Summer in Madison starts out strong this week with a wealth of live music by Yellow Ostrich with Julian Lynch, MC Frontalot, Mastodon with Baroness, Colin Hay, Mono, and The Heavy. The calendar also includes: Mad Toast Live with the Rohnellaros; a book reading by Susannah Charleson; and, the If the Shoe Fits benefit.
Monday 5.17
SYTTENDE MAI
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. Supreme Court hands down Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregation in public schools, 1954.
BIRTHDAYS: Actor/filmmaker Dennis Hopper, 1936; Celtic vocalist Enya, 1961.
Gates of Heaven Synagogue, 7:30 pm
Alex Schaaf -- a.k.a. Yellow Ostrich -- has opened the next chapter in bedroom recordings inspired by indie-pop trendsetters Fleet Foxes, Jens Lekman and Bon Iver. Julian Lynch, the local psych-pop artist who's been gaining a national following thanks to positive press from Pitchfork, also recorded his latest release in the cozy confines of his own home. See how these acts translate live, in one of Madison's prettiest little performance spaces. With Austin Hays.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The crown prince of nerdcore rap will fill the High Noon with fun-and-freaky geeks who share his obsession with videogames, computer programming and rhymes that reference gangsta culture at one moment, Battlestar Galacticathe next. Listen up for "Good Old Clyde," which pays homage to local legend Clyde Stubblefield and his much-sampled "Funky Drummer" drum break. With Whoremoans and Brandon Patton.
Tuesday 5.18
NOTEWORTHY: Mount St. Helens goes boom, 1980.
BIRTHDAYS: Devo dude Mark Mothersbaugh, 1950; writer/actress Tina Fey, 1970.
Brink Lounge, 6 pm
The weekly music variety show is visited by special guests: 1) Madison folk rocker Corey Hart and 2) the Rohnellaros, otherwise known as Andrew Rohn and Catherine Capellaro, the local team responsible for musicals like Walmartopia and Temp Slave. They'll perform tunes from their shows.
Orpheum Theatre, 6:30 pm
Mastodon has been giving Slayer a run for its money lately, bringing a love of the Melvins and Thin Lizzy to its sludgy prog-metal masterpieces. Fellow Georgians Baroness landed on many critics' "Best of 2009" lists for a beautiful, intense and extremely personal release,Blue Record. Find out more about Baroness andBlue Record in this week's Tour Stop. With Between the Buried & Me and Valient Thorr.
Wednesday 5.19
NOTEWORTHY: Marilyn Monroe sings "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, 1962.
BIRTHDAYS: Guitar-smashing Who singer/songwriter/guitarist Pete Townshend, 1945; singer/actress Grace Jones, 1948.
Borders Books West, 7 pm
The Dallas canine handler discusses her book Scent of the Missing: Love & Partnership with a Search and Rescue Dog. Let's hear it for the search and rescue dogs.
Thursday 5.20
NOTEWORTHY: Charles Lindbergh takes off from Long Island on first solo nonstop trans-Atlantic flight, 1927.
BIRTHDAYS: Go-Go's singer-guitarist Jane Wiedlin, 1958; rapper Busta Rhymes, 1972.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 5:30-8:30 pm
At this fancy event, you can bid on shoes transformed into objets d'art by 20 national artists. The auction benefits the Center for Patient Partnerships, the advocacy group for people with serious illnesses.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
The vocalist from '80s fave Men at Work has built a successful career as a singer-songwriter solo act, which enjoyed a boost after his song "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" was featured on the soundtrack toGarden State. This performance will focus on his 2009 release, American Sunshine, a breezy, California-loving approach to folk-pop. With Tony Furtado.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Some call them a modern classical ensemble; others call them a post-rock band with a shoegaze twist. No matter what genre you use to classify them, this Japanese instrumental group is bound to impress you live, lacing their dramatic, guitar-driven soundscapes with glockenspiel, synthesizers and influences ranging from Ennio Morricone to Sonic Youth. With The Twilight Sad.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 9:30 pm
The delightfully crunchy guitars, funky horns and spoken-word sass of this British neo-soul band have won them tons of cool gigs, including a spot onThe Late Show with David Lettermanin January, in which Letterman called for an encore for the first time in the program's history.