Live Review: Trapper Schoepp @ Jammin’ Java — 3/13/22

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged Americana, Jammin' Java, Milwaukee, Trapper Schoepp, Wisconsin.

Trapper Schoepp performs at Jammin’ Java on March 13, 2022. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Trapper Schoepp established his songwriting bona fides long before co-penning a tune (“On, Wisconsin”) with Bob Dylan in 2019. Trapper self-released his first and second albums, A Change in the Weather (2007) and Lived and Moved (2009), to little fanfare but by his third album, Run, Engine, Run (2011) things began to happen.

Run, Engine, Run was reissued by SideOneDummy in 2012 and Trapper found himself touring alongside Frank Turner, the Jayhawks, and Social Distortion. Trapper recently headlined a show at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virginia.

Ticket Giveaway: Trapper Schoepp @ Jammin’ Java, 3/13/22

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, contest, free tickets, Jammin' Java, Milwaukee, singer-songwriter, ticket giveaway, Trapper Schoepp, Wisconsin.

Trapper Schoepp (Photo by Mitch Keller)

Trapper Schoepp explores themes of ghosts and rebirth, springtime and renewal on his latest album, May Day. You can explore those themes with Trapper yourself in a show at Jammin’ Java on Sunday, March 13.

Parklife DC is giving away up to 10 tickets to the show! To get on the list, leave a comment on this blog post below!

Live Review: Dead Horses @ DC9 — 12/11/21

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged DC9, Dead Horses, folk, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sarah Vos leads Dead Horses in a performance at DC9 on Dec. 11, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Dead Horses, an enlightening folk outfit from Milwaukee, is the musical vehicle for guitarist and singer-songwriter Sarah Vos and upright bassist Daniel Wolff. And the duo had seen its popularity rising in recent years, especially just before the pandemic — a few months prior to the shutdown saw Dead Horses making appearances in the Northwest with their friend, the great Charlie Parr, to help promote what was back in 2019 his new self-titled release.

Live Review: Buffalo Nichols @ Songbyrd Music House — 11/9/21

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged blues, Buffalo Nichols, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House, Wisconsin.

Carl “Buffalo” Nichols performs at Songbyrd Music House in Washington DC on Nov. 9, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

There’s admiration to be had for anyone who sets out to prove a point or to tell an important story with their music.

On a mission that is most certainly catching the ears of astute listeners and those who care about celebrating the history and sounds of traditional music, Buffalo Nichols should be applauded for the progress he’s making and the sound he’s creating. And, making an appearance last week in the nation’s capital at the newly relocated Songbyrd Music House, he showed that he’s emboldened by a workingman’s conviction and possesses a vision for how his songs can make an impact.

Preview: Buffalo Nichols @ Songbyrd Music House, 11/9/21

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged blues, Buffalo Nichols, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House, Wisconsin.

Buffalo Nichols (Photo by Merrick Ales)

Buffalo Nichols, Fat Possum’s first blues signing in nearly 20 years, is set to play a *free* headlining show at Songbyrd Music House on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

In the midst of a run supporting Drive-By Truckers, Buffalo celebrates the release of his self-titled debut album, which is out now, with this solo show.

Live Review: Violent Femmes @ The Anthem — 7/30/19

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged folk, Milwaukee, punk, The Anthem, Violent Femmes, Wisconsin.

The Violent Femmes perform at The Anthem on July 30, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

The first time I finally saw the Violent Femmes perform, which was at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2013, the band played its debut full-length album in its entirety. Given that “Blister in the Sun” and “Add It Up” were college-listening staples for me, I figured I would at least check a box and enjoy the show.

Little did I know the Violent Femmes would be so damn good as a live band, using that Coachella appearance to spring into annual summer touring, which this year included another stop at The Anthem recently.

Snapshots: Violent Femmes @ The Anthem — 7/25/18

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Jason Nicholson "Le Mouton Flâneur" in Live Review and tagged folk, Milwaukee, punk, The Anthem, Violent Femmes, Wisconsin.

The Violent Femmes perform at The Anthem on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

Alt-rockers Violent Femmes wrapped a tour with Echo and the Bunnymen on July 25 at The Anthem in a bid for biggest show of the summer dominance! From the looks of things, they succeeded. Judge for yourself with these pictures of the Violent Femmes by Jason Nicholson, who shot the show.

Music Park: Dead Horses @ Songbyrd Music House — 4/14/18

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged Americana, Dead Horses, folk, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House.

Dead Horses perform at Songbyrd Music House on April 14, 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Americana is one of those musical labels that can apply to a wide variety of styles (folk, country, rock blues, or gospel) and thus become practically meaningless. However, as a descriptor for Dead Horses’ music, and paired with the band’s origin story, the term takes on a specificity and uniqueness all its own.

Dead Horses — Sarah Vos (vocals/guitar), Daniel Wolff (double bass/vocals), Jamie Gallagher (drums), and Ryan Ogburn (mandolin) — stopped at Songbyrd Music House on Saturday. Touring in support of its third album, My Mother the Moon (released on April 6), a modest but enthusiastic crowd was treated to a lively performance of songs drawing on a wide range of influences that includes folk, bluegrass, gospel, rock, and blues.

Snapshots: GGOOLLDD @ 9:30 Club — 3/6/18

Posted on March 9, 2018 by paivi in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, dreampop, Ggoolldd, Milwaukee, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Margaret Butler fronts Ggoolldd at 9:30 Club on March 6, 2018. (Photo by Paivi)

Synthpop quartet Ggoolldd released Teeth, their latest EP, in December on Roll Call Records, and now they find themselves on the road opening for none other than synthpop legends Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Paivi snapped the band in performance opening OMD at 9:30 Club on Tuesday! (Check out our Parklife DC review of OMD.)

Music Park: Eric Benét @ The Birchmere — 1/17/18

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Robert Smith in Live Review and tagged Eric Benet, Milwaukee, neo-soul, Prince, R&B, soul, The Birchmere.

Eric Benét (Photo courtesy Primary Wave Entertainment)

The Love Song Is Here to Stay: Eric Benét

A standard English dictionary likely defines “singing” as the ability to create musical notes and sounds with the use of the human voice. Meanwhile, the soulful current of barbershops, hair salons and R&B-dedicated forums gladly define “sangin’” as the ability to sing but with mandatory diaphragm use, grit, passion, and pure confidence! R&B veteran Eric Benét provided The Birchmere with a dose of sangin’ on Jan. 17, in the first of two crowded shows, with seated couples and live videos aplenty.