MUSIC Area musicians frustrated by their city’s lack of a scene, drugs


Madison, Wis. – Discouraged as much by the recent closing of two downtown live music venues as by the continued scarcity of recreational narcotics, area musicians expressed frustration Friday over their community’s failure to support a virile music scene or a decent drug market. “Te scene in Madison is pretty lame, al-


ways has been,” said Matt Brassen, singer and guitarist for the emo punk three- piece Frog Dash In Frisco and seven-year veteran of the local club scene. “Even when Te Front and Te Black Room were open and running bands, the scene around here was still shit. Nobody’s go- ing to shows, the radio stations won’t touch [local music] and you just about have to kidnap a newspaper editor’s kid to get a story done on your band.” “Te only thing harder than trying to


get signed out of this town is finding a good [drug] hookup,” added Brassen, 25, noting the poor availabil- ity of press, gigs and controlled substances in the Madison area. “Te cops made a major [drug] bust this summer and ever since there’s been like nothing around. Not only has the music scene dried up, but so have ev- eryone’s connections.”


Brassen is not alone in his frustration.


Other area musicians agreed that Febru- ary’s almost simultaneous closing of Te Front and Te Black Room – clubs that featured live local bands and acoustic acts at least four nights a week – coupled with the effects of Feb. 14’s drug-related arrests, has delivered a crippling one-two punch to Madison’s already struggling music and drug scenes. “It was already hard enough to book a


show or score a dimebag in this town,” said local pop folk singer/songwriter Jesse Arndt, 29. “Now with these clubs going down and most of [drug dealer] Aaron [Smith]’s crew in lockdown, artists like myself are finding themselves only able to perform or hook up like once a month. Maybe twice.” Arndt then excused himself from the


“Te only thing harder than trying to get signed


interview and used a nearby payphone to make a series of brief telephone calls regarding an un- disclosed sub- ject matter. Neil Abraham,


out of this town is finding a good [drug] hookup,” added Brassen.


promotion di- rector for Te Annex, a 250- seat club that’s become Madi- son’s lone live music venue,


disagreed with the majority consensus that the current scene offers few options for local bands looking to perform.


Above: Local band Frog Dash In Frisco. “Te Annex asks local bands to open for


national touring acts all the time, which is a tremendous opportunity,” said Abra- ham. “To play these big shows for a lot of people – in a lot of markets that’s an opportunity that’s just not available to bands.” Arndt argued that Abraham’s claim is


not as exciting as it may appear. “Opening for a national [band] at Te Annex doesn’t do shit for a band,” said


Arndt. “You don’t get paid anything and you end up playing at like eight-thirty when nobody’s even there yet. It’s always a let down. It’s not like the headliner’s la- bel is there looking at you or anything. Most of the time you don’t even get to meet the band. And on the off chance that you do, it’s usually completely em- barrassing because they always ask you to hook them up and here you can’t even score any for yourself.”


A page from the Recoil handbook... Guide To Safe Driving Exercising constant caution behind the wheel is one’s best defense against automobile accidents. Here are some tips to help keep you and your vehicle in one piece:


• Before driving, make sure the safety is in the “ON” position on all of your guns.


• To ensure safe, evenly worn treads, install anti-lock breaks on two tires and ultra-lock brakes on the others.


• Even though you have rolled your windows down, always keep your doors locked when performing drive-by shootings.


• Teenage drivers are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal crashes. Running these self-centered assholes off the road will ultimately save lives.


• Concentration is the single, most important factor in safe driving. Make sure you’re immersed in a game of Milton- Bradley’s “Concentration” with a passenger whenever driving.


• Drive defensively. If your wife asks you to make a right turn, tell her you’re tired of her constant questioning and that where you go aſter work is your business.


• High winds make driving difficult; you may find that you’ll have more control using a long iron off the tee instead.


• Respect older drivers. They have a right to be on the road, or, when they mistake the gas for the brake, a crowded sidewalk.


• If you are James Bond, make sure your Aston Martin DB5’s Stinger missiles are fully armed before setting off on your drive to a criminal mastermind’s compound.


• Share the road! If we all work together, we can finally extertiminate every last bicyclist and pedestrian for good.


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• Be aware that backing up on the shoulder of expressways is not legal unless you are absolutely sure you saw something shiny back there.


• Intense, emotional or complicated text communications can help keep you awake while driving.


• In heavy rain, your tires may begin to “hydroplane.” If this happens, increase speed to achieve flight. Decelerate and safely touch down only when roadway dries.


• When the red lights near train tracks begin blinking it means drivers only have a few more seconds to dart across the tracks before getting stuck waiting for the train to pass for God knows how long.


• If you are pulled over by a police officer, get out of your car and, after tucking one hand inside your coat for warmth, quickly rush up to the police car’s driver window so the officer doesn’t have to get out of his vehicle.


• When traveling abroad, keep in mind that in many countries, rear-end collisions are likely to be an early stage of that culture’s mating ritual.


• When your high-speed chase through a construction site inevitably takes you airborne, keep both hands on the


steering wheel as you and your passenger look at each other for a mid-flight scream.


• When experiencing a tire blowout, you should buy as many tires as you can afford before the tire store’s blowout sale is over.


• When in doubt, always refer back to the two golden rules of driving: there is always enough time, and there is always enough room.


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