Project Famous Issue 10 - Sexy Ester

Sexy Ester

Sexy Like You’ve Never Seen It

No.

10

NOVEMBER 2013 | projectfamous.com

Editor in Chief JOEY BROYLES Managing Editor KELLY LAJTER Arts Editor CHRISTY GRACE Beauty Editor CANDI ROBBINS Fashion Editor ADELINE PECK Music Editor KAREN WHEELOCK Copy Editors DANIEL ATWATER FREDERICK HURST Contributing Writers HANNA KAZMAREK JASON OCKER JONATHAN ROBBINS LYNDSAY EVANS PAUL SMITH RICK TVEDT Contributing Photographers ADELINE PECK BEN ZYNDA PHOTOGRAPHY CANDI ROBBINS CHRISTY GRACE FAMILY TREE PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES ARROY JEFF BLANKENSHIP JULIE SUTTER PAULIUS MUSTEIKIS PHOTOGRAPHY RISE UP LIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY Project Famous, LLC. | PO Box 6292, Madison, WI 53716 Letters to the editor, advertising opportunities and all other questions can be emailed to info@projectfamous.com PROJECTFAMOUS.COM ©2013 All Rights Reserved.

November 2013 Issue 010

NOVEMBER 2013

FEATURE

Sexy Ester

by Karen Wheelock PHOTOGRAPHY James Arroy

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PAGE 30

PAGE 58

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PROJECT FAMOUS MAGAZINE

November 2013 Issue 010

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 6. For the Love of all Music

FASHION

8. Frugal Fashion: DIY Tights

by Guerrilla Thrifter Adeline Peck

BEHIND THE SCENES

22. Madison, Meet The Ethical Slut

by Jonathan Robbins

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

PAGE 52

MUSIC

46. Partnerships Made in Heaven

by Rick Tvedt 49. Backstagevibe.com

by Hanna Kazmarek 51. The Frequency Calendar 52. Our Experience with BandSwap

by Lyndsay Evans

THE ARTS

55. The Artery – A Heart for Madison

by Christy Grace

27. STUCK?

by Paul Smith

58. RAW: Text, Trinkets and Tape

by Jason Ocker

30. Lords of the Trident

IPG

FEATURE

32. Sexy Like You’ve Never Seen It

by Karen Wheelock

71. Destroy the Black Ink

by April Albaugh 72. BLISS, FEAR, FIND ME, HE SHE, MY MUSE

by Paul Smith

From the desk of Joey Broyles

For the Love of all Music

W

6

elcome to My Opinion.

You may have noticed Project Famous Magazine doesn’t get into writing reviews. Let’s explore why that is. Full disclosure: I am a Pop singer and I worship the genre. (That doesn’t mean I think all Pop music is good – I immediately recognize when I don’t like a Pop song.) I recently read a review from the New York Times that I completely disagreed with for a number of reasons.

First, how typical to give a negative review to an album that is expressive, thought provoking, and doesn’t fit what’s playing on the Top 40 radio today. Second, I believe the writer dislikes the Pop genre altogether and any artist would’ve have fallen victim to their “review.”

Broyles with Simone LaPierre at FIVE Nightclub

How often do magazines, newspapers, and blogs put someone in charge of a review who doesn’t understand the artist/ genre? The narcissist within the writer generally takes over if they have already formed their opinion before pressing play. The review often becomes more about how cleverly the writer can display their sharp tongue within the

Here’s my question: How many writers do you think actually spend time listening to an album before writing their review? Do they press play and separate themselves from technology, or do they spend their listening time multitasking?

(Checking your Facebook doesn’t count as ‘full attention’. Throw on a pair of earbuds and find a

required word count instead of writing something of substance.

Spreading hate is not providing the reader with good insight when they haven’t honestly explored the material.

quiet place to reflect!) If you are writing a review, sit your ass down and give this album your full attention.

In the past when I’ve been asked to review albums, I have always listened to it twice.

The first time around I listen for the emotional experience: how do I feel when listening to this album? The second time around it’s for lyrical content: what is the artist/band trying to say? Music is a visceral experience first and then a technical one, not the other way around.

Though I am a songwriter, I am not formally trained in musical composition. And as a result I am not a slave to musical standards our musical society has placed on musicians. I am not a slave to one specific genre. I am not even a slave to keeping my opinion; if an artist I’ve never cared for writes something that I can relate to I will change my opinion of them. People should be evolutionary not reductive.

I continue to learn and write more

complicated songs, but the journey – the evolution – is the most rewarding. I think fans appreciate the evolution of an artist. We aren’t born being the greatest at anything. If that were the case we’d have 2-year-olds ruling the world. I am unashamed of my current body of work. Other artists should feel the same. No matter your preference of genre, as the reviewer it is your job to respect the material and give it the benefit of the doubt each time. As an artist this should be the same, if you consider yourself a Rock artist, respect the material

of another genre and give it the spectrum come together, nothing benefit of the doubt as well. is better! We need to come together and embrace all genres.

The Pop scene does not always mingle well with the Hip My hippy ideology isn’t Hop scene or the Folk scene, but I shared across the board in the am more open-minded. If you are Madison music scene. I see a singing a song that I relate to, I’m separation from genre to genre, with you all the way. I consider from show to show. I hope that genres to be mere suggestions to where there is a separation we help give an artist/band a better can begin to bridge the gap. How shot for marketing purposes and sad is it that someone might that is all. I am a scene bouncer, never hear a song they would bouncing from scene to love? Their wall of limitation has denied that experience as long as they hold onto that ignorance.

Music should be genreless and I deny this separation. If you are a country singer and you want some opera in your song, contact that local opera singer and put her in the show. Join forces! Free your mind because scene because I love music the experience will be rewarding. for music.

As for the inner reviewer

Though I have a vast and critic in you: you are always collection of Pop music there welcome to have your opinions, are so many other genres in my but please back them up. “Just collection. I would never let because,” is a bullshit reason anyone score my biopic movie to dislike anything. Do you do with Pop music. There would be everything ‘just because?’ Think Rock, Hip Hop, and Alternative beyond your own experiences music because it best describes and open your heart to new ones. the life I’ve lead. When two Give a band/album your full genres join forces, the result attention and tell me how it made can be one of the greatest songs you feel. Pay attention to lyrics! you’ve ever heard. Some of my Negativity is in high demand favorite soundtracks are a variety where press is concerned and I of genres all in one and it makes refuse to think that way. Embrace the best listening experience. music and be fearless in your love When two artists from opposite for all genres!  PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 7

FASHION

8

FROM:

GUERRILLA THRIFTER

FRUGAL FASHION

DIY: TIGHTS

BY ADELINE PECK

Guerrilla Thrifter is bundling up for the changing weather. The leaves have changed and fallen. The air is crisp, making breath visible and noses red. One can hide inside and wait until spring, or one can get thrifty and crafty! Bundling up means more options for budget-friendly frocks. Guerrilla Thrifter went crafty and is showing stylish, fall-worthy, DIY tights - kitten knee caps, ombre and marbled designs, all with a feminist twist.

