MarchFourth Marching Band
November opens on an intense note this week with the national midterm elections, including several noisy and closely-fought contests in Madison and around Wisconsin. The calendar also includes talks by Matt Taibbi, Laurence Gonzales, and Richard H. Immerman; and, live music from Pomegranates, Jake Shimabukuro, and the MarchFourth Marching Band.
Monday 11.1
ALL SAINTS DAY
NOTEWORTHY: Maastricht Treaty establishes European Union, 1993.
BIRTHDAYS: Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis, 1962.
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
In this Distinguished Lecture Series event, the feisty Rolling Stone contributing editor discusses "My Life in Hell: Moral and Psychological Perils of the Factory Journalism Business."
Tuesday 11.2
ALL SOULS DAY
U.S. ELECTION DAY
NOTEWORTHY: Haile Selassie crowned emperor of Ethiopia, 1930.
BIRTHDAYS: Constantly craving pop chanteuse K.D. Lang, 1962.
Borders Books West, 7 pm
The author struck a nerve this year with Lucy, his acclaimed novel about a teenage girl who is part human and part ape. Too bad this event isn't on Halloween, because that premise, friends, is creepy.
Frequency, 9 pm
The indie-rock band from Cincy recently won Spin magazine's "Best of CMJ" title and are getting rave reviews for their brand-new album, One of Us. Catch them at a small venue before they're even bigger news. With Oh No Oh My.
Wednesday 11.3
NOTEWORTHY: 17.3-inch snowfall buries Madison, 1990.
BIRTHDAYS: 1980s pop sensation Adam Ant, 1954.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
The Duke of Uke will perform tunes ranging from Bach inventions to Japanese pop to "Thriller" on his trusty four-stringed lute.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
This isn't your average John Philip Sousa-loving marching band. MarchFourth bring swing, klezmer and rock covers into their repertoire -- and flag-dancing and stilt-walking into their live act. With Dead Man's Carnival and James the Magician.
Thursday 11.4
NOTEWORTHY: Barack Obama wins 53% of the popular vote and 365 electoral votes to become first African American elected U.S. President, 2008.
BIRTHDAYS: Actor Matthew McConaughey, 1969.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum, 7 pm
Immerman, a history professor at Temple University, discusses his book Empire for Liberty: A History of American Imperialism from Benjamin Franklin to Paul Wolfowitz.
Hillel Foundation, 611 Langdon St., 7:30 pm
The recent spate of suicides among gay youths is a horror, and it's the occasion for this panel discussion between communication arts professor Karma Chavez, sociologist Joe Elder and educational psychology professor Erica Halverson. Moderating is Isthmus arts and entertaiment editor Kenneth Burns.
