tat songs at MKE-Ultra in Milwaukee on May 10, 2026

Tom Sadler has been releasing music for several years under the moniker tat songs. This Chicago (by way of western Massachusetts) musician often serves up guitar-based experimental pop and improvisations, but for this short set he concentrated on synthesizers and some vocals. The eight relatively short songs were atmospheric but had enough complex rhythms to maintain interest. 

Tom told me that this was his first show in Milwaukee and I certainly hope he returns again soon.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

TAT SONGS
2026-05-10
Milwaukee, WI
MKE-Ultra

Tom Sadler: electronics and vocals

Setlist:
01 Gold Rolex (1:47)
02 Western Lip (5:15)
03 Broken Stream (3:36)
04 Elsa Strum (2:56)
05 Likeness (3:55)
06 Five of Cups (4:51)
07 Ghostwriter Blues (3:39)
08 Get Out (5:15)

Total time = 31:14

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Additional source: mono SBD from Brian Hospital
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads (these will automatically download):

  

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (166 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (100 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer at the Falcon Bowl in Milwaukee on October 3, 2025

Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer came to town last October on a short tour opening for the wonderful Bitchin Bahas. They played in the performance room at Falcon Bowl, which is located in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood. The alley first opened in the late 1800s and is one of the oldest continually operating bowling alleys in the country.

They presented a stunning 40-minute continuous set which combined Chiu's suitcase full of analog synthesizers with Honer's viola and percussion, along with field recordings. The music was drawn from their amazing new album on International Anthem, Different Rooms. It was evocative and hypnotic, and I can't wait to see this duo again.

Purchase their most recent album here.

Recording information:

JEREMIAH CHIU

MARTA SOFIA HONER

2025-10-03

Milwaukee, WI

Falcon Bowl

Jeremiah Chiu: synthesizers

Marta Sofia Honer: viola and percussion

Setlist:

01 Entire set (40:34)

Total time = 40:34

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Additional source: mono soundboard feed

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads (these will automatically download):

  

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (213 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (100 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

a performance in Rome about a week after this set:

Toby Summerfield at MKE-Ultra in Milwaukee on April 23, 2026

I first heard of Toby Summerfield because of his recent release on the dependably excellent Island House Records label, although he had been active for many years in the Chicago free jazz scene in the early 2000s, working with an impressive roster of musicians such as Jaimie Branch, Frank Rosaly, Josh Berman, Fred Lonberg-Holm and Quin Kirchner, to name a few. 

He came to MKE-Ultra a few weeks back on a solo tour supporting his excellent album on Island House, Bodies of Water. He moved seamlessly between several guitars, culminating with a piece on pedal steel.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

TOBY SUMMERFIELD
2026-04-23
Milwaukee, WI
MKE-Ultra

Toby Summerfield: guitar and pedal steel

Setlist:
01 Post Pond (5:33)
02 The Pools Below Tannery Falls (4:08)
03 Caulk the Wagon and Float It - The North Branch of the Chicago River (4:28)
04 The Dog River (4:22)
05 The Shaker Dam at Reservoir Pond (5:23)
06 Slowly Down the Russian River (2:20)
07 Grant Brook (6:23)

Total time = 32:37

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Additional source: mono soundboard feed
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads (these will automatically download):

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (155 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (100 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

Luke Schneider at MKE-Ultra in Milwaukee on May 6, 2026

Almost exactly two years ago I recorded Luke Schneider performing a lovely set at the 2024 Milwaukee Psych Fest. He returned to Milwaukee a few days ago to perform in the warm confines of MKE-Ultra. Once again, this was an absolutely beautiful set of ambient music where the audience was encouraged to sit down and absorb the vibrations. 

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (215 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (109 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

video of a performance Los Angeles in August 2025:

Michael Vallera at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on January 6, 2025

Back in January of last year when Ryley Walker brought his band to the Cactus Club, he asked guitarist Michael Vallera to open the concert. Vallera's very textured sonic dronescapes were a welcome sound to these ears. Since then he has released a collaboration with Lee Ranaldo which has raised his visibility somewhat. 

This adventurous set was a delight and I am very happy that Michael agreed to let me post my recording.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

MICHAEL VALLERA

2025-01-06

Milwaukee, WI

The Cactus Club

Opening for Ryley Walker

Michael Vallera: guitar

Setlist:

01 First (11:59)

02 Second (8:30)

Total time = 20:29

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Additional Source: SBD feed from Alex

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (107 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (86 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

Dryhouse Ruins at MKE-Ultra in Milwaukee on April 23, 2026

A few weeks ago we had another chance to catch up with local drone legends Dryhouse Ruins at MKE-Ultra. As expected, there was a lot of interesting improvisation happening with this band. Each member has been in several Milwaukee bands going back to the late 1980s and it was a delight chatting with a lot of local musicians at the club who were in attendance and supporting their friends in the band.

