Thursday, June 26
Gnarls Barkley @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, Summerfest, 11 p.m.
Summerfest
schedules tend to repeat themselves, with the same bands invited back
year after year, regardless of how far they descend down the C-list
(case in point, Plain White T’s are returning this year, well after
their 15 minutes have expired). That makes fresh meat at Summerfest all
the more exciting, though, and Gnarls Barkley is this year’s prime rib,
a relevant, widely popular band that normally plays much bigger gigs
than the Big Gig.
The group’s second collection of manic,
churchy soul-pop, The Odd Couple, might not harbor any singles on the
magnitude of their 2006 tsunami “Crazy,” but from start to finish it’s
every bit as strong as its hit predecessor.
Stevie Wonder @ Marcus Amphitheater, 7 p.m.
Even
during his ’70s prime, Stevie Wonder was never much of a road-warrior,
and these days, with his stardom well cemented, the perennially smiling
soul singer prefers to do quick television appearances instead of
laborious tour dates. This year, however, the happy one mercifully made
space in his selective schedule for an ultra-rare Milwaukee appearance,
so catch him now, because he likely won’t be back for a very long time.
Friday, June 27
John Hiatt @ The Pabst Theater, 8 p.m.
In
the early ‘80s, Hiatt’s songwriting prowess earned him the title “the
American Elvis Costello.” Unlike Costello, however, Hiatt had trouble
writing hits—at least for himself. Three Dog Night and Bonnie Raitt
performed his songs to great success, but Hiatt never became the star
critics predicted. No matter. In roots-rock circles, he’s a hero. The
prematurely haggard Hiatt released his 18th album, Same Old Man, in May.
Flobots @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage, Summerfest, 10 p.m.
They can ride a bike with no handlebars, no handlebars…
Saturday, June 28
Old 97’s @ Zippo Rock Stage, Summerfest, 8 p.m,
They’re
best known as an alt-country band, but Old 97’s cover more territory
than that restrictive label suggests. Their newest album, this May’s
Blame It On Gravity, is their flashiest yet, a pointed set of bombastic
rock and sly pop that keeps its eyes locked on the pop charts. The
album’s sizzling, Latin-spiced “Dance With Me,” for instance, bears
more than a little resemblance to a certain smooth Rob Thomas/Carlos
Santana collaboration.
Brief Candles @ Cascio Interstate Music Groove Garage, Summerfest, 4:15 p.m.
As
Summerfest has grown, top-tier local acts have increasingly been shut
out of the schedule by midlevel touring acts. Thankfully, this year the
Cascio Groove Garage has picked up much of the slack, giving a home to
some of Milwaukee’s finest bands. Yeah, we at the Shepherd Express are
a little biased because we’re sponsoring the stage, but we stand by our
recommendation—the lineup is genuinely great. For instance, Milwaukee’s
Brief Candles could be the best band you see at 4 in the afternoon at
Summerfest this year. They play sweeping, sugarcoated shoegaze with
lovely, Cocteau Twins melodies and a disarmingly agreeable jangle.
Sunday, June 29
Plexi 3 w/ The Coathangers Frank’s Power Plant, 9 p.m.
Sounding
like a more popish Joan Jett backed by the same retro energy that
propelled The 5.6.7.8s to brief but ubiquitous commercial exposure,
Plexi 3 are returning home from a busy tour of the Eastern states.
Theirs is a lively booking for a Sunday night, and a pleasant reminder
that although Summerfest steals the spotlight for the next weeks, there
are still hardworking local acts giving it their all just around the
corner. MySpace their song “Perfect Stranger” and just yourself to not
bounce around in your seat a bit.
Galactic featuring Boots Riley (of The Coup) Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, Summerfest, 10 p.m.
New
Orleans’ Galactic is one of the few bands in the jam scene to attempt
hip-hop without embarrassing themselves. Unlike all the bands that
condescend with snot-nosed, novelty covers of rap hits or time with
monotone raps, Galactic challenges themselves with more thoughtful,
complex hip-hop rhythms. Of course, it helps that instead of relying on
a dreadlocked novice rapper, they outsource established emcees to do
the rapping for them. At their last Milwaukee appearance they brought
along Chali 2na of the Jurassic this time around they’re touring with
militant funkmonger Boots Riley of The Coup.
Monday, June 30
Sean Kingston @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, Summerfest, 9 p.m.
“We
can go to the tropics, sip pina coladas,” Sean Kingston suggests on his
hit “Take You There,” “or we can go to the slums, where killas get
hung.” To no one’s surprise, Kingston opts for the feel-good former
option. His is a modern, MTV spring-break update on Jimmy Buffett’s
tried-and-true escapist retreat, although the 18-year-old pop singer
sometimes hints at a gritty, Akon-esque back-story, there’s really no
need for him to dwell on the gunplay. The Jamaican export is loved
precisely because his breezy, girl-chasing jams are so dissonance free.
Paramore @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage, Summerfest, 10 p.m.
Separating
themselves from legions of other Warped Tour/Alternative Press-approved
pop-punkers, Paramore is fronted spunky starlet Hayley Williams, a
19-year-old who, refreshingly, like a real 19-year-old. The group’s
charmingly overproduced 2007 album, Riot!, is an emo-rific depiction of
high-school hallways as sexually charged battlefields, where
relationships are fleeting and romantic rivals are plentiful.
Tuesday, July 1
Alicia Keys w/ Stephen Marley @ Marcus Amphitheater, 7:30 p.m.
She’ll
probably always be best known as a neo-soul songstress, but with last
year’s tuba-mutilating, larger-than-life synthesized hit “No One,”
Alicia Keyes proved that she can do big-beat pop ballads every bit as
deftly as the Rihannas and Leona Lewises of the world.
Filter @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage, Summerfest, 10 p.m.
Industrial
rockers Filter may have had only one song, but man, what a song. A
shamelessly exploitative hit about suicide, “Hey Man Nice Shot”
suggested gory, crime-scene details where Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” demurred.
Tasteless? Sure, especially with Kurt Cobain’s
gunshot-heard-round-the-world still ringing in audiences’ ears, but the
song was as visceral as anything else on alt-rock radio at the time.
For better or worse, it’s one of the ’90s’ defining songs.
Wednesday, July 2
Alkaline Trio @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage, Summerfest, 10 p.m.
Punk
fans are notoriously fickle about bands selling out, but Alkaline
Trio’s ascension from small-time macabre punk band to Killers-sized
modern-rock band was so gradual and so natural that many fans might not
even have noticed that their favorite group is now appearing on “The
Hills.”