Let these patterns inspire you to create a look unique to you. Throw on your favorite wooly skirt, those favorite boots and embrace this fall with confidence! The weather is never an excuse to look drab! Take the weather by storm, look your best and do it on a budget!

Photography ADELINE PECK | Model ADELINE PECK PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 9

“Eat Your Heart Out, Zooey Deschanel” • Hanes Navy Blue Opaque Tights - $1.99 - St. Vinny’s

• Craft Smart Paint Pen - $5.99 for a Pack of Six - Michael’s

• Navy Wool-blend Skirt - $3.99 - Everyday People Clothing Exchange

• Lands’ End Blue Oxford - $1.99 - Savers

• Vintage Wool Plaid Blazer - $5.99 - Goodwill • Animal Hair Leopard Print Flats - $3 - Savers 10

Look was achieved by: Placing a thick piece of cardboard in knee cap section of tights.

Prep Paint Pen for use by testing on separate paper. (Also a good idea to practice design before application) Dab Pen on designated area, using a stippling motion.

Let Dry and Wear With a Smile.

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 11

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“Nude to Brown Ombre”

• Nude/Flesh Tights - $0.99 - St. Vinny’s

• Brown Rit Dye - $2.99 - Michael’s

• Vintage Black Jersey Slit Dress - $8.99 Savers

• Vintage Brown Leather Cowboy Boots - $12.99 - Atomic Katz Oshkosh Wisconsin (Thrift in Every Town)

• Vintage Silk Scarf - Gifted From Grandma (The Lady with The Best Style)

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 13

Look was achieved by: Dip-dying while following Rit Dye Directions on packaging.

Hold Tights outside dye and dip occasionally to achieve Ombre look.

Rinse until water runs clear.

Dry completely.

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PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 15

“A Feminist For All Seasons” • White Sheer Tights - $0.99 - St. Vinny’s

• Craft Smart Paint Pen - $5.99 for a Pack of Six - Michael’s

• Vintage Black Leather Pointed Toe Boots - $5.99 - Savers

• Red Jersey Shift Dress - $5.00 - Shopgoodwillmadison.com

• Black Turtleneck - $7.99 - Target

• Black Shorts - $3.49 - Target

• Vintage Red Wool Beret - $0.99 - Savers

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Look was achieved by: Placing a thick piece of cardboard in knee cap section of tights.

Prep Paint Pen for use by testing on separate paper. (Also a good idea to practice design before application) Dab Pen on designated area, using a stippling motion.

Let Dry and Wear With a Smile.

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 17

FASHION

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“Red Polka Dot Toe Tappers”

•

Red Knee High Nylons - $0.99 - Bethesda’s House of Thrift

•

Craft Smart Paint Pen - $5.99 for a Pack of Six - Michael’s

•

Navy Opaque Tights - $0.49 - St. Vinny’s

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 19

Look was achieved by:

• Placing a thick piece of cardboard in knee cap section of tights.

• Prep Paint Pen for use by testing on separate paper. (Also a good idea to practice design before application)

• Dab Pen on designated area, using a stippling motion.

• Let Dry and Wear With a Smile.

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PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 21

BEHIND THE SCENES

22

Madison, Meet The Ethical Slut Chandra Miller Fienen

B

en Fritz the writer, director and actor of the new web series The Ethical Slut, filmed here in Madison, calls the show “an exploration of relationships.” The show is a dark comedy that follows two friends, Dotty and Jackie, who live and work in Madison, as they explore the possibilities of polyamory.

Polyamory is defined as the practice, desire or acceptance of having more than one intimate

by Jonathan Robbins PHOTOGRAPHY Candi Robbins

Brendan Hartmann, Holly Walker and Georgia Curry

Fritz, having just finished relationship at a time with the the successful web series Cynthia knowledge and consent of Watros Gets Lost in which he coeveryone involved. wrote and directed, turned his You may recognize the attention to The Ethical Slut. He name “The Ethical Slut” from had been involved years before a non-fiction book written by with a feature film adaptation of Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy, the book that never materialized. published in 1997. The show He explains, “So this project is a fictional exploration of the came back up and I was like practices and philosophy of that ‘it should have never been a book. Fritz pulled some situations feature’. It should be an episodic from the book but did use it more thing. There is so much material here; it can go on and on.” Fritz as a source of inspiration. contacted the authors and after PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 23

Brian Alberth 24

Brian Alberth, Benjamin Fritz, Danny Cunningham, Betsy Craig Kruse, Trevor LaPaglia, Alex Van Abel spending a weekend with them, an unbiased look at the lifestyle.” got the green light to go ahead Fritz, however cautions that he is not out to change people’s views with the project. or convert them to polyamory.

The show focuses on two “In terms of changing views, no women, Dotty Eaton - a happily I don’t care to change anybody’s married mother of two, who works views. The way people choose as a family marriage counselor. to organize their lives hopefully Fritz describes her as “more into works for them. It’s really about growth and exploring her own options and exploring them, it’s short comings.” Her friend Jackie not saying one way is right.”

Stone is a successful business While the topics explored woman with children but has a marriage more in distress. “Jackie in The Ethical Slut can be very is more externally oriented; she’s serious, Fritz manages to keep more into the sex. They bounce the story light. “I find we can talk off each other really well, Dotty about deep issues if we can laugh is more responsible, but has about the situation. Besides sex more hang-ups. Jackie is more can be a funny thing.” comfortable with her sexuality, but not as responsible.”

Fritz was living and working in Los Angeles when he Both women start to started the project, but he felt Los explore a polyamorous life style, Angeles was not the right setting Dotty by Jackie’s suggestion, for the show. “I felt to give the with their partners. “I feel like show more legitimacy it needed we do a pretty good job of having to be set in the Midwest.” Fritz

grew up in Monona and thought Madison was the perfect city to film his new show. “Madison is diverse, progressive and just beautiful, and very cinematic.”

The show was shot at many local businesses like Ale Asylum, Michael’s Frozen Custard, and Hotel Red, among others.

With no current set release date for the first episode of the show, Fritz hopes to release one or two, five to seven-minute episodes a week, sometime in November. Fritz currently is wrapping up some final details on season one and is in postproduction on season two. You can keep an eye out for a hard release date by following The Ethical Slut on Facebook and Twitter.



PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 25

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 27

S T U C K ?

Y

ou’re sitting in front of a big, blank canvas.

Or you’re glaring at a blank Microsoft W o r d document on your laptop screen.

It’s time to start that painting, drawing, short story or song intro, yet nothing is happening.

It’s been that way for a while; even your peers are starting to wonder about you.

Article and Illustraton by Paul Smith stalled.

Here are some things to remember when you hit the creative curb: PLAY SOME SOLITAIRE. GO TO THE ART MUSEUM.

