Born & brewed in West Bend
A homecoming that’s become a tradition
Social Cig is the indie skate rock project of West Bend native Parker Schultz. What started as a solo college project grew into a full band in the Milwaukee scene, built the DIY way: relentless touring, a stack of self-made records and live shows that feel more like a party with friends than a concert. The road has taken the band all over the country, including an official showcase at SXSW in 2025.
The sound is sunny and guitar-driven — surf-tinged riffs, bouncing bass and drums, and songs with an easygoing, grateful outlook that Schultz has described as the view of a modern-day Midwest cowboy. Their latest album, Patchwork: A Road Dog Story, pulls together the stories from two years of life in the van.
Every year the night before Thanksgiving, Social Cig comes home. This year’s Hometown Harvest is the biggest yet: Minneapolis party band Syncline — three brothers raised in West Bend plus a friend — kicks things off, followed by West Bend R&B writer-producer Micah Emrich and Milwaukee singer and drummer-turned-frontman Duwayne, with Social Cig closing out the night.