In this space you usually find a roundup of concerts taking place in the clubs, theaters and stadia of Milwaukee. But being the first week of not only the new year, but also a new decade, I decided to ask my co-workers what gigs they hope to see in Brew City in 2010.
Here are their replies (and my wish list, too):
Even though their EP "Drunken Trees" was released in 2008, Swedish fold duo First Aid Kit was one of my favorite musical finds in '09. On Jan. 25, the band -- consisting of teenaged sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg -- will release their first full-length album, "The Big Black and the Blue." I am counting down the days until I can hear this in full, and really hoping to catch the band this year. So far, they announced a massive UK tour in early '10, but I think the sisters Söderberg belong center stage at the lovely Pabst Theater. --Molly Snyder Edler
My co-worker Bobby Tanzilo could potentially ask me this same question year after year and my answer would most likely be the same: Tom Waits. I've never seen him live and at the rate he tours (at least in this country), I might not ever get the chance. I'm an avid music lover, but I admit there are not many artists for whom I'd shell out the big bucks. Waits, however, is one of them. His "Orphans" tour in 2006 was the closest I've come. My boyfriend at the time was desperately trying to buy us tickets to his Chicago show but, thanks to a shotty Internet connection and the massive demand, the opportunity quickly slipped through our fingers. Waits hasn't been back to these parts since then. I don't yet know what he's got in store for 2010, but if he's got a tour in mind, I might have to do some traveling. --Julie Lawrence
Since I had a small hand in setting up the gig, I'm looking forward to Dropkick Murphys performance following the Admirals' game against Chicago Feb. 27 at the Bradley Center. I also hope the boys make it back for Summerfest, where they practically blew the roof off the Harley Stage last year. Since this will likely be a Springsteen-free year, I'll set my sights a bit lower. I'd love to see John Hiatt again. He's one of the great songwriters of our time and always does an intimiate show, whether solo or with a band. I also hope to catch a show by Steve Earle, who always has interesting things to say. As far as Summerfest, well, I'd be happy to see the Beastie Boys, Los Lobos, Locksley, Saw Doctors, the Nightwatchman and Buffalo Tom. If we're talking reunion shows, let me put in a request for the Violent Femmes and Del Fuegos.
--Drew Olson
I'm constantly checking to see if Air is possibly making a stop in Milwaukee. The french duo just released another album, "Love 2," and so I hope they're contemplating a tour overseas in the next year. I'd also like to see Cold War Kids, Phoenix or The Fleet Foxes come back around with more shows in Milwaukee. -- Maureen Post
I'd love to see Paul Weller in Milwaukee, making his second-ever Wisconsin appearance and first since The Jam played at Bunky's in Madison in 1977. Also, I hear that English folkie Kate Rusby -- who I was lucky enough to see at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk a number of years ago -- has some Canadian dates booked and is eying some U.S. ones, too. It'd be great to see her here, especially because a fear of flying means she rarely gets overseas. --Bobby Tanzilo
Uh oh, once again, my incredibly uncool taste in music is going to be exposed. Oh well, that's the way it goes. One of my favorite groups, Vampire Weekend, just announced a March 23 show at The Riverside. I know I'm looking forward to enjoying the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra this year (does that count as a "gig?"), especially the Pops series, which has grown on me through the years. I'll be right up front when Cowboy Mouth makes its annual stops at Potawatomi, Oshkosh Waterfest and Summerfest. In terms of groups I'd like to see, well ... I've recently gotten hooked on the Old 97s, so I wouldn't mind seeing them in person. I like the laid-back feel of the Zac Brown Band, too. Old-school (at least for me) favorites like Pearl Jam and Beastie Boys would be good shows. Since I'm big on my culture (and apologies to those sick of reading about German culture), I'd love it if German Fest actually booked some modern acts, instead of groups that specialize in covering American oldies -- or even American acts (Love Monkeys, Gretchen Wilson, both of whom have played the fest in recent years). D.J. Otzi ("Hey Baby") would make for a fun night. Now, go ahead ... tell me I'm a nerd! --Andrew Wagner
I'd love to see the Riverside/Pabst/Turner Hall do more country shows. There's a huge appetite for it in the Milwaukee market. Darius Rucker's been through town a few times, but I'd love to see him at the Pabst in 2010. Shows from relative newer faces like Jeremy Crady, Rose's Pawn Shop and Jake Owen would be good too. Leona Lewis would also be great to see live. Locally, I'm always up for the annual Gufs show and on the "big stage," I wouldn't mind seeing the Beastie Boys roll through Milwaukee again in 2010. -- Jeff Sherman
Believe it or not, there are some shows this week, including:
Former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, who brings his band to Potawatomi's Northern Lights Theater on Friday, Jan. 8 for a $15, 9 p.m. show. Rocker's latest outing is "Black Cat Bone" on Chicago's veteran blues and roots label, Alligator Records.
On Saturday, Jan. 9, self-described "Brooklyn chamber pop" quartet The Fancy plays at the Cactus Club. Joining the band will be townie Fahri and Undercover Organism.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
