Craig Finn, Esmee Paterson- The Cactus Club, October 23, 2015

photo by Will Piper

Craig Finn, who is best known as the front man of the Minneapolis via Brooklyn band, The Hold Steady, is on tour supporting his outstanding 2015 release Faith in the Future.  Accompanied by a bass player, drummer and very skilled guitarist, Craig and his band stopped in MKE at the Cactus Club for a sold-out Friday night show.  Finn shared with the wall-to-wall capacity crowd (making the venue swell at its near 200 person capacity) that the last time he played the infamous Cactus Club was with his Minneapolis-based band Lifter Puller in 2000.  Finn was so proud of this fact that he even played a deep cut, "Mission Viejo," from Lifter Puller's debut 1997 self-titled release (that made even this blogger/hardcore Finn fan do some research to figure out the title).

Earlier this month I had the distinct honor of being in attendance at a house show with Finn, put on by a friend of mine in Wauwatosa.  Talking with Finn, and also listening to his anecdotes  gave me a tremendous insight into his work as a narrative songwriter.  Simply put, this man is a "human-observation-specialist on steroids" and draws a lot of the inspiration for his songs, and his lyrics for The Hold Steady, by focusing on the seemingly mundane ins-and-outs of day-to-day life.

On tunes such as my favorite from Faith in the Future, "Newmeyer's Roof," this becomes apparent as Finn honestly shares his experience being in Brooklyn when 9/11 took place, and how his now significant other was in the Towers and got out because she refused to obey the instructions given to her.  This is a bone chilling tale, one that would raise hackles on any sensitive human being's arms, but with Finn in the driver's seat, he is able to juxtapose the fear with the hope, which, after all is what makes him one of my favorite songwriters.  Never contrived, but refusing to live in a land of doom-and-gloom, Finn's set embodied the spirit and earnestness of his Faith in the Future record, and had his fans clamoring for more after the nearly 90 minute performance.

Opening for Craig Finn was Portland singer-songwriter, Esmee Paterson.  For her set, Esmee, accompanied only by a drummer, put on a solid show.  Her vocal reminded me a lot of cross between Amber Papini of Hospitality and Nikki Lane.  When speaking with Esmee after her set, she shared that she and Nikki Lane are friends and that their mutual admiration of each other comes across in their songwriting.  Good stuff, as both are incredibly talented artists- with Lane going more the country route and Paterson vying for more of a rock vibe in her tunes.

photo by Will Piper

Craig Finn Setlist:
Christine
Maggie
3 Drinks
Jackson
Sandra
No Future
Western Pier
Terrified Eyes
Going to a Show
Sarah
Newmeyer's Roof
Trapper
Mission
Certain
Apollo Bay
Honolulu Blues
I Was Doing Alright

The Lone Bellow, Anderson East, Hugh Robert Masterson- Turner Hall Ballroom, October 19, 2015

photo by Will Piper

Resident "Milwaukee Man," Hugh Robert Masterson joined forces with neo-soul stand-out Anderson East, and Americana harmonizing darlings, The Lone Bellow, for a Monday night of music that treated listeners to a trio of acts with one foot deeply rooted in tradition and another on modern innovation.  The result was an evening of progressive Americana music which delighted the large crowd gathered at Tuner Hall, especially for a Monday night.

Lots has happened for The Lone Bellow since they last played Shank Hall in January of 2014.  For starters, they were featured heavily at summer festivals and performed a stand-out set at the inaugural Eaux Claires festival.  Their second release, this year's Then Came the Morning built upon the success of their 2013 debut The Lone Bellow, capitalizing on the exquisite harmonies of lead vocalist and songwriter Zach Williams, mandolin player, Kanene Donehey Pipkin and guitarist Brian Elmquist.  However, on Then Came the Morning the band branches out further, allowing the band to take more risks with their music, including diving more deeply into gospel-influenced numbers, particularly the stand out title track, "Then Came the Morning," which was the set closer.   Older favorites like "Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold" and "You Don't Love Me Like You Used To," fit seamlessly against newer tracks like "Take My Love," "Diners" and "Fake Roses."  The vocal prowess of The Lone Bellow has improved and matured, creating a live experience that by far surpasses their studio recordings.  Simply put, this band has some pipes!

