Gigs Up – 50 Years of Milwaukee Punk Poster Art

What’s the best way to relive 50 years of Milwaukee punk music? Listen to the WMSE of course. The second-best way? Check out an exhibition of 50 years of Milwaukee punk posters called “Gig’s Up,” coming to the Real Tinsel gallery (1013 W. Historic Mitchell St.) September 26 through December 31.

“Gig’s Up” will feature posters from iconic Milwaukee artists like Eric Von Munz, Francisco Ramirez, James Kloiber, Guy Hoffman, and Bob Solem. The posters will cover shows from the likes of Violent Femmes, Die Kreuzen, The Shivvers, Oil Tasters, The Haskels, and many more. Gone-but-not-forgotten Milwaukee venues like Zak’s, Starship, the Unicorn, and Circle-A will also make appearances. It’ll all be curated by Clancy Carroll, Dave Luhrssen, and WMSE’s Paul Host and Tim Noble.

The run of the show comes complete with a number of special events. Opening night (September 26) will feature a panel discussion (“Nightclubbing”) and a musical performance from Eric Blowtorch. October 24 will feature another panel discussion (“DIY Art and the Dada Spirit in Music Posters”) and another musical performance (Spud Bucket). Ditto for November 14 (“Notes from the Milwaukee Underground Music Scene,” music from Liv Mueller).

“For five decades, Milwaukee’s punk scene has thrived in basements, bars, and DIY venues, and its posters—hand-drawn, photocopied, silkscreened, and stapled to poles—have served as the bold markers of that underground energy,” reads a press release. “This exhibition gathers hundreds of these handmade works, from one-night-only flyers to iconic designs, creating a sweeping chronicle of how punk’s spirit was broadcast and preserved on paper. Highlights include original works by artists Richard Cole, John Hill, Guy Hoffman, James Kloiber, Francisco Ramirez, and Eric Von Munz, alongside countless contributions salvaged from the personal archives of the scene’s most loyal fans, DJs, and musicians.”