Milwaukee Post
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/996995
June 22, 2018 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 In no particular order, you really should see some of these bands By CATHERINE JOZWIK Special to the Post Summerfest, the world's largest (and certainly Wisconsin's most famous) music festival, is almost underway. Because it spans 11 days and hosting nearly 800 performers, choosing which concerts to attend can be difficult. Although Summerfest attracts plenty of big-name artists, the event also brings in lesser-known per- formers who put on great shows. Listed below are 10 — in no particular order — from different music genres on a variety of dates. The list is heavy on local bands: 1. Lowdown Brass Band, 6:45 p.m. July 5, Johnson Controls Stage The Chicago group will bring their brassy, funky sound to the Fest July 5. The Lowdown Brass Band was formed by several DePaul University students and horn players nearly two decades ago, and they've kept the party going ever since. Combining elements of New Orleans jazz, ska, hip- hop and other musical gen- res, the Lowdown Brass Band, which consists of trumpet, saxophone and other horn instruments, drummers, and rapper MC Billa Camp, will be playing a mix of material from pre- vious albums, their latest album, "LowDown Breaks," (featuring tracks such as "Grind It Out" and "Cold Shoulder) and new material which is expected to debut this summer, said trumpet and vocalist Shane Jonas. 2. Erin Coburn, 4 p.m. July 5, Harley-Davidson Roadhouse At just 17, the blues musi- cian and Kentucky resi- dent, who's been playing guitar for 10 years, has recorded two albums of original material, includ- ing her latest, "Queen of Nothing." A fan of B.B. King, the Black Keys, and Alabama Shakes, Coburn said she grew up in a house with musical instruments. She was first introduced to the guitar at 2 years old — although the instrument was taller than she was. "It was like an upright bass on me," she recalled. Coburn's strong, soulful vocals and commanding stage presence have enter- tained countless audiences. For five years, she's been playing with the same band members — drummer Joe Nasser and bass player Dixon Creasy, Jr. The blues musician has opened up for artists such as Larry McCray at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago and will open up for Three Dog Night on an upcoming sum- mer tour. A senior in high school, Coburn takes both her stud- ies — and musical career — seriously. She plans to attend Northern Kentucky University in fall, where she will major in audio pro- duction and music busi- ness. "School is as important to me as music is," Coburn said. 3. Size 5's, 5 p.m. June 28, Rebel Music Stage Milwaukee power-punk band the Size 5's, named after a reference to the 1980s movie "Goonies," has a lot of love for their home- town, the Bay View neigh- borhood in particular, which shines through in songs such as "53207," the neighborhood's ZIP code. Lead vocalist and gui- tarist Juan Avalos, a life- long Bay View resident, even has a tattoo of the ZIP code. "We're big fans of local music and Milwaukee," said Avalos. He and his bandmates, veterans of the local music scene, have known each other for years. The Size 5's formed in 2014 and have been going strong ever since, playing over 100 shows in the last few years. Avalos said the band loves playing live, and their shows consist of a lot of audience interaction. "We hope to see a bunch of people at Summerfest," he said. 4. No Quarter (Led Zeppelin tribute band) 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Uline stage The Milwaukee band, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, plays the electrifying music of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham without preten- tion — The group prefers casual attire to sequined velour jumpsuits. No Quarter members Chuck Cherney (vocals) Michael Brandenburg (gui- tar) Matt Miller (bass) and Dave Shoepke (drums) rock and roll through hits such as "Black Dog," "Kashmir" and "Over the Hills and Far Away," but they also slip in lesser-known gems such as Led Zeppelin III's "Friends." Don't miss this homage to a mammoth and highly influential rock band. 5. Chromeo ( E l e c t r o n i c / Dance) 10 p.m. July 1, Miller Oasis Stage Canadian electrofunk group Chromeo (David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Funk" Gemayel) doesn't let politics get in the way of making great dance music. The duo has described themselves as "the only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human c u l t u r e " ( h t t p s : / / e n . w i k i p e d i a . org/wiki/Chromeo). With club hits such as "Needy Girl" "Juice" and "Old 45s" Chromeo will keep the dance party going all night long. 6. Chicken Wire Empire, 8 p.m. July 4, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage The Milwaukee bluegrass band (Ryan Ogburn, man- dolin, Jordan Kroeger, upright bass, Ernest Brusabardis IV, fiddle, Greg Brundage, guitar and Jon Peik, banjo), which formed in 2014, seamlessly melds modern and traditional sounds with songs like "Big Spike Hammer" and "Storm Cloud." 7. Eric Diamond, 1 p.m. June 30, Jojo's Martini Lounge) Enjoy all the hits of beloved singer/songwriter Neil Diamond for only the price of festival admission. Clad in the popular singer's satin shirts and black pants, Eric B. Ebert, aka Eric Diamond, sings hits such as "Sweet Caroline," "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "Song Sung Blue." 8. Clave Y Afinque, 4 p.m. July 8, Harley Davidson Roadhouse Milwaukee-based salsa band Clave Y Afinque brings a mix of lively Latin- American beats and tropi- cal grooves to the Fest. Songs such as the band's latest single, "Tiene Cache," are perfect to enjoy while sipping a cold bever- age. 9. Under the Streetlamp, 3 p.m. July 3, Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard Chicago group Under the Streetlamp (Eric Gutman, David Larsen, Brandon Wardell and Shonn Wiley) sing Motown and doo-wop hits, along with rock 'n' roll classics. With slick dance moves and stylish matching suits, the croon- ers make music decades old seem like it was record- ed yesterday. 10. Oumar Sagna and Sindoolaa, 6 p.m. July 7, Klement's Sausage and Beer Garden Milwaukee-based musi- cian Oumar Sagna, a for- mer resident of southern Senegal, blends traditional West African music with modern sounds with Sindoola, a group of American and Senegalese musicians. Songs such as "Kali" (originally recorded by the Sierra Leone All- Stars) are sure to get lots of fingers snapping and toes tapping. ENTERTAINMENT 10 undersung Summerfest bands to see Erin Coburn, at the age of 17, already has two albums of original blues under her belt. The native Kentuckian will play at 4 p.m. July 5 at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse on the Summerfest grounds. Submitted photo