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All Issues » Issue #125 » Music
“We just told the photographer, ‘Let’s get nutty, man.’”
April 30, 2009 Issue
A New Stunt for the Daredevil
energetic trio releases poetic (and rocking) new album
words by Eric Rasmussen
photography by Coley Beekman
The enduring quality of an artist is determined not by their initial success, but by his or her second effort. This fact separates the one-hit-wonders from the truly talented. Anyone who presumes to be a painter, woodworker, or scrapbooker can happen upon a brilliant landscape, dresser, or 12th birthday commemorative page. Earning credentials as an “artist” requires repeating that success.
The national reputation of Eau Claire’s music scene seems to be poised at this juncture. Yes, Bon Iver’s wild popularity has led throngs of music fans across the world to take a stab at pronouncing our sparkling French moniker. But if our name is to become a permanent entry in the music-geography lexicon, our follow-up entry is even more important. Fortunately, one of Eau Claire’s next acts is waiting in the wings. The Daredevil Christopher Wright, with their new album In Deference to a Broken Back, could hold the honor of cementing Eau Claire’s highly regarded national indie music status.
Not that the three gentlemen who comprise this trio get too caught up in the pressure of being the Chippewa Valley’s next best chance at stardom. “We’re going to give this our best shot and keep trying, but we’re also not banking on the fact that we’ll be international music stars,” says Jon Sunde, lead vocalist for DCW.
Nonetheless, their “best shot” is paying off. The Daredevil Christopher Wright has gotten a lot of that fancy internet attention, including write-ups on blogs like Daytrotter and Said the Gramophone, Paste magazine’s online artist of the week, and a song featured on NPR Music. They hired a PR guy, and they have been making the rounds in the Twin Cities and Chicago. Even if they have reached their peak and the momentum unexpectedly quits, these three have likely garnered more national attention than any other local music act in recent years, besides Justin Vernon, of course.
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The Daredevil Christopher Wright CD Release Show + The Small Cities + Cedarwell
Celebrate the release of "In Deference To A Broken Back" by The Daredevil Christopher Wright, an Eau Claire indie/pop/rock group. In addition, enjoy the music-making of The Small Cities and Ceaderwell. Can't make it? See the all ages show earlier today.
$5
Friday, May. 15, 2009 10:00pm
Eau Claire House of Rock • 838-0158
se-of-rock.com
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Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 Back Against the Mall |
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Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 Not So Secret Society |
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Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010 Writing On Your Own |
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Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010 Short and Sweet |
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I read this story while working at the kiosk I own and operate in the mall,... |
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Hilary
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from article: Back Against the Mall |
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"Imma let you finish Justin..." |
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from article: Bon Iver and Kanye West Now Besties |
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Nice letter. I think we need to reconsider the lawn. At least at the scal... |
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coconut
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from article: Reader Letters | Aug. 26, 2010 |
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In a way I have heard his before. Freemasonry is not going anywhere an in s... |
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Bill A.
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from article: Not So Secret Society |
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I love these! |
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dreenes
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from article: Summer Snow |
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As a lifelong vikings fan, I can tell you that we have a leg up on our pack... |
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Jizoe
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from article: Are Minnesota Teams Cursed? |
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Actually, Dave, in many Icelandic (ie., cold and dark) cities, they remove ... |
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juice
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from article: Reinventing Barstow Street |
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Well, Patio Umbrella to you, too, Mr. Spams-a-lot! |
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from article: Senior Art Students Fill Foster Gallery |
pookums
MikePaulus
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Insider Giveaway:
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05/11/09
HO HO HOOOOOOOOOO, NICKMEYER! INDEED I DO!
Booking: Rocking Horse Touring rockinghorsetouring@gmail.com
05/11/09
Don't know, I don't have ALL the answers. Maybe Pookums knows...
Brent K
05/11/09
So did Daredevil get a booking agent or are they touring DIY style?
05/10/09
ACTUALLY, NickMeyer, in a couple of weeks they're going to be living in the ethereal plane of musical righteousness, traveling to and fro, hither and dale, upon a magical steed of rainbow-hued life that is powered by musical harmonies, Christ, and the bio-energy contained within Jesse's beard dander and curly shakin's.
Who's got the real inside scoop NOW? Huh? Huh?
Some fancy insider Chippewa Valley magazine guy YOU are..
EricRasmussen
05/08/09
I have to plead guilty on this one. Whenever I write articles like this, I usually make a bigger effort to replace all my Eau Claire's with Chippewa Valley's, but in my excitement to put the article out, I failed to do so this time. I don't even know if I am able to get by on a technicality - looking at my notes, I did not clarify where they were living during the band's inception. If they were all Eau Claire residents when they started, I would argue that they are an Eau Claire band, but I won't do so without being sure of the facts.
Either way, I assure you, speaking for myself and the magazine, I (we) do recognize that the current music climate is certainly a construction of the whole region, not just EC (Meridene has roots in Chippewa, and most of the bands that come through our area contain college transplants from all over the midwest, for example). The Eau Claire-centrism is definitely something I will work on, I swear.
05/08/09
Well, in a couple of weeks none of them will technically live in Eau Claire OR Menomonie. They're moving the home base to Amery (the Sunde's hometown) for a while to focus on touring in support of the record.
05/08/09
Jason and Jesse live in Menomonie. That's 2/3. So, the band is from Menomonie. It's time to stop fellating Eau Claire and at least give Menomonie a reach-around.
brandtpm
04/29/09
"... a marriage, not a wedding." Perfect. Maybe Jesse should be writing the lyrics, too.