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Lake Street Dive Brings its ‘Gather Around Sounds’ Tour to Milwaukee

The Riverside Theater, Milwaukee

Written and photographed by Brooke Billick

Lake Street Dive brought its eclectic cabaret-style brand of music to a sold-out performance before a crowd of 2,500 people at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater.

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Founded in 2004, Lake Street Dive has developed a huge and devoted fanbase for their unique, multi-genre sound combining elements of R&B, soul, jazz, blues and pop.  LSD’s music is infectious dealing with everything from personal challenges to sociopolitical issues.  Their songs range from soulful ballads to simply laugh-out-loud lyrics, licks and catchy pop tunes.

Over the years, Lake Street Dive has toured relentlessly around the world and has developed a large catalog of original music as well as covers.  Their popularity is such that they typically sell out their performances, as they did in Milwaukee.

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The band revolves around the dynamic and sumptuous voice of Rachel Price.  Raised in a musical family, she has been performing and touring since a very early age.  Her earliest credited influence was jazz, which is still very much a part of her repertoire.

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Joining Rachel Price in Lake Street Dive are co-founding members Bridget Kearney (acoustic and electric bass, vocals), and Mike Calabrese (drums, organ, vocals) and more recent members Akie Bermiss (keyboards, organ, vocals) and James Cornelison (guitar, vocals).

The crowd at the Riverside roared when Lake Street Dive came on stage.

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Their first song was the soulful “Feels Like the Last Time,” from the band’s 2021 album, Obviously.  Describing the pain of breakups and raising the question of a reunion, the song felt personal and universal.

The band’s staging was unique.  The opening songs featured all of the band members surrounding Rachel Price on a raised dais.  A perfect setting for the tight harmonies throughout the show.  The show had the band members spreading out on stage and then occasionally returning to the dais.

The band offered up several new songs that Rachel said will be featured on a new album to be released in 2024.

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“Same Old News,” featured Akie Bermiss as lead vocalist, bringing to mind an immediate comparison with a George Benson-style of smooth jazz.

Rachel Price engaged with the audience frequently between songs.  She relayed a story about former member and co-founder, Michael “McDuck” Olsen.  While in college in Wisconsin after a bar night, Olsen overheard a conversation between friends involving one young lady who overindulged.  She walked home unsteadily.  Olsen decided to follow her, to ensure she made it safely.  Her pace quickened into a run.  Naively, Olsen picked up his pace!  All of which then transitioned into Olsen’s penned song, “My Heart’s in its Right Place.”  “Can you tell that my chivalry’s rusty? / Don’t be scared, ‘cause my heart’s in its right place!”

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Lake Street Dive traditionally plays audience requests during their shows.  Mid-set, Rachel Price pulled the first request out of a hat and promptly said, “Oh shit!”  She announced that the request was for Andrew Gold’s “Thank You for Being a Friend.”  After wondering aloud whether the band actually knew the song, she gamely started singing.  While they may have dropped a word or two, the band gave a great rendition of the song!

Lake Street Dive is a well-oiled machine.  While Price may be the centerpiece, each member offered their distinct talents to the whole ensemble.

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Rachel Price told the story underlying the band’s name.  As she mentioned, when the band was formed about 20 years ago, they figured the best they would be doing is playing in dive bars—hence the name Lake Street Dive.  Given the venues they now play in, Rachel then said, of course, she wasn’t complaining!

This transitioned into their next song, “Got Me Fooled,” described as a dive song.

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Lake Street Dive poured its collective heart into this performance!  We’ve all been to shows where the performers were simply phoning it in.  But not with LSD!  Looking at the beaming faces of everyone on stage throughout the set, you can tell they were exactly where they wanted to be.

The song “25,” was a particularly sweet ballad with Price on stage supported by Akie Bermiss on keyboards.

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Rachel Price showed her vocal chops throughout the evening.  But she really belted it out during “Good Kisser.”  A song about the aftermath of a bad breakup, Price really reached to the rafters with the refrain “Tell ‘em I’m a good kisser!”

When “Good Kisser” closed out the set with Rachel and crew waving and walking off stage, the auditorium exploded in thunderous applause calling for an encore.

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Rachel and crew obliged with the final three songs.  Monica Martin joined Rachel Price in starting off with a sweet rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”

Next the band gathered around Akie Bermiss’ keyboard to support his lead on “Shower,” a fun romp about the joys of, well, taking your mate into the shower!

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Lake Street Dive concluded the night with “Bad Self Portraits,” the title track from their 2014 album release.

Monica Martin Opener

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Chicago-born and rural Wisconsin-raised Monica Martin opened for Lake Street Dive.  Now based in Los Angeles, Martin has a style reminiscent of jazz and blues singers like Billie Holiday.

Accompanying Martin was long-time friend and collaborator, guitarist James Blake. 

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Martin’s vocals were soft and lilting, feeling at times like they could sweep you away to another plane. 

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Her last song was “Go Easy, Kid,” a sweet ballad about lost dreams and foregone opportunities that may, in the end, remain out of our grasp, “’Cause, after all, no one’s in control / Go easy, kid, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll.”

Lake Street Dive concludes its fall tour on November 17 at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas.  While they have a couple of performances currently scheduled for Spring 2024, undoubtedly the band will be announcing a full tour in 2024 to support its next release.  Follow Lake Street Dive at their website:  https://www.lakestreetdive.com

For news about Monica Martin, visit her website: https://monicamartinofficial.com

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See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see. 

Lake Street Dive Set List

11.11.23 – Riverside Theater – Milwaukee

1.     Feels Like the Last Time

2.     Baby Don’t Leave Me Alone with My Thoughts

3.     Red Light Kisses

4.     Help Myself

5.     Anyone Who Had a Heart

6.     Hypotheticals

7.     Love Doctor

8.     Same Old News

9.     My Heart’s in its Right Place

10.  Better Not Tell You

11.  Request 1 – Thank You for Being a Friend (Andrew Gold cover)

12.  Request 2

13.  Request 3 – Neighbor Song

14.  Side Pony

15.  Got Me Fooled

16.  25

17.  You Go Down Smooth

18.  Seventeen

19.  Good Kisser

Encore:

20.  Can’t Help Falling in Love (with Monica Martin)

21.  Shower

22.  Bad Self Portraits

Brooke Billick is based in Milwaukee. By night, he happily haunts crowded bars, taverns and music venues featuring live music while pursuing that perfect artist profile or facial expression. He has covered singer-songwriters, bands, and music festivals for several years, and feels energized by the passion and talent of the performing artist. Facing the prospect of retirement from full-time employment head on, Brooke looks forward to expanding his photographic opportunities and takes to heart Tom Petty’s advice – “if you don’t run, you rust.” You can find Brooke’s portfolios on Flickr and Facebook and follow him on Instagram @brookebillickphotography.

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