If you notice that the guy on your volleyball team or the girl in the next cubicle is smiling a lot this week or has a spring in his/her step, you may want to ask the following question: Are you going to see The Decemberists? The pride of Portland visits town for a sold-out show Friday night at the Riverside Theater and the anticipation is growing for fans -- particularly those who witnessed the band's previous visits at The Pabst.
It's not a given that tales of tequila-soaked, wayward forays into Tijuana would play well with Milwaukee's "beer and a shot" sensibilities. But when you consider that Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers (RCPM) have arguably produced some of America's most clever, engaging pop / rock over the past decade, it's no surprise this vastly under appreciated band has a fiercely loyal following in Brewtown and beyond.
British reggae rapper Pato Banton first came to wide acclaim when he dueted with Ranking Roger on The English Beat's "Pato and Roger A Go Talk" on The Beat's 1982 disc, "Special Beat Service." As he returns to Milwaukee for a gig at Shank Hall on Tuesday, April 28 at 8 p.m. with The Socialites and Amerlock, we hit Banton with a few questions via e-mail from the road.