photo by Stephen Bloch

Opening for The Lone Bellow was Anderson East, rhythm and blues singer from Nashville, via Athens, Alabama.  His set was a high energy showcase which pitted material from his 2015 debut Delliah alongside covers from acts like Faces, Van Morrison and Eddie Floyd.  While I enjoyed the cover tunes, I thought that the originals were more interesting, including the throw-back jam "Satisfy Me," which closed the set to a rousing ovation from the fans.  Like J.D. McPherson, Anderson East has a fair amount of early rock n' roll roots in his music, bit also has a modern swagger which translates well live.

Milwaukee got to see a lot of Hugh Robert Masterson throughout the night, as our former resident country troubadour did guitar tech for The Lone Bellow.  He also played an early set, which featured both established and new tunes performed acoustically.

photo by Stephen Bloch

The highlight of the evening featured The Lone Bellow, Anderson East, and Hugh Robert Masterson all joining together on stage for a rousing rendition of Prince's classic "Purple Rain," which was executed about as well as any ensemble cover I've heard this year.  

photo by Stephen Bloch

Blitzen Trapper- Turner Hall Ballroom, October 6, 2015

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Over the better part of the past decade, few acts have proven more consistent in both their studio albums and live shows than Blitzen Trapper.  If you want ruckus rock 'n roll guitars, fantastic multi-part harmonies, and a jangle-jam country rock sound (accented often times with harmonicas), then this proud Portland quintet is the band for you.

Once again, Blitzen Trapper showcased their indie experimental country-folk rock skills at Tuner Hall Ballroom, playing a solid set of music drawing heavily from their brand new eighth LP, All Across This Land.  In fact, with All Across This Land being released on October 2nd, this material was very new for the majority of the audience.  For this tour, "The Trap" ditched the "dressed up" look of suits and ties and opted for more rugged plaid attire which even showcased lead singer, Eric Earley wearing a flannel with cut off sleeves.   Perhaps this look matched the more "throw back" sound of All Across This Land, which at times sounds like what might happen if Bruce Springsteen grew up in Portland instead of New Jersey.  It's hard not to watch Earley belt out tracks like, "Nights Were Made For Love," or "Love Grow Cold," in the cut-off flannel and not think of "The Boss."

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

However, the classic Trap sound was there through and through, as evidenced by the up-tempo title track, "All Across This Land," from their latest record.  In addition, the band played a good chunk of diverse tracks from their previous records including, "Thirsty Man" off of VII,  the narrative tale of "Black River Killer," off of Black River Killer and "Love the Way You Walk Away" from American Goldwing.  A show highlight was a stripped down version of "Furr," which appeared during the encore.

As always, the Trap provided a solid evening of music, tales and fun, and proved why their fans will continue to come out and support the band album after album and tour after tour.

Photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch
#weneedmoremarty

Craig Finn- House Show, Wauwatosa, WI

photo by Will Piper

Back in high school and early college, I was hooked onVH1-Storytellers, a show where prominent artists performed songs and told the stories behind them.  I vividly remember being sucked into episodes where R.E.M., the Black Crowes, and even Paul Simon shared the impetus behind some of their most famous numbers. As someone who has always been drawn to the lyrical aspect of songwriting, I found that the stories behind the songs were often times as interesting and compelling, if not more so, than the songs themselves.

