Local Sounds…

Ever heard of the band Cleveland Miles? The Riverwest-based urban rock outfit has a self-titled album 90% complete. They aren’t established on the local scene yet…they’ve got a different approach…let’s see if it works! Check out our feature next month.


New Harmony Indiana, a local band named after a 19th century utopian community, celebrated its first CD release at the end of July with a party at the Zodiac Lounge. Riverwest resident Matt Krajewski and friends are selling their CD at the Riverwest Co-op, online at cdbaby.com, and at Atomic Records. Their music has been described as mixing Latin dance, industrial jazz, moaning hillbilly ballads and the occasional pop song.


Comin’ atcha…local legendary Taste Emcees have been in the studio. Look for their mixed CD “Power to the People,” a compilation of their hottest hits and new joints. Shenzi Rek sayz… On the streetz in a minute…tasteemcees.com Get Down with UPSIDE GROOVE COALITION! These Milwaukee musicians mix the best elements of funk, rock, jazz, blues, latin, ska, and R&B and turns them into dynamic, infectious, rump-shakin’ music. Look here for a review of their new CD, Funky Estafado, in September. Join UGC for their video shoot, Aug. 22 at the Rave. Free! Doors open at 6 p.m. Action starts at 7 p.m! Also, the Coalition will be doing their groove thang August 12 at Onopa. Show starts at 9pm. $5 cover. Peep the funky coalition at www.upsidegc.com Got some arts and entertainment buzz you’d like to share? Send an e-mail to editor@riverwestcurrents.org by mid-month to get in September’s issue. Artists and musicians, e-mail info about your events and gigs to dan@riverwestcurrents.org for inclusion in our online events listings!


Art Bits…

Funky Art Man Eddie Davis is doing his funky art thing Sundays at Garden Market on Locust and Bremen Streets. Caricatures and portraits available on the spot. Ask about his new techniques. Eddie’s paintings are also on display at Lucky Star Studio in the Third Ward and the YMCA Youth Leadership Academy on 12th & North.


Calling all artists! Starving and otherwise! The Currents is seeking volunteer submissions for publication. Urban art, graffiti-style, paintings, drawing, sketches, sculpture. Please submit high resolution jpegs or tiffs to tanya@riverwestcurrents.org. Include your name, phone number, title of the work and a few lines about how and why you do what you do. Artists retain all copyrights to their work.


Local Artists Extravaganza!!! Milwaukee’s Artists are invited to celebrate & exhibit their work at our Urban Artists House Party at Onopa Brewing Co on Aug. 12. It will be a night of full exposure, with live band the Upside Groove Coalition, DJ Swan on the wheels, local paparazzi, and an open mic showcase for Milwaukee’s hottest spoken word artists, musicians, and performance artists. Bring your paintings, fashions, sculpture, jewelry, CDs, pottery… To register as a vendor and for more details contact tanya@riverwestcurrents.org or call 218-8380! Deadline is August 10….


Strive Media Institute, 1818 N. Martin Luther King Drive in Milwaukee, will showcase a number of independent, non-fiction films through a collaboration with Listen Up and P.O.V. (PBS) There will be seven different independent films shown, one each Tuesday at noon. Viewers are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. The following films will be shown: Aug 5-Soldados: Chicanos in Vietnam Aug 12-Lost Boys of Sudan Aug 19-State of Denial Aug 26-What I want my words to do to you Sept 2-Hair Daze P.O.V. (“point of view”) is a division of American Documentary, Inc. Listen Up helps youth be heard in the mass media and contributes to a culture of free speech and social responsibility. “Having the film festival at Strive is great because it’s another outlet to promote diversity and to open young people’s minds,” said Vertna Bradley, Film and Video Production Supervisor at Strive Media Institute. Strive Media Institute’s mission is “Promoting Diversity through Mass Communication.” For more information about Strive Media Institute, please visit www.strivemedia.com.


Susanne (Benish) Carter of Carter Productions has revised and expanded her original one-woman show, WELCOME TO MY MID-LIFE CRISIS! This production is a sexy, zany, whimsical, and hilarious look into one woman’s search for her lost libido. Carter, with tongue-in-cheek, discovers the dilemma caused by examining the good and not so flattering aspects of her own persona. Using thirteen unique scenarios, she creates pathos in comedy and tragedy to create a multi-generational piece that touches on issues of interest to everyone. The show is inspired by the empty nest syndrome, aging of the World War II generation, and the on- set of menopause. Using music, dance, stand-up comedy, pantomime, monologues, and text, a theatrical extravaganza unfolds. A sound score by Dan Gnader connects interviews of local citizens to create a backdrop. Performances are scheduled for August 7, 8, and 9, 7:30 PM at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts. Tickets can be purchased by calling 414-871-1523.


Celebrations

Rhythms For A Nuclear Free World…Join Milwaukee’s peacekeepers and activists at the annual Lanterns for Peace Program: A Commemoration of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The event will feature world music & activities for the entire Family. Performers include: Lucky Diop and the Kassumai African Band & Dancers, One Drum, Salsa , Middle Eastern Jazz, Poetry, Peace Art, Lantern Making, Origami, Story Telling, Face Painting, and International Foods. There will be a traditional floating of Japanese Lanterns on the Milwaukee River at dusk. Check it out Saturday, Aug. 9, from 4 to 10:30 p.m. Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton. For more info call Peace Action at 964-5158!


Want a chance to win on-stage seating to watch one of R&B’s hottest artists in the nation? African World Festival runs from August 1 to 3. Visit www.africanworldfestival.com to find out more.


Look out for the big Brew Town Singles Bash at Onopa Tuesday, September 23! Want to participate in the dating game? E-mail tanya@riverwestcurrents.org


Gordon Park Diversity Picnic and potluck is Thursday, April 14! Benefit for Riverwest Diversity Campaign. Help create a mosaic peace symbol. Music by Riverwest Accordion Club & others, join the fun, bring the kids! Gordon Park picnic shelter. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Riverwest Currents – Volume 2 – Issue 8 – August 2003