club Garabaldi proved to be the place to see Sea Wolf.   Backed by a tight band and a well-rehearsed live show, Alex Brown Church and his mates delivered a set that connected on so many levels with the crowd.  While not a folk-act, and not really a rock-act either, Sea Wolf delivered a heart-felt performance that showcased his latest release, "Old World Romance," one of my favorite discs of the year.

photo by Will Piper

8.  The xx + John Talabot (October 21, 2012) Pabst Theater
I knew I was in for a treat when I won the xx tickets from Radio Milwaukee.  What I didn't realize is how well this band exceeds expectations with its live performance.  The visual light display was on-par with some of my favorite acts (Phish and My Morning Jacket) and the band delivered a seamless, dreamy set that played perfectly with the Pabst crowd.

photo by Will Piper

7.  Polica (May 9, 2012) Turner Hall Ballroom
Channy Leaneagh is a first rate front woman, and, needless to say, she memorized the Turner Hall crowd. The double-drum percussion, coupled with wicked bass lines, and electronic loops via a MacBook were mixed perfectly, and resulted in a first rate show.  I can't wait to see where this act goes from here (I'm guessing a larger venue than Turner Hall is most likely in the future).

6.  Phish (June 30, 2012) Alpine Valley Music Theater
Seeing that I've been going to Phish shows since 1994, the Vermont quartet certainly has a soft spot in this critic's heart.  Tunes like "Runaway Jim" and "AC/DC Bag" brought about high school memories, whereas newer numbers like "Backwards Down the Number Line," channeled my iner "dad-rock."  The second set cover of "Golden Age" by TV on the Radio demonstrates how this band continues to evolve, and anchored the show with a funky jam.  Simply put, Phish remains an A list act.

Video from Steve Holmes via YouTube. "Golden Age -> Also Sprach Zarathustra"

 

5. Trampled By Turtles (November 10, 2012) Pabst Theater
"Trampled" is an act that I have wanted to see for years.  I can see why they have received so much praise for their live show.  Energetic is an understatement!  Trampled by Turtles is transitioning from being a straight blue-grass act to being more of a song-writer driven alt-country outfit, mixing ballads with foot stomping romps.  Trampled by Turtles clearly exceeded my expectations, as well as many others' during this sold-out performance.

4.  Sufjan Stevens' "Christmas Sing-A-Long Seasonal Affective Disorder Pageant on Ice"
(December 13, 2012)- Turner Hall Ballroom
I knew from the promotional materials hyping this concert that it would be a zany affair, but I did not anticipate how well-produced the music would be.  Strip away the myriad of inflatable Santas, menorahs, and unicorns on stage, get rid of the silly costumes and giant "Wheel Of Christmas," and what you have left are quality musicians who were able to make a two hour show of mostly Christmas music immensely entertaining.

photo by Stephen Bloch

3.  The Avett Brothers- (July 5, 2012) BMO Harris Pavillion, Summerfest Grounds
The Avetts continue to prove why they are one of the best and most consistent acts in the country by performing stellar live shows.  This warm summer night at  beautiful new BMO Harris Pavillion proved to be a classic Avetts show, drawing from material new and old.  The energy never seemed to let down from the first note to the last in this performance.

photo by Stephen Bloch

2.  Charles Bradley & His Extrodinaries  (February 17, 2012)- Turner Hall Ballroom
Who would have thought that a 64 year old soul singer would take my #2 honor for show of the year?  Simply put, Charles Bradley is a performer who leaves it all out there. I cannot think of an act that entertained me more the whole year, from his outfit changes, dancing, and even jumping into the crowd at the end of the show for hugs, Bradley channeled the spirit of James Brown while giving one of the most moving performances of the year at Turner Hall.

1.  My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses (July 8, 2012)- BMO Harris Pavillion, Summerfest Grounds
It had been a few years since I last saw My Morning Jacket.  Holy cow, has this band ever evolved.  This tour, dubbed the "Spontaneous Curation Series" saw the band delivering an entirely different show from night to night, drawing from all of their material, both new and old.  From the opening notes of "Mahgeetah" to the closing notes of "Phone Went West," MMJ delivered a first class, romping rock show.  

photo by Stephen Bloch

Top 12 for 2012

Will's Top 12 For '12:
This year was a great year for music.  Lots of my favorite established artists dropped new records, along with a lot of strong records from up-and-coming acts or other acts that I hadn't previously discovered.  I hope you enjoy my musings on my favorite releases 2012 had to offer:

Honorable Mention:Japandroids "Celebration Rock," Divine Fits "Thing Called Divine Fits," Trampled By Turtles "Stars and Satellites,"  Beach House, "Bloom"

12: David Wax Museum "Knock Knock Get Up"
If this disc doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. David Wax Museum delivers feel-good music at its best with bright horn arrangements and some really fascinating percussion. This Mexican-American folk act definitely has a niche at this point, and I can only guess that they will continue to hone and diversify their sound in the years to come.
11. Alt-J- "An Awesome Wave"
Categorizing Alt-J's sound is a challenging task, aside from simply saying, "infectious."  If Soul Coughing and the xx were to get married Alt-J could be what their musical child might sound like.  Simple keyboard melodies combined with quirky instrumentation and beats help draw listeners into this album.  I am really looking forward to seeing this act in March 2013  @ Turner Hall.

