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Information overload. Local traffic backed with summer gigs, festivals and new discs. But, before we discuss the jams to be let us take a moment to invoke the jams that were lost in the Weedstock shutdown. Plastic, the Pipe Circus, Bongzilla, the Hanah Jon Taylor Artet, to name just a few, whose mind blowing jams were silenced Memorial Day weekend.
New artists and long time residents emerge with the long days of summer. Madison's German Art Students have a new disc out called, "What Did You Expect? Heartland Rock?" and its quirky new wave pop art leads an army of Midwest artists pushing beyond "Heartland Rock." Whether it is the glorious hypno-rock noise of Kinah or the experimental Dylan meets Lou Reed Voodoo Sunshine, there is no shortage of musical wattage in local music. Kinah released their freshman effort, "And" on local label Interociter in Oconomowoc and present a powderkeg record with slow lazy fuses snaking to their thunderous demise. Check out their web site at www.kinah.iwarp.com for tour dates. Voodoo Sunshine come from LaCrosse but, Zappa's basement toyshop might be a more appropriate home base for the collection of sound environments Voodoo calls, "Snakes in the Head." Compared with another LaCrosse band, Lucid Evolution, www.lucidevoltion.com whose Peppers/Hendrix romp 'n stomp, "Fork in the Road," sprays sparks and the Southwest border is sounding like Austin, TX.
A town's flavor shines through great local acts and The German Art Students do represent a university's taste for Intellectual Barbecue. With titles like, "Civil War Re-enactor," and, "Disgruntled Figure Skating Judge," you know you're not in with the Styx or REO Speedwagon crowd. Nothing wrong with that Milwaukee's Michael Janz has that REO connection with his work with Gary Richrath and it shows with ultra smooth solos and slick harmonies in his new, "Project 3:13." A strong writer of glossy power rock that's fit for arena s with soaring chords and skyrocket solos, Michael is playing Godstock on June 16th and Summerfest on July 5th.
Summerfest is a good place to taste a number of exceptional bands from around the state. WAMI winners The US Project will play Summerfest on July 8th. They recently inked a German distribution deal. Whether its new age jazz from Milwaukee's George Dejong on June 29th or Madison's rock metal gurus, Muzzy Luctin on 4th of July, this year promises more variety than ever. But don't forget clubs. Some solid names have landed this summer, from budding pop folkie Julie Scharm to established social folk archivist Arlo Leach. Julie , who has an eclectic career with the clarinet, piano and guitar, has a nice disc, "Flames," out while Arlo is playing children's songs in libraries, coffeeshops from Neenah to Chicago and producing a disc of folk blues chestnuts called, "Music of My Ancestors." Yikes, I like to rest in the summer. Until next time, look towards July for the word on Oshkosh groove machine Something Phonic, songwriter Buzz Meade and tales of live Peal. |