Purchase their most recent release here.

Recording information:

DRYHOUSE RUINS
2026-04-23
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee-Ultra

Jeff Mitchell: guitar

Jim Warchol: guitar
Damian Strigens: bass
Ben Derickson: drums

Setlist:
01 One (19:11)
02 Two (12:09

Total time = 31:20

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Additional source: mono SBD (kick drums)
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (170 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (90 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

Badman at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on September 25, 2025

Badman gave a very energetic set while opening for Wife at Cactus Club last September. Vocalist Sam Califf ran into the crowd several times while frenetically singing their short songs. It was a fun experience and a sign that punk is thriving in their hometown of Cincinnati.

Madison-based rock poet Thax Douglas provided a short impressionistic poem to kick off the set.

Purchase their most recent release here.

Recording information:

Badman

2025-09-25

Milwaukee, WI

Cactus Club

Sam Califf: vocals 

Nino Hernandez: guitar 

Spyder: bass 

Nic Preston: drums

Setlist:

01 Poem by Thax Douglas (0:24)

02 Violence Is Hopeless (1:53)

03 Tuesdays Really Are the Dullest Day (2:29)

04 Uber Everywhere (2:03)

05 Your Problem (2:59)

06 Like Snow (2:46)

07 Steampunk II (2:01)

08 Sam’s Song (1:23)

09 Wow I Didn’t Know They Could Do That -> Bowl To Scare (3:18)

10 Stupid Look (1:47)

11 Jesus Was American (2:26)

12 Somebody’s Gotta Pay (1:06)

13 Keyboard Cowboy (1:32)

Total time = 26:07

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Additional source: SBD feed from Alex

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (180 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (90 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

video of a performance in April 2025:

Human Ant Farm at MKE-Ultra in Milwaukee on April 30, 2026

Human Ant Farm is a new enough band on the Milwaukee scene that they don't have a Bandcamp account. Yet they have several delightful tracks on streaming service Spotify, and their stage presence at this show betrays quite a bit of confidence born of performing experience. Their songs were very well-written with a good range of textures, dynamics, and emotions. I was impressed and hope to record them again soon.

MKE-Ultra is fast becoming one of my favorite venues in town. I have started to tell everyone who will listen (and a few who won't) about the immaculate vibes at this former tavern which eventually became a notorious biker hangout before finally being rented by a trio of musicians as a rehearsal space. They now book shows there most nights of the week. Andy, Brian, and David always make me feel at home when recording there, and I have yet to meet a musician who didn't enjoy playing in this intimate and welcoming space.

Check out their instagram page here.

Recording information:

HUMAN ANT FARM

2026-04-30

Milwaukee, WI at MKE-Ultra

Jacob Renard-VerVoort: vocals

Chase VerVoort: guitar and vocals

Kendall Karpinski: guitar

Sam Knutsen: bass

Tillman Fryer: drums

Setlist:

01 Can Texas Beat It? (4:14)

02 Nuts and Bolts (4:09)

03 Scribbled Lines (4:31)

04 Lighthouse (5:44)

05 Saving Face (6:01

06 Who's Writing (4:43)

Total time = 29:22

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF configuration

Additional source: mono SBD feed from Andy Worzella

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (207 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (101 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible

video of their set last May at Cactus Club:

MANAS at Acme Records in Milwaukee on January 8, 2020

In the relative calm of the final few weeks before a novel strain of Coronavirus came to the United States, Bhutanese guitarist Tashi Dorji and Vietnamese-American percussionist Thom Nguyen traveled to Milwaukee as part of a short tour. Together they are MANAS, the name of which seems to be a reference to the Buddhist concept of the mind, specifically the thinking mind.

Dorji's last appearance on this blog -- a fiery 2017 set at Acme Records with Tyler Damon -- was also a guitar and drums duo. This presents an interesting chance to compare the duos.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

MANAS
2020-01-08
Milwaukee, WI
Acme Records

Tashi Dorji: guitar
Thom Nguyen: drums

Setlist:
01 First (4:45)
02 Second (23:12)
03 Third (12:11)

Total time = 40:08

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog 

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6 at 24/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (247 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (121 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible