Send July out with a little live music. Shows in Madison this week include Cheap Trick, Disappears, Luke Polipnick, the final COTS of the season, Rising Gael, and Freighter.
Monday 7.27
NOTEWORTHY: Korean armistice signed at Panmunjon, 1953. BIRTHDAYS: Actress/Saturday Night Live veteran Maya Rudolph, 1972; actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, 1977.
Barrymore Theatre, 7 pm
One of the most famous and influential rock bands with Madison roots returns to town in support of a new album, The Latest, and to play classics such as "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me" for fans old and new. The John Masino Band and the Rousers open.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The cream of Chicago rock splashes through the High Noon, including Stranger Waves, the Chicago Reader's favorite rock band of the year; and the minimalist, feedback-laden Disappears. All Tiny Creatures opens.
Tuesday 7.28
DELTA AQUARID METEOR SHOWER PEAKS
NOTEWORTHY: French revolutionary Robespierre guillotined, 1794.
BIRTHDAYS: Actress Elizabeth Berkley, 1972.
Escape Java Joint, 7 pm
Guitarist Luke Polipnick started improvising via jazz music in high school but has added a wide variety of far-out influences to his bag of tricks since then, including Melt-Banana, Ben Monder, Bill Frisell and even electronic groups like Autechre.
Wednesday 7.29
NOTEWORTHY: Lady Diana Spencer marries Prince Charles, 1981.
BIRTHDAYS: Emmy-winning documentarian Ken Burns and Springsteen spouse/E Street Bandmate Patty Scialfa, 1953.
Capitol Square, 7 pm
The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra concludes (say it ain't so!) its summer series with a program called Maverick Marimba. It features the marimba player Kevin Bobo and music of Beethoven, Bizet and Kabalevsky. And for all you Green Hornet fans, there's Rimsky Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee."
Thursday 7.30
NOTEWORTHY: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Social Security Act establishing Medicare and Medicaid, 1965.
BIRTHDAYS: Bodybuilder/barbarian/kindergarten cop/terminator/California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1947; actress Hilary Swank, 1974.
Frequency, 7 pm
Traditional Irish music and contemporary Celtic rock jig and reel together in the songs of two talented UW students and two of their out-of-town friends.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Atonal riffage finds a home in the song structures of vintage heavy metal songs when Freighter takes the stage. El Valiente opens.