By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jan 15, 2008 at 7:21 AM

Brent and I are finally coming to grips with 2007 being over. This week, the OnMilwaukee.com / WMSE Local Music Postcast returns to its regularly scheduled programming by giving you guys what you want: The dirt on local bands and where to see them play in the coming days.

We start out the Podcast with The Assh*le 2, who are playing a Cactus Club show this Saturday, Jan. 19 with China Pig and Somebody Talked. Showtime is 10 p.m.

That same night, Milwaukee scene veterans Strangest Places take to the stage at Linneman's Riverwest Inn. Corruptible and Heavy Nova round out the bill.

Friday night is Gallery Night, so if you're looking to escape the Third Ward crowds, head down to Bay View where the .357 String Band plays at the Cactus Club with Mario Matteoli and The Candliers.

Kevn Kinney has quite a history in Milwaukee, and was in fact the first musician to play live at the WMSE studios back in 2000. That performance was documented for all time on the "Live at WMSE Vol. 1" compilation and Brent and I play that track, titled "Back Roads & Rainy Days" for you on this Podcast. If you're into it, you can see Kinney live at Shank Hall this Friday night.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”