July winds down this week amidst live music that includes shows by Goodbye Picasso, Freedy Johnston with Dave Adler and Biff Blumfumgagnge, The Swan King, Roster McCabe, and Locksley. The calendar also includes a heroes-themed Concerts on the Square, a benefit for Rainbow Bookstore and a reading by Ted Daley.
Monday 7.25
NOTEWORTHY: Newport Folk Festival audience boos plugged-in Bob Dylan off the stage, 1965.
BIRTHDAYS: Model/actress Iman, 1955; pioneering test-tube baby Louise Brown, 1978.
Project Lodge, 7 pm
Melding alt-rock and alt-country, these CMJ Music Marathon veterans have been touring like crazy as of late. Check out their finely honed chops at this show.
Tuesday 7.26
NOTEWORTHY: Prince's Purple Rain premieres and Psycho killer Ed Gein dies, 1984.
BIRTHDAYS: Rolling Stone/Glimmer Twin/Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer Mick Jagger, 1943; actress Sandra Bullock, 1964.
Wednesday 7.27
NOTEWORTHY: Zsa Zsa Gabor begins serving three-day sentence for slapping a cop, 1990.
BIRTHDAYS: Saturday Night Live veteran Maya Rudolph, 1972; actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, 1977.
Capitol Square, 7 pm
Soprano Susanna Phillips and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra salute American heroes, from veterans to firefighters to life-changing teachers, at this free outdoor show. Bring a bottle of wine and toast those who've saved you from dire situations or unnecessary embarrassment.
Freedy Johnston, Dave Adler & Biff Blumfumgagnge
Ground Zero, 7 pm
The map-themed Willy Street coffee shop morphs into a live-music venue as NYC singer-songwriter Johnston and Gomers Adler and Blumfumgagnge guide guests through a musical landscape of soulfulness and whimsy.
Frequency, 9 pm
This newish Chicago trio wallops fans with heavy sounds, making disciples of the Jesus Lizard and King Crimson salivate. With the Sandy Garza, Gitsome and Blizzard & Sea.
Thursday 7.28
NOTEWORTHY: French revolutionary Robespierre guillotined, 1794.
BIRTHDAYS: Garfield creator Jim Davis, 1945; actress Elizabeth Berkley, 1972.
Cardinal Bar, 4:30-7:30 pm
Now that the west-side Borders has gone under, Madison's options for real live book browsing are dwindling. Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative, a West Gilman Street mainstay, issued a plea for funds earlier this year, so the situation is serious. Hear ubiquitous Madison journalist John Nichols talk about his latest book, The S Word, and support the lefty bookstore, if that's your inclination.
Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative, 7:30 pm
Daley, a writing fellow with International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, discusses his latest book, Apocalypse Never: Saying No to Nuclear Reactors.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Billboard has projected that this Minneapolis five-piece will dominate the festivals of tomorrow with their inspired improvisational jams. See how they sound today at this show. With Nama Rupa.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 9:30 pm
Shaped by the tunes of doo-wop bands and melodic punk groups, this Madison-bred quartet has been blazing a trail to stardom in New York City, supporting the Hives' summer tour in 2008 and releasing a new, self-titled album just a few days ago.
