Author Lauren Keene

Mandatory Milwaukee: Caroline’s Jazz Club hits all the right notes in Walker’s Point

November 22, 2017

Some places come and go, while some places become icons. Mandatory Milwaukee is all about the latter. Join us as we revisit beloved and well-worn local staples with fresh eyes, and explore how they might figure...

Harambe tweeters and Kylie Jenner superfans: Catching up with two unconventional Milwaukee internet stars

Lauren Keene

November 14, 2017

Writing research papers, listening to music, watching porn: these are only a few of the things that the internet has made immensely easier. Activities that once required copious amounts of effort and travel are...

Three Riverwest basement bands played 7 Mile Fair, and it was just as weird as you’d expect

Lauren Keene

August 9, 2017

Hailed as "Wisconsin's Largest Flea Market," the elusive 7 Mile Fair is one of the few places where you can buy live birds, bootleg Beats by Dre, fresh produce, fidget spinners, pork rinds…you get it. Located i...

The Killers exceed expectations at sold-out Milwaukee show

Lauren Keene

August 3, 2017

During MTV's final era of actually showing music on television, people of a certain age were exposed to countless mid-aughts top 40 hits. Various morning music video showcases like AMTV, Music Mix, and Morning ...

“Maybe I am a sucker, after all”: My reading with Milwaukee psychic Mary Ellen Pride

Lauren Keene

July 18, 2017

Last month, I spent the first half of my 21st birthday seeing a psychic. As a self-proclaimed superfreak, getting my cards read by Mary Ellen Pride seemed like the perfect way to spend my early hours as an adul...

The Guess Who brings classic rock to Fontana, Wisconsin

Lauren Keene

July 17, 2017

It's hard to imagine that legendary rock critic Lester Bangs would be hanging out with 15-year-old kids and encouraging them to write for Rolling Stone and follow a fictional band obviously inspired by Led Zepp...

Mandatory Milwaukee: Dretzka’s Department Store is a ghostly reminder of yesteryear

Lauren Keene

July 11, 2017

This article is from 2017.Some places come and go, while some places become icons. Mandatory Milwaukee is all about the latter. Join us as we revisit beloved and well-worn local staples with fresh eyes, and...

Huey Lewis And The News enchant Summerfest fans with timeless talent and charisma

Lauren Keene

July 8, 2017

For its 50th edition, Summerfest treated music history nerds to a mini museum located inside the festival grounds. The Summerfest 50 historical exhibit is jam-packed with fun facts about the festival's longtime...

T-Pain’s Summerfest set was some killer, some filler, but still a good time

Lauren Keene

July 6, 2017

"Every generation is afraid of the music that comes from the next," says Lindsay Weir in the second episode of Freaks And Geeks. She's discussing the Sex Pistols with her parents, who are appalled by the idea o...

Killing time at the Renegade Stage, Summerfest’s one-stop shop for the eccentric and eclectic

Lauren Keene

July 5, 2017

Eating and drinking all day at Summerfest can take a toll on your wallet, and walking around checking out the vendors really doesn't take that long. Plus, let's get real: it's the same stuff every year. Fortuna...

Car Seat Headrest delivers inconsistent performance at Johnson Controls stage

Lauren Keene

July 3, 2017

In the 2001 film Legally Blonde, future lawyer Elle Woods makes it her goal to help nail technician Paulette snag her dream guy. Albeit quirky, Paulette is cute and charming. She lacks the confidence that she n...

Jack Antonoff leads Bleachers’ gigantic dance party

Lauren Keene

July 2, 2017

Listening to FM radio is the ultimate old-fashioned way to find a new favorite band. It of course has its share of drawbacks, like super annoying ads and not being able to pick what song is next in the queue. R...

Mandatory Milwaukee: American Science & Surplus is a treasure trove of weird, wacky shit

Lauren Keene

June 26, 2017

Milwaukee Record’s guide to Milwaukee-area frozen custard

Lauren Keene

May 9, 2017

If beer is Milwaukee's signature drink and cheese is Milwaukee's signature snack, frozen custard is the obvious candidate for Milwaukee's signature dessert.Custard was introduced to a wide audience at the C...

Cactus Club hosted an all-ages show and nothing terrible happened

Lauren Keene

April 24, 2017

Last weekend, Direct Hit! formally released its Fat Wreck Chords reissue of the 2011 album Domesplitter with a hometown show at Cactus Club. In addition to the release show circumstance (and the fact that it wa...

Power chords, snacks, and glitter: My weekend at Ladies Rock Milwaukee

Lauren Keene

March 30, 2017

I write about music. I listen to a music a lot. I have a (very low-level) music industry job. It's safe to say that music is a very important of my life.And yet, I can't play music.Naturally, I've dabbl...

“This is our idea of a fucking weapon!” Patti Smith’s unforgettable return to Milwaukee

Lauren Keene

March 10, 2017

Patti Smith made her long-awaited return to Milwaukee Thursday night, taking the stage of a Milwaukee venue (the Milwaukee Theatre) for the first time in 38 years. She treated fans to her iconic album Horses in...

Please Stand By: Catching up with The Shivvers’ Jill Kossoris

Lauren Keene

February 7, 2017

Named "Milwaukee's Best Band" by the Milwaukee Journal in 1982, The Shivvers remain one of the city's most cherished rock and roll groups. Often described as cult figures, the power pop five-piece never achieve...

Secondhand news: A guide to Milwaukee-area thrift stores

Lauren Keene

February 1, 2017

After the Great Recession, thrifting became a staple activity for many Americans coping with financial instability. In Southeastern Wisconsin alone, Goodwill's profits increased by 90 percent from 2009 to 201...

Young, shy, and snotty: Being an underage music fan in Milwaukee

Lauren Keene

January 11, 2017

Beer, cheese, motorcycles, sports—these are the things that a lot of people still think about when they hear the word "Milwaukee." I've lived in Milwaukee my entire life and have never really cared about the ...