Madcity Nights - February 2020
Show previews around Madison and surrounding areas
by Max Ink
February 2020
Lindsay Beaver and Brad Stivers
photo by Alex Rodriguez Cruz
Winter Stampede with Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts
Friday and Saturday, February 7 and 8, 8 pm
Monk’s Bar and Grill, Lake Delton
This two-day musical event is in its 3rd year, and continues to grow. This time the annual stampede includes a Songwriter Lunch from noon-2 pm on Saturday. Both shows feature Rebecca Rego, Kelly Steward and The Restless Kind, Coyote Brother, Six Mile Grove, and is headlined by headliner and host, Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts. And yes, before you ask, Miles is the son of Rick Nielsen, the goofy, lovable guitar player in Cheap Trick.
The Jimmys
Sunday, February 9 3:00 PM
The East Side Club
One of Southern Wisconsin’s favorite blues bands, The Jimmys will deliver a #SundayFunday with hot, signature tunes to kick-off The East Side Club’s Music on the Lake Winter Series of shows. Unlike summer, when the band’s play on the banks of Lake Monona, these shows are inside the beautifully remodeled ESC. A special craft beer bucket and Bloody Mary bar will help keep things cool inside. Come on out, and see if Jimmy is wearing his signature tennis shoes. But get there early, the last time The Jimmys played ESC, it sold out.
By Teri Barr
Patsy Cline Valentine
Thursday, February 13 7:00 PM
High Noon Saloon
“Crazy for lovin’ you” may be the theme at this pre-Valentine’s evening filled with the music of Patsy Cline, but don’t worry, there will be other sad and rowdy country’ish songs to get your heart pumpin’! The show features a few of Madison’s favorite area musicians—Shawndell Marks, Frank Busch, Driveway Thriftdwellers, and The Big Payback, and adding to Patsy with music by Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and more. Bring a date, or find one here?!
By Teri Barr
Pip the Pansy
Friday, February 14 @ 8:00 PM
Venue on Winnebago
Opening for Kishi Bashi last year, Pip put on the glitz and sparkled into Madison’s heart, melting electronic grooves over dreamy flute, hip riffs and colorful kitsch. Perfect for your spaced-out Valentine, the Venue at Winnebago will be set ablaze with sweet, science-fiction whimsy and intergalactic sass.
By John Noyd
Lindsay Beaver
Friday, February 14 8:00 PM
Knuckledown Saloon
There’s a ‘50’s R&B noir atmosphere and intensity in the vocal phrasing and instrumentation of Lindsay Beaver. Originally hailing from Nova Scotia, Beaver absorbed multiple influences before following a bluesy pathway to Austin. In that, she and her bandmates draw worthy comparisons to the late Nick Curran, who traveled a nearly-identical path from Maine to Texas more than 20 years ago.
By Dave Leucinger
Joseph w/ Deep Sea Diver
Friday, February 14 @ 8:00 PM
Majestic Theatre
The second leg of their U.S. tour finds soulful folk-trio Joseph hitting the Midwest riding behind the triumphant, “Good Luck, Kid,” where rich harmonies coat smart pop in seamless feelings and urgent mercies receive rousing counsel. Opener Deep Sea Diver promises pizzazz to an already energetic evening.
By John Noyd
Banana Wind
Friday, February 14 7:00 PM
The East Side Club
Did you know $167 is the average spent on Valentine’s Day? Your bill won’t even be close, and you’ll probably have a lot more fun when Banana Wind hosts a “Love Fest Luau” at The East Side Club! Close your eyes and pretend you’re on the beach with your Valentine as Banana Wind brings the sun and fun with its Jimmy Buffet tunes. 5-bucks a person to get in for a summer party in the middle of Wisconsin winter.
By Teri Barr
Calexico and Iron & Wine with Madison Cunningham
Saturday, February 15 @ 8:00 PM
The Slyvee
Starting in Chicago and ending up in three weeks later in Madison, dry-gulch gauchos Calexico and folk visionary Iron & Wine bring last year’s magical character-driven collaboration, “Years to Burn,” on the road. Rising Americana star Madison Cunningham makes this a three-pronged songfest of roots-filled revelations.