As a painter, it helps to focus on someone else’s accomplishments on the canvas when I seem to be unable to muster the courage to start my own work. It can be a tremendous inspiration looking at the work of an established artist. And yes, you can look them up online, but But you can’t help it… it’s not the same thing as standing you’re stuck. Apparently your in front of the work itself. muse has left the building, possibly for an extended out-of- The biggest impact about seeing town vacation – leaving you high the actual work is if you look and dry. close enough, you can figure out the processes the artist used to There are ways to jar execute the work. Very often it’s loose the creative energy that a tip-off on how to proceed on seems to be log-jammed in your your own work. head. As a fully functioning painter and illustrator for over DO SOMETHING PHYSICAL. thirty years, I’ve faced down this dilemma multiple times. I have a Take a walk. Or go for few suggestions for you that can a run. Lift some weights. Even help you work through the block. do some housework; clean something. Physical activity has This information is aimed been tied to increased cerebral at newcomers as well. It can be functioning on many levels, and a pretty daunting affair to follow typically while I’m out on the through with that promise to track, I can focus on the creative yourself about finally starting problem at hand and only that artwork, only to wind up the creative problem at hand. sitting there mind-locked and Remember, bouncing a tennis

28

ball against a wall is part of the creative process.

Or Tetris. Or whatever simple game you tend to play when you’re confined in the dentist’s waiting room. Not a complex video game, but something that’s simple in execution. And not a game with anyone else. Do this alone. It may seem odd, but even facilities that treat patients suffering with Alzheimer’s disease know that it’s important to keep the neurosynaptic channels exercised.

While you’re playing that simple game, the project is still in your minds-eye, buying you time to figure out the first move while keeping the brain-power engaged.

TALK TO SOMEONE.

You might be surprised at how many of the established artists go through creative block on a routine basis. If you’re new at making art, connect with someone in the artistic field you are operating in and just ask them point-blank what they do when they experience the dreaded creative draught. You might think that another artist would be hesitant to discuss problems in process, and some I have

approached to dialogue with wouldn’t discuss it. out, and then what to do about it. Nearly every But for the most part, artists will be very willing to single time I hit the creative wall, it usually boiled talk about it, basically because we all go through down to one thing and one thing alone: this. All of us. No one is exempt.

Fear!

WORK A DIFFERENT PROJECT INSTEAD.

As a professional, I’m afraid of launching

I know, I know, it’s this painting you a particular drawing because it might be looked wanted to work on, not something else. But since down on when completed. Or a painting that will it’s just not happening anyway, you might as well take weeks of concentrated effort and no matter use that creative urge for something else. I have what I do, it’ll look like I did it at gun-point and no been absolutely amazed at how working on an ink one will look at it. And I’ll look ridiculous on top of drawing, or fooling around with some terracotta all that. And on, and on, and on... clay, will somehow interconnect with what I intended to do with the oils.

This is especially true for beginners – people that are just starting out and have no empirical experience to lean on.

WRITE ABOUT IT.

Yes, this works for writers as well. Especially writers, actually. If I have a short story I’m trying to launch, and I’m coming up with exactly nothing, I’ll write about not being able to write instead. It gets things jump-started, allows me to vent without breaking anything in frustration, and usually generates enough psychological momentum to ease into the piece I’m attempting to go with.

Please know this, fellow artist – it takes courage to allow the viewing-public a visual entrance into your mind and heart, which is exactly what you are doing when you put that painting, drawing, song, written work, whatever, out there.

It’s to be expected that you will be a little nervous about it, but whatever you do, do not let this fear stop you!

And finally:

Keep in mind that, rationally speaking, nine out of ten people you know would not even have the basic urge to start something artistic, let alone actually following through on a finished piece.

REALIZE WHY YOU ARE BLOCKED.

Seems simple enough, right? Just figure out

So launch that piece, whatever it is. It will why I can’t do this and then fix it. work out. And think of how proud your muse will

I’m being completely honest when I make be when she returns from vacation! the claim that it took decades for me to figure this 

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 29

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Lords of the Trident The Inferno Photography by Jeff Blankenship

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 31

Sexy

Like You’ve Never Seen It

by Karen Wheelock Photography JAMES ARROY

Lyndsay Evans: The Powerhouse

Hair: Dawn Marie Svanoe MUA: Dawn Marie Svanoe Head/Shoulder Pieces: Dawn Marie Svanoe

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 33

Scene: An empty warehouse, with the members of Sexy Ester in various stages of getting hair and makeup done for their most epic photo shoot to date. This five-piece band has been causing quite the stir in the local scene, and recently grabbed attention in other states as well.

Sexy Ester consists of Lyndsay Evans with magnetically powerful vocals, Adam Eder shredding guitar, Roscoe Evans adding a danceable twist with keyboard, Brad Schubert with a driving bass line, and Jenna Joanis mastering an upbeat drum.

With several Madison Area Music Awards under their belt, and a consistent show schedule, the band’s popularity is growing every day. And although Sexy Ester will blow you away onstage, its members are as laid-back and down-to-earth as 34

they come. I was able to chat with each of them as they transformed for their post-apocalyptic photo shoot.

Karen Wheelock: I actually have learned the answer to this question since writing it down, but I’ll ask it for the readers’ sake…who is Ester and why is she Sexy?

I heard that the story behind the name was ‘what’s sexier than sexiest? Sexiest-er!’

Lyndsay Evans: Yeah! It’s Sexy to the 4th power!

KW: I looked you up on Wikipedia, and found “Sexy Ester and the Pretty Mama Sisters.” What’s that about?

LE: I liked the band name Sexy Ester and Adam liked the name The Pretty Mama Sisters, so we combined them

and compromised. And then it was too long – people weren’t putting our full name on bills because of the length, and everyone was calling it Sexy Ester anyway, so we shortened it.

KW: How would you describe your sound? Who are your influences?

Jenna Joanis: Disco-punk… I lean more toward the “disco” part of that… dancey, happy music.

As a drummer, it’s really fun to play the songs. When we play live, it’s nice to look out and see the audience dancing.

Brad Schubert: Kind of like pop with an edge to it. I’m kind of different; I like old school thrash metal and that comes through a little bit in my attitude in how I play the bass.

Roscoe Evans: I am influenced by a collective of everything I listen to… I don’t know if I should compare us to this, but Queen.

Adam Eder: New wave rock with a disco punk twist. Influences for me are Blondie, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Michael Jackson.

LE: (agrees on above sound descriptions) My performance/ vocal influences include people like Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney. But, I also grew up listening to Madonna, Pat Benatar… you know, women who were both powerhouses and great performers, or really innovative and ahead of their times.

KW: What is your favorite Sexy

Ester song and why?

we have done in the past; it’s fun and people aren’t really expecting it.

BS: “Fever Las Vegas” has a dance-feel to it, but also has a lot of edge. Anything with an edge is The band recently good for me! participated in BandSwap – a project that sends select bands to AE: My favorite song is usually the specific cities in the US to play most recent song we wrote. The with another band local to their other songs kind of lose flair over destination. The band, Common time for me, so whatever is the most Anomaly, came up from Fort current is probably my favorite. I Collins, Colorado to Madison to would say from our last album, my play with Sexy Ester and another favorite is “The Hotness”… it was Madison favorite, Sky Road Fly. the last one we wrote. (Laughs) We Sexy Ester then went to Fort actually finished that one in the Collins to play for the Colorado studio, kind of cramming it onto crowd. the album.

