Reid Kurkerewicz
Joe Stanton
First look
Madison’s punk blues wizards Meat Jelly slip out a new single on Bandcamp and vinyl. Here’s a look at the new video for “Chuck Downfield.” Read more
Christopher Diaz
Building bridges
The inaugural Black Arts Matter Festival aims to bring together creatives from campus and community, says organizer Shasparay Lighteard, a UW-Madison First Wave scholar. Read more
Nikolai Hagen
Looking good
August brings world streetwear to State Street. Plus owner Rob Bowhan brings local artists into the shop for an unconventional performance venue. Read more
the bomb
Fearsome filmmaking
The Outrider Foundation is sponsoring a showing of the experimental film “The Bomb,” hoping to reinvigorate public awareness of the ever-present nuclear threat. Read more
End of an era
After 23 years of selling records to punk and metal fans, Ear Wax Record Shop has closed its doors. Owner Rob Cleveland says his landlord declined to renew the lease, and shares what he’ll miss most about filling this niche. Read more
Digital collaboration
Although the members of the Projection People are scattered around the country, the electronic rockers have released an excellent new album, “Cloudbathing.” It’s a product of several years of digital collaboration. Read more
And...they’re off
Exit interview: Reid Kurkerewicz talks to Slow Pulp about the band’s decision to move to Chicago. The up-and-coming indie rock band is excited about moving to a larger market. Read more
Scott Markus
Sunspot’s scary stories
Madison power pop band Sunspot explores paranormal phenomena in its new album “The Wonders of the Invisible World.” They release the album at Ruby Madison on April 13. Read more
Close to home
We take a look at this year’s documentaries in the Wisconsin Film Festival’s “Wisconsin’s Own” category. The docs cover a wide range, from police shootings to outsider artists. Read more
Scotify
Lord of the Fly grows up
Reid Kurkerewicz talks to Daniel Kaplan about his latest project, Son!, and how he’s grown as a musician since Lord of the Fly. Read more
Unexplained phenomena
Mark O’Connell, author of “The Close Encounters Man” talks with Isthmus about his biography of ufologist J. Allen Hynek. O’Connell is at the Wisconsin Book Festival on Nov. 4. Read more
Scotify
Report from the house show scene
At Madison’s underground house parties new bands get to experiment and grow. Reid Kurkewicz reports from a basement on West Mifflin Street. Read more
Riley Steinbrenner
Dash Hounds rising
Featuring Aviva Kleinfeldt’s lilting vocals and glimmering guitar from Brendan Manley, Dash Hounds have risen from the ashes of indie darlings Modern Mod. Read more
