The Comeback of Club Cramer

Milwaukee’s ‘DIY’ music scene is a place for local musicians to showcase their work and skills at all levels. There’s a place for every genre to be discovered, and as many local bands have continued to play, they have encountered a growing fanbase, and gained name recognition. Lately, the local scene has skyrocketed in popularity, including a sold-out show at Turner Hall, a 900+ capacity venue, that featured an exclusively local line-up. 

But these bands only gain popularity from playing ‘DIY’ venues, which are makeshift performance spaces set up in houses, usually basements. These venues have all the characteristics of regular concert venues, they charge cover, give out wristbands, and sometimes even sell merch. The only thing they lack is permanence, as they are most often run by college students or other young people who frequently move, or whose landlords won’t tolerate these concerts long term. However, basement venues are a quintessential part of allowing the local scene to grow and thrive.

Club Cramer is one of these venues. The house, on Cramer St., was off the scene for awhile due to a turnover of tenants. However, when the current residents moved in, they decided the venue would be worth reviving. Club Cramer hosted its return concert this past Friday, featuring local bands Superglue and Lake Drive. 

One of these residents is Noah Welsh, a UWM student and one of the organizers of the first revival concert. Welsh wanted to continue cultivating the music scene and give local concertgoers more options to experience the indie music scene. 

“It wasn’t as much of a process as much as it was a conversation. When we moved in together it was one of the first things we talked about. We knew the cool dudes who ran it before us so it was just kind of like ‘Do we want to keep this tradition going?’ Given we all love music and a good time it really was a no brainer,” says Welsh. “It took a little bit for us to figure out logistics but I think running a venue is a learn as you go kind of thing.”

The bands for Friday night’s show were both indie, emo music focused. As far as genres go in the DIY scene, indie, alternative, rock, and emo tend to dominate and attract the biggest fanbase. Welsh says this lineup was a good way to continue the legacy of Club Cramer. 

 “One of my super dope roommates is friends with one of the Lake Drive guys, and they said they wanted to bring their friends Superglue as well, so it all just manifested itself that way.  It’s our first show with this venue back open so I think this is a good way to get our foot back in the door,” says Welsh. “In the future I’m sure it will evolve as we love this scene and want to get ourselves and everyone else up close to it.”

The Club Cramer return was an eagerly anticipated show. “I was really excited just to experience these bands up close. I guess you can say that for all DIY shows, but Lake Drive just dropped a new single ‘Hollow’ which I love and I’ve heard they are eccentric performers,” says Welsh. “I had been listening to Superglue in anticipation for this show and they absolutely rip.”

The show started around 9:30 p.m., with a crowd that was much bigger than expected. Upstairs was a merch table and a spot for the photographers to set up equipment and bands to store instruments. The basement was decorated with string lights and had strangely high-quality acoustics, allowing for appreciation of lyricism and musicianship. 

Superglue played their opening set, featuring their new releases “Asteria Adonis” and “See For Me.” Superglue had many impressive moments, with intricate guitar and baselines that rang clear over the loud crowd. The first set encouraged energy and set the tone for the rest of the night. 

Lake Drive went on a little after 10 p.m., and played a set of new and old songs, as well as a popular cover in the middle. Lake Drive’s sound is intense, coordinated, and loud. Their stage presence encapsulates an emo vibe that pairs with their lyrics. Almost every song they play features a beat that works perfect for moshing, a process of concentrated shoving that usually occurs at DIY shows. It is a fun, high-energy occurrence that showcases the passion for local music. 

“The show at Club Cramer was an absolute stand out for us,” says Rayven Burdette, Lake Drive’s lead singer. “The energy of the crowd made us feel like we were playing a sold-out arena. It genuinely felt like a scene out of a movie.”

As the first performers in the revived Club Cramer, Superglue and Lake Drive set the tone for the shows at the venue to come. For Welsh, the scene and the venue seem to be on an upward trajectory. “I just see us putting together more and more dope shows and spreading the Midwest’s awesome music. We got a few things working. Nothings set in stone yet, but I think people will be excited for what’s in store,” says Welsh. 

DIY shows are deeply important to the community. Music in Milwaukee is a place where many people feel grounded, connected, and safe. The Milwaukee music scene is bound together by common interest, goals, and investment in growth, and most involved are passionate about their craft. This all allows for networking, it makes good music accessible, and most importantly, it’s fun that benefits the livelihood of many musicians. 

“These venues are important because they are hugely beneficial for admirers of music, musicians, and the bands themselves. Local talent gets to be showcased in a really intimate way that I believe can’t really be matched,” says Welsh. “There’s something special about getting really up close to incredible talent. As a musician myself I always feel inspired leaving a DIY show. It’s proof that crazy talent isn’t just in sell out stadiums, it’s our neighbors and friends.  For the bands, I feel it helps them form a stronger bond with their fan base. The more inspiration and love we can spread the better. It’s a win for everybody.”

On Instagram, Lake Drive is @lakedriveband and Superglue is @supergluetheband. Both artists can be found on Spotify and other streaming platforms, as well as many others.