KW: Let’s talk about BandSwap – JJ: “Mine Tonight” because of how did you get involved in that? the vocals and drums. Another What has your experience with special one is “Who Needs Loves it been like? Any highlights or Anyway” because it was the very challenges? first Sexy Ester song I had ever heard. I then thought, ‘I need to LE: Karin Wolf [from BandSwap] get in this band’ and I worked contacted me and said that we had my ass off to learn the drums to been nominated and asked if we it. Every time we play it live, I’m were available on specific dates reminded of that.

– that was an important factor.

I called up the rest of the band LE: Right now, I really love singing and made sure everyone was free, “Spotlight,” because it’s personal and then found out a few days for me. It stems from something later that our band was chosen. It that Rick Tvedt wrote about me [in was amazing; we’ve never toured a review] – “Shy and unassuming outside of the Midwest. It was a in conversation, Evans transforms great opportunity to get it in our into a spiky, costumed rock starlet system and see if we could do it in the making.” And I thought that as a band. was a really neat idea… made me think ‘oh, who is this girl and what JJ: It was awesome. Yeah, it was happens when she goes onstage?’ our first major trip as a band [“Spotlight”] was kind of written anywhere… Common Anomaly was about me and transformed into a great – I enjoyed them and their bigger idea. music. I bought their CD and it’s in my car right now! The big RE: “Silver Shoes” because it’s a hiccup was waking up with a numb new song that deviates from what arm. Roscoe came to the rescue PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 35

and found me a chiropractor in Colorado. It brought us together AE: BandSwap was awesome! I (laughs). can’t say enough about it. Fort Collins was amazing – I’ve never RE: They treated us like rock stars been to another city that I could see and made us feel welcome. Fort myself living in besides Madison, Collins is a lot like Madison – they but Fort Collins definitely felt that have craft breweries, it’s kind of way. Nebraska on the way out a small, friendly town, with great there… I didn’t know how we’d music. A highlight was our VIP top it, but on the way back, it got

tour of the New Belgium Brewery. I got to try a new beer right off the production line that isn’t sold in stores yet.

– kind of like getting a free live show myself! I get to enjoy the music like an audience member.

The part is more simplistic.

Everyone always comments on the tambourine taped to my foot, too.

LE: A lot our songs don’t translate into acoustic, so sometimes we’ll throw in some Janis Joplin or Beatles

even longer. (Laughs) It was all covers. Or we’ll do some songs off great - Lyndsay freaking out in the of our first album that Adam and I mountain passes… yeah! did together. Maybe people see us who wouldn’t normally and then KW: You guys have done some come out to see us play a full set BS: It was cool to see another acoustic sets recently. How later. city, especially one that was in the different is that for you compared mountains. It was a great music to normal shows?

RE: It’s a fun experience for me scene, too… the place we played because I have to limit what I – Hodi’s Half Note – also reminded JJ: It’s really fun for me because I can work with. I don’t want the me a lot of the High Noon Saloon. get to be up front, next to Lyndsay keyboards to overpower the rest 36

of the band. I only get to work with one keyboard or melodica, so I end up working a lot harder. It’s cool, different and more intimate.

together. We write together, we started the band together as just the two of us… I’m so glad that Roscoe likes being a part of it. My mom really loves it. (Laughs) It’s KW: How does the songwriting so great that Brad and Jenna came process work for you? on and built it to what it is today.

It wouldn’t be what it is without AE: A lot of times, it starts with them. me plugging away on guitar at home. Other times we’ll be at KW: As the non-related members practice and others will just click of the band, how did you get with what’s being played and we’ll involved, Jenna and Brad? go off of that.

LE: A riff inspires a feeling which inspires an idea. Once I get an idea, the rest comes. I spend a lot of time on thesaurus websites. A lot of my lyrics are about love, unrequited love, but also strong women, independence, being yourself. ‘Being yourself ’ was a huge theme in “Monomania.”

KW: Ok, this one is for Roscoe, Adam and Lyndsay. What’s it like playing with family? (Lyndsay is Roscoe’s sister and Adam’s wife.)

RE: It’s cool – you know, you can’t really back out on your family…

I feel like that’s what really holds this band together. Even if you have differences, you still have to work together and can’t avoid each other.

AE: At times, it can be tough… but mostly, it’s awesome!

Especially with me and Lyndsay – our schedules work well together.

(Laughs) I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.

LE: It’s great! Adam and I have it good because we are always

“A riff inspires a feeling which inspires an idea. Once I get an idea, the rest comes.” - L. Evans

joking at first, because it was kind of ironic, but everything just fell into place and it was meant to be.

KW: Ok, this is an important question. If Roscoe were to get in an epic keytar battle with Prince, who would win?

JJ: Hmmm. I would have to say Roscoe, because he’s my dude.

And he’s sexier.

BS: Roscoe would win; he’s got a lot of attitude on the keytar.

RE: If we met, there would be a mutual attraction between us. We would probably join forces and take over the world. We’d be a duo to be reckoned with keytars in hand… and purple pants!

AE: Oh, wow… I love Roscoe, but… Prince is the shit. He’s… the purple one! There’s just too much purple to deal with; I don’t even know. It would be epic! But, you know… Prince is getting old.

Now I’m torn. Ok, keytar goes BS: I went to high school and to Roscoe. But, if we brought the college with Adam; I’ve known guitars in, it might be a different him for 17 or 18 years. He asked story. me to try out five years ago when Sexy Ester was starting up, and I LE: (just laughs really hard) just kind of stuck.

KW: What’s one weird quirk, fact JJ: I was at a RAW event with a or hobby about each of you that different band I was in at the time, most readers won’t already know? and when we were backstage, I kind of jokingly said ‘hey, if your RE: I’m kind of a big nerd… drummer is ever injured, I will maybe that’s not surprising to a gladly fill in!’ And then I heard lot of people. (Laughs) I recently back from Lyndsay in the next got into comic books… I like week or two after that, and she dark stories and fantasies rather said ‘hey if you want to audition than the superhero comics. I also for our band…’ I thought she was have read two or three apocalyptic PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 37

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Brad Schubert: The Muscle Hair: Hattie Chamberlin MUA: Christy Grace

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 39

Adam Eder: The Suit Hair: Candi Robbins MUA: Candi Robbins

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Jenna Joanis: The WarriorHair: Hattie Chamberlin MUA: Christy Grace

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Roscoe Evans: The Bandit Hair: Candi Robbins MUA: Candi Robbins

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graphic novels.

that we’re hoping to push out in the spring; we are working on writing that right now. And we have a JJ: I once played a band that opened for Reel Big booking manager now, so hopefully that will start Fish… I don’t know if that’s really a quirk though… leading to more full weekend tours and maybe some um, here’s a fact about me – I started to play guitar longer tours, things like that. at age six, and got my first drum when I was nine. In my own time, I play guitar in a band called Folk You. LE: I would say my ultimate goal would be to become a full-time musician. I don’t have to be rich and AE: I was once in a goth-metal band called Vampires famous; I just want to make my passion and my gift Sleep in the Shade. Marilyn Manson was our idol. And my life. We are writing right now, hopefully recording “Antichrist Superstar” is still in my top five albums in January – if we get our act together! (Laughs) We’d of all time. love to be touring, and maybe in the future I could give voice lessons!

