After seeing Noel Gallagher’s post-Oasis project when it came through New York City a few months ago, I decided I’d try to catch his act again elsewhere.
I traveled to Milwaukee, WI for Tuesday night’s Noel show at the historic Pabst Theatre. My pal Photo came up from Chicago and we made a full day of it.
The gig was great and the venue was exceptional. Built in 1895 with the backing of brewery owner Frederick Pabst, the 1345 seat theatre has National Historic Landmark status. A massive chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The highest of two balconies is set at a very steep angle. We sat in the first balcony. It felt as if we were right on top of the stage. The distance between my seat and the performers was such that you saw everything in sharp detail without the aid of binoculars.
Milwaukee is a fun town. If you like taverns with great character and history, they’re all over the place. We hit three before the show.
1. Points East Pub: The bar opens at 3 PM, the grill at 4 PM. We got there a little after three and stuck around for the $2 burger special. It was dee-lish. Most unique was the bar’s preparation of Buffalo Wings. At Points East, the wings get a few minutes on the grill after the deep fry and outer coating is applied. It adds some crunch and extra flavor to the exterior.
2. The bar at Nest 725 of the Polish Falcons of America: This place is as Milwaukee as it gets. The century-old fraternal organization conducts business at this facility which includes a bowling alley and physical fitness space. The main bar above the bowling alley is oval-shaped. You definitely get the sense that the mission here is to be a hub for community involvement regardless of age. That there’s a classic bar in the middle of it all makes sense only because this is what Wisconsin does.
3. Uptowner: Dating back to 1884, this watering hole shows its age in a good way. It was a scruffy crowd gathered here for the couple rounds we enjoyed. The guy who sat next to me spent 30 minutes complaining about extreme pain in his right leg and lower back. When I finally was able to get a word in, I told him that I found that a cold beer often eases some of the discomfort one may have. To that, he raised his glass, smiled and thanked me for projecting optimism.
Noel closed with “Don’t Look Back” which is a pretty good way to send the crowd home. Regular keyboard player Mike Rowe was missing from this show to be back in the UK for the birth of a child. A roadie substituted and sounded good.
Before Photo went home Wednesday morning, we had breakfast at Michael’s Family Restaurant on the campus of Marquette University. In business since 1984, Michael’s has named its chunky, fried breakfast potatoes offering “American Fries.” The coffee here hit the spot.
On Wednesday night, I hit the Bucks/Cavs game at the Bradley Center. I bought a cheap seat in the upper level. The place was empty despite the fact Milwaukee is very much in contention for the final playoff spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Attendance was announced at 11,849 but there couldn’t have been more than 7500 in the house. Talented Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings appeared content to let his backcourt partner Monta Ellis take lots of shots. Ellis ended with 30 points. The Bucks won by 9. The Cavs stink, especially without their injured star Kyrie Erving. Cleveland has now lost nine in a row, most of them blowouts.
Before the game, I had a brat at the Milwaukee Brat House near the arena. The plump link produced by the Usinger’s Sausage and Smoked Meats company was served on a soft, fresh pretzel roll. Cooked in beer, this was a great bratwurst.
I flew the home team airline through Chicago. The flight between Chicago and Milwaukee lasts just fifteen minutes. The captain of the 50-seat regional jet that took me to Milwaukee on Tuesday said he reached a maximum altitude of just 7000 feet.
Tuesday was election day in Wisconsin. Mitt Romney’s success there came amid what felt like the distraction and political fatigue of efforts to recall that state’s governor Scott Walker. More than 900-thousand registered Wisconsin voters signed petitions to trigger the recall effort. On June 5, Walker will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in a bid to retain his job for the two-and-a-half-year balance of his four-year term. It’s the first time in Wisconsin history a governor has been subject to a recall election.
The final leg of my return trip home featured a celebrity sighting on the Q33 bus of all places. Bachelorette Emily Maynard sat near the front of the bus with a piece of luggage. She agreed to take photos with several women (young and old) who recognized her and expressed disbelief that a television star would ride a city bus in Queens without a bachelor in tow.