Blog: Dane101 | The Collaborative Blog for Madison, Wisconsin

I didn't know enough when I first heard Igor Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" ("L'Histoire du Soldat") about forty years ago to deem it one of the all-around greatest artistic creations of the 20th century, but over the years that is the pedestal on which it has rested. In a single hour, the 1918 work reveals the revolutionary aspects of Stravinsky's string of early masterpiece ballets, and the adaptation of a Russian fairy tale is a timeless one of selling one's soul for the world. If that weren't enough, the very concept of the work [...]

Valentiger is getting ready for their own March madness. The Grand Rapids-Michigan-based band released their new album, "Oh, to Know" on March 5th, are currently touring in support of the album, and will also play at SXSW later this month. Singer/songwriter/jack of all trades Brent Shirey was able to answer a few questions for Dane101. Valentiger will be playing Madison at the Project Lodge on March 10th. Dane101: How would you describe Valentiger's music? Brent Shirey: We usually describe our music simply as "Rock n' Roll." [...]

I missed the unique and synergistic " Time for Three " string trio when they were here for a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Concerts on the Square event in 2008, but I caught them Friday night at the Capitol Theater. It will take a death in the family to cause me to miss them again. Violinists Zach De Pue and Nick Kendall, and double bassist Ranaan Meyer are as exciting an ensemble as the classical music world can boast today. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they can switch gears from classical to bluegrass to jazz to [...]

In 1998, Dan Bern had a premonition of sorts. He would write a song called "Tiger Woods", a tongue-in-cheek tale of Bern's aspirations to stand in Tiger's shoes and strut proudly with "big ole' balls" along the way. "Sometimes I wish I was Tiger Woods," sings Bern. Not known for hit songs or massive media attention, Bern's tune would clear nearly 100,000 Youtube hits post-Woods fiasco. "Sometimes I wish I was Tiger Woods. Granted, sometimes more than other times," added Bern after the prodigy golfer brought sex-rehab back into the mainstream. But Bern is more than a man [...]

In music news, a 13 year-old Wauwatosa boy composed this song about Scott Walker and performed it at a rally at the Capitol last Saturday. The protest song is called " Walk ." Ben Folds recently tweeted the following statement in support of WI workers: "Wisconsin -Thank you for standing up for yourselves (and rest of us)," Several high profile musicians are receiving a lot of criticism for keeping money they earned performing for Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi, and members of his family in recent years. Mariah Carey earned $1 million performing at a New [...]

Loud music, bright lights, and dancing; this can only mean one thing, Girl Talk is coming to town. On Monday March 7th, 2011, Girl Talk will be performing in Madison, WI. For those who do not know, Girl Talk has been a growing trend flooding the stereo speakers of dance parties and trendy clubs across the nation. His mix of recognizable radio hits and mashed up music beats combine to create the perfect storm for a delightfully different type dance track.

When the revolution comes, everything will be beautiful. When I first started listening to United Sons of Toil's album of the same name, the protests in Madison surrounding Governor Walker's budget bill were starting to attract worldwide attention. Civil disobedience never looked so lovely, as hundreds slept overnight in the Capitol, and the crowds, despite what Fox News will tell you, remained peaceful, even picking up their own trash.

In music news this week, Tom Morello, formerly of Rage Against the Machine, was one of several musicians who played a free concert for a crowd of over 4,000 at the Monona Terrace. Morello has been a member of a Los Angeles musicians' union for several decades, and is very vocal about his support for the protesters in Wisconsin. Jesse Russell interviewed Morello on Monday. Milwaukee-to-Brooklyn transplant Pezzettino showed her solidarity for Wisconsin union workers by splicing together this video of her song "Cold." [...]

In the very shadow of the Capitol, usually in the dark of the night, the revolutionary forces gather for their subversive activities. Yes, the core of the movement here in Madison is made up of university students, but they have already begun recruiting off campus. Some may perceive it as a kind of class warfare, and the most passionate among them view the cause as nothing less than critical to the very survival of their calling. Don't be confused — recent events in and around the Capitol have nothing to do with this story. [...]

Milwaukee-to-Brooklyn transplant Pezzettino said she feels "isolated" being so far from what's happening in Wisconsin. With her idle hands the multi-instrumentalist put together the following video to show her solidarity. The song is "Cold" from the collaborative album LubDub that she released with LMNtlyst.

John DeMain and his Madison Symphony restored civility and then some to the vicinity of the Capitol with a program of "fifths": Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 5," Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Emperor") and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5. The latter two are pillars of the repertoire of course, with the curtain raiser being a welcome change of pace from the "Pomp and Circumstance No. 1" that most people hear at graduation. Overall, the performance of Friday night proved consistently satisfying, if failing to fulfill the entire promise that the orchestra continues to [...]

Art Paul Schlosser debuted a new song this week. The State Street Troubadour performed the new song repeatedly outside of the rally on February 15. In the song Schlosser casts himself as Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker sharing his love with his citizens. We're happy to bring it to you with Schlosser's full blessing to post.

There are only three featured CDs in this month's column, but they feature two sizzling artists and a pillar of the 20th-century symphonic repertoire — and all of it can be experienced in just two nights of concerts (and consecutive nights at that!). It is still a little hard to believe the resumé Hilary Hahn has compiled in just over a decade: at the age of 31, she has already won two Grammys, been named Gramophone magazine's "Artist of the Year," been featured in M. Night Shyamalan's film The Village, and crossed over [...]

In music news this weekend, the mainstream music industry will award the best artists of 2010 at the Grammy's this Sunday night on CBS. Full list of nominations is here : The White Stripes announced their break up last week. On their website, Jack and Meg explained the break-up is drama-free and mutual: "The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health. It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve [...]

Attachment Options Fire Ball III Portraits

When you discovered the Decemberists would be performing in Milwaukee and Minneapolis this past weekend were you as confused as us? How could they skip Madison? The Decemberists ALWAYS come to Madison. Even when Colin was out all by his lonesome he visited Madison. We couldn't help but start to question if we had done something to offend him as a city. Did we not show enough love for the whale? We love the whale, we really do! Well, Madison, fear not because after slingshotting around the globe like the Enterprise trying to travel back in time to [...]

It only took fifteen years from the time President Nixon made the unprecedented trip to China until the historic event was immortalized on the operatic stage of Houston Grand Opera in 1987. It took another twenty-four years for John Adams' Nixon in China to make it from Houston to the hallowed ground of the Metropolitan Opera. But on February 2 of this year, Nixon in China , which has had many performances around the world since its premiere, finally received validation as a staple of the international operatic repertoire with [...]

It only took fifteen years from the time President Nixon made the unprecedented trip to China until the historic event was immortalized on the operatic stage of Houston Grand Opera in 1987. It took another twenty-four years for John Adams' Nixon in China to make it from Houston to the hallowed ground of the Metropolitan Opera. But on February 2 of this year, Nixon in China, which has had many performances around the world since its premiere, finally received validation as a staple of the international operatic repertoire with the first [...]

In music news this week, composer John Barry died of a heart attack on Sunday at age 77. He won five Oscars throughout his career but is probably best know for his iconic work for the James Bond franchise. There were rumors swirling around the 'net this week that Google would announce its own foray into music to compete with iTunes. As of this week, Google Music still remains a mystery. 2/4: Keller Williams (Majestic) 9 PM [...]

Just last year, in blizzard-like conditions on a snowy-night in December, Little Red Wolf celebrated the release of their debut album, If Only We Were Just Like We Are . Yesterday they released their first remix album, the compilation If Only We Were Remixed, but instead of remixing their own delightful multi-instrumental folk-pop songs Little Red Wolf handed the reigns over to some of Madison's favorite industrial/electronic artists. The EP features six re-imaginings from Caustic, Null Device, Black Jack Red Queen, and The Dark Clan. It was also mastered by Eric Oehler of Null Device at Submersible [...]