BS: I’m ridiculously early to everything, and am usually the first person at a show, even before they And with that, Sexy Ester is completely open the doors. prepped for their photo shoot. Cue the fog machines, lighting, and sexy stares, because this band is about LE: I guess everyone already knows that I love to to take off! cook and that I’m vegan. Oh! My number one goal in high school was to go Broadway… I met Adam and www.sexyester.com started making music with him, so I didn’t end up  pursuing it. If I do get famous, I’m using that fame to Additional Credits: get on Broadway! (Laughs) Costumes & Accessories: Kelly Lajter, Kim Wolf

Dress for Lyndsay Evans: Hattie Chamberlin

Sexy Ester is already pretty famous in Special thanks to: Tim James, Ty Christian, John Blaska, Jake Madison, but the majority of the nation has yet Olson, Danny Atwater to listen to them. This is something that they collectively want to change.

KW: What does the future hold for Sexy Ester? What are your goals?

JJ: I think we all want to make it a full time job – we all have other jobs, which makes scheduling very difficult for us. We are very determined and are currently writing new songs together.

BS: I just want it to get more and more intense and get known nationally. It’s always good to get bigger and better!

RE: I’d like to play as many places as possible, all over the place. Madison is a good home base, but a US tour would be awesome!

AE: I would love to make it a full time gig – that would be a dream-come-true. We have a new album 44

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 45

MUSIC

PARTNERSHIPS MADE IN HEAVEN

by Rick Tvedt | Illustration by Paul Smith

I

have always thought that things happen in their own time and when they are supposed to. The arrival of Project Famous Magazine was at precisely the right moment for several reasons.

Madison’s music media is once again in trouble. The Onion’s “A.V. Club” was the leader of an already thin pack of local music coverage. First they discontinued the Madison version of the “A.V. Club” and earlier this year they ceased printing the newspaper in Madison entirely. While they still publish their core content online, this was a big blow. Another weekly print publication, 77 Square, also ceased distributing to newsstands this year; they distribute in the Wisconsin State Journal like they always have; still no one reads it. This left the city’s printed music coverage in the hands of the Isthmus, which is always suspect. The coverage is good when it’s there but they seem to lack the will to be consistent.

Then there is my own Local Sounds Magazine, the only publication that has been devoted exclusively to Madisonarea music. It’s a labor of love but also a voluntary form of

labor, as in, I make no money and lose plenty. So I do everything I can, when I can but it’s not enough (BTW, I could use a few writers). While we’re speaking of partnerships, I recently made one with Madison Magazine which wants to expand local music coverage. Their demographic is distinctly different from the one I’m accustomed to writing for so I eagerly agreed. You can find the aptly named “Local Sounds” blog on their site and I will write print articles for the magazine from time to time. We share a lot of content in this arrangement and so far it’s been quite productive.

And then along came Project Famous Magazine, a publication I loved from the moment I saw it. It fills a giant hole in cultural arts media in Madison and has single-handedly created a Madison pop culture scene. The photography knocks me out and I admire the fashion sense, the way they blend it in with music, art and film. I also admire the immense ambition with which they’ve undertaken this task. Each issue has been astoundingly thorough and I’ve already been turned on to artists in multiple mediums that I was not aware of. It’s very difficult to raise any money with online publishing. I fully understand the effort that goes into putting each issue together and that’s why I

want to do everything I can to support them. We’re comrades.

Recently, Editor-in-Chief Joey Broyles and I had a spirited meeting (so spirited in fact we were asked to quiet down in the establishment where we met).

That’s emblematic of the passion we both have for the arts and music in particular. Joey is an accomplished songwriter who currently has an EP available and has produced several videos.

He also has a full-length debut album nearing completion.

Our respective missions are so kindred it just didn’t make any sense not to help each other out.

I’ll be previewing and promoting Project Famous at Local Sounds Magazine and Project Famous Magazine will publish a recent post from Local Sounds Magazine. I’m pretty certain this is just the beginning of joint efforts to promote Madison’s culture. I also think Project Famous Magazine is a natural for the Madison Area Music Awards and they will unquestionably bring more fun and fashion to the Capitol Theater on June 22nd.

That brings us to the “why now” part of this commentary.

In all my years being involved in Madison music (longer than I will admit to) I don’t think

I’ve seen the momentum I am witnessing now. There are too many forces in motion to result in anything other than monolithic change. Despite the bungled “town hall” last November, the near shit canning of fifty grand on a “music” video, nearly wasting another twenty grand on trying to decide if Madison can be Austin (instead of just being Madison) and the eventual waste of twentyfive grand toward a city-wide “music festival” that not one musician saw a dime of, the city is actually making some sincere efforts at putting Madison on the music map. This won’t make us another Austin, it will make us

what we already are: a great music city only now there will be a lifesupport system. There are other private and business interests starting to pony up as well. You might ask yourself what the hell this is about, but you will know soon enough. Change is coming to Madison.

It will take forces working together to help make this happen. It will take people like Joey Broyles and the staff of Project Famous Magazine. The days of media territorialism are over. Working together to better the lives of the artists that live and work here, working together

to recognize the economic value of the arts and investing in it, working together to make Madison a better place to be is the way forward. It will take you, too. I hope you’re ready.

Rick Tvedt is the Editor of Local Sounds Magazine (formerly Rick’s Café) an online music publication dedicated to Madison music and arts. www. localsoundsmagazine.com He is also the Executive Director of the Madison Area Music Association. www.themamas.org

PROJECT FAMOUS ~presents~

1ST ANNUAL PROJECT FAMOUS SCREENWRITING COMPETITION Submit an original screenplay or short story and see your vision turned into a short film* early next year**. The winner will also receive a free copy of Final Draft 9 software!

Open to all Project Famous MeetUp.com members. Applicants may submit one screenplay or short story*** that is 15 pages or less. All submissions must be of the author’s original work, no adaptations or fan-fiction permitted.

DEADLINE: Saturday 12/7/13 @ 11:59pm WINNER: Announced and contacted the evening of 12/30/13

For full details and rules visit our website

projectfamous.com 48



Backstagevibe.com

A Musician’s One-Stop Online Resource

by Hanna Kazmarek

PHOTOGRAPHY Rise Up Lights Photography

Melissa Walker and Rachael Davies

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elissa and Rachael sit down for coffee on a rainy afternoon to discuss their website. They’re two sisters with a clean-cut, businesslike persona, and then they pull out their business cards: “Rachael Davies - Operations Ninja” and “Melissa Walker - Media Maven.” Together they’ve headed an online musical phenomenon called Backstagevibe.com. It’s an all-inone, musician’s springboard.

