Enjoy a compilation of selected tracks by artists playing shows we're excited about in Madison during the week of Oct. 13-20, 2016. For more information on these shows, read on under the Spotify playlist!
Zeds Dead, Thursday, Oct. 13, Orpheum Theater, 8 pm: The Canadian remix masters known as Zeds Dead have been turning heads with their dubstep tracks for years, pushing crowds to frenzy levels with original and re-imagined jams full of deep bass lines and bizarre breakbeats. Beyond that, you can also expect new material from the duo at this show, including tracks featuring Swedish singer Elliphant and Indiana emcee Freddie Gibbs. With Illenium, Hunter Siegel.
Electric Six, Thursday, Oct. 13, High Noon Saloon, 8:30 pm: For a band whose career began with a joke in the 2003 single “Gay Bar,” Electric Six have spent the time since proving themselves to be a serious talent. Now a staggering 12 albums deep, the Detroit sextet has built a reputation as a band best enjoyed live, torching stages worldwide with a combination of rock ’n’ roll, disco and garage punk that’s just as good for dancing as it is for headbanging. With In the Whale.
Tech N9ne, Thursday, Oct. 13, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm: With a rapid-fire rhyming style that knows no boundaries, the versatile Kansas City emcee defies any single label. Expect this born entertainer to produce a jam-packed, high-energy show featuring his latest hits such as “Hood Go Crazy” and older hits like “E.B.A.H. (Evil Brain Angel Heart).” With Krizz Kaliko, JL, Starzz, Sincere Life.
The Hood Internet, Thursday, Oct. 13, Frequency, 9 pm: The Hood Internet surfaced in the late aughts, separating themselves from the copycats with their constant barrage of clever and catchy mash-up singles, sharing their own fusion of hip-hop, pop and indie of every color, shade and college clique. Drake, Ratatat, The-Dream, R Kelly, M83, the Black Keys, of Montreal, Battles. They’re all there. Go dance. With Show You Suck, DJ Lolo.
Herb Alpert with Lani Hall, Friday, Oct. 14, Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm: Best known as the leader of the improbably hip Tijuana Brass, nine-time Grammy Award winner Herb Alpert is also a certifiable music industry giant. The “A” in A&M Records, Alpert contributed to the careers of Liza Minnelli, the Carpenters and Janet Jackson — to name just a few. His wife, vocalist Lani Hall (whose hit “Never Say Never Again” was the theme for the Bond movie of the same name) tours full time with Alpert. This concert will be a colorful journey into the deepest corners of American pop music.
Major Vistas + Anders Svanoe Trio, Friday, Oct. 14, UW Memorial Union-Play Circle, 7:30 pm: InDIGenous Jazz, a free concert series from Greater Madison Jazz Consortium and Madison Music Collective, continues with a pair of Madison trios. Major Vistas flavor their improvisational organ-guitar-drums flights with rock leanings on the 2016 release Minor Anthems. The concert also features a set by sax/clarinet player and composer Anders Svanoe’s small group.
Fringe Character, Friday, Oct. 14, High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm: As the name implies, this local group dances around the edges of multiple genres — rap, soul, jazz, electronica and others — layering them into brand-new grooves. Their first project, Mint, is both hypnotic and startling in lyrical substance and sound. With Immigré, DJ Phil Money.
Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Saturday, Oct. 15, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm: Now that he seems to have (finally) left behind the Black Crowes, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood is making music that feels free and laid back, with various shades of timeless-sounding blues, Americana and psych rock. Don’t expect to hear “Jealous Again” here.
Madison Drum Makers Kick-Off to THE FEST, Saturday, Oct. 15, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm: MDM Custom Drums is supplying several kits for a late October punk rock fest in Florida, but before sending them off they are throwing an art and music bash. Works by seven local artists will be on display starting at 8 pm, with music at 9:30 pm. Be sure to catch a rare set by local punkers the Gusto, and both the one-man band and visual art incarnations of ROBOMAN/Rob Oman. With Madison power trio the Gran Fury and Descendents tribute Descendaints.
Let’s Go’s, Sunday, Oct. 16, Mickey’s Tavern, 10 pm: With a sound that reminds us of the Dead Kennedys meets Hello Kitty, this high-energy, all-girl power trio from Tokyo proves that rowdy punk rock can also be delightfully kawaii. With Minneapolis punk outfit Danger Signs (featuring Hideo Takahashi of the beloved underground noise-punk duo Birthday Suits) and Madison’s Mad Max Elliott.
Jacuzzi Boys, Monday, Oct. 17, Frequency, 8 pm: Florida trio Jacuzzi Boys has slowly done something few bands emerging from the garage rock morass do well — evolve. (Whether that is an acceptable development in that scene depends on the listener.) Surfacing nearly a decade ago with a series of engagingly spare psych-tinged singles, the group’s evolution has included various plugs by Iggy Pop, a pair of albums for Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art, a song in a Seth Rogen movie, and finally their own label, Mag Mag. The glammed-up, L.A.-recorded Ping Pong debuts later this month. With the Rashita Joneses, Platinum Boys.
Bear Hands, Sunday, Oct. 16, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm: Bear Hands began their career with the “Brooklyn buzz band” tag, which for many young artists, can be the kiss of death — just another flavor-of-the-week indie rock band. But the experimentally minded quartet is still here 10 years later, and better than ever. Their most recent release, this year’s You’ll Pay for This, marries their sonic quirks to arena-ready rock jams. With fellow Brooklynites Savoir Adore.
Jamestown Revival, Wednesday, Oct. 19, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm: The “Revival” part of Jamestown Revival’s name is an homage to Creedence Clearwater Revival. The reference also comes through clearly in their songwriting, which at times captures the same sort of anthemic American storytelling vibe that CCR nailed several decades back. Their new disc The Education of a Wandering Man also benefits greatly from the added sweetening of Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance’s vocal harmonizing. With Jonny Fritz.
Roger Hoover, Wednesday, Oct. 19, The Frequency, 8:30 pm: Roger Hoover says the secret to good songwriting is “blending observation with experience.” He does so masterfully on his new project, Pastures, which is as close to a John Prine record as it gets. Hoover says Prine is a big influence, and the two have more in common than music — real-world experience. Prior to going into music full time, the Ohioan worked with people with disabilities, toiled as a screen printer and framed pictures for a living. This is a full band show: big trap drums and reverbed guitars alert! With Yahara, Zach Pietrini.
Autograf + Goldroom, Wednesday, Oct. 19, Liquid, 9 pm: Live electronic trio Autograf create a laid-back (and soulful) incarnation of EDM, and also use their art and design skills to craft cover art. Oh, and they have remixed Pharrell, Stevie Wonder and others in their spare time. Co-headliner Goldroom (aka Josh Legg) released his debut album West of the West on Sept. 23, and also will perform with a full band for the tour. With Oh My Love, Zero Gravity.
You can find the entire rundown of this week's Isthmus Picks here.
