The Crane Wives Captivated The Pabst Theater Last Thursday

Pabst Theater, Milwaukee – July 10, 2025

Árný Margrét: Quiet Power

Icelandic singer-songwriter Árný Margrét opened the evening with minimal setup, an introduction and just her guitar and voice. She spoke little between songs, but had a shy charm to her the audience ate up. Despite, or maybe because of her quiet stage presence, expectations were high for every carefully chosen chord. The audience responded with held attention to her selections from two albums and an EP, including tracks from her new record, I Miss You, I Do.

The Crane Wives: From Folk Roots to Full-Band Momentum

When The Crane Wives, (Emilee Petersmark, Kate Pillsbury, Ben Zito, and Dan Rickabus), took over, the energy shifted sharply. Their set was a well-balanced, mixing heartfelt folk with rock-infused songs. Petersmark and Pillsbury alternated lead vocals held a flow which the band is known for. Highlights included new tracks such as "River Rushing" and "Mad Dog" from Beyond Beyond Beyond, alongside longtime favorites like "Pretty Little Thing"

Venue & Audience: A Perfect Match

The Pabst Theater was the perfect first stop for The Crane Wives “Summer 2025 Tour” with the venue’s acoustics complementing the band’s blend of folk and rock. Fans, drawn in part by the band’s viral breakthrough song, “The Moon Will Sing” in 2020, arrived knowing the material and visibly excited to hear it live. Many arrived hours before to get the perfect seat, (A dedication highlighted by the pouring rain they were sitting in while waiting.) The band, now playing larger venues, responded by delivering a high-energy performance that reflected their growth since forming in 2010.

Final Word: Árný Margrét’s deeply felt, hushed performance offered a soulful preview of what was to come, while The Crane Wives’ set proved why they are now headlining revered venues.

The band is continuing their Summer Tour and tickets can be found on their site for the following dates;

JUL 14, 2025 / The Truman / Kansas City, MO

JUL 15, 2025 / The Pageant / St Louis, MO

JUL 17, 2025 / Brooklyn Bowl Nashville / Nashville, TN

JUL 18, 2025 / Mercury Ballroom / Louisville, KY

JUL 19, 2025 / Hi-Fi Annex / Indianapolis, IN

JUL 20, 2025 / Hi-Fi Annex / Indianapolis, IN

JUL 22, 2025 / Bogart's / Cincinnati, OH

JUL 23, 2025 / The Athenaeum Theatre / Columbus, OH

JUL 25, 2025 / Saint Andrew's Hall / Detroit, MI

JUL 26, 2025 / The Vic Theatre / Chicago, IL

AUG 28, 2025 / Frederik Meijer Gardens / Grand Rapids, MI