Motherfolk – X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI – December 5, 2025

 Motherfolk (with The Silkies) at X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy, WI – Friday, December 5, 2025

Review and photos by Catherine Zons

I took an extended weekend to travel from one end of Wisconsin to another (Hudson to Milwaukee!) to catch the Motherfolk show that would be happening in a tiny, but vibrant venue known as the X-Ray Arcade. X-Ray uses its ~300-person capacity very efficiently; operating as an arcade, pizzeria, bar, live music (and wedding!) venue, the place is a local hub for live entertainment of all forms.

The first thing I noticed upon entering was how warm it felt–and not just because it was below freezing outside. The place was lively with chatter and the sounds of button-mashing as people took turns on the arcade game offerings. The staff were more than friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. As someone with a complex relationship with mobility, it’s always a little stressful to come to a new venue, and particularly one that’s standing room only like this one is. I was in good hands, though, as X-Ray’s website expresses a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility–and I definitely felt that the staff did their part to make my evening positive! They set me up with a chair and a great view of the stage, and it wasn’t long until the music started.

Kicking off the evening was a strong performance by The Silkies, a newly formed Cincinnati-based band. The band has six members: Pierce Geary (bass and vocals), Joe Pruitt (guitar, vocals, synths), Tyler Peyman (guitar), John Rice (guitar and synths), Michael Takahashi (synths and vocals) and Jake Merritt (drums and percussion). With influences like Devo and the Talking Heads, The Silkies’ post-punk sound was easy to tap a foot along to. Their songs featured bright and atmospheric conversations between the bass guitar and the synth, with almost melancholic vocals that reflect the lyrics’ themes of love and longing. Two of their singles, “IDK” and “Lies,” found homes almost immediately after the show in my punk playlist and I highly recommend taking a listen if you’re looking for a few more post-punk songs to add to your collection. The Silkies’ online discography is still growing and I can’t wait to hear what they do next!

After a brief intermission, Motherfolk took the stage and started their set off strong with “Somewhere in the Middle,” a folk-rock song about transition and finding one’s place. The song showcases the polyphonic dance between emotionally raw lyrics and upbeat instrumentation that Motherfolk does incredibly well with their music. Hailing from Cincinnati, the band formed in 2014 by Bobby Paver and Nathan Dickerson, classmates that developed their shared love of music through their time together at school. Over their eleven years as a band, members have come and moved on; the band is currently comprised of Nathan Dickerson (guitar/vocals), Karlie Dickerson (keys), Clayton Allender (bass), Ethan Wescott (drums), Joel Borton (guitar), and Aaron Becker (percussion/backing vocals).

Despite being a relatively niche indie band, it seemed that Motherfolk was very familiar to the people of Cudahy, Wisconsin. Between songs, Dickerson spoke often to the small but dedicated audience that gathered for the show at X-Ray. When he asked how many people had been to a Motherfolk show before, probably 90% of the crowd sent up a resounding cheer. (One person also proudly shouted out that Motherfolk had been her top artist on Spotify that year to another round of applause.) It was surreal to be one of maybe 5-10 people in the entire crowd who hadn’t seen the headliner before–and I was incredibly impressed, both with the fans for showing up time and again and with the band for creating powerful art that keeps so many people coming back.

The set included some of my favorite songs, like “anchor” and “Julian” (a track from Motherfolk’s side project group, MEOWBOYS). They also played “Salt Lake City,” a song off of Motherfolk’s debut self-titled album. Dickerson said it was likely the first song they’d ever played live as a band, which was fascinating as it’s one of the most enduringly popular tracks of their entire discography. They closed their set with “Money, Now,” a raucous song from the band’s 2025 album, Eternal Joy, about the instability of material success: the anxiety of losing it and the way it tends to isolate a person from genuine human connection. The track felt almost ironic when played live; in the comfortable X-Ray venue, with everyone singing along, it seemed like the humanness of the evening was palpable in a way that money can’t buy.

Overall, the evening was well worth the hike from home. X-Ray Arcade was a great venue for the evening, and I would totally come back for more! My introduction to The Silkies was unexpected and inspiring. And my first (of hopefully many) Motherfolk shows was both cathartic and so much fun. I can’t wait to be one of the many dedicated repeat fans cheering when Motherfolk comes back to town.