Afrobeat: [af-roh-beet] 1. adjective a genre of music similar to jam band jazz and funk with origins in Nigerian Yoruba music. 2. noun some funky rhythms and jam sessions that will make your feet tap, your head bob, and your body groove.
Chicago Afrobeat Project: [shi-kah-goh af-roh-beet proj-ekt] 1. proper noun a Chicago based ensemble consisting of soloists and African dancers from diverse backgrounds each bringing their own unique influences to the band 2. noun a Madison favorite that frequents the city and puts on a show that never fails to make its audience dance
THIS FRIDAY- otherwise known as May 6- see TED LEO play THE TERRACE at 9:00PM.
Ted Leo has been described as a mighty sparrow or rather, The Mighty Sparrow. Although people try to say that Even Heroes Have To Die, that will never be true of the true alternative rock that Ted Leo brings. Old Souls Know that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are The High Party and would agree that he’s fantastic solo. Besides older generations loving Ted Leo, those on The Great Communicator (the internet) have also not been able to stop their Squeaky Fingers from blogging about him. Don’t be a sheep, go Against The Grain and get yourself to the Terrace on Friday before The World Stops Turning to see this act.
Before you enjoy Ted Leo, come to see Davey von Bolen of Maritime and the group Title Tracks. Davey von Bolen is another one set off on a solo tour from his current group, a buzzy indie band. Title Tracks is another solo project! Clearly we matched these three artists well. Musician John Davies was in the band Q and Not U and is still a member of Georgie James.
IN CASE OF RAIN, this show will be moved INSIDE dER RATH.
It’s not too late to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in honor of the Felice Brothers who will grace our fledgling Sett this Saturday, May 7 at 9 p.m.!
These brothers four bring with them sounds reminiscent of the Catskill Mountains and backyard BBQs. Those who have had the pleasure of hearing them live say concertgoers cannot help but leave the show converted. Listening to their jazzy grunge and piano interludes brings to mind goose bumps and hair standing on end just before a summer lightning storm. Let their warm and rumbling classic, yet occasionally electronic, folk sound wash over you. Mmm.
This Saturday on The Terrace @ 9:30pm: The Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band
Make your way out the Terrace this weekend to see a legendary steel band, whose claim to fame is touring with Wisconsin native Liberace in the 1970′s. The band was sent to the states back in 1967 to represent the culture of Trinidad. Since then they have remained a collective icon in steel pan music, playing with Liberace, Sinatra, Bob Hope, being featured on the Ed Sullivan Show and playing before Queen Elizabeth. Yes, that’s right. All you English/British fanatics will meet someone who has met the Queen, and on a lesser note, they have like a Grammy or something.
Tonight! Thursday April 21st! @ Union South, the Sett! @ 8:30pm! HIP HOP AS A CONFERENCE KICKOFF!
Today marks the start of Hip Hop is a… Conference, a week full of hip-hop movies, music, and art. Come join the MultiCultural Student Coalition at Union South as they present to you Los Rakas Feat. Black Milk, a hip hop group laced with the most pop culture references you have ever seen. They will knock you down with rhymes stemming from sixties civil rights to Gaga’s fashion sense. If you are looking for a bumpin’ Thursday night, head on over to The Sett, tonight at 8:30pm.
This Sunday come to the Sett and chill out with a show by Breathe Owl Breathe with Photographers, brought to you by WUD Music, and Art.
Breathe Owl Breathe is a cute three piece ensemble that will put on a show. The band is known for their folky sound with a “flare for pop-addled melodies.” (Paste Magazne) The band puts on a show, much children put on a puppet show, and it will have you playing, clapping, and making animal gestures along to the music, as if you were at a kindergarten sing-a-long. But don’t be fooled, the bands happy, peppy, poppy folk is also whimsically dark and harrowed.
The opener for the first ever Union South Gallery Jam will be the Photographers, a similar poppy folk band from Chicago.
Friday, 9:30pm @ Der Rathskeller: Sharon Van Etten and Little Scream
Sharon Van Etten possesses a voice that is powerful enough to move you, and experienced enough not to lie. She speaks the truth through her music, an adult account of heartache and romance. Her folk singer/songwriter style is reminiscent of her roots in Tennessee, and her life in Brooklyn, simple and robust. Come see this up and coming artist in the rathskeller before she takes off, or rather, as she is taking off.
Accompanying Sharon Van Etten is Little Scream, a similar artist from Montreal. Little Scream is a cuter version of Van Etten that looks like Susan Sarandon.
Make sure you make it to Der Rath this Friday to catch the next big things in folk singer/songwriting brought to you by Brigid Hogan.
This Saturday at 9:30 pmMilagres is going to rock in der Rathskeller. A five-part band from Brooklyn, Milagres has been gaining a lot of buzz lately and is currently on a tour promoting their next album, Glowing Mouth, set to be released this fall. Milagres is a band for nearly any indie fan with their versatile pop-alternative sound and stripped down energy.
WUD music members have been referring to Milagres as “the triangle band”, because of their awesome logo.
Opening will be the Minneapolis group Zoo Animal, with a grunge minimalism style.
This Saturday night is brought to you by Adam Raimond! Be there or be a triangle.
Ever since I went to see S. Carey (drummer for Bon Iver), in Schubas Tavern for Tomorrow Never Knows 2011, I haven’t been able to put down Darwin Deez. I admit at first I was skeptical when the band jumped on stage sporting the most outrageous attire, but they proved to be the highlight of the evening. Darwin sported his signature ringlets and a head band around his forehead. He and his band pumped out his poppy tunes and put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. They stopped between songs to perform dances to remixes, and even did some freestyle rap.
The self titled debut album Darwin Deez is a quirky indie pop album you will to dance to, but don’t be fooled. That fun upbeat tune hides a slew of sad lyrics such as “I won’t cry. I will just pretend. I’m still the one and that we are in love again.” and even some angry ones: “everyday ought to be a bad day for you.” Darwin Deez is upbeat, and mad. Joyous and sad. You won’t be able to put down this record, and you won’t be able to stop dancing.
Still unsure of who is going to serenade you this weekend at Der Rathskeller? Can you figure it out from these hints?
This Friday at 9:30pm in Der Rath.
Formed in Columbia College Chicago
Featured in a Pabst Blue Ribbon Advertisement in the Onion.
Compared to TV on the Radio, Deerhoof and Prince.
Often labeled as a Math Rock band
December 2006 hosts of the Cable Music Video show Refused TV.
Two of the members occasionally DJ at The Burlington, a bar in Chicago.
You got it! It’s Maps and Atlases, a rock group who recently succeeded in making a pop album. Be sure to come early for Bears Climb Mountains, a local Madison act.
This Saturday at 9:30pm in Der Rath:
A two man duo, Xander Singh and Luc Laurent.
First shows were played in India.
Influenced by post-Katrina New Orleans.
Opened for Passion Pit, and Freelance Whales fall 2010.
Song “Older Brother” was featured on 90210.
Will be playing South By Southwest Festival later this year.
That’s right. It’s Pepper Rabbit. Come see the duo, a mix of Animal Collective and Beirut, and experience these new up-and-comers, as well as opener, Madison resident, Jeremiah Nelson, and his “back porch folk-rock.”
Friday 9:30pm @ Der Rath: Baths, Braids, and Houses
Baths, the electronic genius of Will Wiesenfeld, is an unclassifiable electro-pop band recently sprouting out of the L.A. music scene. He sets himself apart from the beat making producers of L.A. by backing his music with hip-hop beats, creating a sound that thisbandissick.com calls “a gold corn nugget of glitch-pop perfection.”
Will Wiesenfeld started recording music when he was fourteen, and released his first official album June 2010 at the age of 21. The success of his first release, Cerulean, has caused Baths to be featured on Pitchfork’s top music videos of 2010, and landed the band a spot at South by Southwest this past year.
Braids, the second plural one word band in the plural band trio, is a similar electronic band, born out of various chance meetings, including a vacation in Greece. According the band, they sound like “a couple of redbreasts were perched in a tree and given a stick one day, one began tapping and the other began laughing and the two birds just went on their way.”
Houses, the third and final one word plural band, will be be opening the elecro-pop party.
The Deep Dark Woods is a five-piece band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. That’s right, Canadians! They are cross-referenced between folk, rock, and roots music which is a pretty apt description of what they sound like. They draw their name from their true Canadian roots of having lived in deep dark woods. The most helpful comparison to understand their sound is that they are like a deeper and darker version of the Fleet Foxes, but more Canadian… which is great.
The openers, Juniper Tar, are another five person band. They formed in Milwaukee, WI in 2005. In the same vein of woodsyness as The Deep Dark Woods, they recorded their first album in a cabin in the north of the great state of Wisconsin.
These two shows are made for each other and you are made for attending this show.
Buy your tickets now to see of Montreal as they help celebrate the opening of our brand-spankin’ NEW Union South with a concert on Friday April 15th!
Tickets are only $10 for students + a show that promises to entertain. Buy them here!
This indie pop-rock band from Athens, Georgia has way too many style influences to name in one place but they range from Afrobeat to David Bowie. What more could you ask for??
Don’t miss this stellar opportunity for killer tunes and a kick-ass live show!
This Friday 9:30pm at Der Rathskeller: Guante & Big Cats! and The Tribe with Sleepy MC & Stereotype.
Guante, a rapping activist, and Big Cats!, a multi-talented producer, are a political hip-hop tag-team, backed by the band The Tribe. The duo sports dark apocalyptic beats from Big Cats! and is perfectly matched with vengeance. Together they stand up to oppression and make you question your place. Come see the hip-hop duo that will be sure to make you think.
Accompanying Guante & Big Cats! and the Tribe is Sleepy MC & Stereotype
