Isthmus: April 27-Mar 3, 2017

A P R I L 2 7 – M AY 3 , 2 0 1 7

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VOL. 42 NO. 17

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MADISON, WISCONSIN

The

lifer After six decades in the Capitol, will this be Fred Risser’s last term?

Don’t count on it.

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■ CONTENTS

■ WHAT TO DO

4 SNAPSHOT

ART PRODUCTION

Children at Lapham Elementary School are creating Madison’s next public sculpture.

6-13 NEWS

April 28-May 7, Madison area

PRESCRIPTION PLAN

Advocates haven’t given up on trying to make medical marijuana legal in Wisconsin.

BREAKING AWAY MIKE IVEY

AARON R. CONKLIN

29 MUSIC Covering the music venue scene in Madison has lately turned into a beat. There is new competition (Frank Productions’ The Sylvee), consolidation (Frank Productions recently bought High Noon Saloon and merged with the Majestic) and a little intrigue. Reporter Aaron Conklin has been on top of all the developments and this week delivers a scoop on Toffer Christensen’s return to Madison to book talent for Seattle-based Live Nation, which manages shows at the Orpheum and other select venues.

17 COVER STORY The state Capitol building turns 100 this year, and Sen. Fred Risser, who is about to turn 90, has spent more than 60 years under the dome in uninterrupted service. He’s not just the longest-serving legislator in Wisconsin; he holds the national record. It’s an incredible achievement, which we mark this week with Mike Ivey’s cover story.

Buzzworthy

Some towns have had enough of Dane County’s zoning regulations.

14 OPINION

PRIVATE SCHOOL PERK

A new tuition tax break is helping out wealthy families.

17 COVER STORY

SENIOR SENATOR

Fred Risser sets the mark for public service.

24-27 FOOD & DRINK

REIGN OF THE LADLE

Zoup! is Middleton’s new soup-centric eatery, with a rotating cast of hundreds.

28 SPORTS

Madison Craft Beer Week, presented by Isthmus, returns Friday, April 28, through Sunday, May 7, for 10 days of craft beer events throughout the Madison area. It all kicks off with Cask Ale Fest, 7-10 pm on Thursday, April 27, featuring more than 25 breweries in the friendly confines of Madison Children’s Museum. Find the complete guide inserted in this week’s issue; the pocketsize “passport” guide at all participating locations; in the Madison Craft Beer Week App; or on madbeerweek.com.

Mooning around Friday, April 28, Monona Terrace, 7:30-9:30 pm

FAME FOR THAMES

The Brewers’ new first baseman is leading the major league in homers.

21, 29-30 MUSIC

NATIVE SON

Live Nation hires Toffer Christensen as a local talent buyer.

30 COMEDY

OUT OF THE GARAGE

Marc Maron brings his standup to the Orpheum.

31 STAGE

MYSTIFYING MOZART

You may ask, “Can’t I see the moon from my own backyard?” Sure, but probably not through a powerful telescope. Many of those will be on the Monona Terrace rooftop along with a NASA-certified actual moon rock and meteorite samples. Kid-friendly presentations and activities will make Moon Over Monona Terrace the most celestial place to be — at least in this galaxy. If the forecast rain showers threaten, call 608-261-4000 after 5 pm for cancelation information.

CAMERON BREN

Madison Opera’s production of The Magic Flute is hit and miss.

The people’s theater

6

32 SCREENS

Tuesday, May 2, Bartell Theatre, 7 pm

NEWS Sure, the pot industry is bringing millions into states where recreational marijuana is legal, but who needs all that dough anyway? As for medical marijuana, well, a majority of Wisconsin lawmakers don’t see the use for that either.

But that doesn’t keep some Democrats from continuing to move the needle, as Cameron Bren reports this week.

ROUGH STUFF

Free Fire is a brilliant caper flick.

40 EMPHASIS

WAS THAT THE DOG?

A line of enviro-friendly candles will mask the odors of Fluffy and Fido.

IN EVERY ISSUE 13 MADISON MATRIX 13 WEEK IN REVIEW 14 THIS MODERN WORLD 14 FEEDBACK 14 OFF THE SQUARE

34 ISTHMUS PICKS 41 CLASSIFIEDS 42 P.S. MUELLER 42 CROSSWORD 43 SAVAGE LOVE

Twenty years ago, a bunch of community-minded theater geeks got the crazy idea of renovating an old movie theater (the Esquire) as a home for local companies. Since then the Bartell Theatre has hosted stimulating, thought-provoking and entertaining works, launched shows to fringe festivals and off-Broadway and demonstrated the power of volunteerism. Join the thespians for a cocktail party announcing the 20th anniversary season, which will include a world premiere of an early Stephen Sondheim script.

PUBLISHER Jeff Haupt ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Craig Bartlett BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mark Tauscher EDITOR Judith Davidoff NEWS EDITOR Joe Tarr ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michana Buchman FEATURES EDITOR Linda Falkenstein ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Catherine Capellaro STAFF WRITERS Dylan Brogan, Allison Geyer DIGITAL EDITOR Sean Kennedy CALENDAR EDITOR Bob Koch EDITORIAL INTERN Riley Vetterkind ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Fath STAFF ARTISTS Todd Hubler, David Michael Miller, Tommy Washbush VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER Justin Sprecher

ISTHMUS is published weekly by Red Card Media, 100 State Street, Suite 301, Madison, WI 53703 • Edit@isthmus.com • Phone (608) 251-5627 • Fax (608) 251-2165 Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI (ISSN 1081-4043) • POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 100 State Street, Suite 301, Madison, WI 53703 • © 2017 Red Card Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Down with gerrymandering Saturday, April 29, Ashman Library, 10 am

Want to fix our messed-up, polarized political system? Find out how to make it happen at “Fair Maps = Fair Votes,” an Organizing for Action meeting examining ways to make voting districts more representative and less engineered to keep incumbents in power. Speakers include Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause of Wisconsin; David Canon, a UW-Madison political science professor; and John Nichols, associate editor of The Capital Times and correspondent for The Nation.

FIND MORE ISTHMUS PICKS ON PAGE 34

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

CONTRIBUTORS John W. Barker, Kenneth Burns, Dave Cieslewicz, Nathan J. Comp, Aaron R. Conklin, Ruth Conniff, Michael Cummins, Marc Eisen, Erik Gunn, Mike Ivey, Bob Jacobson, Seth Jovaag, Stu Levitan, Bill Lueders, Liz Merfeld, Andy Moore, Bruce Murphy, Kyle Nabilcy, Jenny Peek, Michael Popke, Steven Potter, Adam Powell, Katie Reiser, Jay Rath, Gwendolyn Rice, Dean Robbins, Robin Shepard, Sandy Tabachnick, Denise Thornton, Candice Wagener, Tom Whitcomb, Rosemary Zurlo-Cuva ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Todd Hubler ADVERTISING MANAGER Chad Hopper ADVERTISING ASSISTANTS Jeri Casper, Annie Kipcak ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Lindsey Bushart, Rebecca Jaworski CIRCULATION MANAGER Tim Henrekin MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris Winterhack EVENT DIRECTORS Kathleen Andreoni, Courtney Lovas CONTROLLER Halle Mulford OFFICE MANAGER Julie Butler SYSTEMS MANAGER Thom Jones ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Carla Dawkins

3

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD

n SNAPSHOT

MAY 12-21 The Playhouse at Overture Center

A musical romp in the swamp Adapted from the popular children’s books, this show is a true celebration of friendship.

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c t m t h e a t e r. o rg

Joshua (left) and Maurice work on their “Farting Wolf” sculpture, inspired by Do Ho Suh’s “Fart in the Wind,” now on display at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

Turning junk into art

BY ERICA KRUG n PHOTOGRAPH BY KATIE SCHEIDT

The Shubert Foundation

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

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Great Selection!

Kelsey and Zuri, both 8, kneel on the tile floor as they inspect a large screen that has been cut into the shape of an owl.

