ARTSETC.
Hot and on-fire summer shows
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Thursday, May 9, 2002
Cee-Lo and Musiq
Chicago, Ill., 5/10—House of Blues
See Musiq perform his recently released sophomore effort Juslisen and Cee-Lo and his Perfect Imperfections be “Closet Freaks” Friday at the hardly inexpensive House of Blues. Now both at the foothills of their careers, both should perform their latest hits with the gusto and deep soul that fills their latest albums.
—Colin Finan
Sloan
Chicago, Ill., 5/11—The Metro
Canadia’s Sloan brings a mish-mosh of vintage ’60s psychedelic, blues and dirty garage to the mix when the group does its live thang at one of Chicago’s coziest venues. Pretty Together, the group’s latest release, exhibits the Nova Scotia natives’ culture for crafting the pretty little opus. Get excited.
—Matthew Rodbard
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Madison, Wis., 5/19—Barrymore Theater
In the modern music scene, there is a gaping shortage of talented musicians who just get together and play for the pure unadulterated love of it. Tempering jazzy, chill sounds with serious rocking, Medeski, Martin & Wood are the fix to your jam-session craving.
The trio formed in Brooklyn in 1991 and is composed of John Medeski on Hammond b3, Billy Martin on percussion and Chris Wood on acoustic bass. The group is touring in support of its most recent album, Uninvisible.
—Kate Macdonald
Mike Watt
Madison, Wis., 5/26—The Annex
Punk-rock figurehead Mike Watt (Minutemen, FIREHOSE) makes a stop in Madison to play songs from his forthcoming album, “The Secondman’s Middle Stand.” Slated for release this fall, the album “loosely parallels Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’ in ways,” according to Watt. Jerry Trebotic and Tom Watson (aka the Jom & Terry Show) will join Watt onstage.
—Steian McConnell
The Hives/ The Mooney Suzuki
Chicago, Ill., 6/5—The Metro
There are buzz bands that deserve the hype, and there are many that definitely don’t (see Gay Dad). The Hives and The Mooney Suzuki fall happily in between. Adding to a genre already semi-defined by Strokes and Stripes, The Hives and the Mooney Suzuki will definitely rock you. Will they be the next big thing? No. But who really cares, if the show grooves you as much as it should? No one. Go see this show.
—Paul-Tyree Francis
Mates of State w/ Appleseed Cast
Madison, Wis., 6/16—Union Terrace
A drum and an organ. That’s what the San-Fran-by-way-of-Lawrence duo Mates of State arms itself with during the pair’s truly inspiring performances (many will recall the show-stealing October 770 show with Beulah). The Terrance will make for a beautiful dusk-time revelry when MOS visits—that is, if it doesn’t rain.
—MR
Summerfest
Milwaukeee, Wis. 6/27-8/7
Anyone from almost anywhere in the Midwest is vaguely familiar with Milwaukee for two reasons: beer and Summerfest. This year’s Summerfest looks to be another decent run—if you stay away from the Marcus Amphitheater, that is. This year, as with most years, the ground stages are where it’s at—whether you’re a fan of hippie music (the Big Wu, O.A.R.) or good music (Ben Folds, Promise Ring), you’re in for a treat. And with more headliners announced in the coming weeks, your day of music can only get fuller. Expect beer. Expect sunburns. Expect drunken, shirtless, middle-aged men with sunburns. Expect good music. What else could one forseeably ask? Suggestion to Summerfest: free beer.
—PF
Ben Harper (opening for String Cheese Incident)
East Troy, Wis., 7/12—Alpine Valley
Billed as a ‘rare solo acoustic performance,’ this show will be a great chance to see Ben Harper sans Innocent Criminals. The band does not take anything away from Harper’s music; however, in a solo setting, fans will surely be awed by the raw power and emotion of Harper’s songs, features that are slightly less prominent in a full-band setting.
—Laura Rego
Robbie Fulks.
Madison, Wis., 7/20—Union Terrace
Any artist who can sing a country lament as heartbreaking as “The Buck Starts Here,” turn right around and tell us (with equally beautiful voice) that “God Isn’t Real,” then turn again and rip into a P.J. Harvey cover must be worth something. Check out Fulks’ brand of rootsy country-punk.
—Charles Hughes
Smokin’ Grooves 2002
Milwaukee, Wis., 7/26—Marcus Ampitheater
Featuring current “MTV Unplugged” star Lauryn Hill, Atlanta funky boys Outkast and the ever-famous live hip-hop act The Roots, Smokin’ Grooves 2002 appears it will follow in the tradition of the herbally induced fun of past years. With only Hill having new material out, fans should be able to hear new work from Outkast and The Roots as well as the old classics.
—CF
Merle Haggard
Madison, Wis., 8/21—Orpheum Theatre
One of the greatest country artists to ever live, Haggard has been singing about hard times and hard living for half a century. His voice still aches and burns, his writing is still sharp, and I’m sure the Hag is still the country gangsta he always has been.
—CH
“Down From the Mountain: ‘O Brother’ Live”
Madison, Wis., 8/14—Kohl Center
Last year’s hottest record has become one of this summer’s hottest tours. A list of the concert’s performers should provide all necessary persuasion: Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, The Del McCoury Band and others are all in town for this evening of American roots music.
—CH
Madison Blues Festival
Madison, Wis., 8/24—Madison Blues Festival
What do I really need to say to convince y’all to cap off a truly superior Blues Fest line-up (Buddy Guy, Irma Thomas, North Mississippi All-Stars, etc.) by seeing America’s greatest living vocalist, a woman responsible for a couple of the best records ever made—Aretha Franklin? Get it in your soul, and check it out.
—CH
The Microphones
Chicago, Ill., 8/31—Venue TBA
This promises to be an odd show. The Microphones—err, Microphone (Phil Elvrum)—is no stranger to basement and YMCA shows. But yet it rules. Be the first on your block to pick up the commemorative tarp from this summer’s shows (reading “the I’ll sleep on your lawn without you knowing tour”) and help a brother out. Dig?
—PF
The Dave Matthews Band
East Troy, Wis., 8/31-9/1—Alpine Valley
It’s hard to pinpoint what makes Dave Matthews Band shows at Alpine Valley so special. Maybe it’s the tailgating all afternoon in the big field that is the parking lot or the almost palpable electricity in the air just before the band takes the stage. Something clicks at Alpine Valley when DMB rolls into town, and whatever it is, it makes for two afternoons of great partying and two nights of simply incredible music.
—LR
