Magic Tuber Stringband at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on July 25, 2026

The Magic Tuber Stringband hails from Durham, North Carolina. Their blend of avant-folk reminded me quite a bit of folk drone legends Pelt as well as Universal Light. Their recent album on Thrill Jockey, Heavy Water, is packed with plenty of haunting melodies seasoned with an uneasy glowing light.

They came to the Jazz Gallery in July during a 17-date East Coast and Midwest tour for a brief but mesmerizing set.

Purchase their new album here.

Recording information:

  

MAGIC TUBER STRINGBAND

2026-07-25

Milwaukee, WI

Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts

Courtney Werner: fiddle

Evan Morgan: guitar

Michael DeVito: bass and banjo

Setlist:

01 Marker of a Drowning (4:06)

02 Wintering Grounds (5:14)

03 Blooms in the Rapids (4:57)

04 Tribute to the Angels (4:17)

05 Where the Place Becomes Forgetting (3:37)

06 Twelfth House (4:23)

07 Scintillation (3:34)

08 Days of Longing (5:34)

Total time = 35:42

Recorded with explicit prior permission by Richard Hayes for www.milwaukeetaper.com

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Additional source: mono soundboard feed

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

audio downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (257 MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (127 MB)

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video of a performance in Knoxville in May, 2025:

Muun Bato at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 6, 2023

One of the highlights of the 2023 Milwaukee Psych Fest was having the opportunity to see Minneapolis-based pop psych band Muun Bato.

The band was formed in 2018 by Joe Werner and Timothy Ritter and includes former members of Minneapolis bands such as First Communion Afterparty, Seafarer, and Driftwood Pyre, among others.

Any band playing the Psych Fest during the day faces an added challenge, since the amazing projected light show by Lance ("Mad Alchemy") isn't possible with so much ambient light. The group impressed plenty of the audience, however, and I still see an occasional person around Milwaukee wearing a Muun Bato t-shirt. My hope is that they will be able to return to the Cream City soon.

Purchase their most recent album here.

Recording information:

MUUN BATO

2023-05-06

The Cooperage

2023 Milwaukee Psych Fest

Joe Werner: vocals, guitar

Patrick Schiavone: guitar, keyboards

Tim Ritter: bass, keyboards

Craig Grossman: drums

Setlist:

01 Corn Woman (3:31)

02 Planet of the Children Part 2 (4:50)

03 Light of Muun Bato (3:12)

04 Sound Cisdumb (10:01)

05 Agememnon (3:43)

06 Catacomb Caty (3:13)

07 Blue Lines (7:04)

08 Otab Nuum (3:25)

09 Echoes of the Green (4:36)

10 Planet of the Children Part 1 (3:48)

Total time = 47:23

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Additional source: soundboard feed via Max Nemer

Recorder: MixPre3

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

audio downloads 

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video of Muun Bato in Minneapolis in March 2023:

Jon Collin at Acme Records in Milwaukee on March 30, 2019

Jon Collin is a British-born guitarist currently living in Sweden. He has released a nice stack of albums, including six volumes of music performed in various environments entitled Water and Rock Music. 

For this short set, performed during an amazing evening at Acme Records which included solo guitar music by Bill MacKay and Rob Noyes, Collin served up some tasty sustained and shimmering ambient tones. 

Purchase his latest album here.

Recording information:

JON COLLIN

2019-03-30

Milwaukee, WI

Acme Records

Jon Collin: guitar and electronics

Setlist:

01 Set (30:32)

Total time = 30:32

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6

Software: Audacity, xACT

audio downloads 

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video of Jon performing in Sweden in 2022:

Andrew Trim at the Jazz Estate in Milwaukee on June 25, 2026

Since the late 1970s, Milwaukee has been home to the Jazz Estate -- a reliably excellent place to see both local and touring jazz musicians. This history has had its ups and downs, however. 

During the first few months of the COVID pandemic, the Estate shut its doors, only to open up a bit later as a cocktail bar without its signature live jazz. In early 2025, the owner changed the format again, to feature live music but only opening for business on weekends. This format proved insufficient to keep the venue open, and a few months back the announcement came that the legendary club would once again close its doors.

On the final weekend of the venue, we were treated to a wonderfully engaging and confident double bill of Neil Davis and Andrew Trim, both strong local guitarists, and both backed by the capable rhythm section of bassist Clay Schaub and drummer Devin Drobka. Davis' excellent first set will be shared soon; we are now presenting Trim's fiery final set of the evening. The set opens with originals by both Schaub and Trim before leading to an unexpected Daniel Johnston cover and several jazz standards. Davis returns to the stage to partner with Trim for the final three tunes.

Purchase his latest album here.

Recording information:

ANDREW TRIM

2026-06-25

Milwaukee, WI

The Jazz Estate

Andrew Trim: guitar

Clay Schaub: bass

Devin Drobka: drums

Neil Davis: guitar (tracks 7-9)

Setlist:

01 Sisters [Schaub] (8:01)

02 MKE Blues [Trim] (7:03)

03 One For Bill [Trim] (7:00)

04 Early Morning Train Platform Blues [Trim] (7:48)

05 We See [Monk] (9:38)

06 Walking the Cow [Johnston] (7:06)

07 You Stepped Out of a Dream [Brown] (10:03)

08 Oleo [Rollins] (7:37)

09 Slow Blues (9:37)

Total time = 73:53

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this website

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF at stage lip

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

https://andrewtrim.bandcamp.com/

https://www.neildavisguitar.com/

https://milwaukeerecord.com/music/the-jazz-estate-will-close-june-27-have-a-grand-farewell-party-june-28/

audio downloads 

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video of Andrew Trim at Constellation in Chicago in 2022:

Knifeplay at MKeUltra in Milwaukee on April 30, 2026

Knifeplay came through Milwaukee on tour a few months ago and stopped at MKeUltra for a compact, melodic set. This shoegaze band formed in 2017 in Philadelphia and has released two studio albums, a live cassette, and a handful of EPs since. I thought it was a really excellent set of music and I'm looking forward to seeing them the next time they are on tour in the Midwest.

Purchase their latest album here.

Recording information:

KNIFEPLAY

2026-04-30

Milwaukee, WI

MKE-Ultra

TJ Strohmer: vocals, guitar

Johanna Baumann: guitar, vocals

Dennis Martiniello: guitar

Max Black: keyboards

Alex Stackhouse: bass 

Nora Maupin: drums 

Setlist:

01 Unreleased 1 (7:20)

02 Agonizing Mountain (8:42)

03 Promise (6:03)

04 Unreleased 2 (8:29)

05 Interlude 1 (1:23)

06 Lord, Where are You? (8:56)

07 Interlude 2 (1:13)

08 Tears (5:19)

Toal time = 47:25

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Additional source: mono soundboard feed from Andy W

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

audio downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (257 MB)

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Horse Lords at Art and Literature Lab in Madison, WI on July 12, 2026

Hailing originally from Baltimore and now having moved to Germany, Horse Lords recently embarked on their 2026 Summer tour of the United States following the recent release of their sixth studio album, Demand To Be Taken to Heaven Alive.

This quartet combines Just Intonation tunings with West African rhythms, and the high energy result is intoxicating and exciting. 

According to the Wikipedia article on the subject, "Just intonation is the tuning of a musical interval without beats. The result is an acoustically pure sound that resonates within the harmonic series. The simplest relationship between pitches in this series can be expressed as small whole number ratios. Musicians around the world instinctively perform in just intonation."

Purchase their music here.

Recording information:

HORSE LORDS

2026-07-12

Madison, WI

Arts and Literature Laboratory 

Andrew Bernstein: saxophone, drums, electronics

Max Eilbacher: bass, electronics

Owen Gardner: guitar

Sam Haberman: drums

Setlist:

01 Brain of the Firm (6:26)

02 Against Gravity - After the Last Sky (13:27)

03 Zero Degree Machine (7:41)

04 Mess Mend (4:00)

05 First Galactic Utopia (5:36)

06 Law of Movement (8:28)

07 Fanfare for Effective Freedom (8:14)

08 Bending the Lash (8:24)

Total time = 62:16

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF in front row

Additional source: mono soundboard feed (sax and bass only)

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii

Software: Audacity. Fission, xAct

https://horselords.bandcamp.com/

https://artlitlab.org/

audio downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (449MB)

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Their live set in Los Angeles two years ago filmed by the great Daniel Kirby:

Minibeast at MKeUltra in Milwaukee on May 17, 2026

Since 2011, former Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott has been releasing music in the group Minibeast, backed by two Providence, RI musicians -- drummer Keith Seidel and recent addition Pete Weiss on bass. They produce a minimalist, crunchy experimental noise rock and the audience at MkeUltra was definitely absorbing and appreciating all the energy that Prescott and lads had on display.

Purchase their music here.

Recording information:

MINIBEAST
2026-05-17
Milwaukee, WI
MKeUltra

Peter Prescott: guitar, keyboards, voice
Pete Weiss: bass
Keith Seidel: drums

Setlist:
Improv Jam (3:08)
Town Crier (7:48)
Exclusive (4:43)
Id Night (3:50)
Nearo (5:33)
Cookie Data (5:40)
X-Ing (6:36)
On Ice (7:18)

Total time = 44:36

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF on stand
Additional source: mono soundboard feed from Brian Hospital
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (283 MB)

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video of the band performing in Medford, MA two months prior to this gig:

Garcia Peoples with Mike Bones at the Bur Oak in Madison on October 17, 2021

In October 2021, Garcia Peoples came to the Bur Oak in Madison to perform with Weak Signal opening. For their final piece they invited the legendary guitarist of Weak Signal, Mike Bones, on the stage for a 20-minute jam. It's a really excellent thundering performance that I have enjoyed listening to many times since.

Unfortunately, onstage equipment issues on prompted a member of the band to request that the rest of my recording of the GP's performance be withheld from circulation, so this is what we have to enjoy.

Purchase the band's music here.

Recording information:

GARCIA PEOPLES with MIKE BONES

2021-10-17

Madison, WI

The Bur Oak

Mike Bones: guitar 

Tom Malach: guitar and voice

Danny Arakaki: guitar and voice

Andy Cush: bass

Pat Gubler keyboards

Cesar Arakaki: drums

Tracklist:

01 Mike Bones Jam (20:14)

Total time = 20:14

Recorded by Richard Hayes with permission

Microphone: Beyerdynamic MC 930 in ORTF

Additional source: mono SBD feed

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (121 MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (57 MB)

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Bitter Wish at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 11, 2024

We continue an exploration of the bands who performed at the 2024 Milwaukee Psych Fest -- the last year that this beloved festival took place -- with this mind-blowing set by Bitter Wish. 

I don't like quoting promotional material, but I thought this description of the band from their Bandcamp page was perfect: "Formed in Philadelphia during the Covid days of fall 2021, Bitter Wish is a psychedelic power trio comprising guitarist John Comune, bassist Clint Takeda (Bardo Pond/Double Wig) and percussionist Scott Verrastro (Kohoutek/Heavy Lidders). While the band doesn't stray far from its Bardo Pond and Kohoutek roots, they incorporate more repetition and minimalism into their fuzzy vibe."

Purchase their music here.

Recording information:

BITTER WISH

2024-05-11

Milwaukee Psych Fest

John Comune: guitar

Clint Takeda: bass

Scott Verrastro: percussion

Setlist:

01 Entire set (43:42)

Total time = 43:42

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes 

Microphones: Line Audio OM1 omni pair

Additional source: mono soundboard feed

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre3

Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (260 MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (117 MB)

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video of a portion of this performance: