Madcity Nights - January 2020
Show previews around Madison, Wisconsin and surrounding areas
by Max Ink
January 2020
The Tubes
Wisconsin Metal Fest
Casket Robbery, Micawber, Disgunt, Warbastard, Disappearance
Friday, January 10 @ 8:00 PM
High Noon Saloon
Showcasing some of Madison’s best local metal bands, the High Noon Saloon clears their floor space, making way for moshers and metal heads to unite. Five fantastic bands promise to blow you away with deafening tunes, intense stage shows, and grueling metal instrumentals. Having a similar yet distinct sound, each band has a catalog of metal that begs to be supported by local music fans. Purchasing a local band CD’s and getting their autographs as well as moshpit and head-thrashing are all a part of the night’s festivities. Capping the night off by headliner, Casket Robbery, the head Grave Witch Megan Orvold notes, “We’re so thankful to be back for a second year; the line-up is brutal.”
By Tommy Rage
Jimmy Murn/Allison Merten/Pinhead McFly
Sunday, January 12 @ 5:00 PM
Java Cat Café
Pinhead McFly is the acoustic alter-ego of Tim Budziszewski of Madison’s political-pop-punk powerhouse GOVERNMENT ZERO, expect some Weezer-style sing-a-longs with funny lyrics and crazy hooks. Jimmy Murn used to play with Tim in a band called BoRd which could flow from Ramones riffs to Green Day choruses in a second, he moved out to LA, but he’s back in town to perform his acoustic songwriter material. Allison Merten is a talented local indie rock and folk songstress and it promises to be an evening full of ear candy and caffeine (and gelato at Java Cat!).
By Mike Huberty
Dwight Yoakam
Thursday, January 16 @ 7:00 PM
Overture Center
Country legend Dwight Yoakam has sold over twenty-five million albums, twelve of them gold, nine platinum plus forty Billboard charted singles. Dishing out honky-tonk honesty, spinning wisdom from broken hearts and road-brokered anecdotes, Yoakam keeps it real, giving his song’s characters and narrators integrity, serenity and humanity. By John Noyd
Black Pumas, Seratones
Thursday, January 16 @ 8:00 PM
Majestic Theatre
Low on Soul? Get to this show. Austin’s funky Black Pumas will raise roofs and pave smooth grooves to thaw your winter blues. Fronted by gospel-trained powerhouse and reproductive rights advocate A.J. Haynes, openers Seratones bring Louisiana heat with leaps from whip-smart garage-punk to gritty R&B. By John Noyd
North Mississippi Allstars
Friday, January 17 @ 8:30 PM
Majestic Theater
When Luther and Cody Dickinson formed NMA more than 20 years ago, they were surrounded (and deeply influenced) by a musical micro-culture throbbing with raw vigor and energy. In just a few years, most of the patriarchs of that region – Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, Otha Turner, and their own father, Jim Dickinson – slipped into history, and the brothers explored other callings. When rediscovered photographs of that era were shared with Luther and Cody, it set into motion a subtle, strikingly personal effort to recapture the fading pulse and spirit of old Holly Springs. The fruit of that is their latest release, “Up and Rolling,” which features vocal and instrumental echoes of that warm and welcoming time and place. By Dave Leucinger
Wisconsin Hard Rock Fest
Saturday, January 18 @ 8:00 PM
High Noon Saloon
Ward Brodt continues their presentation of Wisconsin Fests this year, which is dedicated to celebrating the plethora of exceptional musicians that call Wisconsin home. The 2020 series is made up of six nights and nine unique genres across two of Madison’s live music cornerstones: The Majestic and High Noon Saloon. Hard rock fans can get their fix at High Noon on Saturday, January 18, when Last Crack, Revolution-X, 7 Seasons Deep, Birth of Tragedy and 20 Watt Tombstone all take the stage for one glorious night of riffs. dedicated to celebrating prolific artists that are all proud to call our state home.
