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FRI · MAY 15 · 8:00 PM

Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound

ft. Paul Cebar, Reggie Bordeaux, Bob Jennings +1 more

Shank Hall· 1434 N Farwell Ave

Funky grooves and soulful sounds in an intimate setting — don't miss Paul Cebar at Shank Hall.

Part I

The details

About this event

Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound is set to light up Shank Hall with their unique blend of soulful sounds and funky rhythms. Drawing inspiration from New Orleans grooves and Midwest influences, this band offers a rich tapestry of music that's both intricate and free-swinging. It's a chance to experience a masterful synthesis of rhythmic culture in an intimate venue.

Expect an evening filled with lively performances that showcase the talents of Paul Cebar and his elite crew. With a history rooted in the coffeehouse folk scene and a passion for African, Latin American, and Caribbean rhythms, Cebar's music is a celebration of diverse influences. Arrive early to secure a good spot and enjoy the full experience.

From the organizer

About Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound are the latest in Fresh Venerable. Benefitting from years of unassuming and understated hipness, they bring forth a funky, lyrically charged racket that sits comfortably with soulful sounds the world over. Intricate but free-swinging, explosive yet intimate, fresh and green as grass. Taking cues from the dance bands of western Louisiana (and his native Midwest), the streets (and 45’s) of New Orleans, touring African and Caribbean combos and the soul, funk & blues of his youth coupled with early, teeth-cutting experience in the verbal hotbeds of the coffeehouse scene, Cebar is a masterful synthesist of rhythmic culture. Tomorrow Sound are an elite crew of offhand adepts who bring plenty of their own wood to the fire. Drummer Reggie Bordeaux, casts his nets with a mystifying subtlety bringing his own fleet-footed refinement and grease. Multi-instrumentalist Bob Jennings, lends his bandleader the luxury of implying a much larger ensemble with his multi-hued contributions on keys and reeds. Bassist Mike Fredrickson (a distinguished singer-songwriter in his own right) anchors and prods with the best of them. Paul Cebar cut his teeth musically in the coffeehouse folk scene of the mid-’70s in Milwaukee. First paying gigs took place in late ’76 with an emphasis on solo recasting of small combo jump-blues and other early R&B. Upon graduation from New College in Sarasota, Florida, with a thesis addressing rhythm & blues varieties featuring a hearty emphasis on Louis Jordan and Buddy Johnson, Cebar dedicated himself to trodding the boards in earnest and spent substantial amounts of time testing the waters out New York way while exploring band dynamics with a soul and New Orleans-minded crew called the R&B Cadets back home. The Cadets ranged about from 1980 to 1986 and featured the grand original tunes of John Sieger alongside the winning assortment of B sides and obscurities that were the fruits of Cebar’s research. Concurrently, he kept alive the spark of his solo work with a small group which came to be known as The Milwaukeeans. Throughout the early 80s, this combo featured Rip Tenor on tenor sax, Alan Anderson on upright bass, Robyn Pluer on vocals and Paul on acoustic guitar and vocals, and drew most of its repertoire from ’30s, ’40s and ’50s jazz and R&B. With the demise of the Cadets in mid-1986, Cebar and Pluer, Tenor and Anderson welcomed drummer Randy Baugher and early Cadet saxophonist/vocalist Juli Wood to a new dance-floor fortified version of The Milwaukeeans which reflected Paul’s ongoing and deepening fascination with African, Latin American and Caribbean rhythm & blues analogues. Rambling about the Midwest for the remainder of the ’80s with occasional forays east and south, The Milwaukeeans began to rely more and more upon the original material that began to emerge in the aftermath of years of interpolation and grappling with favorites.

Getting in

  • Tickets

    Tickets available online

  • Registration required — must sign up

Pricing details

$20 plus fees.

Pro tips

  • Driving / parking

    Parking can be tricky around Shank Hall. There's a small lot behind the venue, but it fills up quickly. Street parking is available on Farwell Ave, but check signs for restrictions.

  • First-timers

    Shank Hall is an intimate venue, so arrive early to grab a spot near the stage for the best experience. The sound quality is excellent throughout, but the closer you are, the more immersive it feels.

What's It Actually Like?

Energy3/5
ZenMosh Pit
IntimateHypeExperimental
Indie MusicArt Scene

Music

R&B / SoulBluesIndie
Loud

Who'll Be There

Expect a mixed crowd of music lovers, likely ranging from young adults to middle-aged attendees who appreciate live music and local artists. The audience may include fans of Paul Cebar, local musicians, and those looking for a vibrant night out.

How the Room Feels

Loud musicStanding room

What You'll Leave With

A memory

Who It's For

Social style:
Group of 6+
Energy needed:
Sit back and receive

Part II · The feel

How it feels

The details organizers don't always put in the description — pulled from the room, the crowd, and what people remember afterward.

The room

Loud. Conversation between songs only — plan around that.

Loud musicStanding room

The crowd

Shines with 6+. Bring the crew.

You'll leave with

A memory

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