Enter Craig Finn, most notably the lead singer and lyricist of the Minneapolis via Brooklyn band, The Hold Steady.  For nearly the past decade, I've been a Hold Steady fan and have attended several of their shows, ranging from an intimately rowdy affair at the Mirmar Theater in 2007, to a seeing the band perform a couple of shows at the Majestic Theater in Madison, to enjoying Hold Steady gigs as the band grew to the level of a regular Summerfest side stage headliner.  While the vibrant, bright rock 'n roll timbres resonate with the music of The Hold Steady, it is truly Finn's lyrics and ability to suck his audience into the world of the characters in his songs which makes both Craig Finn and The Hold Steady exceptional performers in my book.

As a 44 year old singer, in the rock 'n roll business for most of his life, Finn has more than a few tales to tell.  And tell stories he did.  The biggest chunk of the evening was not the hour and fifteen minute solo acoustic set that Finn performed, but rather soaking in tales from a songwriter who sucks in as much life as he can observe.  For playing as many shows as Finn and The Hold Steady do, not to mention the fact that The Hold Steady were quite the party band in their earlier days, Finn has somewhat of a photographic memory of being able to recall details from the Mirmar show where I first saw him, as well as his performances at the Majestic in Madison.  Finn  comes across a "one of the guys," someone who wants to learn more about you as much as you might want to learn about him.  He's a sports guy and knows his baseball as well as anyone I know, and a lot of banter was simply that- dudes talking about baseball, the Twins, the upcoming MLB playoffs, the Packers, the Vikings.

Finn's "one of the guys" persona and down-to-earth approachability help you glean a small window of insight to where Finn gets his muse for his songs... he's a people watcher first and foremost and a constant listener and observer.

For his set, Finn performed outdoors on a crisp, blistery fall night on a porch with an acoustic guitar, stripped down mic set up, and a lone garage light for effects.  The smell of softly wafting smoke from a warm glowing outdoor fireplace set the mood for what was probably the most intimate performance I've seen from any artist, let alone one of Finn's caliber.  As expected, Finn drew heavily on his solo material, taking requests from the party hosts and drawing from his most recent release, the acclaimed Faith in the Future, which features some of Finn's best lyrics and songs in recent years.  Each tune was accompanied by a story behind it along with the banter of an old familiar friend telling tales with a guitar.  Only Finn, however, can engage a crowd, even a small intimate one, into singing along in an anthemic closing number, "No Future," a song about people you'd find at the late night Perkins restaurant on Riverside Avenue, ironically located across the street from where the host's daughter currently lives.

The show highlight for me, however, was a tune that Finn chose himself to include, "Certain Songs," off of The Hold Steady's 2004 debut, Almost Killed Me record.  In it, Finn sings about how "certain songs get scratched into your souls."  Thank you, Craig.  Your songs certainly will be remembered fondly by this fan.

Setlist:
Maggie I've Been Searching For Our Son
Modesto is Not That Sweet
Western Pier
Extras
Christine

New Friend Jesus

Certain Songs
Jackson
Sarah, Calling from a Hotel
Newmyer's Roof
Dennis and Billy
No Future

Buffalo Gospel- Secret Garden Show, September 4, 2015

photo by Will Piper

House shows are popping up more and more these days in the music scene, with fans gathering to see artists perform in the most intimate spaces- fans' homes.  Good friends Aaron and Laurie hosted a dandy of a show last night in their beautiful home in Riverwest.  Using a garage for a stage and a magnificent garden as a backdrop, Buffalo Gospel performed two sets of memorable music, creating an aural aesthetic experience, mesmorizing everyone in attendance.

Buffalo Gospel epitomizes the spirit of Americana music, and from a sonic perspective can hold their own with any act in their genre- locally, regionally or nationally. At the heart of Buffalo Gospel is songwriter Ryan Necci's engaging stories of self-reflection.  Necci's songs are sometimes brooding, sometimes hopeful, and always draw on both the narrative of the song and the negative space that Necci allows the audience to fill in,  The band, which featured Christopher Porterfield, another one of my favorite songwriters, guesting on guitar helped bring Necci's lyrics to life.   Heidi Spencer's haunting back-up vocals coupled with the mandolin licks from Ryan Ogburn (also of Chicken Wire Empire) stood out in this tightly knit band. 