By Adam Benavides
Paul Filipowicz and Martin Lang
Saturday, January 18 @ 9:00 PM
Knuckledown Saloon
If you’re one of the voices that laments how blues music has become too “clean and polished,” this is the show for you. Both Filipowicz and Lang have extensive roots in Chicago. Filipowicz’s guitar bite also draws from a Texas-tempered roadhouse drive, inspired by collaboration with the late Will “Smokey” Logg. Lang’s Mack truck-big harmonica tone captures the gritty Chicago West Side club sound with fervor, in keeping with the intensity of recording/performing partners Taildragger, Willie Buck, and Rockin’ Johnny Burgin. By Dave Leucinger
Darren Sterud and his Jazz Trio
Friday, January 24 @ 7:30 PM
Our House
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Darren Sterud, Madison’s home-town band leader and trombone genius. He’s played with The Jimmys, Davina and The Vagabonds, and a host of other local and regional jazz bands. He recently opened for Wynton Marsalis at the Overture Center, and now he’s coming to Our House! Our House is a house concert venue. Email annedave@chorus.net to reserve seating. By Rökker
Whitney, CHAI
Friday, January 24 @ 8:00 PM
The Sylvee
Kicking off the second leg of their Forever Turned Around tour, Chicago’s golden folk-rock revisionists Whitney bring Japanese punk-pop goddesses CHAI on board for a sunshine-primed electric hootenanny. Between CHAI’s paisley New Wave and Whitney’s harmony-saddled urban cowboy ballads, it promises to be January’s most eclectic celebration. By John Noyd
Loverboy, The Tubes
Saturday, January 25 @ 7:30 PM
Genesee Theatre (Waukegan, Illinois)
Two legendary bands from the 80s team up for this two date tour and the closest it will come to Madcity is Waukegan, Illinois. Sure, Wisconsin Dells has it’s share rock n’ roll history pass through, but most of the time it is just the singer left, or maybe even just the roadies!
In this case both of these bands have most of their original musicians. Loverboy is all original band members including singer Mike Reno, guitarist Paul Dean, drummer Matt Frenette along with bassist Kenneth “Spider” Sinnaeve, who replaced the late founding member Scott Smith in 2000. Spider had played with Paul Dean in a pre-Loverboy band, so this lineup is one-half step from totally pure and the band absolutely loves playing their hits as well as some deep cuts.
The Tubes were founded in 1972 and released the seminal album “White Punks on Dope” in 1975. “Talk To Ya Later” and “She’s a Beauty” came in the 80s and currently the band features original members singer Fee Waybill, guitarist Roger Steen, drummer Prince Prairie, bassist Rick Anderson and longtime keyboardist David Medd. The Tubes will be performing their iconic 1981 album “The Completion Backward Principle” in its entirety. By Rökker
Cynergy 67 20th Anniversary Party
w/ Lorelei Dreaming, V is for Villains
Friday, January 31 @ 8:00 PM
Crucible
Cynergy 67 dress like robots, like Daft Punk, rock out like Ministry, and have the keyboards and techno inspiration of KMFDM. They’re celebrating their 20th anniversary at the Crucible on January 31st and it’s going to be headbanging slam-dancing good time. These are the guys that should have supplied the soundtrack for the first Blade movie and if you’re into industrial or electronic rock, you’ll love the show. V is for Villains and Lorelei Dreaming open the show.
By Mike Huberty
Enuff Z’Nuff
w/ Pump 5, The Rumours
Saturday, February 1 @ 7:00 PM
Back Bar (Janesville)
With humble roots just across the boarder in Illinois, the big-hair sound of the 80’s open 2020 in perfect style in Janesville. Enuff Z’Nuff singer, bassist/rhythm guitarist Chip Z’nuff leads his up-dated band, along with their 2018 release “Diamond Boy” back to southern Wisconsin. Fans of the band’s hit songs “Fly High Michelle” and “New Thing” will certainly appreciate the band’s continued embrace of their 80’s ‘Never-Get-Enuff” party life-style, as a gnarly way to start off 2020 in 80’s fashion. By Tommy Rage
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