The owl stares up with iridescent eyes made from discarded CDs. The girls explain how they are testing the strength of the wire they will use to attach bunches of keys to the owl’s mesh torso. “When the wind blows, it will jangle the keys so it makes a cool wind chime sound,” says Kelsey. “But we don’t want the keys to fly off.”

Zuri and Kelsey are part of Lapham Elementary School’s afterschool “Buildementary” outdoor sculpture club, an idea dreamed up by Jessica Becker, an east-side resident and Lapham parent. Becker, along with Helen Sarakinos, organized Yahara Reflections, a temporary art installation project along the Yahara River during the summer of 2014.

That project was well received, so Becker wanted to do it again, but with art produced by children. She asked Amy Mietzel, owner of Bare Knuckle Arts on Winnebago Street and a former public school art teacher, if she would lead the project. “I pitched it to Amy, and she understood it immediately and shaped it,” says Becker.

With an artist-in-residence on board and the enthusiastic support of Lapham’s principal, Becker secured a grant from Madison Arts Commission and got addi-

tional funding from community tion in every sense of the 50: groups and businesses. Finally, word,” says Bauman. the Madison Parks Division Whether it’s a life-sized CDs and DVDs used approved displaying the sculpgummy bear or a winking in sculptures tures. “All the pieces came toapple, all of the art is being 200: gether,” says Becker. made with reclaimed materiPlastic items (yogurt The 12-week extracurricuals, except for the screening cups, caps, bottles) lar club began in February and and duct tape. Mietzel says is free for all 20 Lapham firsther idea for the sculptures is 30: and second-graders. Mietzel “rooted deeply in upcycling” Keys began the project by showing or “the creative reuse of use21: the children pictures of publess waste materials and the Years Amy Mietzel lic art around the world and transformation of these matetaught in public schools in Madison, including works rials into a piece of art.” Noting

by Sid Boyum, Erika Koivunen that it takes hundreds of years 3.5: and Chris Murphy, who helped for these items to degrade, Years Amy Mietzel has to build the Statue of Liberty on Mietzel says that she wanted owned Bare Knuckle Arts Lake Mendota in 1979. to get the Lapham students The students met with three thinking about how waste maartists, including Murphy, and then sketched terials can be used in beautiful ways. “These designs for their own sculptures. Next the stu- kids have embraced it,” Mietzel says. dents partnered up and had to decide on one Once the students are done constructof their designs, or, as in the case of Marlo and ing the sides of their sculpture, they will Florian, combine their ideas. be attached back-to-back and filled with “I wanted to do an orca whale and Florian recycled plastic to create 3D sculptures. Afwanted to do a pizza,” says Marlo, 7. “We de- ter a sneak preview of the work-in-progress cided to work together and make a pizza orca.” at Bare Knuckle Arts, 1949 Winnebago St., Tannah Bauman, a volunteer from the UW Art on Friday, May 5, for Gallery Night, the 10 Education department, is helping Marlo and sculptures will be installed by the end of May Florian cut wire to attach lids of metal cans that on seven-foot poles along the Yahara River have been painted red (the pepperoni) for their between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota piece, “Porca.” “It’s definitely a true collabora- and spend the summer among the trees. n

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n NEWS

The long game Medical marijuana advocates keep pressing resistant Republicans for reform

BY CAMERON BREN

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

Steve Acheson spent almost a year in Iraq with the U.S. Army as the personal Humvee driver for a colonel. After completing more than 400 missions, he was in an accident that crushed his vertebrae, requiring surgery and subsequently numerous prescriptions.

“I was very heavily medicated on pills for a while through both the Army and the VA, and I just couldn’t function anymore,” Acheson says.

“I finally found medicinal cannabis and it was like a light switch for me. The first time I tried it, I realized right away that I could replace every medication I had been taking with one thing.”

