Roll Call Seizure Chicken’s guide to the 2011 Seizure Chicken Fall Fest

Summer festivals are a dime a dozen in Milwaukee, but the autumn and winter months—a.k.a. the majority of the year—rarely see much in the way of music fest action. That’s why the two-day Seizure Chicken Fall Fest, Nov. 18 and 19 at the Cactus Club, is such a welcome surprise. Curated by Mark Goldstein of the titular local music blog, and Brandon Malacara of local booking/promoting outfit Battlecry Milwaukee, the Fall Fest will be the first in what the duo hopes to be a recurring series of local-flavored shows. “Brandon and I had wanted to do a more local-centric fest-type thing for a while now,” Goldstein tells The A.V. Club. “We wanted to do something a little more easy-breezy then the typical touring shows we book—the unsigned bands from Chicago and Milwaukee that we really dig. It was impossible to get everyone we wanted crunched into two days, but we’re extremely happy with the lineup. If all goes smoothly, I’d imagine this being an annual/semi-annual thing.”

Before the Fall Fest gets underway, The A.V. Club asked Goldstein and Malacara to walk us through the lineup for both days, and explain why they chose the bands they did.

Nov. 18
Brief Candles
Brandon Malacara: Who else could make Kevin Shields sound relevant in 2011? Plus, their new album, Fractured Days, is one of the best and prettiest local releases of 2011.

Castle Thunder
BM: Local producer and musician Ryan Weber (Decibully, Eric & Magill) didn’t get involved with Castle Thunder for nothing. The band echoes the same sentiments Eric & Magill made prominent on their debut album: pretty washes of sound, wistful vocals, and brightly-lit pop upswings to even out the introspection. Pulling members of Faux Fir and The Fatty Acids into the new lineup, the band even shares E&M’s “include all those you know” mentality.

Secret Colours
BM: This Chicago band has been highly productive in its first two years with fuzzed-out rock jams polished with a luster and rhythmic glow that transfixes you in the bob and sway. Finally, they make the trip to Milwaukee and we say “you’re welcome” in advance.

Kane Place Record Club
BM: This relatively new Milwaukee six-piece is one of those groups whose performances always draw the “oh man, you missed a great show” afterglow. Unabashedly a jam band comprised of young, nerdy kids, the group brings high energy to indie soul, and often leaves band and crowd with less clothing than they came in with.

Nov. 19
Canopies
Mark Goldstein: High-energy danceable electro-pop. I caught these guys randomly at a Yellow Phone music conference show I was “volunteering” at. They really impressed the shit out of me. I got their album shortly after and I knew I had to get them on a show.

Prophetic
MG: Proph is one of the best rappers in Milwaukee. I’ve always enjoyed his stuff. I love hip-hop, and I really wish there were more shows going on. I also love eclectic bills and, oddly enough, I think this all fits together nicely.

Golden Coins
MG: An experimental pop group. They released a really fantastic EP earlier this year, Animal Variables. It was a no-brainer adding these guys on.

Greatest Lakes
MG: These guys reached out to me a couple months back expressing their admiration for Seizure Chicken, and it feels nice to hear flattering things about yourself. Once I listened to the band, I was really impressed with the songs these guys had recorded. It’s in the Fleet Foxes/Local Natives realm, but without sounding derivative. I wrote a short piece about the band for Seizure Chicken, and it ended up being the most popular post for two months. So, other people obviously agree.

Babes
MG: Babes was the most refreshing surprise I’ve received in my email inbox in some time. I don’t think there’s anyone else in Milwaukee doing what they/he does. It’s heavily sampled, chillwave goofball shit that I really get into. He’s going to be playing tracks in between bands all night.