Mad Pop Fest: The showcases

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Madison Pop Fest will be rising for a third year on the UW-Madison campus. Helping put the event together are local bloggers Ryan Matteson of Muzzle of Bees and Kyle Pfister of Just Sayin is All. I recently sat down with the two musical tastemakers (meaning I sat at my computer and sent them an email and they sat at their computers and wrote back) and asked them the same three questions about Madison Pop Fest. Below you will find out why they wanted to be involved, what they see for the future, and also a complete schedule of Madison Pop Fest.

Muzzle of Bees

Why did you want to become involved with Madison Pop Fest?

I'm friends with the guys running Madison Pop Fest, when they were kind enough to ask if I wanted to be involved I was really excited to help out. I think it provides a great opportunity to see some of my current favorite bands in addition to hopefully finding some new favorites at the other showcases over the weekend.

What do you think you bring to the Fest?

Honestly, I think my involvement/participation is far secondary to the artists and organizers. I'm hoping all my friends stay sober through Wisconsin's win over Michigan and are still coherent enough to be a quiet and attentive audience. With a lot of great options for live music over the weekend, I'm hoping I can convince a few people that Madison Pop Fest is worth seeking out versus the better known alternatives.

You have been active in bringing artists to Madison, what type of role do you see your blog playing in the coming year?

Muzzle of Bees will continue to provide album and concert reviews in addition to various tour announcements and our standard features. More of the same as long as it's fun.

Just Sayin' Is All

Why did you want to become involved with Madison Pop Fest?

I got involved in Madison Pop Fest because I enjoy seeing artists stop and thrive in Madison. Jaime and Wyndham's vision of playing with the normal music experience runs parallel with what I try to do with the blog, which is to offer a place to meet, sit with, and discuss interesting music online at a more realistic pace than our advertising culture usually allows. It's a more intimate and interactive way to discover new artists, yet a large section of people don't read blogs at all. Events like MadPop will get people talking, and hopefully the conversations can be sustained over at MuzzleofBees.com and JustSayinIsAll.com. Madison Pop Fest has brought together a few different perspectives this year by including us bloggers, and I think it's a promising model for a building a music community that shares resources towards a synergy. I really hope the audience enjoys the lineups we've put together - it's certainly a collection of fresh sounds.

What do you think you bring to the Fest?

Ryan and I definitely bring our own distinct tastes to the fest. Mine tends towards artists that are a little smaller, a little folkier, a little rawer, a little artier, maybe a little more experimental. My favourite artists are the ones without managers who are willing to come play Madison, try something unique on stage, and then sleep in my living room. And I hope other people are inspired by the blogging aesthetic to embrace their inner DIY and make more interesting things happen in town and in our lives - instead of waiting to be fed music. There's no participation or excitement in the art when it's molded into a mall transaction.

You have already been active in bringing artists to Madison, what type of role do you see your blog playing in the coming year?

Blogs are just hubs for discussion and activity. They generate energy in their usage, not so much in their intrinsic value. They can attract attention in support of art that happens in madison, and bring art from the vast crevaces of the internet to our little Midwestern town. They are good amplifiers or voices and catalysts for action. So I think if we embrace the power of these growing internet communities to connect us all in real life, there are many exciting projects that can result. I'm interested in hearing what other people think.

The Full Schedule

Thursday, Nov. 8:
GREAT HALL - [9:00]Opening Convocation/Revival with Andrew WK

Friday, Nov. 9:
DER RATHSKELLER:
[8:30] “The Hip Hop Project”
[10:00] Kazi / La Bruja

MUSIC HALL -
[6:00] Dane101 Madison Music Panel
JustSayinIsAll.com Showcase:
[7:00] Vid Libert
[7:45] Brientering the Bratmosphere (aka Best Friends Forever)
[8:30] SoSo Glos
[9:15] Billy Harvey
[10:15] Pale Young Gentlemen
[11:15] Baby Teeth
[12:00] Daft Punk’s “Electroma”

Saturday, Nov. 10:
DER STIFSKELLER
[4:00] Basic Circuit-Bending Workshop (feat. Beatrix*JAR)
[5:00] Advanced Circuit-Bending Workshop (GetLoFi.com)
[7:00] Performance: Talking Computron (Iowa City, IO)
[7:30] Performance: Roth Mobot (Chicago, IL)
[8:00] Performance: Beatrix*JAR (Mineapolis, MN)
[8:30] Performance: Life As Number Five (Madison, WI)

DER RATHSKELLER:
[9:30] Them, Roaringtwenties
[10:30] Murder By Death

MUSIC HALL - MuzzleofBees.com Showcase:
[7:30] Common Loon
[8:30] The Selfish Gene
[9:30] Malajube
[10:30] Bon Iver
[11:30] Sigur Ros’ “Heima”

All events are free and all ages. Due to venue capacities and Union restrictions we suggest that you arrive before the show you’d like to see and that you come prepared to show a Union membership ( http://www.union.wisc.edu/membership). Due to our funding sources, if capacity seems that it will become an issue, preference will be given to students and Union members (each person is allowed ONE guest). If you do buy a Union membership, please say you are buying specifically for the festival. If you would still like guaranteed access to all shows without paying, consider volunteering. We need people to help with load in/out, at doors, and to stage manage. Please email: