Milwaukee, WI

Now 91, Willie Nelson shows he’s as strong as ever at BMO Pavilion concert in Milwaukee

Published

2 years ago

May 19, 2024

Now 91, Willie Nelson shows he’s as strong as ever at BMO Pavilion concert in Milwaukee

Evidently, Willie Nelson really can’t wait to get on the road again.

Less than a year after bringing his Outlaw Music Festival to Alpine Valley — and less than a month after turning 91 — the country legend was back on a Milwaukee stage Saturday night at the BMO Pavilion. It was Milwaukee’s first big outdoor concert of the year.

It was clear he wasn’t playing out of habit or ego. Of the many Willie Nelson concerts I’ve seen in town over the past decade, Saturday’s was among his most engaging.

Sure, the set was short at just 62 minutes, as has been the case for a while now, and the setlist was heavy on familiar standards. Age perhaps has prompted him to sit for the entire show, and Nelson let the newest member of his Family band, Waylon Payne, take lead vocals for three songs: Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man Blues,” and Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”

But even then, Nelson never coasted, singing most of the words to “Me and Bobby McGee.” He was especially animated for “Workin’ Man Blues,” peppering the performance with grooving guitar licks on his trusty and battered acoustic guitar Trigger and ending the jam with a kick of his right leg and a proud thumbs up from Payne.

It was through Trigger that Nelson’s passion shined most Saturday night.

There’s long been a roughness to his strumming that can be off-putting for the unprepared, but that’s part of the charm of a Willie Nelson show. And there remain plenty of diamonds in that rough.

He contradicted the sentiment of “Still Is Still Moving to Me” with swift and nimble Spanish guitar-style runs, and channeled Chuck Berry with ’50s rock swagger on Hank Williams’ “Move It on Over.” With tender, contemplative melodies he teed up his longest running tour mate Mickey Raphael, who offered a response via soulful harmonica solo for “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” (The band was rounded out by Paul English on drums, and Kevin Smith on bass Saturday.)

And with understated but undeniably smirking bravado, Nelson’s guitar dazzle for “I Never Cared for You” was the equivalent of dancing on a vanquished foe’s grave.

While his guitar runs would often soar, Nelson as a vocalist remains engagingly down to earth, the direct, conversational tone of his voice seasoned ever so slightly with a sprinkle of soul or a splash of sass.

That approach served Saturday’s punchlines much better than a heavy wink and nudge, drawing hollers with his cool evisceration of “Mr. Purified Country” by asking “is your head so far up that you can’t pull it out” on “Write Your Own Songs,” and drawing laughs singing about looking good in his jeans on Mac Davis’ “It’s Hard to Be Humble.”

Nelson’s gentle vocal delivery also enhanced his fleeting moments of rambunctiousness, like the growl of his voice in the repeated utterance of “Mamma” for a boisterous singalong of Ed and Patsy Bruce’s “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”

And it’s a safe bet that Nelson’s rendition of “Always on My Mind” Saturday will be burned into many Milwaukee fans’ memories: the humble confessions of his neglect, the lonesome guitar lines conveying the depth of his regrets.

That song, and the 20 others Nelson touched on Saturday, were received with an immense level of gratitude fitting for a goodbye. But Nelson also made it clear, through intact talent and his own appreciation, that he’s not ready to bow out just yet. So long as he’s still able to tour, there’s no doubt Nelson would be happy to see Milwaukee again after he turns 92.

5 takeaways from Willie Nelson’s Milwaukee concert, including opener Ryan Larkins

It was a perfect night for the season’s first major outdoor concert in Milwaukee, with clear skies and a cool breeze coming off the lake.
When the show ended, in between blowing kisses, Nelson tossed a cowboy hat into the crowd like a frisbee and threw out a few red bandanas, including one he pulled off his head.
Two other fans also special recognition from Nelson during “Always on My Mind.” He noticed the women standing right in front of him near the song’s end, giving them a wave as he sang before he made them the subjects of his song, pointing to them and smiling as he sang. When the song ended, the women gave each other a huge hug.
The moment Willie Nelson launched into “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” the smell of marijuana wafted through my section of the pavilion. Nelson no doubt would be proud.
Opener Ryan Larkins confessed to being nervous on the BMO Pavilion stage Saturday playing for one of the largest crowds of his career opening for his favorite artist. But it was the only evidence of nerves across a 25-minute set marked by Larkins’ humility and smooth baritone (close your eyes when he talked and you could almost imagine Austin Butler was channeling Elvis). Larkins honored his predecessors in multiple ways, like with a bluster-free cover of “I Love This Bar” in honor of the late Toby Keith, and with original “King of Country Music” that name-drops loads of legends and honors country music craftsmanship. It’s Larkins’ first song to hit country radio, but don’t let that aw-shucks charm fool you — he’s already scored a hit as a songwriter, Cody Johnson’s “The Painter,” which he saved for last, not so much to boast of his bona fides but to honor the song’s inspiration, his wife of 15 years.

Willie Nelson’s BMO Pavilion setlist

“Whiskey River”
“Stay a Little Longer”
“Still Is Still Moving to Me”
“Bloody Mary Morning”
“I Never Cared for You”
“Workin’ Man Blues”
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”
“Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”
“On the Road Again”
“Always On My Mind”
“Good Hearted Woman”
“Help Me Make It Through the Night”
“Move It On Over”
“Georgia (On My Mind)”
“I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train”
“Me and Bobby McGee”
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”
“Write Your Own Songs”
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken”/”I’ll Fly Away”
“It’s Hard to Be Humble”

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?

The Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum just over 24 hours after one of their most disappointing losses of the season, when they scored just eight fourth-quarter points and gave up a 39-point swing in the second half in a blowout loss at Chicago on March 1.

Boston comes into town as one of the league’s hottest teams having won eight of its last 10 and after beating Philadelphia on March 1. The Celtics (40-20) are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and are looking to stay in front of New York.

The Bucks (26-33), meanwhile, had been winning games but have dropped two in a row and three of their last five. In those three losses, all to teams currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the team failed to score 100 points.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo began the day as questionable to play, and was upgraded to available after his pregame workout. It was the first time he had been listed as anything other than “out” since reinjuring his calf on Jan. 23. The game will mark the return of the former two-time MVP, who has missed the last 15 games with a strain of his soleus muscle in his right calf.

What is the Bucks record without Giannis?

11-17.

Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays any number of minutes. They are 1-2 when he has exited games early due to injury.

Is Jayson Tatum playing?

No.

Boston’s all-NBA wing is continuing to work his way back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the playoffs in May. Tatum has been doing five-on-five work lately.

Boston Celtics injury report

Jayson Tatum, out (Achilles)
Jaylen Brown, out (illness)
Neemias Queta, out (rest)

Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (right calf strain)

Bucks probable starters

Guard: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr.
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center: Myles Turner

What time is the Bucks game?

The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call. The game was originally supposed to be a national broadcast on Peacock but was moved to NBA TV.

NBA playoff standings

The Bucks are currently out of the postseason picture entirely. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference heading into game play on March 2:

No. 7: Orlando (31-28): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. The Bucks host the Magic on March 8.

No. 8: Miami (32-29): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Miami on March 12.

No. 9: Atlanta (31-31): The Bucks lead the season series 1-0. The Bucks host the Hawks on March 4 and then travel to Atlanta on March 14.

No. 10: Charlotte (30-31): The Bucks own the tiebreaker over the Hornets having won the season series 3-1.

No. 11: Milwaukee (26-33): The Bucks have had better luck against the play-in teams to date, as they are just 5-13 against the top six seeds in the conference.

“We say we didn’t play ourselves out of it,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “Obviously I’m competitive. I think we should’ve had an even better record. But, not having your best player for that long and staying above .500 is huge for us. It’s funny, when he went out (Jan. 23) the talk around me was ‘being .500’ and I was like we can be better than that. We were. I’ll take it. But, never satisfied.”