By John Noyd
Cribshitter, Educational Davis
Friday, February 21
Bos Meadery
Cribshitter is what Beck would be if he was unhinged and unrestrained by commercial expectations. If you read song titles like “Hooked on Colonics” and “Boom Goes The Vaginamite” and you laughed, well then you know you’re going to enjoy it. Educational Davis is fun New Wave synth-pop that Depeche Mode fans will enjoy. Bos Meadery is great for boozin’ but watch out, that mead sneaks up on you. Friday night show promises to end by 10 in case you’re worried about turning into a pumpkin.
By Mike Huberty
Falling In Reverse, Escape The Fate, The Word Alive
Saturday, February 22 8 PM
The Sylvee
Bringing their “The Drug In Me Is Gold” tour to Madison this February, Falling In Reverse keeps falling forward. From founding lead singer Ronnie Radke’s early time spent in jail, to the band’s newest single “Popular Monster”, the Las Vegas natives keep moving ahead. Celebrating the re-release of their 2011 album “The Drug In Me Is You” with a gold vinyl edition, the modern mix of metalcore and pop-punk has stayed true over the last 8 years. With hits like “Coming Home”, “Drugs”, and “Fashionably Late”, the entire night will be spent ascending forward with Falling In Reverse at the Sylvee.
By Tommy Rage
Cities Never Sleep
w/ Of Brighter Skies, Common Threads, Earthlings
Sunday, February 23 6:00 PM
Crucible
With the demise of The Frequency and The Art In, The Crucible is becoming a great location for shows that might not be big enough for the High Noon and too loud for the other places in town. Cities Never Sleep is classic 2000s-style pop-punk and they’re going to be rocking The Crucible on February 23rd. There will be plenty of “whoa whoa"s to sing along to and with great movie quote titles like “Gimme Some Sugar Baby” and “Are You Gonna Bark All Day Long Little Doggie, Or Are You Gonna Bite?” you know you’re going to have some fun. Of Brighter Skies, Common Threads, and Earthlings support the show.
By Mike Huberty
The Honey Pies
Brink Lounge (nightclub stage)
Friday February 28 7:00 PM
This “super group” features four Madison solo musicians in a new collaboration. Jodi Jean Amble anchors the vocals with support from guitarist Tom Waselchuk (The Dang-Its), multi-instrumentalist Doug Brown, and bassist Matt Rodgers (Mark Croft, Lucas Cates). Ms. Amble made a splash in the Chicago scene fronting bands under her name and with a group called Jenny Dragon. Waselchuk, Brown, and Rodgers are all well-versed in many genres from folk to jazz, and all three at one time or another toured internationally with Madison’s Gypsy swing band Harmonious Wail. Together The Honey Pies apply crystal vocal harmonies and virtuoso instrumental skills to the best of traditional, contemporary, and original Americana music.
By Tom Butler
Caroline Spine
Friday, February 28 8:00 PM
The Back Bar (Janesville)
Taste of Madison royalty Caroline Spine makes a return trip to Wisconsin, but this time in February. As a summertime staple of Madison’s music events, Jimmy Newquist and his band have garnered a long time following of loyal Madison fans. Dating as far back as their 1997 radio favorite release Monsoon, Jimmy continues his long-time family-like relationship with Wisconsin. Sharing the release of the band’s first concept album, Strange Angel, along with classics that CSP fans have grown to love, it promises to be a summer’s celebration in middle of winter (no beer tent necessary).
By Tommy Rage.
flor with Winnetka Bowling League
Sunday, March 1 @ 8:00 PM
The Sett - Union South UW-Madison
WUD has been on a roll booking great acts to play free campus shows and March starts with two indie bands whose alt-pop concoctions drive hard and explore deep. Check out Oregon-born and L.A. nurtured flor and California’s Winnetka Bowling League whose placid attitudes capture restless tenderness.
By John Noyd
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