Time Wastin' Tuesday!

Check out this addictive Google Image Search - based guessing game. It's frustrating that they don't tell you the correct answer if you get it wrong, but still tons o' fun.

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Posted by Mike

The Pines

Hi folks. Wanted to tell you about a little band called The Pines. They were supposed to play around here, then it got canceled, and we were left with this little write-up from local musichead Bushman. (Who, by the way, used to run a pretty sweet music mag called Modern Fix. It was cool. It's gone now.)

David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, collectively known as The Pines, are an indie folk-duo based out of the Twin Cities. Both natives of Iowa, it was in a Mexican barrio located somewhere in Arizona that brought them together. It also spurred their appreciation for the Midwestern roots scene and relocation to the cities known for producing such well known folk-influenced acts as Bob Dylan and The Jayhawks. Their latest recording, Sparrows in the Bell, was released on Red House Records, a label that has been putting out folk, blues, singer/songwriter and other traditional music for over 25 years. It probably didn’t hurt that Benson’s father is Bo Ramsey, renowned producer and long time associate of folk musician Greg Brown, one of the label’s founders. But it’s a solid match as The Pines have applied a contemporary evolution to the soft flow of the folk-rock meld. The songs are dark, moody, and leer across the room with a sly stare and a compelling story. The structures may be in that standard verse/chorus approach that seemingly defines the singer/songwriter genre, but The Pines do a notable job of applying a wash of tempo, twang, and snappy rock percussion that elevates the music above the standard fare typically produced by a couple of guys and their acoustic guitars. With a solid genetic background and a shared appreciation for the American roots scene, The Pines should easily sway outside of the genre and attract attention well past the coffee house crowd. – Michael Bushman

Posted by Karline

How to Carve a Tiny Mouse

Check out this handy how-to video from Steve Tomashek, who will be showing his Miniature Menagerie at this year’s Open Air Festival of the Arts on June 14.

Posted by Mike

Volume One Hits Issue #100 and You Get Free Stuff

To celebrate our 100th issue, we’re offering the first 100 people who come to our office (17 S. Barstow St.) Monday through Friday between 9am-5pm, May 8-15, a FREE copy of The Best of Volume One, Vol. 1: The First Five Years book OR a FREE V1 Membership card featuring hundreds of dollars worth of local deals. But there’s a catch.

When you stop in, you must be willing to tell us, on video camera, a favorite thing you’ve learned from 100 issues of Volume One. You can tell us anything you want about whatever you feel is cool or important. Anything – big or small, specific or vague, funny or serious, scathing or gushing – whatever it is, we’d like to get it on video.

Stop down for a fun five minutes, share your quick story, and walk away with your free gift!

Posted by Mike

Show Us Your V1: Minnesota

This handsome young Volume One reader lives over in Minnesota.

Posted by Mike

May 8 issue arrives upon your doorstep like an unexpected basket of delights, anonymously left there by the normally obnoxious neighbor kids

I do not have children. If I did, though, and you were my first babysitter, boy would you be in for it. I went on vacation for most of the time it took to produce the issue you see at left. I've never been away from V1 for that long before, so I left two pages of detailed notes, supplemental documents, and my cell phone number with my fellow editors, who picked up the slack splendidly despite having plenty of their own stuff to do. Thanks to Nick, Mike, Robin, Andy and everyone else who kept the wheels turning.

Anyway, the 100th issue has arrived! We celebrated the occasion by putting together a list of 100 things we've learned from 100 issues of Volume One. Also read about the local revival of Amnesty International, a young local ventriloquist, Colfax popsters The Silver Heart Club, Eau Claire-raised Catherine Friend's new book The Compassionate Carnivore, what happens to art students after they graduate, the new-ish Blue Moon Family Restaurant on Hastings Way, a tip on what to give Mom for Mother's Day (paid maternity leave), and upcoming performances by The Small Cities, Brian Butler, and Big Trouble.

I'm looking forward to reading it, too.

ETA: Where I said "Big Trouble" above, I should have said "Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble." See, there's this guy who goes by Crescent Moon, and there's this group called Big Trouble, and they got together to make a record. So "Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble" is the record. Or the group. Or something. It's all very confusing.

Posted by Karline

New Quick Web Poll!

We’re wondering about the monkeys on your back, Chippewa Valley. Check out the left sidebar and vote. Leave your comments right on this post …

Posted by Mike

Fiction Entries Due Really Soon!

Hi folks -- Just wanted to remind you that entries are due next Thursday, May 15 for V1's fifth annual fiction contest. Your story could win fabulous local prizes and get illustrated and published in a future issue of Volume One. Details here. Happy writing!

Posted by Karline

Show Us Your V1: Boston Common

Greetings from Boston! Managing editor Karline (that's me) has been on vacation in Boston for the past week in a half. I've been visiting family and museums like crazy with my significant other, who snapped the pic above.

I also saw the following in a Macy's window and thought of dear old V1:

Posted by Karline

Peer Validated picks a (video) winner

Weirdest Places (German!) video clip by Cedarwell | Cedarwell’s Erik Neave well embodies his northern heritage. Sheboygan, Wisconsin, should be proud of such a wonderfully full beard, such tough flannel shirts, and darkly twisted, acoustic-pop songs that seem to ride nature’s very rhythm. Crisp clarity and addicting genuineness hibernate Neave’s voice somewhere in the back of your memory, somewhere where it can stay for a long, long time, constantly reminding you that this is Wisconsin, and winter never really ends. Cedarwell is playing in Eau Claire with The Daredevil Christopher Wright on May 10 at the Nucleus. Read more and listen to a track.

Peer Validated is a music review blog. Its signal originates from somewhere within the Chippewa Valley. Click over to read the scorching hot commentary, leave your own comments, and listen to the tunes of which they speak.

Posted by Peer Validated

New Quick Web Poll!

With today’s amazing music-based electronic video games allowing us unprecedented access to top-notch rock star fantasies, we’ve been wondering – when you imagine yourself upon that imaginary stage of rock … what are you holding? Check out the left sidebar and vote on the instrument you’d like to wield. And leave a comment on this post if your weapon of choice isn’t listed.

Posted by Mike

How about that cover?

The image on the cover of this week's issue has already garnered some attention, debate, and discussion from readers. It's a performance piece titled "Slapstick" that took place during a gallery opening at UW-Stout on Friday, April 11. After the apparent "tomato fight," the duo held these poses for two straight hours. What are your thoughts and feelings on this cover? Thoughts on what it represents? What does it say to you, if anything?

Leave your comments on this post – we'd love to read them ...

Click the pic to see a bigger version. Click 'continue reading' below to read the artist's statement and a note from our editor in chief, both of which are published on page 4 of the current issue.

Posted by Nick

Continue reading "How about that cover?"