The four teams in the play-in will face one another to determine the final two playoff teams (which will face the top two seeds). Teams that hold the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds only have to win one game to advance, teams that hold the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds must win twice to advance

Bucks vs. Celtics odds

Boston is a 7.5-point favorite over Milwaukee with the over/under set at 216.5 points, per BetMGM.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Weather – Frosty and cold morning, sunny day ahead

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels

Frosty Monday morning with temps in the teens inland to low 20s near the lake.
Mostly sunny to sunny skies on Monday. Highs in the mid-40s inland, upper 30s near the lake.
A total lunar eclipse will happen Tuesday morning, total eclipse from 5-6am. It may be tough to see due to increasing clouds.
Increasing clouds on Tuesday with highs in the low 40s. Chance of rain and storms possible Wednesday through Friday with warming temperatures.

Today: 39 Lake. Mostly sunny.
High: 44°
Wind: SE 5-10

Tonight: Partly cloudy this evening, mostly clear overnight.
Low: 27°
Wind: SE 5

Tuesday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy.
High: 43°
Wind: E 5-10

Wednesday:41 Lake. Chance for scattered showers and t-storms.
AM Low: 32° High: 45°
Wind: E 5-10

Thursday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 37° High: 42°
Wind: NE 5-10

Friday: Chance for showers and t-storms Warmer. Warming at night.
AM Low: 37° High: 57°
Wind: SE 5-15

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with AM rain showers. Blustery with falling afternoon temperatures.
AM Low: 47° High: 53°
Wind: NE 5-10

6-day planner

FOX6 Weather Extras

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:

FOX6 Storm Center app

FOX LOCAL Mobile app

FOX Weather app

FOX Weather

Big picture view:

Maps and radar

We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.

School and business closings

When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.

FOX6 Weather Experts in social media

Daily ForecastWeatherMilwaukee

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Milwaukee, WI

Four new community-powered fridges open on Milwaukee’s North Side

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Four new community-powered fridges open on Milwaukee’s North Side

Community members and city leaders celebrated the opening of four new community-powered fridges on the North Side of Milwaukee. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, Feb. 27, at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, 3624 W. North Ave., to mark the occasion.

The effort to fight food scarcity by opening community-powered fridges comes after several grocery stores closed in the area, creating a food desert.

Ald. Russell W. Stamper, II, emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of four new community-powered fridges.

District 15 Ald. Russell W. Stamper II, who saw several grocery stores in his district close over the past few years, served as the event’s emcee.

“We could either complain about the problem, or we could come together to find a solution,” Stamper said.

People fill up the community-powered fridge with fresh produce.

In July 2025, a Pick ‘n Save on the North Side closed, prompting the opening of a community-powered fridge at Tricklebee Café in the Sherman Park and Uptown area. Since then, several other grocery stores have closed in the area.

This led Stamper, FEED MKE, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and One MKE to open four more community-powered fridges.

Christie Melby-Gibbons, executive director of Tricklebee Café, talks about opening the first community-powered fridge at her cafe.

Christie Melby-Gibbons, executive director of Tricklebee Café, talked about the organization’s community-powered fridge. About a week ago, the fridge was empty for the first time since its launch, so staff turned to their online community for support.

“Within 20 minutes, a woman came in with bags of food and filled the fridge for less than $100,” Melby-Gibbons said.

Danell Cross (right), executive director at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Metcalfe Park resident Farina Brooks (left), and other attendees applaud during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The community-powered fridge network is run by residents on a take-what-you-need, leave-what-you-can model. Taking a grassroots approach to solving food insecurity in the area, community members provide fresh produce and other healthy food options to ensure that their neighbors have access to nutritious foods.

Residents line up to fill the community-powered fridge with fresh produce.

“Everybody deserves to eat. I can’t go to sleep at night knowing my neighbors are hungry,” said Melody McCurtis, deputy director of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges.

Here’s a list of all the community-powered fridges:

Metcalfe Park Community Bridges

3624 W. North Ave.

Rooted & Rising- Washington Park

3940 W. Lisbon Ave.

Sherman Park Community Association

3526 W. Fond du Lac Ave.

Dominican Center

2470 W. Locust St.

Tricklebee Café

4424 W. North Ave.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

This article first appeared on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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