Enjoy a compilation of selected tracks by artists playing shows we're excited about in Madison during the week of Oct. 6 - 12, 2016. For more information on these shows, read on under the Spotify playlist!
Here Come the Mummies, Thursday, Oct. 6, Majestic, 8:30 pm: With their identities kept “under wraps” (possibly due to record contract conflicts), the 10 members of the Here Come the Mummies perform in full mummy costumes. That’s cool, but they also deliver an energetic, eclectic funk sound that will keep the dance floor hopping. With People Brothers Band.
Dallahan, Thursday, Oct. 6, High Noon Saloon, 7 pm: It’s not at all unusual for Celtic bands to meld traditional Irish and Scottish music into their repertoires. But Hungarian folk songs? Now that’s what you call a Celtic curveball. Jani Lang, Dallahan’s fiddler and co-lead vocalist, is responsible for adding a Transylvanian touch to tunes like “Zold Erebon,” a fast-paced reel off the band’s second album, A Matter of Time. But the ability to serve up gypsy swing is only part of the reason why the award nominations keep piling up in their native Scotland. With Open the Door for Three.
Atmosphere, Friday, Oct. 7, Orpheum Theater, 8 pm: With tracks about everything from the minutiae of everyday life to the emotional rollercoaster of new relationships, this rap duo are heralded for their relatability. Expect a set made up of tracks from their newest album, Fishing Blues, and classics like “Sunshine” and “Trying to Find a Balance.” Bonus: Madison-born activist emcee Brother Ali is opening the show, which also includes Dem Atlas, Plain Ole Bill and Last Word.
David Grisman & Del McCoury, Friday, Oct. 7, UW Memorial Union-Shannon Hall, 8 pm: These bluegrass giants perform together frequently. Grisman, 71, and his mandolin helped redefine acoustic music, while singer-guitarist-banjoist McCoury, 77, ushered bluegrass music into the modern era.
The Spill Canvas, Friday, Oct. 7, Frequency, 8 pm: In 2007, the Spill Canvas were introduced to mainstream alt-rock when their single “All Over You” became a minor radio hit. But the Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based band has been on the rise since 2002, playing a hybrid of emo and acoustic rock that’s won a wide fan base. Now the group is turning to that fanbase for its “Requestour” — where the shows’ setlists will be made up entirely of fan requests. We’ll be shouting “Lust a Prima Vista” in the front row. With the Anderson Brothers.
The Madgadders, Saturday, Oct. 8, Overture Center (Kids in the Rotunda), 9:30 am: Last chance to see the Madgadders with the kiddos. The ’gadders have an origin story that could come from a Portlandia segment: The band formed as a musical subset of a babysitting co-op in 2002, wanting to create a family rock ’n’ roll experience. Drawing heavily on the Beatles, They Might Be Giants, Schoolhouse Rock and other classics, they’ve also recorded some true originals, including “Thanks for the Spaceship” and “Squid Attack.” Now their kids are grown, and the youngest member, Isaac DeBroux-Slone, fronts his own up-and-coming lo-fi pop group, DISQ. ALSO: 11 am and 1 pm.
Capital Brewery Block Party, Saturday, Oct. 8, Capital Brewery, Middleton, noon-8 pm: An intriguing mix of local stalwarts and national up-and-comers hits the Middleton brewery’s patio for a fall blowout. The Mascot Theory kicks off the show with the official release party for their new disc Trust and Bones, followed by Madison reggae rockers Natty Nation. Also on the bill is Eliot Sumner (who formerly performed as I Blame Coco and is the child of Sting and Trudie Styler), and singer-songwriter Cobi (formerly of Gentlemen Hall), whose debut single “Don’t You Cry for Me” was a viral hit this past summer.
Shovels and Rope, Saturday, Oct. 8, Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm: The Bonnie and Clyde of American folk music, Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent attack their live shows as if they’re robbing a bank. The South Carolinians trade back and forth on guitar and drums — and sing together with absolute abandon. Their latest release, Little Seeds, is a highly personal project, with tracks about Hearst’s pregnancy, Trent’s father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, and the death of a close friend. With Matthew Logan Vasquez.
Real Estate, Saturday, Oct. 8, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm: With an easygoing, surf-tinged sound and a trio of acclaimed albums to their credit, Real Estate has become one of the biggest names in indie rock. The New Jersey four piece’s most recent release, 2014’s Atlas, debuted at #34 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was subsequently named one of the “100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far” by Pitchfork. With EZTV.
Jimmy Eat World, Tuesday, Oct. 11, Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm: For more than 20 years, Jimmy Eat World has been at the forefront of modern rock. But the influential quartet’s humble beginnings as emo heroes are long since behind them, thanks in large part to chart-topping singles like “The Middle” and “Pain” and platinum albums like Bleed American. Not bad for four dudes from Mesa, Arizona. Their ninth album, Integrity Blues, is set to be released later this month. With the Hunna.
Saint Vitus + The Skull, Tuesday, Oct. 11, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm: Prepare for an evening of influential doom metal. Along with Trouble and Pentagram, Saint Vitus is considered a genre pioneer. No wonder the Los Angeles band is touring with the Skull, featuring Erik Wagner — Trouble’s original vocalist. With Witch Mountain.
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. He’s horrorcore. He’s party music. He’s empathetic. He’s apathetic. 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, in the wake of Girl Talk’s mash-up masterpiece Night Ripper. Droves of laptop remixers, equipped with new groundbreaking software like Ableton Live, set out to copy and paste loops into the next big thing. The Hood Internet duo of ABX and STV SLV separated themselves from these 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.
You can find the entire rundown of this week's Isthmus Picks here.
