See all of that slush on the streets and sidewalks outside slowing everyone down? Welcome to winter in Madison – when the winter weather of the upper midwest combined with holidays scares away touring talent. Or at least, scares the promoters away from taking gambles on booking touring talent – one of the two. So we encourage you to resist the urge to curl up with a cup of cocoa and get out there and get your blood moving. Support the bands and support the venues.

December 18: Marla Hansen, who has lent her viola skills to the likes of My Brightest Diamond (see our interview with MBD's Shara Worden), Kanye West, and Sufjan Stevens, released her own critically acclaimed EP earlier this year. She struts her strings at an intimate Cafe Montmartre show. No word if Sebastian Krueger, who has been seen around town and is reportedly working on a project, will be making an appearance at the show.

December 20: Eric Church's “music looks its listener in the eye and speaks plainly about the human condition. It is a line that passes through Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings to John Prine and Steve Earle, and is finding a handful of torchbearers in this new century.” He'll be doing some looking into the human condition at the High Noon.
December 29: Afrobeat from Iowa City? Yep, and it is sure to get your snow-soaked booties moving. Euforquestra burns the brass and drums while combining “Afrobeat, Afro-Cuban, Samba, Soca, Funk, Reggae, and Bluegrass.” They'll be joined by Madison's Que Flavor at the High Noon.

December 29: It wouldn't be a New Year in Madison if the BoDeans didn't finish off the previous year with a show at the Barrymore. Seriously, rumor is they actually are charged with delivering the Baby New Year. Without the BoDeans – perpetual 2007. The reason? This Waukesha, Wisconsin band sure knows how to bring the house down.
December 30: If you were to make a “best of Minneapolis releases” for 2007 then The Umbrella Sequence's Events would surely be on it. They enchant like the Postal Service. They'll be joined by The Malmberg and Flights at the High Noon.

January 4: This World Fair has roots in Wisconsin, but now hail from our sister state of Minnesota. The music wraps you up like a warm blanket while evoking a bit of Coldplay. At the High Noon.

January 5: Alan Sparhawk's Black-Eyed Snakes are phenomenal. If you walk into this show expecting the melodramatic Low then you will be shaken to your core by this band's bluesy onslaught and probably cry. It is a good sort of crying though – cathartic. Furthermore is putting it on so expect lots of good booze.

January 6: Just the other day I was bitching about how many great shows are going to the Empty Bottle in Chicago but not coming up to Madison. One of those shows I was bitching about was Louisville's People Noise who are hitting the Bottle on the third with our Pale Young Gentlemen. I have now bitten my tongue as People Noise, who channel quite a bit of fellow Louisvillian's VHS or Beta (swirled with Smashing Pumpkins and Snow Patrol), will be at the High Noon. Word.

January 10: Poi Dog Pondering will be coming to Madison for an acoustic set. The unplugged version of this existential band should be a rare treat hearken back to their roots before frontman Frank Orral became mesmerized by the drum and bass scene in Chicago. They'll strip it all down at the High Noon Saloon.

January 19: If you are starved for new music from the Walkmen then your best chance to catch some anytime soon will be at this High Noon show. The band had intended to release a new album this year but have now pushed the completion date to Spring 2008. So it goes. In the meantime, feel free to check them out reading an episode of Sex in the City on Daytrotter. They'll be joined by the White Rabbits.

January 21: If you are looking for a party, then the Majestic is your space. This night they roll out the illustrious funky soul acid jazz of the Greyboy All Stars.
January 29: Line-ups don't get much better than the Editors, Hot Hot Heat, and Louis XIV.

February 7: VAST has come a long, long way since starting out as nothing more than a drum machine, bass, and Jon Crosby. The live shows truly encompass the bands full name: Visual Audio Sensory Theater. Also performing is Minneapolis' band White Light Riot. At the Annex.

February 7: Jason Isbell might as well as move to Madison. His newest project “400 Plus Unit” will be hitting our fine, fine city for the third time in eight months on February 7. This time he hits the High Noon Saloon with experimental art-folk (she has been compared to Joanna Newsome) of Dawn Landes.

February 10: Remember when the U.S. Bomb's would perform as the house band for that not-so-great Comedy Central show Premium Blend back in the late 90s? That was weird. The humorous but angry punk rockers are still at it beinging important messages to fist pumping masses. They do it in the old school way – plenty of spit, sweat, and vinegar. They'll be at the Annex with Far From Finished.

February 29: Black Lips are one of those bands that all of the Pitchfork kids love and for good reason. Besides having energetic shows filled with spunk and humor the Atlanta quartet like to destroy their venues. In fact, they are so notorious that they have been banned from numerous spaces around their home state. Thankfully, they still have free reign in Madison and will surely abuse that power with glee at the Memorial Union.

Further out:
They Might Be Giants will be playing at the Barrymore, Leslie and the Lys at the High Noon, Dan Deacon, Caribou, Cursive, Jens Lekman at the University (dates TBA).