Jackie Greene
June slides swiftly into July during this pre-holiday week, one filled with music to keep things moving. The calendar includes: The Dan Potacke Show; a talk by Lynda Barry; Concerts on the Square, and more live tunes by Andru Bemis, Sarah Donner, White Rabbits, Blueheels, Rachel Goodrich, Antioquia, Pat Green, Helliphant, Jackie Greene, and Hollus.
Monday 6.29
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. space shuttle Atlantis docks with Russian space station Mir for first time, 1995.
BIRTHDAYS: "Loco-motion" singer Little Eva Boyd, 1945.
Frequency, 6 pm
Every other week Potacke, alter ego of local funnyman Alan Talaga, hosts an evening of talk and comedy, and for guests he has managed to land such gets as Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. Tonight's program includes UW games researcher Constance Steinkuehler and District 2 Ald. Bridget Maniaci, whose victory in last spring's election wasn't funny to Brenda Konkel.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Straddling the boundary between punk rock and mountain music, Bemis is known for taking traditional songs most people have never heard and adapting them in ways that are both inventive and memorable. Michael Sienkowski of Whatfor and Ben Carroll kick things off.
Tuesday 6.30
NOTEWORTHY: Great Britain gives Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, 1995.
BIRTHDAYS: Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, 1966; Olympic gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps, 1985.
Wisconsin Historical Society, 7 pm
Force of nature Barry -- cartoonist, painter, writer, playwright, editor, creator of Ernie Pook's Comeek -- discusses her latest book, What It Is, about techniques for recalling and capturing memories.
Indie Coffee, 7 pm
The classically trained vocalist turned sassy songwriter is also the founder of Princeton, N.J.'s popular Indie Music Night series. She visits Madison to share original tunes and perhaps some tips on how to run a similar local series. Also playing: Matthew Davies, Laura Chan.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
With six members, two of whom are drummers, it's no surprise that White Rabbits' sound is a pretty rhythmic one. Plus, with swatches of post-punk, ska and reggae, plus a little bit of honky-tonk piano, their live show is about as energetic as they come. The Subjects and Canasta open.
Frequency, 9:30 pm
Robbie Schiller's mournful Midwestern vocals match up perfectly with the Blueheels' precision roots-rock. Hear for yourself as they celebrate a new CD, The Only Dance You Know. With Deleted Scenes, Pezzetino.
Wednesday 7.1
CANADA DAY
BIRTHDAYS: Coreographer/dancer Twyla Tharp, 1941; rapper Missy Elliott, 1971.
Capitol Square, 7 pm
This week's Concerts on the Square event celebrates, fittingly, the U.S. of A., with music of Aaron Copland; a little ditty called "The Star Spangled Banner"; the "1812 Overture," featuring the sound of stuff getting blowed up real good; Bob Lowden's "Armed Forces Salute"; and music of Rimsky-Korsakov and Michael W. Smith. With pianist Jimmy He.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Though she's invented a name -- "shake-a-billy" -- for her style of music, it's not a rockabilly hybrid but folk-pop laced with ukuleles, kazoos and lots of hand clapping. Find out more in this week's Tour Stop. The Jeanmarie and Wendy Darling open.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Colombian coffee will jolt you awake and keep you coming back for more thanks to its rich complexity. The same goes for Antioquia, which blends Colombian beats with rock, reggae and some seriously funky grooves. Perfect Third opens.
Thursday 7.2
NOTEWORTHY: President Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act (1964) and Freedom of Information Act (1966).
BIRTHDAYS: Filipino shoe fetishist Imelda Marcos, 1931; pop-culture footnote Lindsay Lohan, 1986.
Scatz, Middleton, 7 pm
The Texas songster has made a name for himself with action on the country charts, his very crowd-friendly shows and deft tune placement on the Golf Channel. With Randy Houser, Steve Azar, Ritchie McDonald.
Helliphant, The Killer Dolphin With Rabies
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
If you're curious about metal but a little shy about giving it a try, this lineup is a great place to start. Helliphant takes '60s-style rock, adds some crazy guitar effects and cranks up the distortion and the aggression, as well as the charm. TKDWR adds jazz to hardcore punk to create a version of metal that attracts as many fans of math rock as it does headbangers. Also playing: Poney and the Suit.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 9:30 pm
Soul and blues meet folk and country in the voice of San Francisco artist Jackie Greene, who'll perform songs from his excellent 2008 release Giving Up the Ghost, plus a few surprises.
Frequency, 10 pm
The vox-lovin' Chicago band stops in Madison to showcase their newest release, The Joker and the Queen, a grab bag of roots-rock energy, Americana storytelling and Southern-blues heart, before hitting the SugarStock and Midpoint festivals. Also playing: Scarlet Veil, the Pink LipSticks.
