BIG TOURING & MAJOR VENUE SHOWS

• Amigo The Devil w/ Liam St. John
  The Rave, Milwaukee — Monday, September 28 — Doors 7:00 PM, show 8:00 PM
  Amigo The Devil brings his signature brand of dark folk, gothic Americana and “murderfolk” to Milwaukee. Originally from Miami and later based in San Francisco and Austin, his music mixes haunting acoustic instrumentation with brutally dark, often twisted storytelling. Liam St. John, a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, adds a gritty blend of blues, soul, rock and Americana. Together, it’s a night for roots music with a much darker edge.
• Taking Back Sunday w/ Thrice + Saves The Day
  The Rave, Milwaukee — Friday,October 2 — Doors 6:00 PM, show 7:00 PM
  Three bands that helped define the emo, pop-punk and post-hardcore sound of the late ’90s and 2000s. Taking Back Sunday, from Amityville, New York, deliver emotional vocals, melodic guitars and massive sing-along choruses. California’s Thrice bring their heavier, more experimental take on post-hardcore, while New Jersey’s Saves The Day add melodic punk and emo. Basically, bring your nostalgia — and your vocal cords.
• In This Moment + Hollywood Undead
  The Rave, Milwaukee — Saturday, October 3 — Doors 5:00 PM, show 6:00 PM
  Two very different flavors of heavy rock collide in Milwaukee. In This Moment, formed in Los Angeles, combine alternative metal, metalcore, industrial metal and hard rock with massive production and a theatrical edge. Fellow L.A. natives Hollywood Undead mix rap rock, nu-metal, hip-hop and hard rock, complete with multiple vocalists, huge hooks and their trademark masks. Expect a loud, theatrical night with plenty of attitude.
• Cracker w/ Edward David Anderson
  Majestic Theatre, Madison — Saturday, October 3 — Doors 7:00 PM, show 8:00 PM
  Cracker, formed in Richmond, Virginia, blend alternative rock, Americana, country, roots rock and grunge, with ’90s favorites like “Low” and “Get Off This.” Wisconsin’s own Edward David Anderson opens with his blend of Americana, alt-country, folk, blues and roots rock. A good matchup for anyone who likes their rock with a little twang and plenty of storytelling.
  

EMERGING & LOCAL BANDS

• King 810 w/ Guerilla Warfare + Yotuma + Fallen Condition + Inaara
  The Annex, Madison — Thursday, October 1 — Doors 6:30 PM, show 7:00 PM
  King 810, from Flint, Michigan, bring a dark, aggressive mix of nu-metal, modern hard rock, alternative metal and rap-metal. They’re joined by Guerrilla Warfare, Yotuma, Fallen Condition and Inaara for a stacked night of modern heavy music. Expect distorted riffs, aggressive vocals, breakdowns and plenty of attitude.
• Opal In Sky w/ Levels + Mirrorcell
  Majestic Theatre, Madison — Friday, October 2 — Doors 5:30 PM, show 6:00 PM
  Canadian metal duo Opal In Sky bring a mix of metalcore and deathcore, combining crushing breakdowns with melodic passages and a surprisingly energetic, approachable style. Levels and Mirrorcell round out the bill with their own takes on modern heavy music, making this one for anyone who likes their riffs heavy and their breakdowns heavier.
• Left of Reason w/ Vermillion
  Main Street Music, Brooklyn — Saturday, October 3 — Doors 6:30 PM, show 7:00 PM
  Wisconsin’s Left Of Reason bring a mix of hard rock and metal, built around heavy riffs, aggressive vocals and modern-rock energy. They’re joined by Vermillion, a Wisconsin death-metal outfit bringing a much more extreme edge to the night. Hard rock meets death metal for a local-heavy Saturday night.
  

MORE EVENTS WORTH CHECKING OUT

• JJO Wham Bam Tailgate Jam
  Tanner’s Gar & Grill, Middleton — Saturday, October 3 — 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
  Join Johnny & Dee LIVE at Tanner’s in Middleton two hours before kickoff for the Wham Bam Tailgate Jam! Get loud, get rowdy, and get an ice cold Coors Light in your hand!!
  🏈 Wisconsin vs. Michigan State (Homecoming) | 🕐 Kickoff: 11:30am | 📍 Tanner’s Bar: 9:30-11:30am | 🔴 GET RED SHIRTED!
  
  

BAR-HEAVY LATE-NIGHT ROUTES

• Milwaukee Monday: Start the week at The Rave with Amigo The Devil + Liam St. John. It’s a darker, rootsy night, so keep the rest of the evening low-key and let the music do the heavy lifting.
• Annex heavy night: King 810 brings the nu-metal/modern-metal chaos to The Annex Thursday. Make the east side your home base before and after the show.
• Friday double-header: Opal In Sky at the Majestic gets the night started early, and Taking Back Sunday, Thrice & Saves The Day take over The Rave at 7 PM. If you’re attempting both, have your Milwaukee strategy locked down.
• Majestic Saturday: Cracker + Edward David Anderson gives you a more laid-back downtown Madison option. Grab dinner or drinks around State Street/Capitol before or after the show.
• Saturday heavy option: In This Moment + Hollywood Undead at The Rave brings the big theatrical hard-rock production, while Left Of Reason + Vermillion gives you a local-heavy option at Main Street Music in Brooklyn.

ROCK LIFESTYLE THINGS TO DO

• Dig for vinyl: Spend an afternoon hitting Madison’s record stores and hunting for that album you’ve been missing—or something you’ve never heard before.
• Get some ink: Book a tattoo appointment or finally start planning that next piece. Bonus points if it’s music-related, weird, or something you’ll still love in 20 years.
• Take the Harley out: Fall riding season is here. Pick a scenic Wisconsin route, find a good roadside bar and enjoy the last stretch of riding weather before the bikes go into hibernation.
• Find a killer jukebox: Skip the playlist and let the bar decide what you’re listening to. Bonus points for finding one loaded with actual rock instead of 47 versions of the same classic-rock hits.
• Hit a guitar shop: Spend an irresponsible amount of time playing guitars you absolutely do not need. You know the rules.
• Grab a burger & a beer: Check out our list of 94 Tiny Taverns to find your new spot for solid burger, cold beer and a jukebox. No reservations. No dress code. No bullshit.
• Go thrifting for rock gear: Hunt for vintage band tees, denim, leather, flannels and other questionable wardrobe decisions.
• Check out local art & posters: Madison has plenty of places to find concert posters, underground art and weird stuff for the walls of your basement/garage/bar.
• Take a fall road trip: Pick a Wisconsin backroad, crank the music and find somewhere you’ve never stopped before. The destination doesn’t really matter.
• Plan your next concert: Dig through upcoming Madison and Milwaukee shows, pick something you’ve never seen before and put a date on the calendar.

WHERE TO GO BY NIGHT

MON: SEPT 28

Dark & Twisted Monday. Start the week at The Rave with Amigo The Devil + Liam St. John. Dark folk, Americana, blues and murder ballads make this a very different kind of rock night — and a good way to ease into the week.

TUE: SEPT 29

Keep It Low-Key. No featured event is anchoring Tuesday’s schedule, so this is your night for a record-store run, dinner, a jukebox and saving some energy for the weekend.

WED: SEPT 30

Midweek Reset. Still relatively quiet on the featured schedule. Grab some food, find a good bar and get your weekend strategy together.

THU: OCT 1

Heavy Thursday. King 810 takes over The Annex with Guerrilla Warfare, Yotuma, Fallen Condition and Inaara. Expect nu-metal, modern hard rock, alternative metal, breakdowns and plenty of aggression.

FRI: OCT 2

Two Cities. Two Very Different Nights. Start early in Madison with Opal In Sky, Levels & Mirrorcell at the Majestic, then Milwaukee brings the nostalgia with Taking Back Sunday, Thrice & Saves The Day at The Rave. Emo, pop-punk and post-hardcore fans have a serious Friday night ahead.

SAT: OCT 3

Saturday Is STACKED. Start the day with Johnny & Dee at the Wham Bam Tailgate Jam at Tanner’s from 9:30–11:30 AM before Wisconsin takes on Michigan State. Then pick your evening: Cracker + Edward David Anderson at the Majestic, In This Moment + Hollywood Undead at The Rave, or Left Of Reason + Vermillion at Main Street Music in Brooklyn.

SUN: OCT 4

Recover Accordingly. After a week that goes from murderfolk to nu-metal, emo, metalcore, hard rock and death metal, Sunday is your chance to eat something greasy, find a comfortable couch and let your ears recover.

Sources

• The Sylvee
• High Noon Saloon
• Majestic Theatre
• Crucible
• The Annex
• The Rave
• Facebook Events
• WJJO events calendar

CURATED BY JETT BLACKE — 94.1 WJJO Madison’s Solid Rock
Your guide to Madison’s loud nights, local bands & everything happening AFTER DARK.