Perpetual Groove
Spring is marching along, and with it flows a steady stream of live music through town. The calendar this week includes: shows by Natty Nation, Peelander-Z with Birthday Suits, The Sideshow Tragedy, Billy Branch, Maria Taylor, Extra Golden, Valient Thorr, Girlyman, Great Lake Swimmers, Wayne Hancock, and Perpetual Groove; a talk by Seth Pollak and Jenny Saffran; and standup by Louis C.K.
Monday 4.20
FULL MOON
NOTEWORTHY: 13 killed and 35 wounded in shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Colorado, 1999.
BIRTHDAYS: Oscar-winning actress Jessica Lange, 1949; extraordinarily quirky actor Crispin Glover, 1964.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
On this day, marijuana fans everywhere celebrate marijuana. We're not advocating anything illegal here, but that is what they do. Simultaneously, the Madison reggae stalwarts are throwing this party, and on their website they're touting: free munchies. With Euforquestra, Tropical Riddims Sound System.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
The insanely fun Japanese punk band Peelander-Z and Minneapolis' equally explosive -- and outrageous -- Birthday Suits promise to obliterate even the harshest case of Monday blahs. Zebras open.
Frequency, 9 pm
Bouncing between '70s-inspired classic rock and gospel-infused Americana on their second album, Itinerant Youth, Austin band the Sideshow Tragedy pay homage to their home state while drawing fans of blues, punk, ragtime and a variety of other genres to their live shows. Pete Jive & the Juice Digits and Black River Boneyard open.
Tuesday 4.21
BIRTHDAYS: Queen Elizabeth II, 1926; singer/songwriter/stooge Iggy Pop, 1947.
Frequency, 5:30
The harp player and legendary member of the Windy City's blues corps headlines this installment of the Frequency's Chicago Blues Tuesday jam.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 7 pm
In this Academy Evenings presentation the UW-Madison psych professors discuss "Children's Learning and Development: New Approaches to the Old Nature-Nurture Debate."
High Noon Saloon, 7 pm
A sometime collaborator with Nebraska dreamboat Conor Oberst, this soft-voiced Alabaman writes and sings folky pop that's dreamy and romantic, the sort of stuff that gets placed on Grey's Anatomy. (It did.) With the Whispertown 2000.
Annex, 9 pm
Working on a dissertation, guitarist Ian Eagleson did musicological research in Kenya. One result was this act, which fuses American rock and Kenyan Benga music. Flailing grad students everywhere took notice. Also appearing: This Bright Apocalypse.
Orpheum Theatre's Stage Door, 9 pm
The hard-rockin' dudes in Valient Thorr claim their psychedelic sound comes from Venus -- literally -- or North Carolina, one of the two. Either way, they've had a pretty far-out ride since 2001, touring with Gogol Bordello, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Fu Manchu and landing songs on several racing- and skating-themed video games. The Antiprism and Droids Attack open.
Wednesday 4.22
EARTH DAY
NOTEWORTHY: First Earth Day observed, 1970.
BIRTHDAYS: Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson, 1937; Ivory Snow model/Behind the Green Door star Marilyn Chambers, 1954 (requiescat in pace).
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The three members of folk-pop band Girlyman are gluttons for harmony and rising stars on Amy Ray's indie label Daemon Records, which picked up the band after its self-released debut, Remember Who I Am, sold a whopping 5,000 copies. Meg Hutchinson opens.
Thursday 4.23
NOTEWORTHY: Henry Aaron hammers his first major-league home run, 1954.
Barrymore Theatre, 7:30 pm
The edgy standup comedian appears regularly on late-night TV and starred in his own promising HBO sitcom. He's raw and honest and savagely self-deprecating.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
The folk-rock of Ontario's Great Lake Swimmers is often compared to that of Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Red House Painters, so it's bound to be both chilling and catchy. Kate Maki and the Gentle Guest open.
Crystal Corner Bar, 9 pm
The roots/country legend won't stop playing until the last gulp of beer has been swallowed and the "Closed" sign's been flipped over on the front door. He's one of a kind. With the Kristy Larson Trio.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Easygoing dance-rock acts like Perpetual Groove (who flirt with dub, fusion and several other grooving genres) relieve stress and help you get a little exercise, too. So, you see, stepping out on a Thursday night is really the healthy thing to do. With Steez.
