NEWSKI, Dewars

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Kelly Bolter

Newski in front of a mural.

NEWSKI will play "the best venue in the world."

(2022 critics' pick) Longer-tenured Madison music scenesters likely encountered Brett Newski as a member of The Nod, a rock group who woke up the UW campus music world about a decade back. Since departing from Madison Newski has played music all over the world (next up: a tour of Austria and Germany with Nada Surf); released a series of solo albums filled with catchy, heartfelt songs (most recent: Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down); created the music podcast Dirt from the Road (recent guests include Willy Porter and Pinegrove frontman Evan Stephens Hall); and written a new book about tackling self-doubt (It's Hard to be a Person: defeating anxiety, surviving the world, and having more fun, currently in its third printing). If you haven't heard Newski's music for a while, it's past time to catch up.

media release: On April 7, Milwaukee-based alternative rock band NEWSKI release their latest full-length album Friend Rock (pre-order). The album follows NEWSKI's acclaimed album and book It's Hard to be a Person: defeating anxiety, surviving the world, and having more fun. 

In late March NEWSKI will kick of their 100+ show tour across America, Europe and Mexico in support of Friend Rock, which features members of Nada Surf, Guster, Miles Nielsen, H Burns, and The Verve Pipe. See a video for the song "Chemicals" here. Ahead of the tour, NEWSKI performed at a Milwaukee Chipotle to mixed results. 

“We played an unlicensed show at Chipotle and everyone hated us,” says NEWSKI.  

Everything that could go wrong did, for Wisconsin’s jangle pop rock outfit NEWSKI on their spontaneous and unlicensed performance at Chipotle; the guitar fell out of tune, no free burritos were rewarded, and nearly everyone in the place was pissed off.

“Local men were plowing huge burritos and the last thing they needed was a band that sounded loosely like Gin Blossoms rocking in their face,” added bassist Sean Anderson, who filled up a water cup with soda during the guitar solo. 

“It is only a two minute song, but felt like an eternity”, says drummer Steve Vorass. 

The band ejected themselves from the premises on the final chorus before management stepped in. In 2019, NEWSKI played a pop up show at Wal-Mart to much grander results and a viral video single. 

“The people of Wal-Mart really love to rock, but Chipotle was a different beast. I thought about ending my own life during the second chorus,” added NEWSKI. 

One patron who was there with her kids added, “I thought they were pretty good, but my husband was really angry cause he was hungry.” 

"NEWSKI showcases the unapologetically frank but not overly aggressive nature of 90s alt. rock perfectly." - American Songwriter

"I like the sound and the way he is forcing the world to contend with him." - Brian Ritchie, Violent Femmes

"You will leave their show thinking 'wow this is really not my thing', or 'THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE BAND." - Mike Mains

“I work at a venue, I’ve seen a million bands, I hate most of them, and I’m a grumpy fu#*. NEWSKI's live show is so great and well-dialed. He is great at what he does.” - Door Guy, Casbah, San Diego