“There are a lot of sites that offer single services to musical artists,” Davies explains, “We provide a place that houses

They also have a radio show that reaches 500,000 people weekly. “It lets people be heard,” says Davies, “And we put our shows on YouTube. We promote the broadcasts in as many places that we can so that musicians who are trying to get a label or get a gig can say ‘hey look, people are playing my stuff,’ or ‘hey I got interviewed, here it is’.”

site is offering a service really well, instead of trying to compete, we try to partner with them. We want to create a community, not just on our site but a community of music services,” Walker explains with excitement in her eyes.

Their expertise seems to reflect some empathy, as both women, though easy to laugh, are quick to be serious, “A lot of bands are really isolated, just trying to keep their careers going,” says Davies. “There’s the band side of playing and creating music and then there’s the business side.”

That’s where the sisters come in.

They connect new fans to bands and help musicians solidify their music into careers.

all the tools they need.” Some of those tools include an arena to upload your music onto a profile, a chat room forum, an online store for artist merchandise, a press release guideline and distribution feature, as well as their blog, just to name a few.

“And if we think another

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ties. Now independent, they’ve witnessed a huge response in membership and users growth within the last six months. When they first started a year ago, they had zero members. Today they’re at about 1,000. The best part for these members is that most of the services are free.

“We connect organizations and bands we think would be a good match, through the site, in person, or via phone calls. And because we’ve developed this trust with our members too, we have bands coming to us asking ‘hey we were contacted by this organization or person, do you know anything about them?’” Davies says, referring to what Walker terms the “sketchy element” in the music industry.

music to a record label. You just need to know how to do it well and you need to be persistent.

There are so many bits and pieces of information all over. And some of it isn’t legitimate. We’ve spent time talking to industry experts about who they are really looking for; and how they want it submitted.”

In other words, instead of getting a collection of bad information, Backstagevibe.com furnishes

“Many musicians fall prey legitimate resources. to scammers,” Davies explains.

“They’ll be promised ‘x’ number This all started out with an idea, of dollars to play a festival and pitched to them by their business then they don’t get paid. Or there partner, Curt Davies. “He came are some promoters that offer to us with the idea,” Walker says, their services to get people signed “and after looking into it, we or get a band’s CD in ‘x’ number really saw that there was a need of places, saying they need for this.” $3,000 upfront to do this service, and then nothing happens. Or The entrepreneurs almost ‘I’m going to connect you with immediately plunged themselves this label so they can hear you’ into making it a reality, although when really it’s free. It doesn’t the site’s growth was hindered cost you anything to submit your at the start by stifling business 50

“We turned off the pay button since we’re in a growing phase. A couple of the newer features are pay-for services, but at bottom dollar. Like our press release function. You can submit your information; we walk you through the steps and we also give you tips and tricks for how to do good PR. Then we’ll actually release it for you through a wire service. A lot of sites will charge you $300 dollars.”

Backstagevibe.com charges $25.

It’s a one-time purchase and there are no reoccurring fees.

Backstagevibe.com is bringing coherency to a sporadic process. You can also be sure what you’re getting is legit. And most importantly, you can be heard. “There’s so much good music out there that people are missing because they’re listening to mainstream radio,” Davies explains. “Our website enables them to promote themselves, giving them the tools, and just giving them a voice and a place.”

Keep a look out for additional features on Backstagevibe.com’s redesigned and more user-friendly website! www.backstagevibe.com

THE FREQUENCY 121 W. Main Street Madison, WI 53703 madisonfrequency.com NOVEMBER SHOWS 11/18 GHOSTWRITER w/ The Smoking Flowers 8:30 PM, 18+, $5 11/19 MAJESTIC LIVE presents IVAN AND ALYOSHA 9 PM, 18+, $10 adv $12 dos 11/20 COMMUNION MADISON featuring TENNIS, NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, SAVOIR ADORE, ON AN ON with Special Guests Building on Buildings, Brandon Beebe 8 PM, 18+, $12 adv $15 dos 11/21 MAJESTIC LIVE presents PAPER LIONS w/ Jordan Klassen, The Shones 8:30 PM, 18+, $8 advance, $10 day of show 11/22 OCKAM’S RAZOR w/ Breech, Ultrea 10 PM, 18+, $5 11/23 SIX SHOT COMEDY SHOWCASE featuring Andy Boyle, Dave Losso, Jason Melton, Derrick Turnage, Josh Ballew, Collin Bullock 6 PM, 18+, $3 11/23 BLANK FACE RECORDS SHOWCASE featuring LAST FALSE HOPE w/ I Am Dragon, EME, Wiscoholics 9 PM,18+, $6 11/24 MODERN ERA w/ Skizzwhores, Rosa Parkinson 9 PM, 18+, $5 11/25 LES RACQUET 8:30 PM, 18+, $5 11/26 AyOH w/ The Go Rounds 9 PM, 18+, $5 11/27 DJ ABILITIES w/ GrrTell, Room Mates 9 PM, 18+, $7 11/28 MAGMA DRAGON 9 PM, 18+, $5 11/29 TREXSGIVING featurning The Killer Dolphin With Rabies, The Circuit Theory, War Of Abaddon, The Unnecessary Gunpoint Lecture 9:30 PM, 18+, $5 adv $8 dos 11/30 I VOTED FOR KODOS 7” Release Party w/ Something to Do, The 4 A.M. 9 PM, 18+, $7 at the door, $10 with the 7 inch

DECEMBER SHOWS 12/03 BIGMOUTH STRIKES AGAIN - A MORRISSEY BOOK PARTY 7 PM, 18+, FREE 12/04 SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK BENEFIT featuring Karen Wheelock, Gabe Burdulis, lazydeadpoet 8 PM, 18+, $5 12/06 SEXY ESTER + SHANE SHANE + COWBOY WINTER + ROYAL STATION 9:30 PM, 21+, $8 12/07 CIRCUS FIRES w/ One Last Run, Parias Day, The Way Back 9 PM, 18+, $tba 12/12 THE DAN POTACKE SHOW 6 PM, 18+, FREE 12/13 MAJESTIC LIVE presents VALERIE JUNE 12/14 DAN VAPID w/ Turkletons, Lipstick Homicide 10 PM, 18+, $8 12/17 THE JIMMY K SHOW 12/18 COMMUNION 12/19 SPARETIME BLUEGRASS BAND

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 51

Our Experience w i t h B a n d S w a p

by Lyndsay Evans PHOTOGRAPHY Julie Sutter

W

hen I got the call from Karin Wolf that we had been picked by the Mayor’s office to represent Madison in BandSwap, it took everything I had not to scream into the phone like a contestant on The Price Is Right.

Sexy Ester had never played outside of the Midwest and this was our chance to do it as a part of a very cool festival which is put on by a non-profit called SpokesBuzz from Fort Collins, Colorado. BandSwap sends eight SpokesBuzz bands from Colorado to eight different cities around the U.S. Those 16 bands then all

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meet for join the festivities. a weekend-long music festival at After naps, we headed to different venues in Fort Collins and Denver, along with many Denver for our first BandSwap event in Colorado. Friday, after other local musicians there. some morning sight-seeing in Our “swap” band from the mountains, we headed to a Fort Collins, Common Anomaly, networking event and then to came to Madison to play with a show at an art gallery in Old us, at the High Noon Saloon Town. And for supper, we took where they put on one hell of a the only meat-eater in the band to show! We were very excited to be his very first all-Vegan restaurant. paired with them; they are great The food was amazing. Brad thought so too. Don’t let him tell musicians and fun guys. you any differently.

