Check out live concert photos, exclusive videos, free MP3s, private presales, and ticket giveaways. Visit our Madison area music calendar to buy tickets and learn about upcoming shows.
Madison music fans sure do love their bluegrass! This week our fine city will see the return of two of its favorite quick pickin’ roots groups. Trampled By Turtles and Pert’ Near Sandstone have wowed us before, now they’re back to impress again. Read on to find out how you could win tickets to one of these sure-to-put-a-smile-on-your-face-shows.
Our hearts go out to all you downtown warriors who braved moving weekend over these last few scorching days. To reward your hard, sweaty, pain-in-the-butt work, why not take in a show? A nice, air-conditioned show… We’ve got just the one! Coming up this week, True Endeavors is proud to present the Suburban Home Records Tour featuring Two Cow Garage and Austin Lucas. Read on to find out more and enter to win a pair of tix.
Need a break but lamenting the price of gas and the tumbling economy? No need to leave town- experience the world through your local music venues. This week in Madison offers up country, bluegrass, jam band, acoustic, americana, ska, reggae ,pop-punk, indie, folk, hip-hop, alternative, and surf from all reaches of the world. Feel better? Thought so.
Friday, October 17
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND
Genre: Country, Bluegrass, Jam Band
“With little radio support, Yonder Mountain has become one of the fastest rising touring bands in the country, its fanbase having ballooned over the past five years through steady gigging and high-profile festival sets, all of which are full of improv and none of which feature the same set list.” -yondermountain.com
Similar to: The String Cheese Incident, Railroad Earth, Phish, Old Crow Medicine Show
9:00pm @ Orpheum Theatre (608.255.6005) Tickets $25 adv $30 dos — all ages
Saturday, October 18
An Evening with PERT ‘ NEAR SANDSTONE
Genre: Acoustic, Americana, Bluegrass
“They call themselves a ‘new-timey string band,’ but if you see them in action you would say they’re a steamroller of energy. Pert’ Near Sandstone plays bluegrass, both original and traditional, but they bring the old music to a young audience with their enthusiasm, tight harmonies and class.” -Dale Connelly and Jim Ed Poole, Minnesota Public Radio
and B FOUNDATION with OUTLAW NATION 8:00 pm @ Barrymore Theatre (608.241.8864) $20 adv $25 dos – all ages BUY TICKETS NOW !
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JENNIFER O’CONNOR
Genre: Indie, Folk
“Over the past 6 years, Jennifer’s gotten scary good at this sort of thing, so much so that most other contenders for the hypothetical Nobel prize for Witty Pop Songs W/ Heart are either former members of this label’s roster (we’re thinking Manning/Phair/Daniel but if you wanna nominate someone more contemporary, please go right ahead) or they’ve already been embalmed in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.” -highroadtouring.com
Similar to: Elliott Smith,, Kathleen Edwards, Liz Phair, Kimya Dawson
with PATCHWORK 9:00pm @ Cafe Montmartre (608.255.5900) $8 adv, $8 dos – 21+ BUY TICKETS NOW !
“He may not have either the Democratic or Republican nomination, but California indie-hip-hop mainstay Murs (an acronym for “Making Underground Raw Shit”) is throwing his hat into the election ring with his seventh solo album and major-label debut, Murs For President, out tomorrow on Warner Bros. Murs For President finds the underground-rapper-gone-big-time retaining his verbose and engaging flow while sticking to the soulful, jazzy beats that have marked his best records, notably 2004′s Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition.” – SPIN
Similar to: Aesop Rock, Atmosphere. Brother Ali
with KIDZ IN THE HALL 9pm @ High Noon Saloon (608.268.1122) $14 adv $16 dos – 18+ BUY TICKETS NOW !
“It wasn’t just that Missy Higgins played piano, or that she was barefoot. It was that she was, in her approach, doing what [Carole] King did in the 1970s: shunting aside any notions of how she ‘should’ look or what she “should” sound like, and focusing instead on strong melodies and earnest lyrics.” – Jon Gilbertson, JS Online
Similar to: Katie Melua, Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson, Kate Nash
with special guest JOSHUA RADIN 8:00pm @ Majestic Theatre (608.255.0901) $16 – $23 – all ages BUY TICKETS NOW!
“Anyone who’s ever been to an Expendables show knows what Weers is getting at. To say that the band goes all out is a severe understatement. By the end of every performance, the band appears physically deflated–drenched in sweat, hoarse and half-drunk. But that’s the Expendables: balls to the wall, no exceptions.” -Garrett Wheeler, metrosatacruz.com
Similar to: The Aggrolites, Sublime, Pepper
with special guests OPM and REBULATION 8:00pm @ The Annex (608.256.7750) $12 adv $14 dos – 18+ BUY TICKETS NOW !