10.  Titus Andronicus- "Local Business"
Pure rock 'n roll energy drives "Local Business," making it a favorite of mine from this year.  Front man Patrick Stickles' lyrical delivery and narrative song writing falls into a similar category to The Hold Steady's Craig Finn, and, to some extent, even fellow New Jersey native, Bruce Springsteen.  Favorite tracks include "In A Big City," and "I Am the Electric Man."


9. Hospitality- "Hospitality"
Catching this band open for Here We Go Magic at Stonefly this year put them on my radar.  This is an incredibly catchy indie-pop record with well-crafted melodic tunes, which really never went out of my rotation throughout the year.  Clever guitar and drum arrangements also add to the pure pop goodness of this record.  


8.  Polica- "Give You The Ghost"
Combine ethereal vocals, driving beats from two drummers, and grooving bass lines.  Mix with some added electronic effects and loops, and bake for about 45 minutes, and you have yourself,  "Give You The Ghost," one of the more interesting albums to come out of 2012.  Simply put, Channy Leaneagh's vocals are soulful and spellbinding and make this record a real stand-out on my list and plenty of others' lists this year.


7. Spiritualized- "Sweet Heart, Sweet Light"
Spirtualized is an act that defies time and place.  In  many ways, you can listen to "Sweet Heart, Sweet Light" and think that the album could be from the 1970's, or from the hay day of the British shoe-gaze acts in the late-nineties. However, one would be remiss if they simply tried to fit Spitualized into this category.  What sets Spitualized apart from other acts is the diverse songwriting of lead singer/guitarist Jason Pierce, who creates an album of stark contrasts, juxtaposing witty pop songs with spacey jams and even slower, more melancholy tracks.  This British psychedelic rock outfit is on a short list of acts I haven't seen live and would really like to. 


6.  Tame Impala- "Lonerism"
In many ways, Tame Impala is similar to Spititualized as an act that is hard to classify. Their latest, "Lonerism," is a poppy, jammy, tangled delight.  What gives Tame Impala one up on Spiritualized, in my opinion, is how cohesive the album is.  It is rare that I'll skip over a track, and can find myself often entrenched in the jams.


5.  Sea Wolf- "Old World Romance"
Alex Brown Chruch delivers a masterful singer-songwriter effort on "Old World Romance."  From the catchy opener, "Old Friend," through gems like "Priscilla," and "Miracle Cure," Sea Wolf's latest certainly put them on the radar of several indie-folk fans, myself included.

 

4.  Father John Misty- "Fear Fun"
J. Tillman delivers the album that has grown on me the most over the year, the whimsical "Fear Fun."  A diverse mix of alt-country, experimental folk, and straight ahead rock 'n roll,  Tillman's narrative tunes roll seamlessly into each other on the record, leading to a most enjoyable listen.  Stand out tracks include: "I'm Writing A Novel," "Nancy From Now On," "Only Son of the Ladies Man," and "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings."  You know an album is good when you keep having a new favorite tune  after each listen.

 

3.  Band of Horses- "Mirage Rock"
"A ramshackle crew with something to prove, and the truck blew up, believe it."  This line from the opening track "Knock Knock," sets the tone for a straight ahead rock 'n roll effort which shows Ben Bridwell and the boys in prime form.  Bridwell's country-esque twang comes across wonderfully on tracks like "Electric Music," "How to Live," and "Heartbreak on the 101."  While I can argue that "Cease to Begin" is perhaps my favorite release from this band, "Mirage Rock" provides a satisfying, uplifting listen, which translates especially well live.
 
 

2.  Grizzly Bear- "Shields"
Grizzly Bear's wonderfully eclectic release, "Shields," is arguably their finest album to date, and a record that sees this New York City group rising in terms of popularity and critical acclaim.  I doubt I'll see them at a $15 Pabst Theater show again like I did a few years ago.  Bluesy vocals, multifaceted percussion, clever synthesizer loops and a haunting appeal makes "Shields" a beautiful listen from start to finish.  This is an act that I could see making the jump to an upper-mid level act very quickly. 


 1. Jack White- "Blunderbuss"
I'll admit, I'm late to the party with Jack White... or am I?  If "Blunderbuss" is any indication, White's best work may be still to come.  To be honest, I (foolishly) passed on seeing the White Stripes numerous times, and even passed on the Racontours, only now to be more than willing to hop in a car and drive to anywhere in the general vicinity to catch Jack White's act live.  Everyone who I've known who has seen him on this tour was simply blown away, and rightfully so, this record is loaded with awesome rock 'n roll. 

White puts together a thoughtful, fun, and varied album that makes you want to play air guitar to "Sixteen Salteens," pump your first in the sky to "Freedom at 21," tap your foot to "Hypothetical Kiss," and sing along to "Love Interruption."  This is a highly accessible album that appeals to a wide fan base.  It is a joyous listen from start to finish and has been played more than any other record this year, hence, earning the top spot on the chart.