Two weeks later, we Saturday was the day of loaded the five of us, our gear and all of our luggage into my our show and it was kicked off parents’ van. We drove through with a VIP tour at New Belgium the night and arrived in Fort Brewery followed by an afternoon Collins around noon on Thursday. show in Old Town Square.

We were exhausted but excited to

Photo by Ben Zynda Photography

great crowd and had an amazing night.

Sunday, our last day in Fort Collins, started out with some football-watching at a local bar and then off to the band and volunteer brunch followed by a great afternoon show and then drinks at another local bar with all of the bands and volunteers to close out the weekend.

We left early on Monday morning. Packed everything back into the minivan and said goodbye to the mountains.

There were several parties and gatherings over the long weekend and every event we went to, we were treated like rock stars. We also met so many amazing musicians and music industry people from all over the country who we plan to stay in touch and network with. It was an amazing experience that we were sad to leave so soon.

The experience has really fanned the fire in us. We’re excited to be writing new songs and to plan a tour for 2014. Being full-time musicians is our dream and BandSwap gave us a little taste of that.

Videos from our trip can be found on Sexy After the show, we were off to a band and Ester’s YouTube channel and pictures can be found volunteer dinner at a Wisconsin native’s home. The rest of the band enjoyed her wonderful hospitality, on our Facebook page. dinner and mingling while I was upstairs having my makeup done and getting dolled-up for our show.

 Excited to play, we headed off to load in at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins where we met up with our “Swap” band, Common Anomaly.

Our drummer, Jenna, had woken up with no feeling in her right hand the previous morning but we worked it out, rocked to a

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 53

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 55

ARTS

The Artery : A Heart for Madison

Article & Photo Collage

by Christy Grace

A

change has started in Madison’s art scene. Instead of sending artists out into the world to “make it big,” Madison is drawing artists in and making a place for them. Candy Phelps, owner and Candy Phelps creator of iCandy Graphics & Photo by Family Tre Photography Web Design and The Artery felt After settling into the pull and made Madison her Madison and befriending some new home. local artists, Phelps sensed a “I am originally from need in the arts community and Montana. I moved around a created the online presence of bit after college and met my The Artery, a website dedicated to husband, Tim, when I was living the promotion, buying and selling in Chicago. We visited Madison of local artwork. She explains, and both fell in love with its big “After a number of conversations city/small town vibe and decided with artist friends over the period to move here. I wanted to be in of several months, it became a place where there is a thriving clear to me that there was a need art scene and a culture of open in Madison for more art venues mindedness and creativity, which for artists to sell their work. It Madison definitely has. We seems like there were more artists moved here almost two years than the physical spaces could ago and continue to be fascinated accommodate. by the city and its people. I run iCandy Graphics & Web Design from my home on the East Side where I live with my hubby and three chickens, Blanche Devereaux, Bunny Lebowski and Princess Buttercup.”

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Also while there is a vibrant art community, it seems like it exists in fragmented sectors, so it became apparent that the scene could be stronger if the disparate groups could be brought together. I am a website designer by trade, so naturally I

turned to the web. The website is meant to be a starting point for artists and art-lovers to come together in the Madison area as well as a marketplace to buy and sell local art.”

Phelps’ hopes and dreams for The Artery don’t stop with the just the business side of art.

She has a lot more in mind for the future. “I hope The Artery can help individual artists get more recognition and allow them an easy way to sell their art online.

I also hope that by forming a collective voice, we may effect change more easily as a group and garner more publicity and leverage. For now, The Artery is focusing on visual arts but we may extend that focus to music, fashion, performing arts, etc.

Eventually, I would love to open a space on the east side and host some art events, but that could be

years down the road. In the meantime, I’m working with other existing groups and individuals around town to see where I can fill in some gaps and bring people together online and in the community.”

Bringing community together is exactly what The Artery has done. Recently, Phelps called local artists together at local gallery, Art In, to gather information and make connections. She recounts, “The ‘Brainstorm’ event was very interesting and proved that there are people in the community who have great ideas and want something more from the local art scene. After the ‘Brainstorm’ event, we started a Facebook group for Artery members and friends to hopefully continue that conversation about how we can make things happen in Madison.

Facebook seems more convenient for a lot of people but I think it’s important to continue to meet inperson as well. Some of the ideas that we discussed, such as having an annual city-wide art contest, is something that we all agree would be fantastic, but something that will take a lot of time and money to

accomplish. We will keep exploring these ideas and start gathering people and resources. I, for one, am not good with being patient, but unless I win the lottery or we get a big-name sponsor, I’ll have to be happy with the ‘baby steps’ model of change.

I think groups like The Artery, Project Famous and RAW are evidence that there is a thriving underground art scene in Madison. I think it’s important that we all work together to share resources and ideas so we can accomplish more as a group and start forming a collective voice that can be more easily heard.”

With kind, driven and inspired people like Phelps guiding the way, Madison will continue to draw in artists and art enthusiasts! You can connect with Phelps and view more local art online. www.madisonartery.com

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 57

Text, Trinkets and Tape:

A RAWesome Good Time

I

went to RAW: encompass on October 17th with the set expectation that I wouldn’t see anything I haven’t seen before. Why I was of that particular mindset,

I have no idea, but it was foolish of me. I was immediately swayed by the early performance by The Morning Still enchanting us with his melodious and melancholic grand piano tunes.

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by Jason Ocker

Photography PAULIUS MUSTEIKIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Alex Loos came all the in central Wisconsin before way from Ohio to show off moving to Madison in 2008. his business and home furnishings, reminding me that art isn’t just painting and photography, but even tables, lamps, and podiums.

Leah Crubel, photographer and nine-year army vet, was promoting the Art of War Veteran Project - an initiative to find Oddly enough, she refused shared space for veterans to take any painting classes, of all backgrounds to display surprising, considering painting has become her forte. Taking a queue from her inspiration, Jose Parla, Bruer weaves a tapestry of elegantly curving and overlapping script - script that holds the secrets to her emotions at the time of conception and the motives behind those works of art. their art. All in all, it was Imagine a word cloud, but a refreshing and exciting pretty. night, and I won’t be so Our wordsmith closed-minded again. started with only black and Hanna Bruer is a white but has worked her painter. She studied print- way into monochromes. making and photography She displays her work on

tall sections of black-painted picket fencing, both practical for transportation and a unique way to accent her work. She plans to produce works of greater size and colorful intensity.

being a different color. “The Big Bad Wolf” was lurking over the shoulder of “Little Red Riding Hood,” but what was actually seen of them depended on how the piece would clash or blend with the color scheme of these characters. The juxtaposition of these images accentuated the sinister nature of The Wolf and made it obvious that Red was trapped in a strange, dark land. But if that’s not your cup o’ tea, he has other drawings of happier, more Tucked away in the cartoony characters. corner, I met Aaron David who is also is also the guitarist for Owls, Foxes & Sebastian. I was happy to discover that he was a double header - both a visual artist AND a member of a band playing that night.