Since leaving active duty in 2008 Acheson has been running the Waunakee-based Peacefully Organic Produce, which trains and employs veterans in how to operate a CSA, or community supported agriculture. His work has been awarded grants from the USDA, Farmer Veteran Coalition and AgrAbilty.

Despite his success in farming, Acheson is not allowed to grow the plant he’s come to rely on to treat his injury. And he’s tired of being a criminal for using the only medicine he considers safe, effective and natural.

“If I had the legislation in place, I could grow it myself and wouldn’t have to rely on pharmaceutical companies and the VA to provide me with medication that comes with umpteen side effects and medications to counter the side effects of the other medication,” Acheson says.

Acheson, as a member of Veterans for Compassionate Care, is urging the Legislature to legalize medical cannabis in Wisconsin. It remains a tough sell in the Republicandominated Legislature, which has shown little interest in legalization.

But advocates aren’t giving up.

6

Twenty-eight states, including neighboring Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan, allow people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Eight states have also legalized pot for recreational use.

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), author of the Compassionate Cannabis Care Act, says it’s time to stop making criminals out of Wisconsin residents who use marijuana for medical reasons.

“People shouldn’t have to break the law to go out and get something that is going to help them or someone in their family deal with a condition,” Erpenbach says.

Erpenbach introduced the bill in previous legislative sessions, but it’s failed to get beyond a committee hearing. He remains hopeful the Senate will eventually consider it.

“It’s one of those things you keep introducing every year to keep talking about it, and at some point it will become law in this state,” Erpenbach says. “Medical marijuana will be the law at some point; hopefully it will be sooner than later.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said earlier this year that he’s open to the idea.

However, the bill has never made much progress in the Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield). Vukmir, who did not respond to Isthmus for a request for comment, has been a powerful opponent.

In a 2009 hearing, she called the proposal “nothing more than a ruse for you to use toward full legalization of marijuana.”

Erpenbach denies that is the case. The legislation outlines specific conditions that would qualify for use, requires that a doctor prescribe the marijuana, and mandates state regulation of all dispensaries, he says. Although he supports legalizing pot for recreational use if voters approve, he doubts that will happen anytime soon.

“We can’t even have a debate among Democrats and Republicans and the governor on medical marijuana, so recreational marijuana, if it ever happens, I think is a long way away,” Erpenbach says. “I can’t even get the health committee chair to listen to selfdescribed Republican families saying ‘this is what we have to do.’”

Erpenbach has also introduced a bill calling for a statewide referendum on medical marijuana use in November 2018. Although laws cannot be passed in Wisconsin via referendum, Erpenbach hopes it will gauge support for medical marijuana and put pressure on the Legislature to act.

Advocates of medical marijuana won an ostensible victory earlier this month, when Gov. Scott Walker signed into law a bill approving the use of CBD oil — a marijuana extract with low psychoactivity — for the treatment of seizures and other conditions.

But Acheson says the new law does little to change the landscape. It allows those with a prescription to possess CBD oil with concentrations higher than .4% (which is also allowed by the federal government). However, the law explicitly states that CBD cannot be purchased, dispensed or produced in Wisconsin.

Veteran and farmer Steve Acheson would love to be able to grow his own marijuana, a plant he says allowed him to replace numerous prescribed medications.

“It really didn’t do anything for the advocates, for the families with these medical conditions, for these children with seizure conditions,” Acheson says. “It didn’t do shit for them except encourage their parents to commit felonies to access proper medication. I just sat there in these hearings shaking my head listening to these Republicans straight up just lie to these families.”

Acheson says the debate demonstrated how much misinformation is circulating in the Legislature regarding legalization.

“I heard a lot of both intentional and maybe not so intentional misinformation about marijuana and CBD, and it was really sad for me to just hear for myself how completely uneducated and unaware some of the representatives in our Legislature are around this topic,” Acheson says.

“ People shouldn’t have to break the law to go out and get something that is going to help them...deal with a condition.”

— Sen. Jon Erpenbach CAROLYN FATH

Acheson is encouraging other veterans who use medical marijuana to speak out. He hopes to meet with Vukmir and other legislators opposed to medical marijuana.

