Cream City Soundcheck

FIELD REPORT

Field Report is the creation of Chris Porterfield, who cut his musical teeth with DeYarmond Edison (the other members of which were Justin Vernon/Bon Iver and Megafaun). After their breakup in 2006, Bon Iver and Megafaun went on to success while Chris hung back in Wisconsin, thinking his career in music was over. It was really just beginning. For the first time in his life, he began writing his own songs, which he spent the following five years carefully divining, killing off, revising, and honing. The result is a haunting set of songs that’s crafty, lyrical, and poignant. Much of Porterfield’s early praise has focused on his poetic prowess: admired Pitchfork, “[Porterfield] lifts parables and history lessons wholesale to apply them to his own conflicts.” Having a uniquely direct connection with fans is something Field Report has already emphasized. On their website, field-report.org, they have a phone number where fans can text a question directly to the band 414-215-9956.

Blessed Feathers

Blessed Feathers is comprised of musical and romantic partners Donivan Berube and Jacquelyn Beaupre. Berube hails from Lakeland, Florida and was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. He taught himself guitar and grew up recording songs in his bedroom. He left home at 17, disassociating himself from the church and drove 36 hours from the Florida sunshine into a Wisconsin blizzard. Berube found work in a restaurant in West Bend where he met Jacquelyn Beaupre, who is now his partner in both music and life. The band's debut EP, Peaceful Beasts In An Ocean Of Weeds, encapsulate Berube and Beaupre's collective experiences, aiming to capture both their emotional and geographic journeys. The EP resonates with a woodsy vibe, urging the listener into an intimate, skillfully crafted sonic space. Their music is optimistic, gleaming with a sense of appreciation for the things around them and the things within them.

R.A.S. MOVEMENT

R.A.S. Movement (Royal Ancient Society) is one of the fastest rising reggae bands, with an amazing new sound pumping out music vibes that cover Reggae, Roots, Lover's Rock, Dance Hall, Soul, R&B, Hip Hop and original tunes. The band, along with internationally known singer Naima Adedapo, have created a vibrant community of loyal followers through performances that exude energy and synergy, with music and choreography that sets the stage on fire! The world has noticed Naima Adedapo as the “complete package” finalist on American Idol, bringing professional dancing to the set for the first time in Idol history! Who better paired with than husband Jah Dwayne Tafari of King Solomon, tag teaming on lead vocals and backed up by internationally known drummer Olen Franklin. Their music has been described as an “authentic sound of roots reggae with conscious lyrics,”.

ALLEN STONE

One look at his long, curly blond hair and thick-rimmed glasses brings home the first part of that equation— and perhaps leaves one unprepared for the raw, soulful power unleashed when Stone opens his mouth to sing. USA Today has called Allen Stone a "pitch-perfect powerhouse" and The New York Times has likened his socially conscious music to that of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and Bill Withers. But the 25-year-old singer-songwriter from the tiny backwoods town of Chewelah, Washington just sees himself as "a hippie with soul".

THE FATTY ACIDS

The Fatty Acids (a five piece boy-band) have accidentally been kicking around tunes based on bible parables and "Street Fighter II TURBO" for a half-decade in Milwaukee, WI. The quintet includes: Derek DeVinney, Josh Evert, Matthew Pappas, Cole Quamme, and Kurt Raether. Their music has been described as “...slabs of scattered scramble pop”.

KANE PLACE RECORD CLUB

The high-energy Milwaukee six-piece Kane Place Record Club is known for it's fun and raucous performances. This group of talented musicians blends their many influences together into an indie-soul syncopated extravaganza. This is the kind of band that has fun no matter what. Their love of music and a good time always infects their audience and gets people moving. The group consists of Jon Scott (lead singer/ keyboard), Francis Sullivan (Guitar), Eris Campbell (bass), Maurice Liddell (drummer), Nick Tovarek (guitar) and Chad Alsteen (saxaphone/ electric violin).

yacht

YACHT is a Band, Belief System, and Business conducted by Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans of Marfa, Texas and Portland, Oregon, USA. All people are welcome to become members of YACHT. Accordingly, YACHT is what YACHT is when YACHT is standing before you. YACHT was born in 2002 in Portland, Oregon, as a solo cross-disciplinary experiment for Jona Bechtolt, using technology to extend physical boundaries of communication, performance, and music. In 2008, after a shared mystical experience in the Far West Texas desert, Bechtolt was joined in the YACHT endeavor by longtime collaborator Claire L. Evans. Spurred by this paranormal bond, this new incarnation of YACHT wrote and recorded "See Mystery Lights" in Marfa, Texas. YACHT's heart is in these live presentations: uncluttered, inspiring sessions of damaged dance moves and coded ritualism, backed by constantly changing elements -- Power Point presentations, audience Q&A sessions, and shamanistic video environments.