He was accompanied by his contemplative band mate Marcus Patterson (bass After an appropriate and vocals). David is an art “What did the fox say?” student here in Madison and reference, I asked about although he’s an artistic up- the state of the band. Owls, and-comer, I was impressed Foxes & Sebastian is a fourwith what I saw. He likes to member indie-alternative probe icons from childhood rock band that’s been around and bring forth a dark, sad for six years. Previously, underlying quality, exposing they were known as Few a frailty and vulnerability and Far Between, but that most would otherwise didn’t quite fit the image they overlook. were going for, so they sat down and went to work on David had three a new name. They compiled separate pieces, all of the a list of 50 entries, widdled same image, but each piece it down to their top 10, then

picked elements from those names to create what we now know as Owls, Foxes & Sebastian. They derive influence from Modest Mouse, The Smiths, The Killers, The Strokes, and more. I recommend looking them up on Reverbnation and listening to “One Reason.” It’s enchanting.

Welcome to the Bohemian Bauble, where Tami Reschke turns junk into jewels! Reschke is a craft specialist in semiprecious stones, mixed metals (sterling silver, copper, brass, aluminum), leather and found-objects.

She wraps wire, hammers and rivets; she paints patinas until she has an eye-catching product worth wearing. She’s been making jewelry of all kinds for 20 years and although she hopes to cut back on the large number of shows she does each year, she has no intention of stopping. But how did it all start for her?

Well, Christmas was coming around and it

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seemed evident that making gifts was a good idea, so Reschke got together with a friend to learn how to make a few things.

Some classes, research and experimentation later, Reschke has found her passion. That passion led to a brick and mortar co-op jewelry shop that lasted six years before she decided it would be much easier to work and take care of family if she did business from her home. She has so many goodies that everybody will find something perfect for them.

RAW: encompass’ biggest flair was the electrical tape fashion show.

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. A menagerie of marvelous models marched magnificently across the stage and up/down the red carpet, clad mostly in tape and little of anything else.

There were four different themes designed by four different teams: “Wildlife,” “Dolls,” “Super Heroes,” and “Sith Lords.” Even our own Kelly Lajter took on the forces of evil as a hero adorned in crimson.

I was happy to get a chance to speak with the very bubbly Deidre Laverenz, one of the four ladies from the Sith Lords 60

camp. She’s no stranger to modeling, having, over the past year, posed for MATC art students and having done photoshoots for magazines in Milwaukee. Although she loves modeling, ultimately, she’d like to return to school to become a vet tech. In the meantime, I hope to see her at RAW again, radiating the kind of energy and charm she has so much of.

The tape designer for “Super Heroes” was Ryan Robinson, AKA Rirostro.

I knew him only as a tape designer, since that’s what capacity he had taken August’s RAW: En Masse when he showed off a tape fashion show preview for October. But to my surprise, the fashion show was only a compliment to his real passion - face painting.

No, not painting on the faces of kids at a carnival,

but painting extremely expressive faces in acrylic on large canvases. He studied graphic design, illustration, and print at Madison College, and has been painting in his unique style for five or six years now.

Aside from acrylic, he’ll use spray paint, ink wash and dry pastel to create his desired color scheme and expression. He’s a fan of the faces because he finds that the audience responds in a more visceral way. People recognize and interpret faces, and so they will recognize and interpret his paintings. Rirostro will be displaying his work at the Warehouse Gallery on November 15.

I spoke a bit with Miranda Morrissey, an artist of an identifiable style. Dark dolls - that’s her thing. Her work a little creepy, her greatest inspiration is Tim Burton. She’s responsible for a long series of oil paintings and illustrations

concerning dolls and dollesque characters that come off as both innocent and baleful. Dark, brooding atmosphere, a sense of ominous danger, of silent seers - that’s what it feels like to view her work.

Morrissey originally went to school with the intention of becoming an illustrator for children’s and young adult’s books.

When she’s not painting her dolls, she still does some illustrations for her sister’s novel. Morrissey was also responsible for the “Dolls” tape models, and for a brief period in time, clockwork abominations and woeful marionettes controlled the stage.

Cato Falls is the name of a park near Manitowoc, WI. It also happens to be the name of the band that came in from Manitowac to play for us. I spoke with the lovely Bethany Lindemann, singersongwriter and brainchild of Cato Falls. The band got off the ground as a flash mob

concept that assembled at stage for a grand chorus the Manitowoc lighthouse. and when that was it, well, Although the flash mob that was it. part didn’t stick, the five members of the band did, and so they’ve been playing basements, dives, fields and farms for the past year and a half.

They get out of town as often as they can since it’s apparent that Manitowoc At 12:30am, way past doesn’t like their indie-rock my bedtime, it was time ways. for us to go home, but not without a fantastic evening of entertainment and art.

Does RAW sound like a good time to you? Well you’re in luck! There is one more RAW show this year the Semi-Finals!

Cato Falls has a selftitled album coming out in November. They come to Madison maybe once a month, so keep an ear out.

Come to the High Noon Saloon on December 5th at 7pm. Find out who was chosen by a panel of judges to be Madison’s Artist of the Year in nine separate categories. Come support the artists, see great artwork and performances and have a RAWesome good time!!

After a long night of diverse entertainment, Joey Broyles and his DIVAS sang us out. Karen Wheelock, Annabel Lee and Kay Laurent sang one song Buy your RAWards tickets each, and then Broyles and here: http://www.rawartists.

Lyndsay Evans of Sexy org/madison/rawards2013 Ester fame performed an original down-tempo duet called “Battleground.”

All five assembled on

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SUPER HEROES:

Ryan Robinson (Designer), Brittany Esser (Make-Up) and Jamie McKearn (Hair), Models: Ariel, Alexa, Kelly, Angela

SITH LORDS:

Dee Hutch (Designer), Brandee Danielle (Make-Up) and Joshua Harrison (Hair), Models: Lizzie,

Ebonaisha, Marie, Nicole

WILDLIFE:

Emma Dehlinger (Designer), Kylene (Make-Up) and Tammy Theisen (Hair), Models: Madeline, Hanna, Angelique, Deidre

DOLLS:

Miranda Morrissey (Designer), Bella Artistry assisted by Alyssa Spangler (Make-Up) and Tia Hunter (Hair), Models: TJ, Monica, Shannon, Domino

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ILLUSTRATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHICS SUBMISSIONS

Take this and drink Green tea Buddha Antioxidant of the Golden cosmic body Destroy the black ink of Mara's undertow Dawn's light, the sakura Blooms, the thrush Throttles the worm Be at peace The severed arm is now a koi fish

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“Destroy the Black Ink” poem and image by April Albaugh Model Nikki Rupe

“BLISS”

by Paul Smith

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“FEAR”

by Paul Smith

“FIND ME”

by Paul Smith

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 75

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“HE SHE”

by Paul Smith

“MY MUSE”

by Paul Smith

PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 77

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