Letter To The People - December 2010

Publisher's Commentary
by Rökker

Lizzie & Nikko Goofballs - photo by Rökker

Lizzie & Nikko Goofballs
photo by Rökker

BAGHDAD SCUBA REVIEW: If you haven’t seen Madison jam band the Baghdad Scuba Review live and ever wanted to, you had best get down to the Harmony Bar on Atwood Avenue in Madison on December 11th. The band is going on a “hiatus” for 2011 and this show is their final show before said hiatus. Show up or shut up.

NO MAX INK HOLIDAY PARTY:
I know, but we’ve increased shows this year in other months and I need a break, lol. In it’s stead, I am sponsoring a few local events that help out local bands, an internet radio station and a local Christmas album. You will party in December, trust me!

MAXMUS:
A local Madison Christmas CD is coming out and its release party happens Saturday, December 18th at the Annex. The show is 18+ and features The 4am, Axiom, Government Zero, Lot 74, YLAB, 626, Kill Junior, and Wall of Funk. Dan Stoffels, drummer mixed the album and the event is also sponsored by InfernalRockRadio.com and will be broadcast live over the internet. To find a link to the event page, go to Dan O’s Facebook.com/dstoffels wall, and don’t forget to friend him…

Infernal Rock Radio DJ'sMADTOWN BASH:
InfernalRockRadio.com is featured here in an article and the local madison DJ group that make up a large share of the Kansas City based station have put together a show to benefit the station and keep it on the air. Mad Town Bash happens Saturday, December 11th at the Frequency in Madison. The show features Wisconsin stalwarts, Brainerd, as well as well established Madison acts Kill Junior, Subatomic, Unusual Hurts, and Lords of the Trident. There will also be 4 comedians including IRR’s own Steve Purcell. The event is $5 bucks and proceeds go to keep the internet radio station on the air or you can donate at the above website.

DESTROY ALL CHRISTMAS 6:
Brad Van has been jamming in Madison bands for at least the 15+ years I’ve known him. For the last few years he’s thrown a local holiday show featuring great rock and metal bands. This, his sixth year, will feature his stoner-rock band Droids Attack with Kentucky Beltfight from Minneaplis and Sinking Suns from Madison on Saturday, December 18th at the Crystal Corner on Williamson Street in Madison.

As follows with their tradition, naughty elves will pass out Christmas treats, bands will hand out presents to the audience, and you’ll see a robot Santa Clause. I’m sure there will be a few drink specials and the Crystal Corner is always a blow out time! The event is also sponsored by Mad City Music Exchange and Capital City Comics. Hit the Droids up at Facebook.com/DroidsAttack.

Comedian/DJ Steve PurcellINFERNAL ROCK RADIO:
You can read the interview we’re featuring here in Max Ink, but my story is a little different. Steve Purcell, the comedian deejay of the bunch, contacted me regarding the upcoming Madtown Bash show, intrigued I listened more about their home radio studios and legal “rogue” radio station called InfernalRockRadio. As it turns out SlamminAlvin lives and has his studio down the street from me, we’re neighbors. They invite me down to the weekly BOA show every Friday night that is broadcast from his abode. The BOA is a loose show of a bunch of working professionals (the Madison based deejays from IRR) get together to blow off a little steam, jam some tunes, call each other bastards, and make calls of football games. It’s a whole lot of fun and SlamminAlvin has been doing it for a long time, you could say he’s been a “pioneer” of intenet radio.

During my interview, another local deejay, Jimmy K, asked if they could broadcast the upcoming Last Crack show over the internet on their station. The next week saw the planning and execution of broadcasting Last Crack to the world live in concert from Scatz. The pre-show started earlier and a select group of fans and cohorts were interviewed live along with a band interview before the concert.

Since Blabbermouth.net (the industry leading metal news site) picked it up, we could see tons of people across the world tuning in on a google map, and many joining in the chat room. Although it was early in the morning for a lot of people in far away countries, it was a unique experience for them to be connected to the show in such a way.

Thru that week, and a bunch of interviews and shows on IRR to promote the event, I saw how these group of Madison deejays work together as a team to promote local music and each other’s shows. Every show I’ve listened to plays or interviews local bands. It was nice to see a bright spot in the local music scene by people motivated by nothing more than passion.

ADVENTURES WITH NIKOLAI:
A recent homework assignment required Nikolai to write a letter to Senator Herb Kohl. He said “hello” and “happy holidays” and “please say hello to Mr. Obama for me.” What a kid and he turns 8 in December! Happy Birthday Nikolai!
See you next month! Rökker

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