It’s hard to beat the heart-satisfying, all-sensory experience of live music – no digital representations, just pure, live, and in the moment. Top on the key ingredient list is obviously talent. Then the venue. Palatial, hip, or dingy – a sweet spot is essential. So on Dec. 9 when two of the region’s finest bands, S. Carey (of Bon Iver fame) and Peter Wolf Crier, perform at The State Theatre, it will be something to be thankful for. The Back Stage Concert Series is a collaboration of Volume One and The State, and although the name suggests “back” stage, the concert will happen right on the stage; the band, the bar, the audience – all on stage. Think swanky velvet curtains, 100-year-old brick, all the rigging and lighting dangling, and you – right there in the thick of it. S. Carey will open the night making his Eau Claire debut. He is earning rave reviews for his recently released solo album All We Grow and kicking off a national tour that evening. When I asked Sean if he felt like he was “living the musician’s dream” his response was, “Absolutely. To make a living playing music whether that’s every night at clubs or touring or recording, to be playing the music that you want, to really explore your creativity and to make a career out of that is pretty special … yes I feel very, very blessed, very fortunate to be in this situation.” Also playing (and fresh from their UK tour) is Peter Wolf Crier, composed of Peter Pisano (Wars of 1812) and Brian Moen (Laarks), a touring duo with an acclaimed debut album, Inter-Be.  Peter Wolf Crier will be playing their second show in Eau Claire. I caught up with Brian via email while he was in England and asked what excites him about this show. “Last year Laarks was booked to play the series and had to cancel because we got an offer to tour out to California. I was really bummed we had to miss it because the location there has such a great vibe. And having lived in Eau Claire for so long, I really feel like that’s my musical home, so every time I get to play there it feels like a hometown show.” This show will be followed by an after-party at The Mousetrap with The Gentle Guest and White Hinterland at 10pm.

Back Stage Concert Series with S. Carey + Peter Wolf Crier • Dec. 9 • The State Theatre’s Stage Door Entrance, 316 Eau Claire St. • 7pm • $10 • all ages • 552-0457 • VolumeOne.org/backstage