generationals

Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer have been close friends since they were 13. Following the breakup of their previous band, the Eames Era, they returned home to New Orleans to form Generationals. Mixing 50's doo-wop, 60's pop, jangling guitars, and electronic accompaniment their sound can be described as an orchestrated balance of styles and eras. Generationals live shows consist of a five-piece band with guitars, drums and a heavy electronic element. The band has toured extensively in North America supporting some great acts: Ra Ra Riot, Two Door Cinema Club, The Apples in stereo, Mates of State, Broken Social Scene and many others.

paul cebar tomorrow sound

Paul Cebar has steadfastly pursued a musical concatenation that is one part early R&B, another Pan-African Lilt, Afro-Cuban by way of New Orleans Slither, qualified by Mid-Western Soul and further distinguished by a gargantuan regard for spoken English. From the Hot Chocolate meets Latin Playboys skank of How'd You Get Like That? to the stately Muscle Shoals balladry of I'm Qualified, featuring Nick Lowe's brotherly back-up vocals, TOMMOROW SOUND NOW FOR YES MUSIC PEOPLE is the best batch yet of of an endangered strain of fortified, intensified, fully jacked-up, roaring and exceedingly personal music-making from a singular Midwestern master.

MARITIME

Urgency isn't the first thing you might expect from a new Maritime record. After all, these four guys have settled into domestic bliss in Milwaukee, with kids and wives and day jobs that don't involve decibels and dirty rock clubs. Born of the ashes of The Promise Ring, the music of Maritime finds its own sound in the the blending rock music and pop sensibilities, never once loosing the passion and emotion that made The Promise Ring so beloved. Recording at their own pace and in their own studio Maritime is able to make music that is as comfortable as it is personal.

kings go forth

After spending years lamenting the lack of soulful vocal harmonies in the deep funk revival, Andy Noble decided to bring back the sounds of the '70s. In 2007, Kings Go Forth was born, pulling together some of the best talent Milwaukee had to offer. The ten-piece lineup consisted of Noble on bass, Dan Flynn (guitar), Jeremy Kuzniar (drums), Dave Cusma (trombone), Jed Groser (trumpet), Dave Wake (keyboards), Cecilio Negron, Jr. (percussion), and singers Danny Fernandez, Matt Nordberg, and Black Wolf. Putting their own twist on the funk/soul revivalism of Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse, the band uses their trio of singers to resurrect the classic vocal harmonies of Philly soul. The band quickly became the darlings of their local music scene, and after releasing a couple of 7" singles, signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop label. In 2010, Kings Go Forth released their full-length debut, The Outsiders Are Back.

Trapper Schoepp & The Shades

Trapper Schoepp & The Shades is a Wisconsin rock 'n' roll band comprising brothers Trapper and Tanner Schoepp, Graham Hunt, David Boigenzahn, and Jon Phillip. The Shades fuse roots with pop, and are surefooted and ready to rock. Fronted by 21-year-old Trapper Schoepp, the Milwaukee-based quartet were recently signed to SideOneDummy Records.

i'm not a pilot

Known to many as Milwaukee's 'guitar-less' indie rock band, I'm Not A Pilot is know for their unique instrumentation. The music can best be described as something you've never heard before, encompassing a cross between Electro Pop and Rock N' Roll mixed with symphonic sounds and structure. All songs are written and constructed around frontman Mark Glatzel's soaring vocals and intricate piano work. Peter Thomas, cellist in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, adds melodic and harmonic bursts of energy through his 'guitar simulated' electric cello playing. Adrian Esguerra, (bass) and Steve Vorass (drums) provide the driving rhythm that fuels the entire sound of the quartet.

MORTGAGE FREEMAN

Mortgage Freeman is a six-piece heavy math dance rock ensemble from Milwaukee and they kill it on the dance floor. Not afraid of covers. Not afraid of switching instruments. Not afraid of singing out of nowhere. Break Out! Listen to yourself, man! Get with the program! This is here now!

HOLY SHIT!

When no one in your town is playing the music you want to here you just have to make it yourself. Loud, fast, and aggressive, Holy Shit! has been performing in basements and clubs for over a decade. They've toured as far as Japan, but they feel most at home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.