Music Around Madison: August 31 - September 2

As the calendar flips from August to September the starting gun will flare for two months of incredible music at the venues around Madison. We recently wrapped up the touring acts coming to Madison in September (October coming soon) and over in Isthmus Rich Albertoni tackled the local music scene hitting the venues. This weekend kicks it all off and August goes out like a lion.

Friday

Crustacean Records is a Madison treasure. The locally based label has been helping our artists press their first albums for many years now and tonight they step up to make the audio into visual. Tonight will be the first in a series of shows recording their acts for a DVD to be released in 2008. Tonight also sees the return of road warriors Screamin' Cyn Cyn and the Pons. Has a tour through the lush Northwest and down through the dusty South changed our bouncy glitter glam punk all stars? Backing them up will be Droids Attack, The Gusto, and Ouija Radio. Early starting show at the High Noon - 8:30 p.m.

One thing I love about Mother Fool's is the fact that they often bring in acts that have no business playing an intimate coffeehouse. The Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble are one of the acts that should have patrons busting the windows and letting the music spill into the street. They check in at 8 p.m.

Arthur Richardson has worked hard through his Streets of Gold Productions to bring a positive hip-hop culture to the streets of Madison. Today is his birthday and you can wish him a Happy Happy at the King Club. Helping him blow out the candles will be MC Starr, DJ Vilas Park Sniper and Lucha Libre. 9 p.m.

I hate to break the news, but the warm evenings will soon start slipping away and that means the Memorial Union Terrace will soon be closing. To help see the lakeside music season out Wisconsin Union Directorate has plenty of great music planned, including tonight's show from The Changes. Providing the backdrop to your beer swilling at 9:30 p.m.

The Klinic is ready to rock your face off with some of Madison's finest rock -n- rollers. Guitar Vinyl Treatment, Sounds of Reason, and Axis join forces.

Cincinnati's Pearlene know how to dig into your soul and push the buttons that make an audience dance. Madison fans of Detroit Cobras (and I know there are a lot of you out there) will want to be at the Annex as they cut their teeth from the same spirit. Opening will be Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Karmella's Game, and the Wildbirds.

Saturday

Tony Bitner will be working his ass off Saturday for an EARLY show at the High Noon - 3 p.m. The Randy Cliffs will be rising from the dead to see the master of the skins off as he ties the knot. Also performing will be his current band Goat Radio.

Cloud Cult is one of those bands that has turned Madison into a second home of sorts. This will be the seventh time the Minneapolis band has visited our fine city in two years and they have come a long way since that first 2005 show at the tiny Corral Room. They've hit both the Orpheum Stage Door and the Orpheum's Main Stage as well as the University's Union terrace. This time through they slim it down with a show at the High Noon Saloon. Opening will be the Pale Young Gentlemen and Jeff D. Johnson. 9:30 p.m.

If you want intimacy you can't top Kiki's House of Righteous Music. Kiki Schueller has been blogging about music and Madison for years and recently has begun open up her home for smaller and more close knit shows. On Saturday, Anders Parker knocks on Kiki's door along with Madison to Chicago transplant Dietrich Gosser.

The Madison Turbojugend show may have been canceled, but our local representatives for the Scandanvian death punk band, Brainerd, will be representing at the King Club. The sleaze rock of Switchblade Serenade backs them up. Check in is 9 p.m.

The Crystal Corner Bar features a solid line up of rock-n-roll with Road Agent Spin, The God Damns, and the Stranger. The bar will assuredly be filled with lots of the riffs you'd expect to hear coming out of the neighborhood garage in the 60s. 9:30 p.m.

Taste of Madison has more than food this weekend as various commercial radio stations bring in music acts fitting the flavor of listeners. View the listing by clicking here.

Sunday

Milwaukee's Brief Candles make a long awaited return. Easily one of the best out of brew city they bring to town an enchanting shoegazer sound that channels My Bloody Valentine. While I typically don't mention local acts in the National Acts line up this Klinic show is notable as it will also feature Madison's Revolving Doors who will be releasing their new full length.