Music

Music Quick Hits | October 2015

V1 Staff |

A new album by Brooklyn pop artist Doe Poaro was recorded in Fall Creek and features a bunch of local musicians.
A new album by Brooklyn pop artist Doe Poaro was recorded in Fall Creek and features a bunch of local musicians.

Brooklyn electro R&B outfit Doe Poaro released their album “After” on Sept. 25, which was recorded at April Base in Fall Creek – Justin Vernon’s recording studio – and includes a bunch of contributions from local folks like Sean Carey (production), Davy Sumner (arrangements), and Andy Hofer (horns). ”After” is out now on Anti Records, and you can find it on iTunes or Spotify.

In the last few months, Eau Claire singer-songwriter Lauren Anderson has been undergoing a transformation away from her charming solo act. On stage, she’s now joined by drummer Elliot Heinz and bassist Josh Frederick as Idle Empress. Now we have the first Idle Empress single, a gorgeous folk-rock gem called “Woods” – a song that started as a standout solo track, but it’s now beefed up with a rollicking full band sound and production by Leo Strei. Idle Empress’ debut EP drops in November. Find “Woods” now at idleempress.bandcamp.com.

Five Eau Claire Memorial High School students will be heading to NYC, baby! Four band students and one dancer tried out and were accepted to perform and march in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan this year. Makayla Moen, Katie and Emily Dasher, Tanner Binczaka, and Maddie Leske will out there under all the giant Spidermen and Spongebobs playing their hearts out for millions and millions of people. Tune in!

Two-time Grammy winner Sylvia McNair will join the UWEC Jazz Ensemble I and the University Symphony Orchestra at 2pm on Oct. 25 in the Gantner Concert Hall in Haas Fine Arts Center on the UWEC campus. McNair has had a 30-year career in opera, oratorio, cabaret, and musical theater. A cool part of the show is she’ll be performing Ella Fitzgerald classics with the jazz ensemble and George Gershwin classics with the symphony orchestra.

A sparkling new single from Eau Claire lo-fi electronic act Two Castles called “Two Tuff” was released digitally last week. Catchy and crunchy, the synth-y new track dropped along with a corresponding remix by local producer North House, who turned “Two Tuff” into some lovely, thumping ’80s synth-pop. You can listen to both tracks now at www.soundcloud.com/twocastles.

Former local dude Dexter Wolfe is back with a fresh album from his new project with Siri Undlin neatly named Undlin & Wolfe. The duo has been playing and recording together for a long time now, and they just released a full length album called “How Far” – a gorgeous 11-track effort which features the duo’s tight harmonies and strong words. When the record flourishes into a full-band sound you can hear familiar upright bass pluckings by Pat Keen and drums by Dave Power. Pick up the album digitally at undlinandwolfe.bandcamp.com.

The Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra has hired a new musical director, Theresa Soules, the band director at Eau Claire North High School. Soules, a Menomonie native, has been an ongoing member of CVJO, a freelance musician, and music educator.

A new song by Fathom dropped on Oct. 1 called “October.” The hard-hitting rhymes of the stalwart Eau Claire rapper are paired, this time, with a moody new video, which finds Fathom rapping in some spooky destinations around town like the Stones Throw and the woods. This is Fathom’s first video ever, and it’s a partnership with Neary Studios. You can catch Fathom along with Diver Ida, Wayward, ISLE END on Halloween night at The Mousetrap along with the Torch Sisters. That event is hosted by Eau Claire/Minneapolis standup comedian Ryan Kahl.