Dillinger Four, Pretentiousness Zero

Punk bands, seemingly by design, are not built to last. And the fact that they are often so ephemeral is probably a good thing. As many music fans have learned, particularly during the reunion craze of the early-21st century, there is nothing worse than watching a band that is well past its prime. “Live Fast, . . .

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The Importance of Being Earnest

Editors hit the road with big dreams, good manners.

Ed Lay, drummer for Editors, is living the high life, and he knows it. He’s not about to jinx it with an off-color remark, a run-in with the tabloids or a fistfight with Interpol. He’s terribly earnest, in fact, as the band warms up for its 2008 U.S. tour in posh . . .

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A Little Folk, A Little Rock

Kevn Kinney’s homecoming

Kevn Kinney answers his cell phone on day two of the new year from inside an Atlanta studio, where he is mixing Preapproved, his first solo album since 2002. The Milwaukee expatriate looks forward to a busy year.

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Those Old Wisconsin Blues

A world-premiere musical

Most residents of southeast Wisconsin, even music fans, are still surprised to learn that Port Washington and Grafton were home to a significant blues label in the 1920s, Paramount Records. Awareness has been rising: Dutch blues researcher Alex van der Tuuk authored a book on the label, and a . . .

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A Look Back

2007 in Milwaukee music

Although it can sometimes feel like Milwaukee's music scene is a tad predictable, 2007 will be remembered as a more eventful year than most. Here's a look back at some of the biggest happenings, controversies and trends of the year.

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A Lean, Live Unit

Robert Cray's concerts spotlight his band

Fans who have seen the current edition of the Robert Cray Band know that one of the real attractions is listening to how the four band members play together, support each individual instrument and serve each song.

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The New Face of Milwaukee Emo?

The Response Fits the Bill (In a Good Way)

While recently re-watching Rushmore, Steve Kerwin realized with some dismay that a memorable line in the film bears an unintentional resemblance to the title of his band's latest album, With Friends Like You, Who Needs Enemies?

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Jimmy Eat World: The Past is History

The video for Jimmy Eat World's "Big Casino," the first single from their recent album Chase This Light, features the band performing in front of a large neon "Jackpot" sign while frontman Jim Adkins, perhaps reflecting on his own good luck, passionately sings lines such as, "I'll accept with poise, with grace, when they draw my name from the lottery

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Cloud Cult's Green Operation

Cloud Cult's Craig Minowa laughs when recalling a large Canadian retailer that used a song from the band's second album in a television commercial.

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Bob Schneider's New Focus on Rock

Bob Schneider is the type of songwriter who gets bored if he plays even just a few songs in a row with a similar tempo or feel, and that unrest showed on his first albums.

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