ONE BIG FAMILY. Jason Dea West will return to his hometown of Menomonie on Sept, 5, to perform at the historic Mabel Tainter Center for The Arts (205 Main St. E). This time, he's bringing a new ensemble with him, the Siskiyou Crest and his sister Nora O'Dea. (Photo by Jessica Curran)

A lyrical artist — known for chronicling the journey of building a life far from familiar comforts — once again returns to his Midwestern roots.

On Friday, Sept. 5, Jason Dea West will appear at the Mabel Tainter Center for The Arts (205 Main St. E) and his hometown of Menomonie, along with a newly formed ensemble: The Siskiyou Crest. The performance, hosted by Eau Claire's Farewell Transmission Radio, will mark the finale of the group's ongoing “Midwest Romp” tour.

Born and raised in northwest Wisconsin, Jason has lived many lives — and told many tales — prior to his upcoming hometown show in September.

Much of the folk, blues, punk-rock and old-country influences in his latest record with The Siskiyou Crest, “8 Miles From Rusk,” pay homage to days as a street busker, “playing steel guitar and banjo on the streets of New Orleans, Austin and Nashville.”

"This is my dream band — not only in the configuration of humans and instruments, but the way that we all work and travel well together."

JASON DEA WEST

SINGER, SONGWRITER OF JASON DEA WEST AND THE SISKIYOU CREST

His sister, Nora Jean O'Dea, also embraced a similar journey, driven by her early experiences of living on the road and performing blues and folk-infused music. She has performed on some of the same bills as her brother in the past, and the duo will once again reunite at the Mabel Tainter when Nora Jean — and her counterpart Aurelia Cohen — open for Jason Dea West and The Siskiyou Crest.

“My music history with Jason goes back to when we were teenagers,” Nora Jean said. “It's always good to keep something so beautiful — that's kept us so connected — alive through music, and that we can share with other people through the Mabel Tainter.”

This month also marks the one-year anniversary of the band Jason Dea West and The Siskiyou Crest, Jason shared. Amie Astelle (bass), Jack Garza (banjo), Julia Fryling (guitar), and Mason Alexander (fiddle) — members of The Siskiyou Crest — initially met Jason through various casual musical gatherings.

From open jam sessions to impromptu evenings around a campfire, much of the band’s formation took place whilst Jason traveled across the country. The ensemble's name pays homage to a mountain range along southern Oregon, where Jason spent much of his formative adult years. 

Jason Dea West, pictured above, performs "I'd Gone to Disappear," in the Mabel Tainter Center for The Arts in downtown Menomonie. (Photo via Farewell Transmission Radio)

“This is my dream band — not only in the configuration of humans and instruments, but the way that we all work and travel well together,” Jason said. “I'm looking forward to other folks experiencing (the band) and seeing me with what has become my family.”

Jordan Duroe, host of Farewell Transmission Radio (FTR), has captured Jason’s journey over the years, sharing stories of his upbringing in the historic town of Menomonie.

Whether performing solo with a harmonica and suitcase kick drum, or with an entire collection of musical talents, Jason is an artist who commands attention with his strong stage presence, Jordan said.

A music video and short film for Jason Dea West’s "I'd Gone to Disappear," supported by FTR and shot by Eau Claire's Knorth Studios, captures the essence of Jason’s vocal range and technical abilities in the Mabel Tainter.

“(Jason is) a seasoned performer doing what they love doing most in a place that means a lot to them,” Jordan said. “If you're a music fan, what more could you possibly ask for?”

Looking ahead to their September show in Menomonie, the band revealed their setlist will feature a mix of tracks from their latest album and re-arranged selections from Jason's earlier work. These earlier pieces will now be performed with the complete backing Jason had envisioned for himself long ago, bringing new life to the experiences which shaped him.

“We're playing kind of something that's rooted in old country and folk tradition, but we're making it our own,” Jason said. “You sing what you live and you live what you sing.”

Jason Dea West and the Siskiyou Crest will perform live on Sept. 5 at the Mabel Tainter Center for The Arts in downtown Menomonie. To purchase tickets for the event, visit the theater’s events webpage online.