I am thrilled to be bringing one of my absolute favorite bands, Lewis & Clarke to the Sugar Maple in Bay View along with my friends at 91.7 WMSE. Two of their records, Bare Bones & Branches (2005) and Blasts of Holy Birth (2007) made our year-end list of favorites from their respective years. Stereogum got it right in describing “Petrified Forest” (download below) calling it, “hypnotic mountain folk, setting reedy vocals against spare and elegant guitars, gradually swooning into a near seven-minute piece full of strings and woodsy imagery.”

On top of that, the label run by Lewis & Clarke mastermind Lou Rogai is responsible for delivering Strand of Oaks to all of our ears. The show will be good times in intimate confines. We’re excited and hope you are too!

Buy Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets – $8

Previously: From The Crowd | Lewis & Clarke – “Before It Breaks You”
Previously: 5 Questions with Lewis & Clarke

Myspace: Lewis & Clarke
MP3: Lewis & Clarke – “Bare Bones & Branches”
MP3: Lewis & Clarke – “Before It Breaks You”
MP3: Lewis & Clarke – “Petrified Forest”

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Flier: Erik Ljung

Here are the Wisconsin and Chicago shows we recommend you take in this week. Check them out below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list. Also, don’t miss the very solid week of new releases, including our recommended purchases below.

Upcoming Wisconsin Shows:

6/8 – Grizzly Bear – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
6/8 – Fleetwood Mac – Bradley Center, Milwaukee
6/9 – Starlight Mints/Evangelicals – High Noon Saloon, Madison
6/10 – Starlight Mints/Evangelicals – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
6/10 – Daredevil Christopher Wright, Trapper Schoepp Band Cafe Montmartre, Madison

Upcoming Chicago Shows:

6/7 – Telekinesis – Schuba’s
6/8 – Art Brut – Schuba’s
6/9 – Art Brut – Schuba’s
6/10 – Art Brut – Schuba’s
6/10 – Pink Mountaintops – Empty Bottle, Chicago
6/11 – Art Brut – Schuba’s
6/11 – Vic Chesnutt/Jonathan Richman – Empty Bottle
6/12 – Art Brut – Schuba’s
6/12 – P.J. Harvey John Parish – Riviera Theatre
6/12 – Amanda Blank – Sonotheque
6/13 – Decibully – Bottom Lounge
6/13 – Phoenix – Park West
6/14 – Passion Pit – Empty Bottle

Just Announced:

7/8 – William Fitzsimmons – Majestic, Madison
7/29 – Steve Earle – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
9/26 – Kings of Leon/Glasvegas – Bradley Center, Milwaukee
10/4 – The Gaslight Anthem/Murder By Death – Turner Hall Ballroom

New Releases:

The Low Anthem – Oh My God Charlie Darwin, Roadside Graves – My Son’s Home, Sonic Youth – The Eternal, Mos Def – The Ecstatic,

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

Kudos to my friends over at WMSE 91.7FM who announced yesterday the inaugural Radio Summer Camp – “a four-day music festival and symposium taking place at venues throughout Milwaukee from Thursday, August 20th through Monday, August 24th.”

I’ve gotten a peak behind the curtain and I can tell you they have some amazing stuff going on over the four days, so do stay tuned to their blog for updates. Until then, pimp the line up for The Backyard BBQ which goes down at Cathedral Square park from 11AM – 9PM on Saturday, August 22nd, “mixing some of Milwaukee’s best with great national touring acts.”

The Backyard BBQ – Saturday, August 22nd

11 – 11:45am Cedarwell
12 – 12:45pm Alex Wilson Band
1:15 – 2:05pm The Championship
2:30 – 3:30pm Joe Pug
4:00 – 5:00pm Bill Kirchen
5:30 – 6:30pm Justin Townes Earle
7:00 – 8:30pm Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound

Pabst Blue Ribbon is throwing down a indie rock celebration in Bay View to celebrate the 4th of July this year. The inaugural Red, White & Blue Ribbon will feature a headlining performance by Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks and will cost you nothing. That’s right, this day of music is brought to you at absolutely no cost . Grab yourself a cold can of PBR, hear some great music, and celebrate our nation’s birthday. More acts/details coming soon.

Previously: Photos: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Blitzen Trapper
Previously: Photos: Stephen Malkmus/John Vaderslice @ The Pabst

Buy: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Real Emotional Trash
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Myspace: Stephen Malkmus
MP3: Stephen Malkmus – “Baltimore”
MP3: Stephen Malkmus – “Cold Son”