Rock of the Arts

Johnathon Mayer of Surgeons in Heat


The weather may not have cooperated for the first Memorial Union Terrace show of the year, but that didn’t stop Surgeons in Heat from displaying an infectious indie hybrid of blue-eyed soul and R&B funkiness that kept the energetic Rathskeller crowd dancing indoors until midnight.

Lead Singer and songwriter Johnathon Mayer with essentially Madison’s Pioneer, Tyler Ditter, Kenny Monroe and Shawn Pierce, as a  well-oiled accompaniment were wrapping up a string of 12 dates including a trek down the East Coast.

 
Aaron Coyes and Indra Dunis of Peaking Lights bid farewell to Madison late last year, but not before becoming a dub-psych trio with the birth of their son Mikko. The young lad has become an unofficial member of the band, guesting on the just released track "LO HI" from the eagerly anticipated new album "Lucifer" due out in June.

Madison's loss is L.A.'s gain as the couple headed back to the golden state, with little Mikko in tow, to set-up camp. Last year's brilliant "936" from Peaking Lights was our number one local Madison album for 2011.

Aaron Coyes recently spoke with indie music blog Adhoc:

Beck may have had “two turntables and a microphone.” Willis Earl Beal has a “reel-to-reel and a microphone.” A Sunday night gathering at the Majestic Theatre paid tribute to the troubadour’s one-man show. Yes, it was a bizarre scene with Beal opening for the electronic dance act SBTRKT. Fortunately, the glow stick contingent was not present at the Majestic. None-the-less everyone in the building apparently wanted to dance. I was there to see Beal.

photo by Karen Deau

Madison's self-proclaimed trash-rock enthusiasts, The Hussy, are out on the road behind their second album "Weed Seizure." Bobby and Heather are garnering rave reviews for their new album and raucous live shows. We checked in with Bobby Hussy on a day off in Virginia to see how the road was treating the duo and what we can expect for their record release show at The Frequency.

Cory Chisel & Brendan Benson at SXSW

Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons paid a visit to SXSW, playing several showcases, including a performance at the Gram Parsons Foundation launch event at the Hotel San Jose in Austin. The band is gearing up for the release of their second album this summer. The yet untitled new record was recorded at Nashville's Welcome To 1979 studio with production done by friend and mentor Brendan Benson.