There's some fine new local music on the horizon.
First up, one of my favorite Milwaukee bands, Surgeons In Heat, digitally released the first single from its second EP, "Midnight at Bellevue," yesterday.
Like its self-titled predecessor, this five-song EP is rooted in breezy '70s pop and soul and instantly infectious. The download is due March 27 for $4.99 and the band is eying releasing the EPs as a single, 11-song 12" vinyl disc.
In the meantime, you can check out the simmering "Never Noticed" for free, as a taster.
Meanwhile, Group of the Altos will celebrate the release of its debut record, "Altos," Saturday, March 10 at Stonefly.
The 12-piece Group of the Altos has been active for five-years so it seems safe to say that the record – released digitally in December – is long-awaited.
It was recorded last May by Brian Joseph, who has worked with Bon Iver, Bowerbirds and Solid Gold.
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.
