Brew City Sludge - February 2009

Klozier here. Don’t worry…the meds have kicked in and I’m beginning to feel much better.

Since 2002, Milwaukee’s Union Pulse has toured relentlessly. With a mix of alternative rock, blues and grunge, the band has made a statement that lands them firmly in the category of true Americana. Though the lineup seems to have been somewhat of a revolving door situation, founder/front man James Redding has stuck with it. With several releases and dozens of tours under his belt, Redding seems to have finally managed some solid members. This is all to the good as I have been reporting on this act since it’s inception. Redding is the real deal. His songs run the gambit of life in an introspective style covering love, hate, joy, sadness and quite a few other emotions I have yet to realize.  On stage, Redding oozes a rock star quality that is genuine and uncontrived. The icing on the cake is his prowess on guitar which banters in style from Hendrix like to Dylan esque. This Feb 6 at the Miramar Theater, UP will hold a CD release party for their latest Between Love and Addiction with special guest Blackdog. (All ages show).

With ex members of the Jet Set and the Danger, Milwaukee’s Reckless Hearts are busy embracing all that is power pop. A British feel sets the backdrop for songs that are quirky, up beat and amazingly fun. Live, the band combines elements of glam, punk and mod rock for a show that could have easily fit into the Liverpool scene of the mid sixties. While performance and musicianship are solid, there is nothing pretentious here. Accessibility by way of melody best describes this group. Check ‘em out Feb 13 at Frank’s Power Plant in Bay View for an acoustic performance.

One of the hardest gigs in music is being a troubadour. Milwaukee’s Ryan McIntyre has embraced this path. The guy is ALWAYS playing. Whether he’s hosting an open mic or doing three solid hours of his own material, McIntyre is constantly out there playing for his supper. His music has been featured in film and on cable television and his talent has earned him seven WAMI awards. His two releases which include an ep and a full length Scenes from Next Week are on line and doing well. He is currently in the studio with a new record due out this spring.

That’s all for now my darlings. Remember: Valentines Day is coming…go get a greeting card written by someone else and a .99 chocolate rose and make her day.