“I’m sure we’ll be meeting with her to try to build a relationship,” Acheson says. “As veterans we are not in the business of shaming anybody for their stance. We understand this is a very politicized issue.”

Wisconsin may be behind the curve on medical marijuana, but Acheson says it is positioned to learn from other states that have already approved it.

“This is one of the best medical marijuana bills ever constructed, in my opinion,” Acheson says. “It takes the best things from all of the bills that came before it and it cherry picks them all. All of these things that we know work that have been successful are written into this bill.”

“There have been disasters, no doubt about it, and there have been places where it works extremely well, even in red states,” Acheson adds. “We just need to get it into a hearing just to start that conversation with real facts. We have real statistics to show that it works.”

Acheson says he’ll be working with Wisconsin Veterans for Compassionate Care on getting other organizations such as the American Legion, VFW and Disabled American Veterans to adopt policies supporting medical cannabis legalization to put more pressure on legislators. He helped persuade the Wisconsin Farmers’ Union to endorse it.

“I would consider it a win to just get a hearing in one of the subcommittees,” Acheson says. “That would be a win for this bill because it hasn’t even had that.” n

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7

n NEWS

Dane County’s “Brexit” Some rural towns are rejecting county zoning authority

BY ALEJANDRO ALONSO GALVA

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

Tim Roehl is sick and tired of being bossed around by big-city folks.

“It’s a no-brainer,” says Roehl, a former town of Middleton board member. “City people should not have rights over townspeople.”

As a town board member, Roehl had pushed for Middleton to “opt out” of Dane County’s zoning laws. Currently Dane County controls all zoning in the county outside of villages and cities. That means if a resident of Berry wants to extend a driveway or build a garage, he or she has to get permits from both the town of Berry and Dane County. And that has Roehl fired up.

“People that are against [opt-out] are against people’s personal property rights,” Roehl says.

This month, eight of Dane County’s 33 townships considered opting out of Dane County’s zoning laws. Six of these towns — Bristol, Berry, Sun Prairie, Springfield, Westport and Blue Mounds — voted to control their own zoning. Black Earth did not hold a vote after missing a legal deadline.

But it turns out Roehl’s anti-city sentiment, while fierce in some parts, is not universal. His own town of Middleton voted overwhelmingly April 18 to stay under Dane County control during a contentious annual town meeting. The issue was so divisive that it had already cost Roehl his town board seat — he was one of two incumbents who lost to write-in candidates in the April 4 election, an unheard of phenomenon.

The Middleton board election, which also ousted Bill Kolar, turned into a war over opt-out.

“I would say that there are frankly decades of simmering discontent between some of the towns and Dane County,” says Mark Hazelbaker, senior counsel to the Dane County Towns Association.

Over the past 30 years, he adds, “some of the towns in Dane County have grown significantly, and they deserve to have the opportunity to decide for

8

DAVID MICHAEL MILLER

themselves how they are going to manage their own land use.”

But opponents of opt-out say private real estate and construction interests are behind the effort and are hoping to profit from deregulation. Campaign documents show Roehl, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Success, received $550 from real estate executives for his re-election

bid. He is also the chair of the lobbying arm of the Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin.

At the April 18 town of Middleton meeting, residents expressed concern that opting out would give too much zoning power to a few board members and a private company. Resident Tom Wise called it “a recipe for corruption.”

The battle over zoning control heated up in 2015 when the Legislature passed a law — designed specifically for Dane County — giving townships here the power to opt out for the first time in 50 years.

“Out of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, Dane County was one of the only counties that did not allow towns to opt out,” says Hazelbaker.

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■ NEWS

Opt out continued from 8

“The county didn’t update its zoning laws since 1938 in order to keep towns from opting out.”

The 2015 bill allowed townships to hold an opt-out vote during the town’s annual meeting or during an election. Townships are required to notify Dane County six months before they hold an opt-out vote and fulfill a long list of requirements. However, towns are only allowed to go through the process once every three years, and 2017 was the first chance to exit.

Dane County is now reviewing its zoning ordinance, but some town officials say it’s too little too late.

“The real story is the fact that this required an act of legislation at the state level to prompt the county board to initiate a comprehensive review,” says Brent Renteria, a Middletown town board member who compares the movement to “Brexit,” when voters in the United Kingdom narrowly voted to leave the European Union. “I wish this hadn’t become such a hot-button issue.”

Roehl says the county created the problem.

“The county had the opportunity [to change its zoning laws],” he says. “Now their hand is forced, and they’re acting like spoiled children that aren’t gonna get their way.”

In February, Roehl lobbied on behalf of the Dane County Towns Association for Assembly Bill 109, which would have eliminated the need for a public vote and put the power to opt out solely in the hands of town board members.

It’s one of the reasons that Cynthia Richson, a town plan commission member, ran a write-in campaign for the town of Middleton board. She is irked that Roehl said at a town meeting that a public vote should not be required because board members understood zoning laws better than residents— Roehl made similar comments to Isthmus.

“There was an audible gasp in the room,” says Richson. “He said a mere advisory vote would be sufficient because he knew more.

He didn’t think residents had the right to decide for themselves.”

After significant pushback, AB 109 was amended to require a public vote through a “special meeting” or “special election,” with only 30 days of notification. Opponents still cried foul.

State Rep. Rick Allen (R-Waukesha) was one of only three Republicans to vote against the bill. He says opt-out proponents might not have wanted to do the hard work of convincing voters. “In my opinion it was seen by some individuals as easier to bring the issue to the state Legislature and modify the rules.”

Allen supports a town’s right to control its zoning laws, but was opposed to how the bill undermined the democratic process.

“Turnout at elections is oftentimes low; for the spring election, it was only 15 percent statewide,” Allen says. “At a special election, it would probably be lower than that. Zoning impacts people’s lives, it impacts their quality of life, and I wanted to make sure that the electors in those towns that would withdraw are in the best position to participate.”

The bill passed the Assembly 57 to 34 and now awaits a Senate vote. If the bill passes, five

more towns may vote to opt out this year.

If the bill fails, Dane County townships would have to wait until 2020 before being allowed to consider opting out again.

When the Legislature voted to allow towns to opt out of county zoning regulations, Dane County officials argued that it would lead to more urban sprawl and the loss of valuable farmland. County officials also say that townships that opt out will see a drop in the quality of services. They will have to manage their own zoning and planning services. This could be done by hiring staff, creating co-ops with other towns or contracting with private companies to do it.

Todd Violante, director of Dane County Planning and Development, doesn’t see the upside. “The only distinction in the decision-making process that towns will gain by opting out is that they will be able to approve projects that Dane County opposes or wants to impose conditions on that the applicant may or may not support,” Violan-

“There are frankly decades of simmering discontent between some of the towns and Dane County.”

—Mark Hazelbaker, Dane County Towns Association te says. “But that’s a very rare occurrence.

It occurs in about 1 percent of zoning petitions. Most of the time the towns and the county see eye to eye on developments.”

Towns could also lose money, Violante argues. Townships contribute about 20 percent of the county’s tax revenues, while cities and villages pay the other 80 percent.

Yet townships use more funding since cities and villages provide their own zoning management. The county management includes covering legal fees at no extra cost to towns when development projects run into trouble. A report by Dane County estimated towns would need to raise taxes significantly to cover new costs, with half the towns requiring tax levy increases upwards of $90,000.

Roehl dismisses the county’s numbers as a “scare tactic.” Berry town board chair Anthony Varda says townships will now keep 15 percent of rezoning fees when it partners with General Engineering Company, a private zoning company out of Portage. According to Varda, towns will also be able to raise their town tax levy in exchange for residents no longer paying a tax levy to the county.

Just as with Brexit, Renteria worries that the opt-out debate has become an emotional battle clouding the real issues.

