The 10 best Milwaukee concerts of 2016
Piet Levy
One concert take-away from 2016: great shows in Milwaukee don't wait for warm weather.
Half of my 10 favorite concerts of the year happened by early March, and three of them were in January. So don't let freezing temperatures force you to stay home in 2017, especially when acts like Kris Kristofferson, Lauryn Hill, the Drive-By Truckers and Maroon 5 all beckon through February.
As for this year, my list is a mix of massive stars, but also under-the-radar talents that put on killer club shows. Naturally, there are thousands of Milwaukee concerts I couldn't see this year, so feel free to share your favorites in the comment section of this story at jsonline.com/music.
1. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (March 3, BMO Harris Bradley Center): Well they don't call him the Boss for nothing. Returning to Milwaukee for the first time in seven years, Springsteen led his joyous band through 33 songs spanning across three-and-a-half-hours, including his double album, "The River," played in its entirety, and taking on even greater resonance with age.
2. Paul McCartney (July 8, Marcus Amphitheater, Summerfest): Topping his immaculate Miller Park appearance from 2013 would've been an unlikely feat. A few shaky vocals aside, it was incredible how close the legend came, thanks to personable stories and a deep passion for music.
3. Sting and Peter Gabriel (July 10, Marcus Amphitheater, Summerfest): Gabriel joked that he was competing with his co-headliner for points, although perhaps there was some truth to that statement. The back and forth throughout the night, and some tour-only collaborations, challenged the stars' egos and brought out the best in both.
4. Patti LaBelle (Jan. 16, Riverside Theater): The fiercest sight at any Milwaukee stage happened when a 71-year-old Patti LaBelle hoisted a glittery mic stand above her head and threw it into the air at the end of a ravishing rendition of "Over the Rainbow." LaBelle also flung high-heel shoes from her feet, sprayed herself with perfume and sang with a powerhouse voice worthy of her deliciously decadent attitude.
5. Jason Isbell (Feb.23, Pabst Theater): A week after winning two Grammys, Isbell marked a significant occasion in Milwaukee: his third wedding anniversary. It was Isbell's wife, singer-songwriter Amanda Shires, who pushed him to go to rehab for his alcohol addiction in 2012. He became a greater songwriter—more importantly a better person. Isbell and the audience passionately expressed their gratitude that night to Shires that night, who performed in her husband's band as a special guest.
6. Jim James (Nov. 27, Turner Hall Ballroom): Initially abandoning his typical intensity, the My Morning Jacket frontman brandished shades and a detached demeanor at the start of his Turner Hall Ballroom show. By the night's end, the protest song-heavy show had become one of James' most provocative Milwaukee performances, reflecting the dismay and determination of those disenfranchised by a divisive presidential election.
7. John Prine (Nov. 5, Riverside Theater): Few living songwriters capture heartache as profoundly like John Prine. This Milwaukee performance was a superb showcase for those skills, with Prine's gravelly voice making lonesome tragedies like "Hello in There" and doomed veteran's tale "Sam Stone" even more gut-wrenching.
8. Jack Garratt (Jan. 21, Radio Milwaukee Studios): While the soulful synthpop artist's debut album didn't live up to its hype, this live set was a stunner, with Garratt as a one-man-band juxtaposing intense drum pad attacks and screamed vocals with pretty little coos and charming stories. If superstardom comes — and it should — Garratt clearly will be ready.
9. Foreign Goods (Sept. 17, Rock the Green): There were bigger bands at this resurrected eco-friendly music festival — Lord Huron, Robert DeLong, Best Coast — but none was better than local group Foreign Goods, whose infectious ode to black music inspired a spontaneous dance party on a gorgeous fall afternoon.
10. Protomartyr (Jan. 23, Cactus Club):Frequently Hiking up his pants by his belt, a blank expression on his face, Protomartyr frontman Joe Casey was essentially the anti-showman at the Cactus Club. Yet through this approach, Casey shattered the pretense of this "performance," transforming Protomartyr's seething post-punk songs into blistering journal entries come to life.
The Best Music of 2016
Look out for more year-end music lists at jsonline.com/music, including: