$10-20 suggested donation (no one turned away)
*100% of proceeds donated to the 21st St Housing Cooperative*
Mightmare is the solo project of River Shook, a queer non-binary writer, composer, producer, and performer, most known for fronting punk country band Sarah Shook & the Disarmers. Mightmare’s debut album Cruel Liars showcases River’s versatility as an artist, writer, and singer, leaning hard into early influences such as Elliott Smith, Interpol, Belle & Sebastian, and Blonde Redhead.
Cruel Liars is a riff-centric wading in the indie rock dark pop shallows with sleek hooks and a sense of unstoppability in the face of imminent danger. Mightmare makes you feel seen, heard, and indomitable.
RAT BATH is a band of all trans-gender individuals that reclaim queer-coded villains from their childhood as heros in their storytelling and strive for visibility in the music industry. They describe their sound as “Post-Everything Rat Core” but have also been called Bubble Grunge, Alternative Emo, Dirt Americana and Melodic Hardcore. Which ever way you slice it; they are fast, loud, and have a unique ability to seamlessly blend influences together.
Their freshman album Rat From Hell is considered to be Vocalist, Fred’s autobiography and was named one of The Milwaukee Record’s best albums of 2022. The shift in sound between tracks highlight the different ways trauma manifests in one’s life ranging from anger, vengeance, grief, romanticism, and finally, catharsis.
Their second studio album Call Me a Monster, otherwise known as their “Murder Country Rock Opera,” showcases inspiration from both mid-century Outlaw Country and Y2K style Emo and Post-Hardcore.
The sophomore album once again earned Milwaukee Record’s recognition as one of the best albums of 2023 as well as national recognition, marking a new era in the quickly expanding “Y’allternative” movement in 2020’s independent music.
Kat and the Hurricane is an all-queer and trans synth rock/indie-pop band from Madison, WI composed of guitarist/vocalist Kat Rhapsody (they/them), keyboardist/vocalist Benjamin Rose (they/them), and drummer Alex Nelson (they/them). The band has stirred up a storm across the Midwest since 2017 thanks to their energetic live shows, strong sense of community, and genre-defying songwriting. While preparing their debut full length album, Got It Out, the trio has appeared at several regional and national festivals, completed 3 regional and national tours, and received the coveted Artist of The Year award from their local Madison Area Music Association.
Got It Out, released in October 2024, represents a new high in Kat and the Hurricane’s craft of catharsis. Seamlessly weaving elements of synth rock, pop punk, indie-pop, alternative rock, indie-folk, and hip-hop across ten tracks, the band speaks to the growing pains of mental health and trauma healing. From the raucous stadium rock anthem, “Therapy,” high-energy pop-punk confessional “Caffeine & Alcohol,” and lush indie-pop closer, “Smoke,” Kat and the Hurricane illustrates how, even with some healing and a lot of getting it out, pain never truly goes away – it simply shifts.
When asked what it means to be visible as an all-queer band, Kat and the Hurricane express gratitude at being able to be the representation they needed when they were younger, citing the challenges openly LGBTQ+ artists have endured in decades past. Yet, while the band is proud to show up for their queer and trans fanbase, their genre-fluid music touches the ears and hearts of many. Drawing on varied influences from 2000s pop/rock (The Killers, Walk the Moon, Paramore, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World) to today’s sapphic music legends (Tegan & Sara, girl in red, MUNA, Chappell Roan), the new album explores themes of mental health, healing, and learning to love who you are – themes that anyone can relate to.
TMC is a local spooky garage surf band. Coming from diverse genres and backgrounds, the band spreads the good word of Mothman through enlightening guitar riffs, soothing horns, and punishing vocals.
Honeyboy is a name my mother gave me.
This is most of the music I have been a part of.
Akimel O’otham in Milwaukee, WI
