Back to Milwaukee!

Coming back to Milwaukee to perform at UWM thanks to Anti-Authoritarians Anonymous.

Sat Nov 13th, Milwaukee, WI
UW-Milwaukee, Union, Rm 280, 8PM

We're going to try and book a few shows between here and there. We've covered this ground a couple times, so it's kind of difficult finding somewhere new to play. Who knows anyone in Indiana?

Show 58: Milwaukee, Alchemist

No picture of the show space, camera died. Here's the street view though.

Turnout: 10

Cut of hat: 35

Personal Injury Report: Ben keeps getting pinched by his zipper.

Show Description: We played in the basement of the Alchemist in a tiny room that worked quite well, extra creepy, and also carpeted--that was new. I was really glad that some people who hadn't seen the show yet came out and also that folks who'd already seen it came back. Thanks Jeb, Pete and Jill. The performance went well despite my eating about a cup and a half of raisins out of nervousness beforehand. Since this worked, I intend to do it before every show.

Did you see this show? If you did, comment on it, write a review or ask us some questions. We'd love to hear it because we believe in artistic transparency.

Show 35: Jackpot Gallery, Riverwest, Milwaukee

Turnout: 14, some of which had already seen it.

Monetary Votes of support: 82, Our cut: 57, Merch: 8

Personal Injury Report: Ben foolishly made his left eye the target of the first gun hit.

Show Description: We were too busy (Hames-Drake wedding!) to remind everyone to come out for a play the day after Halloween. Even though Russ Bickerstaff mentioned the show, and Snap Milwaukee published Kurt Hartwig's long form review, we had a small turn out (most of whom had seen the show back in August) for our final Milwaukee performance of Ulysses' Crewmen. This was actually really nice, though, comfortable, almost family-like, and (I think) one of our best performances.

Did you see this show? If you did, write a review of it, comment, or ask us some questions. We'd like to hear it because we believe in artistic transparency.

Show 34: Lansing, MI

Turnout: 10

Monetary Votes of Support: 141. Merch: $12

Personal Injury Report: Ulysses' pants have developed a crotch hole that won't seem to stay sewed. MLS (the car) has similarly developed a hole in her fuel tank. New suit: $12 at value villiage. New fuel pump: over $600.

Show Description: A small but very supportive crew at a Unitarian Church. We played in the middle of the floor, right in front of the pulpit. Excellent discussion with folks from the Peace Education Center about the increasing futility of traditional non-violent protest, a JFK quote comes to mind... also discussed: the midwest social forum, how fluoride in the water makes people complacent, and how burning banks are beautiful.

This show made up for the kinda hurnsy shows we had last week, and the absurdly roundabout way of getting from Philly to MKE via Birmingham. We'll have a full economic report on this late October jaunt after this Sunday's show (and after we move to Philly).

Did you see this show? If you did, comment on it, write a review, or ask us some questions. We'd like to hear it because we believe in artistic transparency.

Show 27: At Stonefly, Milwaukee, WI

It might be 2 in the morning, but we find this picture quite hilarious. Please look closely.

Turnout: 25-30

Cut of Door: 62

Personal Injury Report: Nothing really.

Show Description: Our homecoming! And leaving! In the same show.

A lot of people showed up that we were very happy to have see it. Overall, things went quite well. All Tiny Creatures played some awesome music I was very glad to finally hear before the show and This Specific Dream hit up the epic guitars afterwards. Satisfaction. Ah, the thing the Rolling Stones could never get a hold of.

There were some little things though that came out during the performance just due to nervousness, bad habit or plain bad luck. I'm mentioning them here because my mind tends to stick to these sorts of things like gum in hair at a little kids birthday party.

So, I guess I'm still siding partially with the Rolling Stones over satisfaction.

One, on the bad luck side, the radio was doing its thing where it refuses to play at the correct speed and will only play all crazy fast. This has only happened once before. If you let it go, it sounds like a hamster on speed. A quick attempt at fixing it worked this time, thankfully. The other thing that was not bad luck but bad habit was that the stage direction voice had become stylized in a way that I hadn't noticed until then, after the show when it was pointed out, and don't like. It started as a cover for a sore throat a few shows back and has apparently stuck, and now needs to be unstuck. Lastly, eyes were shut too often. Unusual. Fixable.

Did you see this show? If you did, write a review, comment on it or ask us some questions. We'd like to hear it because we believe in artistic transparency.

Milwaukee Press

We got a bunch of press in the Milwaukee papers and blogs. Most notably this short positive review in The Shepherd, which calls the show

"a drama animated by a dark brutality" which "create[s] a fascinating dynamic" and that "[Kate] Pleuss brilliantly handles the challenge" of this play. - Russ Bickerstaff

In addition Russ also wrote this preview and this blog post and The Onion's AV Club Milwaukee interviewed ben about leaving Milwaukee.

Show 3: Borg Ward

Turnout: 20

Monetary Votes of Support: 64

Personal Injury Report: Nada, we are getting better.

Description: After the show we got some feedback that the second time seeing it is more disturbing than the first. Performance-wise, I felt more confident about the middle and end of the show than the beginning. Ben had his best performance yet. All in all: Satisfying. We also got to peek in the The Borg Ward's old old body cooler.

Did you see these shows? If you did, post comments, questions or reviews.

Shows 1 and 2: Cream City Collectives

Night One, August 14th

Turnout: 40-50

Monetary Votes of Support: 124

Personal Injury Report: Kate mercilessly bashed Ben in the noggin with the gun.

Description: Success! The audience got it. The formal Brechtian tactics were described as being a little odd at first but then gotten used to. The night left us feeling a bit invincible. ~

Night Two, August 15th

Turnout: 15

Monetary Votes of Support: 15

Personal Injury Report: UNSCATHED!

Description: Wah, wah... Second night was not as energized as the first. But we did prove for a second time that we can in fact carry the entire set on our backs on bicycles in the dark, and were also asked by a pleased audience member if we like being who we are. ~

Did you see these shows? Please post reviews in the comment form below!