Weekend Agenda: Taste the excitement in the (chilly) air
The New Boyz: Too cool to care but not too cool to dress appropriately for the weather.
The first weekend in September always yields a bunch of shows in Madison, thanks in large part to the convergence of Taste Of Madison on Capitol Square and throngs of returning students. Here are The A.V. Club recommendations for crushing this three-day weekend—if you don’t get one, you’d better ask somebody.
Friday
Asumaya (Luke Bassuener of This Bright Apocalypse) will be celebrating a CD release with Julian Lynch at the Project Lodge. Snake On The Lake, college radio station WSUM’s annual festival, is a little pared down from what is has been in recent years (like last year’s, which featured RJD2 and Free Energy), with Chicago-based sprawling indie rockers Maps & Atlases and local talent Flight, Phonetic One, and Meteorade at the Memorial Union Terrace. Don’t forget a sweatshirt.
Saturday
Tight-pants hip-hop New Boyz and its “You’re A Jerk”—which had a stranglehold on 93.1 Jamz for longer than it should have—headline a Jamz-sponsored stage at Taste Of Madison, featuring opening performances from Chicago live hip-hop cover band and shitty pun enthusiasts Too White Crew and hip-hop traditionalists Fall Guys, among others. Meanwhile, Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs rides a wave of Internet praise to the Terrace for the 5 Elements Festival, which also features a breakdance demonstration.
Badger football season opens this weekend, but it’s all the way out in Las Vegas so the marching band didn’t make the trip. Instead, it’ll be playing the viewing party at the Majestic Theatre. But only after everyone watches The Hangover (again) and slugs a bunch of pizza and beer in anticipation of fairly late night of stomping the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.
Don’t forget to stop by The Frequency for National Beekeepers Society’s last show ever. It’s sad to see them go, but dry those eyes (Icarus Himself is still going strong), and have some fun along with Sleeping In The Aviary and His And Her Vanities.
Sunday
Like some dude (or woman) once said: Sunday is a day of rest. Thusly, Danny Gokey and Lisa Loeb headline an easy listening-heavy Sunday at Taste. Even the hardest among us need our chance to chill out, so leave your contacts out, grab your lawnchair, and go listen to Gokey’s country and Loeb’s super-light folk.
Monday
If there’s any gas left in the tank, stop down to Jolly Bob’s to celebrate its 18th anniversary with Gibraltar Rockets and DJ Rootsy Tootsy.
