A popular and critically acclaimed indie rock group from Wisconsin is about to take a national stage.Bon Iver has been scheduled to perform on Saturday Night Live.
Their performances will air on Saturday, Feb. 4 on the show set to begin at 10:30 p.m. on TODAY'S TMJ4.
That performance comes the night before the Super Bowl.
Bon Iver also has been nominated for several Grammy awards.
Harmony Bar & Grill
2201 Atwood Ave.
The Harmony could safely be considered a haven for blues and jazz aficionados, since its carefully-curated jukebox is packed with numerous discs from big-name bluesmen (Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Taj Mahal) and legendary jazz players (Cannonball Adderly, Lionel Hampton).
The machine also includes a smattering of classic rock standbys (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young) and a handful of selections from artists scheduled to visit the nearby Barrymore Theatre, including troubadour Steve Earle and influential singer-songwriter John Hiatt.
Random tidbit: Every CD in the jukebox comes directly from Harmony owner Keith Daniels' personal music collection.
High Noon Saloon
701 E. Washington Ave.
One of the city's most diverse jukeboxes is also one of its most underutilized. "I think I've seen one person play it in the last two months," said bartender Kimbra Berry. A concert venue first, most of the music played at the High Noon is on stage. In fact, Berry said she usually has to caution people not to throw too much money into the machine, since it's shut down during both sound checks and live shows.
That said, the jukebox boasts an impressive selection, ranging from roots-rock (Alejandro Escovedo, Old 97's, Devil in a Woodpile) to heavy metal (Slayer, High on Fire) to hip-hop (N.W.A., Cage, Danger Mouse's "The Grey Album")
Random tidbit: The best (and possibly only) time to listen to music on the High Noon jukebox is during the bar's happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Ideal Bar
1968 Atwood Ave.
Co-owner John Gray said Ideal Bar's neon-illuminated jukebox sports an "across-the-board" selection because the no-frills watering hole draws "an eclectic, across-the-board clientele." That said, there's a definite focus on rock from the '60s and '70s, with many selections - Warren Zevon, Steely Dan, Foghat - that seem designed to satiate the crowd spilling over from the nearby Barrymore Theatre.
There's also a smattering of '70s soul (James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield), classic country standbys (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings) and albums from a pair of singer-songwriters who share a knack for turning heartache into poetry (Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams).
One song you won't find on the jukebox these days? The Allman Brothers Band's "Mountain Jam," a patience-testing, 20-plus minute instrumental that Gray had removed from the box after hearing it one too many times.
Random tidbit: Selection number 0101 is Richland Center musician Jim Walktendonk's anthemic "Ideal Bar," a song that praises the local tavern while inviting listeners to "Stop on down to the Ideal Bar/Be seen and be cool."
Le Tigre Lounge
1328 S. Midvale Blvd.
Stepping into Le Tigre is a bit like stepping back in time. The colorful lounge feels like a kitschy holdover from another era, decorated with all manner of tigers (stuffed, plastic and ceramic) and painted in tiger hues (black and orange stripes color everything from the carpet to the lampshades). The jukebox, which still spins 45 RPM vinyl, projects a similarly out-of-time feel.
Owner Steve Joseff describes the musical selections, which range from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to "modern" acts like Elvis Presley and Cher, as "old music." A better term might be classic, and the quieter, crooner fare suits the bar's laid-back vibe. Still, it was at least mildly amusing to hear Joseff say that he doesn't want "wild (music) that brings in wild crowds" as he sat at the bar surrounded by dozens upon dozens of extremely wild animals.
Random tidbit: Tom Jones' "Green, Green Grass of Home" is the most popular selection on Le Tigre's jukebox. Also note that the bar has a no cursing policy, and emitting so much as a single swear word can get you booted. Yet another reason why you won't find Cee Lo Green's "(Forget) You" on the jukebox.
Mickey's Tavern
1524 Williamson St.
The anything-goes attitude toward music at Mickey's Tavern is reflected in the top three songs played on the joint's jukebox: (1) Killdozer's "Cranberries," (2) Neko Case's "Set Out Running" and (3) Prince's "Erotic City." Bartender Matthew Schweiger described it as a "punk rock jukebox for a punk rock crowd," a statement supported by the high number of pierced-and-tattooed patrons populating the bar on a recent Monday evening.
The jukebox also is stocked with a number of mix CDs - complete with handwritten song titles - assembled by employees and local business owners (a disc compiled by Mad City Music Exchange owner Dave Zero includes tunes by the likes of Flipper and Roxy Music), meaning that it's possible to spend hours browsing the machine's numerous selections.
"It's like a minimum of $3 whenever I play it," said Schweiger. "It's like, ‘Oh, I forgot about that song. Give me more money!'"
Random tidbit: Don't expect to pop in during happy hour to play a few tunes. Since the jukebox isn't turned on until the dining hours end at 10 p.m., it remains the exclusive domain of the late-night crowd.
Nick's Restaurant
226 State St.
The jukebox in this Madison institution reflects its long history. The machine includes numerous Johnny Cash discs, because the legendary Man in Black used to pop over for a pre-show drink before performing at the old Capitol Theater back in the '60s.
Of course, even Cash's classic tunes can grow tiresome when you're exposed to them everyday. "I don't want to say this," said owner Dino Christ when asked if there were any songs he could no longer stomach hearing in the restaurant, "But Johnny Cash was played every day for 10 years straight."
The machine also includes albums from other former regulars, including Garbage and singer Joy Dragland, who worked as a waitress at the joint off-and-on for five years before relocating to New York. And while the jukebox is heavy on more traditional fare (Cash, Frank Sinatra, Otis Redding), there are nods to genres as diverse as hip-hop (Outkast, The Beastie Boys) and modern rock (Muse).
Random tidbit: The jukebox's most popular selections include Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues"), James Brown ("Sex Machine") and a pair of tunes by Lady Gaga ("Paparazzi" and "Poker Face"), likely a side effect of the bar's close proximity to the university.
The Wisco
852 Williamson St.
The jukebox at the bar formerly known as the Willy St. Pub & Grill is a hard rock fan's dream. Selections range from noise rock (The Jesus Lizard) to doom (Electric Wizard) to classic metal (Iron Maiden). Like Mickey's, the machine is also stocked with a number of employee-curated compilations ("The Original Wisco Disco" includes songs by Hammerhead, L7 and the Buzzcocks). The bar also takes special care to spotlight the Wisconsin music scene, including discs from area noisemakers like Shotdown and Droids Attack.
"The guy who stocks our jukebox has pushed us (to switch to an Internet jukebox)," said bartender/band booker Brooks Jewell. "But if we did that we couldn't highlight local music or put on those choice favorites you can't really find elsewhere."
Random tidbit: Selection number 0001 is the boozy "Getting Drunk and Fallin' Down" by Hank Williams III, an appropriate tune for what looks to be a hard-drinking crowd gathered at the bar early on a recent Monday evening.
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The iconic boombox, hoisted on one shoulder, may be a thing of the past, but it was the featured instrument and symbol for Sunday's “Boombox the Wasteland” at Union Corners. MIKE DEVRIES — The Capital Times
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Summer's here and so is music in Wisconsin.
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Milwaukee's own, Violent Femmes, covering Gnarls Barkley's song "Crazy". Awesomeness.
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