This is the 4th annual Jam For Jam hosted by Craig Bauman held at the Concord House. Less than an hour drive from Milwaukee, the grounds are a great spot to camp, relax in the sun, listen to music indoors and out and make new friends.

The festival serves as a fundraiser involving aspects of music, crafts and art, inviting local artists and vendors to show off their wares in addition to the music happening over the weekend. All of the proceeds from the festival go towards the Jam for Jamaica fund to help re-build homes for people and families in need living in Jamaica. Every year, Jamaica suffers from poverty and broken or destroyed homes due to our lovely mother nature. By supporting this festival you also are helping those in need in Jamaica, a fact that keeps people coming back year after year.

Jam for Jamaica features many Milwaukee, regional and national bands and performers. Some names you might recognize include; Soup, Moloko Shivers, Chicken Wire Empire, We Are Your Father, De La Buena, Lova Nova, Ethan Keller Group, Fanny Miller Band, I’m Not a Pilot, Honest Monday and many others. This year Local Playlist will be staked out documenting the event, so make sure you stop by and say hi! We want to hear what you think of the event so your words can be featured in our future article of the event.

For the complete line up, tickets and info please visit www.jamforjam.org.

Facebook.com/jamforjamaica

We Are Your Father Album release show hosted by Localplaylist

The song “Sarge” has Luethy wielding his voice with an agitated power surge throughout the song while the rest of the band matches him with their respective instrumental weapons. The closer “Choose Your Weapon” really drives home the escapism and extreme tendencies that tie the record together. It mines well-worn myths while marrying the vocal styles of Luethy and Alby to great effect. It then erupts into Baumann led heights and wailing chants. With their new record, We Are Your Father uses chaos and primal urges to paint characters and stories that are both larger than life and cathartic.

The official release party goes down next Thursday, May 2nd at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, giving you the chance to see the tunes played live. We Are Your Father never disappoints, pushing their raw energy into the crowd until everyone is headbanging with the best of them. The night also features two of Milwaukee’s rising stars, heavy punk group Temple and psychotropic rock band Calliope. Interestingly enough, both are recently fresh off their own successful album releases (check out bandcamp to get yer paws on both of those gems). Calliope and Temple should fit in perfectly with We Are Your Father, despite the differences in their sounds. The theme of the night? POWER. All three bands have it and are guaranteed to blow your mind. Visit the official event page here for all the details and come check it out Thursday. Show starts at 10pm, $7 cover gets you a copy of We Are Your Father’s album and all the savory sounds you can ask for.

WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry), around since 1980, is a volunteer organization with a purpose to educate and recognize those in the Wisconsin music industry. If you are in the music industry in Wisconsin, this organization benefits with improving communication, potential to be honored with an award to celebrate musical accomplishments, music business seminars and workshops, partner with other Wisconsin based organizations affiliated with WAMI, music education and overall promotion.

James McMahon, current President of WAMI organization, puts a lot to hard work into this event making sure people in the Wisconsin music industry are recognized during the awards ceremony. This years award show at Turner Hall Ballroom on Sunday April 14th will have 35 categories of awards to give out, three new inductees into the WAMI Hall of Fame and many great performances by Wisconsin musicians. Inductees include Pat Macdonald with Purgatory Hill, Yipes! and Daryl Stuermer. Musical performances by The Jimmy’s, Sexy Ester, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, The Squeezettes, Klassik, Annex and De La Buena.

Tickets are $24.95 (Adult), $15.00 (Student) and $50.00 (VIP, includes front row table and drinks). They are selling fast so make sure you visit the link below today! http://pabsttheater.org/show/wamiawards2013

Downtown Alive events on Saturday April 13th begin at 4:00pm with NO COVER!

Here is the 2013 line up:

UPPER 90 SPORTS PUB
322 W State Street

Eric Wennerstrand 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Joey Halbur 4:40 PM – 5:10 PM

Joe Richter 5:20 PM – 5:50 PM

Stephanie Erin Brill 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Karissa Mowaka 6:40 PM – 7:10 PM

Tim Korry 7:20 PM – 8:00 PM

BUCKHEAD SALOON
1044 Old World 3rd St.

Bad Habitz 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM

Green Tea 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM

Whiskey Belles 7:00 PM – 7:50 PM

Boxkar 8:05 PM – 8:50 PM

Fatty Acids 9:05 PM -10:00 PM

SUITE NIGHTCLUB
1103 N. Old World 3rd Street

Julie Brandenburg 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Charles Walker 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Esh 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

Avenues 9:45 PM -10:30 PM (2013 WAMI CD Roulette Winner)

OLD GERMAN BEER HALL
1009 N Old World Third Street

Sigmund Snopek 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Mad Mad Ones 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM

Luvahl 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Beaker 10:45 PM – 11:45 PM

Sun Spot 12:00 AM -1:00 AM

Recorded in a 3-day stint last September under the ears of Milwaukee Veteran Mike Hoffman, Calliope set the band up in the family cabin of lead singer/organ player Al Kreamer and did most of the recording live. Together with Victor Buell IV on guitar, John Larkin on Bass and Eric Gornoll on drums, they played as a band, capturing the raw power of their live performances. I saw them for the first time at Yield a few weeks back and was stupefied. They play so tight but also were able to keep the music loose, never skipping a beat and pushing the performance straight through to doomsday. There is an influence of Blue Cheer, The Sonics, Frank Zappa, The Pretty Things, The Doors, Alice Cooper or any of the more grandiose garage or psychedelic Rock and Roll groups of the late 60’s and early 70’s giving Calliope’s sound darker narrative roots. But more importantly, the music begs for live performance interaction, easily lost in multi-track recording’s infinite possibility. The old, “F-it, let’s do it live,” camaraderie of the blues with a fuzzy psychedelic twist that transcends the influence into something fresh.

The dynamics of the album functions like a live performance, keeping your ear fixed to hear the movement within the songs and the flow from song to song. Leading with this new kind of future blues in the first few tracks, including the prevailing guitar riff and harmonica drone of the single ‘Miller City Blues.’ The “black as sackcloth” dirty funk of ‘La Catalina’ and driving guitar hook of ‘Blue Ribbon Boogie,” turning straight into the jazzey instrumental other world of tracks like “Penitent Man,” and “Rising Water,” the latter featuring Kramer on Saxophone in the groove an extended solo section. Progressing to dissonance in the guitar riff and vocal harmonies of ‘Wild Eye,’ and an almost raga drone feel of ‘Woodland Stomp’ that switches 180 degrees to more electric bluegrass mid-song. It’s all here. Apocalyptical crusades, screaming call and response sections, subtle vocal harmonies, a bit of crunchy guitar echo and even a “Happy Song” wrapping up album to play the band off at the end of the performance. It is an album that will require many listenings and never lose the unrestrained energy occurring in the live performances captured in those 3 short days of recording. This is a band to see to in 2013, this is now.

Show starts at 9. Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, $7 cover that includes a CD. Dig It. Dance.

Calliope’s video links:

Official Music Video: Miller City Blues

JS Online Sound Check: Woodland Stomp

The night commenced with Midnight Reruns of Milwaukee. Signed with Good Land Records they are guitar heavy with a perfect balance of loud percussion. At times you can tell their influences can be linked to some of favorite garage, punk and classic rock bands. Right now they are woking on their first full length LP but until then they have an EP available titled “Central Time” for five dollars on bandcamp. Stay tuned, they are a live performance worth experiencing.

Cactus Club 3/9/13

Trapper Schoepp and The Shades closed out the night promoting their new album “Run Engine, Run”. Since recently being signed to SideOneDummy Records they have opened up for The Wallflowers, Limbeck and others all around the country. They also will be joining the Milwaukee SXSW caravan to Austin to show what Wisconsin music has to offer. After SXSW they will be playing with Soul Asylum in Des Moines, IA on March 21st.

With another year behind us, so comes the many “best of” lists, awards shows, & sad promotional scrambles to get Facebook likes. Every year some awesome bands are recognized, but among all the excitement, many are forgotten. Here is a list of some of my favorite Wisconsin bands. Good music, good people, no bull.

Alta

One of the many groups to surface out of Riverwest in the last year, Alta holds their torch high when compared to other DIY punk bands of the same scene. Countless weekend tours & a string of epic house show gigs have made the young gang one of Milwaukee’s most talked about bands. Not bad considering that most of the members are just entering their twenties. Earlier this year, Alta released Places, an intense hard-hitting album. Recorded mostly live at Howl Street Recording by Shane Hochstetler (of Zebras & Call Me Lightning) Hochstetler’s ear for production resulted in the perfect collaboration between band & engineer. If you haven’t heard Places yet, do yourself favor and hop on over to their bandcamp. Free download!

Castle Thunder

One of Milwaukee better known festival bands, Castle Thunder’s storm has raged for quite some time & doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Their new EP titled Wolf in Sheepskin, sold out all physical copies within weeks after its release. This year the group made a drastic change when masterminds Cory Gorman & Chris Thunder invited Ryan Rupprecht (of Faux Fir) & Cole Quamme (of The Fatty Acids) into the band’s lineup. Now retooled and with a vamped up music direction, Castle Thunder is set to release their first official full length later this year.

The Daredevil Christopher Wright

After almost a year & a half of national touring and countless packed shows, The Daredevil Christopher Wright is settling down into a brief break to catch their breath. It has been a busy year for one of Wisconsin’s finest: music videos, a split 7” inch with Boston’s Cuddle Magic, an EP & a follow up full length titled The Nature Of Things. Starting almost a decade ago in the birth of Eau Claire’s music scene, the gang has charmed many with their old time signature pop tunes, & dynamic performances. “Maybe the animal of choice is the choice to be the animals,” Sunde sings on the track “The Animals Of Choice”. The group is best known for their incredible ability to sing and harmonize between the three of them, reminiscent of an old Winnie The Pooh cartoon. The future holds much promise for what The Daredevil Christopher Wright will do next.

Phox

Based out of Madison, Phox pretty much came out of nowhere this year into the welcoming arms of Wisconsin. This is pop songwriting at its best people! Their album, Friendship, is a nonstop journey from start to finish. Their music transcends any genres with influences taken from soul, world music, & dance. Lead singer Monica Martin’s voice soars with incredible lyrics of love, heartache and self-reflection. Straight forward yet open enough for the listener to interpret their own meanings. All of this backed by sexy guitar riffs, the ridiculous drumming and beats of Dave Roberts, and even a horn/wood wind section. Their live show is really where the action is. Phox’s love for one another glows when on stage. You can really tell these people love one another and are having a blast. Seeing a band like this these days is refreshing & inspiring. Check out their latest video here on Vimeo.

Art Milwaukee, Local Playlist, Brady Street Bid, Pabst and MKEBKE present East Side Music Tour on Saturday, March 2nd 2013 from 4:00pm-11:00pm. Buy Tickets.

This Saturday is right around the corner and we are proud to be a part of the East Side Music Tour. This event is all about the power of collaboration with our partners, raising money for Cass Street School, Brady Street businesses and of course MUSIC. Walking around Brady street on Saturday expect to see hundreds of people wearing EMT fanny packs and t-shits hopping around to different businesses and bars to see acoustic performances, bands of all genres and DJ’s. Follow the links with performers below for different music videos, free downloads and reviews. There are so many performances we want you to get where you want to be!

4pm
Brady Street Futon: Connor LaMue
BVEN: Kyle Feerick
Casablanca: Valerie Benton & the Boyz
Cempazuchi: Joe Wray
Dragonfly: Jack Tell & Friends
Dryhootch: Bryon Cherry
Exclusive Co: Ikarus Down
Hosed on Brady: The Many Men
Mari’s: Justin Cohen
Roman Coin: The Pillowsnatchers
Nomad: Thriftones

5pm
Brewed: Kurt Spielman
Casablanca: Evan Christan
Club Brady: Chicken Wire Empire
Crisp: Hungry Hutch
Garage: The Traveling Suitcase
Greenfields: Jen Cintron Cuevas
Hybrid: Uncle Larry
Redlight (Trocadero): Fjvrds
Up and Under: Hot Coffin
Zoom Room: Meadow Parish

6pm
Brewed: Kevin Cross
Exclusive Co: Boy Blue
Hi Hat: Into Arcadia
Hosed on Brady: Overtalk
Jo-Cats: Blax
Nomad: Myles Coyne & The Rusty Nickel Band
Philly Way: DJ Night Visitor
Rochambo: Bright Kind
World of Beer: All Good Things

7pm
Brewed: Justin Rolbiecki
Crisp: Ivy Spokes
Garage: Paper Holland
Hybrid: Roxie Beane
Redlight (Trocadero): Fresh Cut Collective
Roman Coin: Mortgage Freeman
Up and Under: Fatty Acids
World of Beer: WaxWorks

8pm
Hi-Hat: Honest Monday
Club Brady: Crooked Keys
Hosed on Brady: Shoot Down the Moon
Jo Cats: D’Amato
Nomad: Hewn
Rochambo: Hello Death
World of Beer: Zach Wade (2 sets)

9pm
Casablanca: DJ Kenny Perez
Club Brady: Jaill
Crisp: Albydamned/Demix
Garage: Sir Pinkerton & The Magnificients
Redlight (Trocadero): Kane Place Record Club

10pm
Nomad: Frank Straka + David Arnevik (Jam of the Day)
Garage: DJ Romke
Up and Under: Hugh Bob and the Hustle
World of Beer: Mark Croft

CV: I was in Invade Rome and The Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken, and Freshwater Collins. I also played with The Celebrated Workingman, The Cocksmiths, and Juniper Tar over my last couple of years in town.

2) What was the turning point that made you decide to move?

CV: It was something that my wife and I had talked about, and then she landed a gig at LA Times, so that pretty much sealed it. It was an opportunity that we felt she couldn’t pass up. I was a bit freaked out because I knew I was going to have to start over meeting musicians again. I had become so spoiled with the quality of musicians in Milwaukee and I knew it was going to take some time to find great people when I got to LA.

3) Why did you chose L.A.?

CV: Just kind of happened really.

4) Did you know anyone out there before you moved?

CV: I did have a couple of great friends that I had made over the years that were very amazing at helping me get introduced around town when I first got here. Tom Hoppa (fellow Wisconsinite) was working in LA as an agent and promoter for years before I got there. Tom introduced me around when I got to LA and really treated me like family. Also, Craigslist is a great way to get into decent projects out here believe it or not. I got some of my best gigs off of auditions posted on Craigslist, believe it or not, people post really great gigs on there. You just need to wade through the wacky stuff. It was a great tool to get me into some touring bands out here before I really knew anybody personally.

5) How is music going out there?

CV: I have been in LA for 3 years and I am doing music full time, which was my goal when I got here. My main gig is a band called The Record Company. I found the musicians that I had been looking for since I moved here, and 2012 was one of the best years of my life for music. We have been lucky enough to land some great tours and get our music licensed through tv and commercials.That has helped us to get the revenue for us to keep putting out music and playing live. My highlight this year was meeting Ringo Starr at a gig we did a few months back, that blew my mind.

6) Where can we find your current music?

CV: You can find it at www.therecordcompany.net (there is a link to download our EP for free) also on Facebook or on Twitter.

7) Was it hard to leave Milwaukee?

CV: Absolutely, it was so hard to leave. We had family and so many great friends. I knew I was going to miss the guys I had been playing music with. I love Milwaukee and I will always feel like I am a Wisconsinite no matter how long I live elsewhere. People in Milwaukee are really kind, and the musicians are really supportive of each other. It’s a great place to live and a great place to make music. I will never lose my love of Milwaukee, and I will always miss it.

8) Was it hard to break into the scene out there?

CV: It was hard to find players to form a band with. I got gigs as a side guy right away, which helped. I formed various bands at first, but nothing really got solid as far as my own music until I met the guys and formed The Record Company about a year ago. Once you have a sound and a recording it’s just like anywhere else. You start working your way into the clubs and when people start showing up you get booked again. LA is a very supportive town of it’s local bands once you get rolling, and there are a lot of great outlets for a band to take advantage of. The hardest part is finding your family of musicians, once you have that, it all starts to make sense.

9) What were your favorite venues to play in Milwaukee? What are your favorite venues in L.A. so far?

CV: Milwaukee: Cactus Club, Turner Hall, The Jazz Estate, Linnemans.

In LA: The Satellite, The Echo, High Fidelity Records, The Viper Room, House of Blues.

10) What makes playing music worth it to you?

CV: Being able to keep a part of yourself creative and thinking as you did as a kid is a big thing. Strange as it sounds, you keep your imagination alive with music. It is also a huge emotional outlet, nothing I have ever done feels like playing a song with a great group of musicians. That is a priceless thing.

(Check out The Record Company’s latest video, a cover of The Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” here!)

Look forward to what 2013 has in store for Milwaukee’s hip-hop scene. Shedding this forecast is the release of The Jellyfish Brigade’s EP, “The Art of Being Pulled Apart.” It demonstrates the opulence of Wisconsin’s artists and their contribution to the hip-hop scene on a national scale. Download it for free here: http://jellyfishbrigade.com/album/the-art-of-being-pulled-apart.

“The Art of Being Pulled Apart,” feature’s three tracks that tactfully tap into a poetic lyricism, beat production, and art design. It brings about a form of storytelling that is rarely executed with such composure, honesty, and thoughtfulness. Joining its songs will be a full-length album, “Diving Lessons,” which will be released and performed this summer.

While hip-hop at large has given off the vague notion of an existence within its own cultural captivity, “The Art of Being Pulled Apart,” serves the listener with a refreshing break from the stagnation of the genre’s “swag” fixation. The Jellyfish Brigade is not only distinguishable for the sole fact that they offer something different. It is the sheer talent of its two members Lucas Dix and Jeffrey Acciaioli (aka The Great Mundane) that sets them apart.

Their two previous albums hold a particular enthusiasm that still shines in their current style. Carrying their newest work, is the polished sound of Jeffery Acciaioli’s production, using both organic recordings of the rivers in Oregon and the synthetized percussion found in the best of contemporary hip-hop.

In tandem is the lyrical prowess of Lucas Dix, making the EP catchy, yet meaningful. Its stories are personal, yet accessible to the listener. Packed into the bars and delivered at a thrilling rate are the depths of subtle tales with the wisdom of simple messages. With one phrase, the EP tells the listener that The Jellyfish Brigade will continue to evolve and uphold its past strengths: “The art in being pulled apart is how we pull it back together.”

Brooklyn native, Baauer’s first trip to Milwaukee was met by a sold out crowd of bass-hungry kids eager to see what tunes this young Selektor would proffer. Strehlow and Bareenz began the night, setting the trap-bar high. It was clear that these young Milwaukeeans were enjoying themselves. The added animation behind the ones and twos was a comedic plus. Local DJs Why B and DJ Bizzon continued the hip-hop happiness. Antics and electro beats whipped the crowd into a thick lather.

Baauer hit the decks, greeted by applause from a packed room. The main event was underway and our headliner wasted no time blasting selections ranging from hip-hop to those occupying the lower ends of the bass spectrum, all rauckus. Baauer paid homage to his Mad Decent brethren and tipped his hat to other emerging trap-happy artists including the Lunice and Hudson Mohawkes colab TNGHT. With machine gun snares and rolling sub-frequencies, trap music has been blowing up in North America this year; after experiencing Baauer’s dizzying May released ‘Harlem Shake’ live, I can see why.

With a talented line-up and an enthusiastic crowd there’s no question artists and audience alike were on the same wavelength. The Miramar’s new management’s organization, streamlined security, and added amenities compensated for what the venue’s sound system lacked in low-end oompf. Big-ups to React, Brew City Bass, and the Milwaukee massive, who came out in a big way. Keep your eyes on young Baauer, he’s achieved loads of radio play and praise both here and in the UK with limited releases, this kid is just getting started.