It’s no secret that actors haven’t had the greatest track record concerning their attempts to break into the music industry. Remember Russell Crowe’s band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, for example? Exactly. The musical efforts of other pretty faces haven’t fared much better, usually because, a.) they aren’t anywhere near convincing in their supposed passion for music, or b.) the product itself is just…well…crap. There are, however, a few pleasantly surprising exceptions to the thespian curse. She & Him, the pairing of actress Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous, Elf) and indie folk favorite M. Ward, is one of these.
The two met while working on a song for the soundtrack to one of Deschanel’s movies, The Go-Getter. As their friendship grew, Deschanel revealed that she had been recording home demos of her own material for quite some time. Though initially shy about others hearing her work, she eventually gave into Ward’s encouragement and shared them with him. Impressed with the quality of her songwriting, Ward suggested a collaboration to formally record the songs and give the songs the audience they deserved.
It’s immediately clear upon listening to their album, Volume One, that whatever insecurities Deschanel might have had about her ventures into the music world were unfounded. Her voice sparkles over this collection of instantly classic songs, and leaves the listener with no doubts about her massive talent. Ward, already an indie darling known for his delicate, yet emotionally powerful folk, is the perfect musical partner for Deschanel. He is able to arrange the songs in such a way that Deschanel is always supported, but never overpowered or drowned out by superfluous production. As a result, Volume One is a lush, haunting throwback to the early ‘60s, with hints of old country, pop, and classic girl groups.
The first single, “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” is a bouncy, sweetly innocent plea to the boy who just doesn’t get how simple love can be. The Phil Spector-inspired beats and instrumentation coupled with the smooth oooo la, la, las on “Sweet Darlin’” are unmistakably reminiscent of girl groups like The Ronettes and The Crystals. Deschanel’s most compelling performance is on the country-tinged “Change is Hard.” A comforting aural arm around the shoulders, she sings directly to every broken heart within weeping distance. “I was never/ no I was never/ no I was never enough/ But I can try/ I can try to toughen up/ I listened when they told me/ if he burns you let him go/ Change is hard/ I should know,” she sings with equal parts regret and determination. Sure to be a pleasant listen any time of year, Volume One is supremely enjoyable in the current summer setting—the crisp, bright jangle of Ward’s George Harrison-influenced guitar on the easy-going “This Is Not A Test” is especially suited for warm, breezy evenings. The three covers on the album, “You Really Got A Hold On Me,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” compliment Deschanel’s originals with a charming, gentle vocal approach. With a style that classic, she knows she doesn’t need to make any drastic changes to what comes naturally to her to appeal to music listeners.
What Deschanel and Ward have achieved with Volume One is nothing short of extraordinary. Listeners can forget about the track advance button for this album—every song offers something special and instantly unforgettable, sure to be surpassed only by being performed in a live setting. Madison residents are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to experience just that. This Friday, She & Him will present their body of work at The Barrymore. Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond opens the show at 8:00 pm.
In his songs a poetic tension exists between textured imagery and pure improvised rock and roll. The record expresses Francis’ soulful rock, folk and blues influences with layered instrumentation of B-3 organ, lap-steel guitar, mandolin, and a driving rhythm section.
Similar to: Slightly Stoopid, John Butler Trio, Matt Nathanson, & Matt Costa
Shooting Star and the Ambulance- Pete Francis
Pete Francis Interview
with COLOURMUSIC
Genre: Pop/Rock/Experimental
messily refined indie rock..and innovative, yet catchy, melodies that work their way into your head without you even knowing it..wildly inventive shows, and it’s while performing that the band’s vivid personalities come through.
Similar to: The Flaming Lips, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, & Kings of Leon
Though the band is pinned as producing the same kind of indie rock aesthetic à la My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, Dead Confederate dabbles in darker shades than their compared predecessors..Dead Confederate echo the Drive-By Truckers’ bittersweet southern rock angst with the smoke-heavy swagger of the Black Angels.
After a pair of glowing reviews from the influential music website Pitchfork they have recently come to prominence as a major indie rock band.
..evocative lyrics and powerful instrumentation..an outstanding fusion of alt-country earnestness and indie rock absurdity. Without any trace of flaunt or deliberateness, this homespun epic proves as casual in tone as it is ambitious in scope… sure to have tears welling and fists aloft in raucous salute.”- Josh Berquist, PopMatters, April 2007
Similar to: Okkervil River, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, M. Ward, The Avett Brothers, & My Morning Jacket
STARS AND STRIPES EXTRAVAGANZA featuring ROBBIE FULKS AND FRIENDS
Genre: Country/Indie/Bluegrass
While most current country music is calculated to form an inoffensive backdrop to the suburban shopping experience, Robbie Fulks writes songs that make you think and feel and quite often laugh out loud.
Similar to: Steve Earle, Neko Case, & Lyle Lovett
Cigarette State- Robbie Fullks
plus ROMANTICA
Genre: Americana/Folk/Pop
With an album on Paste Magazine’s Top 100 of 2007 and comparisons popping up all over the place between singer/songwriter Ben Kyle and both Jeff Tweedy and Ryan Adams, it probably won’t be too long before you’ll no longer be able to catch these guys in such a cozy venue.