Buffalo Gospel doesn't play a ton of shows, so catching the sextet live is a real treat.  Music is their passion and performing in front of friends and music enthusiasts seems to give them great pride.  Their new tunes were well-crafted and were received as warmly as their more well known numbers like "Letters to Georgia," "The Western" and "Hoarse as a Crow."  "Ain't No Garden in the Grave," which the band debuted had a special poignant vibe given the unique venue Buffalo Gospel was playing in.   Buffalo Gospel are a true treasure in Milwaukee, a band I am proud to call one of my local favorites, and some of the most earnest, humble folks you'll meet.  To quote Necci addressing the crowd, "City music scenes are made with shows like these, thanks for being here." .

The music and ambiance of the Secret Garden Show will make last night's experience a summer highlight, and one I won't forget.

9.5.15 - Secret Garden Party - Milwaukee, WI

Set One
---
Hill Outside My Home
Here Lies Our Lovin'
The Northern
Letters to Georgia
Homeless
When God's Away on Business
Hard Labor Side of Gettin' On*
The Western (The Devil is Me)

Set Two
---
Mule
Hoarse as a Crow
Old I Do of Mine
Waiting for the Lights to Go Out*
Ain't No Garden in the Grave*
Rock Island
High Time to Hang Fire
18 Wheeler

Encore
---
If I Was the Last Man

*First Time Played

Nikki Lane- The Cactus Club August 13, 2015

Lane and Whitman,
photo by Will Piper

Is there ever too much of a good thing?  Apparently not, when it comes to Kopp's Frozen Custard or Nikki Lane in Milwaukee.  One could argue that she might do well to rent an apartment in River West, as Lane has brought her country troubadour show to Milwaukee four times this year- although this was her second headlining performance (the other two stops saw her open for Jenny Lewis this spring and Social Distortion this summer).

Lane has experienced a large and steady growth in her fan base due to her constant touring, support slots with a variety of different bands and different genres, and her consistently outstanding performances.  With steady band mates Eric Whitman (bass), Ben Eyestone (drums) and Alex Muñoz (guitar), Lane provided her fans with a diverse set of country tinged rock once again.  While Lane certainly is the focus, the fact that she allows her bandmates to show off their skills is a real draw to the act.  Bassist, Eric Whitman is about as good as anyone in the business, and keeps a steady groove for a band that often runs without a setlist.  Likewise Muñoz's licks on guitar are impressive and add a lot of dimension to Lane's songwriting.  Simply put, you won't hear a Nikki Lane song performed exactly the same twice, and this is a key reason fans, myself included, keep coming back.  

Munoz, Lane and Lee on "You Ain't Going Nowhere."
photo by Will Piper

With the show announced literally days before, and no advertising aside from social media and word of mouth, it was amazing to see a near capacity crowd at the Cactus Club on a Thursday.  Local country-influenced singer-songwriter, Frankie Lee opened the show.  Lee, backed by Whitman, Eyestone and Muñoz proved to be quite a hit.  During Lane's set she invited Lee to join her on stage and take the duet spot normally reserved for Hugh Robert Masterson on "Love's on Fire."  Lee also joined the band on a rousing cover of the Byrds "You Ain't Going Nowhere."  Lee is another example of Lane surrounding herself with top quality musicians.  Simply put, based on Lane's shows, if she was to play tonight, I'd gladly pay $10 to see her and her band once again.  

Appleton Mile of Music- August 8, 2015

photo by Charles Mayhew IV

Appleton's third annual Mile of Music festival featured over 200 bands performing over 800 shows over a four day period in downtown Appleton, in what is dubbed a "hand crafted, artisan festival."  Early estimations, as of Monday, August 10th, project that over 50,000 people descended onto Appleton for the festival-- a record attendance!  There was literally music everywhere from bands performing on the city buses, to acts packing local establishments for indoor and outdoor shows, and even playing shows in alleys and surrounding parks.  Musicians from Lawrence University, a local liberal arts college, provided clinics on music education as well, a standard that separates Mile of Music from many other festivals.

