CULTURE
This Month in Milwaukee
13 THINGS TO DO IN JULY BY STEVE COHEN, ALLEN HALAS, ELIZABETH LINTONN, DAVID LUHRSSEN, MICHAEL MUCKIAN, AND BLAINE SCHULTZ JULY 1
JULY 6 & 7
Blue Öyster Cult Summerfest Uline Warehouse Stage
Misery Signals, Comeback Kid, End X-Ray Arcade
In 1976, Blue Öyster Cult reached the mainstream with their spine-tingling hit, “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” The band had been active since the ‘70s began, emerging out of biker bars with a post-psychedelic, post-Quicksilver, post-Steppenwolf sound. They collaborated with interesting lyricists, including their mythopoetic manager-producer Sandy Pearlman, literate rock critic Richard Meltzer, British fantasy author Michael Moorcock and poet-rock star Patti Smith. BOC spent the late ‘80s/early ‘90s on tour without releasing an album of new material. In 2020 they issued their fifteenth studio album, the critically acclaimed The Symbol Remains.
Metalcore band Misery Signals formed in the Milwaukee area nearly two decades ago, before breaking out to the national hardcore scene in the early years of the millennium. While the lineup had shifted in the years that followed, the original members reunited in 2014, and have been active ever since. The band haven’t played Milwaukee, however, since their first reunion run. That changes on July 6 and 7, when they’ll play a pair of dates at X-Ray Arcade. It isn’t the first time playing that venue, though. Misery Signals played the former Vnuk’s Lounge last in 2004.
JULY 6-24 Write Me a Murder Peninsula Players, Fish Creek In this Edgar Allan Poe award winner by British playwright Frederick Knott, a perfect crime is devised on a stately English estate. The author is a mystery writer who may not realize where the plot is headed. According to the New York Times, Write Me a Murder builds steadily, amusingly and suspensefully and reaches a swift and convincing climax.” Knott’s work was adapted for several classic films, including Dial M for Murder and Wait Until Dark. (David Luhrssen)
JULY 7 Ali J, Mas Verde, Jacob Slade, Ben Mulwana q Cactus Club Hosted by the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, four up and coming artists will play a showcase at Bay View’s Cactus Club. The night is headlined by singer/songwriter Ben Mulwana, the Ugandan-born artist who now resides in Milwaukee and delivers a top-notch combination of soul, blues and rock. The diverse lineup is part of a monthly event series that raises funds for a different local non-profit organization in addition to delivering great music.
BEN MULWANA
Photo by CJ Foeckler.
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Sand texture background by Anastasiia_Guseva/Getty Images. Beach illustration by Sophie Yufa.
