I'm not a huge fan of what I like to call "WBBR" (White Boy Beard Rock), but Juniper Tar is one of the exceptions to the WBBR rule.

The quartet--made up of lead singer Jason Mohr, a couple of the Brothers Schleicher and the drumtastic female impersonator known as Tuc Krueger--play an eclectic mix of folk, country and urban hillbilly rock.

I first heard them live years ago when they played at a friend's birthday party. And while they were good even back then, their work has really evolved into a more solid, more focused culmination of sound.

Playing tracks from their recently-released full-length To The Trees, Juniper Tar performed over a full hour at the Cascio Stage for fans who were doing their best to avoid rampaging Rascal Flatts fans, which is funny because Juniper Tar is kind of the antithesis of that Amphitheater-headlining band. Juniper Tar is a hardworking local act that has paid their dues and done their time in the Milwaukee music scene.

Now if they could just keep their hands off each other and not end their shows rolling around on the ground in a dirty celebration of man-love.

Catch them next on July 25th at the Freeport Music Festival in Port Washington. 

Tuc's about to become a full-time drummer and part-time lover,

--Shady