Attending the event for the first time, it was clear from the start that the city of Appleton takes great pride in hosting bands from around the country and welcoming visitors from near and far.  First off, everything was either free, or very reasonably priced. Parking in the ramp lot closest the the "main drag" cost all of $2 for instance.  One bar, the Fox River House even had the #AppletonPartyGorilla manning the Patti-O! The sentiment of community was palpable from the servers in the establishments, to volunteers scattered throughout the Mile of Music, to even the civic leaders of Appleton attending Cory Chisel's set.  Appleton built what is essentially becoming a Midwest South-by-Southwest festival to showcase up-and-coming artists, and fans are coming by the droves to take part in the event.

Downtown Appleton was hopping on Saturday, and the eclectic music fans of all ages got a chance to see a myriad of different performances throughout the day.  With so many acts to choose from, it was hard deciding what to see and when.  Below is a recap of my day at Mile of Music. 

1:40 p.m.- The Ghost Wolves: 

Hailing from Austin, Texas, this two piece band featured drummer (Jonny Wolf) and guitarist (Carley Wolf).  As with other notable duos with similar instrumentation (The Black Keys and White Stripes) I am often amazed with how much sound two people can produce.  With ruckus raw energy, which featured Carley frequently jumping into the packed area around the stage for their early afternoon set at Emmett's Bar, and a sound that is a mixture of punk, garage rock and Americana, the Ghost Wolves set the bar high for day, and were one of my favorite acts of the day.

photo by Will Pper

2:50 p.m.- Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons

Current Nashville resident and Appleton native, Cory Chisel, certainly received a hero's greeting at Jones Park.  Chisel is the driving force behind the Mile of Music event, and Appleton's favorite son drew the largest crowd of the day, filling Jones Park to the max.  Appleton's Mayor Timothy Hanna even introduced and thanked Chisel for his contributions to the city. Chisel focused his afternoon set on his more well-known material and the park eagerly sang along with Cory and the Wandering Sons.

photo by Dan Powers, Post/Crescent Media

4:20 p.m. Fort Frances
Performing for the third straight year as part of Mile of Music, Chicago's Fort Frances has developed quite the following in Appleton, filling the Fox River House Patti-O to capacity.  Playing a high-energy, upbeat and enthusiastic set,  Fort Frances's performance featured a lot of their most recent songs which showcases the evolution of the band as they continue to cultivate their craft.

photo by Will Piper

5:40 p.m.- Stone Cold Fox
The Brooklyn, New York indie rock quintet proved to be perhaps the biggest surprise of the day-- literally.  Knowing nothing about the band, my friend and I went to The Bar to take a load off, since we'd been standing the majority of the day, and stumbled on a great indie rock outfit.  With a sound that fits somewhere in the realm of The Shins and Built to Spill, Stone Cold Fox exudes energy and a joy for playing music.  Their spacier soundscapes and jams were a welcome treat.

photo by Will Piper

6:50 p.m.- Water Liars
As I wrote about recently, Water Liars are, in my opinion, the best band you've never heard of.  Playing at Jones Park, Water Liars delivered an even more riveting performance than they did two nights prior at the Cactus Club.  The trio gave the audience, which was heavily populated by musicians from other bands, as you could tell by their black performer badges, a full-throttle performance, even going over their allotted time for an encore.

photo by Will Piper

8:20 p.m.- Patrick Sweany
A self-proclaimed musical omnivore, Patrick Sweany delivered a great set that highlighted blues, soul and good ol' rock 'n roll.  A prolific axe man, Sweany's blues style and staccato riffs allowed him to jump genres, showcasing his skills.  No wonder he's had gigs opening for The Black Keys (which feature his longtime friend, Dan Auerbach) and The Tedeski Trucks Band.  

photo by Will Piper