“To put it bluntly, it has to do with power and money,” he says. “Governments don’t like to give up power or money.” ■

Join us in Mineral Point for a celebration of historic preservation stories including: Two presentations by Will Fellows, author of Passion to Preserve: Gay Men as Keepers of Culture Historic Home Tours: A behind the doors look at 15 private & public homes Two performances of Ten Dollar House, a true story of love and historic preservation from 1930s Mineral Point

MAY 4- 7

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Tickets and information at mineralpoint.com • 608.987.3201 info@mineralpoint.com

UW Family Gardening Day May 6, 10am-1pm • UW-Madison DC Smith Greenhouse 465 Babcock Dr. Allen Centennial Garden 620 Babcock Dr. Steenbock Library 550 Babcock Dr. Free parking in UW Lots 34, 36, 40

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GINA LITHERLAND & GERIT GRIMM APRIL 28 - JUNE 18 Opening Reception Friday, April 28, 5:30-7:30pm, with artists’ talks at 6:30pm Thursday, June 8, 6:30-8pm Gerit Grimm demo @ UW-Madison Art Lofts Free with advance registration Friday, June 16 Art@Noon gallery talk Thanks to Wisconsin Academy donors, members, and the following partners and sponsors:

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APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

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YOUR WRITING IS IMPORTANT. GIVE IT THE TLC IT NEEDS. UW-Madison Writers’ Institute—Mar 24-26, Concourse Hotel The Midwest’s premier conference for writers of all levels includes: • Expert-led classes focused on writing • Tips on publishing and marketing • Opportunities to pitch agents and editors One-day workshops • The Museum as Muse: Writing From and About Art (Mar 11) • Found Poetry: Recycling Text into Art (May 13) Four-week classes • Write Now: Prompts for Prose and Poetry (starts Mar 28) • Writing Fiction for Publication (starts Mar 30) • Writing Memoir and Autobiography (starts Mar 31)

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ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

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The conservative majority on the state Supreme Court kills a proposal to create formal recusal rules for when judges and justices should be removed from cases involving parties that donated to their campaigns. Who needs ethics?

UW-Madison might be the No. 1 party school, but data show that binge drinking among students is declining, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

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A vintage Weinermobile — made in Madison in 1969 — is donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society. The jobs are leaving, but the memorabilia are staying.

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■ WEEK IN REVIEW and Drury Southwest of Missouri to redevelop the school’s downtown campus, the State Journal reports.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

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Ald. Sara Eskrich is off the hook. The city’s Ethics Board dismisses a complaint claiming that she inappropriately used her position to help her husband’s company gain city approval for a controversial biergarten in Olbrich Park.

■ Madison Police Chief Mike Koval warns of rising gun violence after eight gunrelated incidents were reported over a span of a few hours on Monday ■

night and Tuesday morning. He’s asking for more patrol officers and more social service programs to help address what he believes is a problem that will only get worse when summer arrives.

■ The Madison school district is investigating the finances at Black Hawk Middle School amid parent concerns about missing money, the State Journal reports. The school’s principal, Kenya Walker, was granted medical leave in January, the same month an investigation started.

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APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

Rep. John Nygren (RMarinette) signals that the state GOP might be warming to the idea of ending the UW System tuition freeze within the next two years, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Gov. Scott Walker later says he’s willing to drop a proposed tuition cut, but only if the tuition freeze remains.

■ The state Assembly Health Committee holds a hearing on a bill that would prevent the state from providing insurance plans that cover abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or to preserve the life of the mother. Ten points if you can name the author of the bill. Too easy, right?

It’s Rep. Andre Jacque, the darling of Wisconsin’s anti-choice movement.

■

13

n OPINION

Walker’s tax handout for private school kids The governor says he would consider trimming this tuition break, but will he?

BY BRUCE MURPHY Bruce Murphy is the editor of UrbanMilwaukee.com.

The annual tuition for Madison Country Day School in Waunakee is $16,490 for first grade and rises to $17,800 for high school. That’s unaffordable, of course, for most people. Wealthy families choose to pay this because they feel it’s worth it for such a specialized institution.

But beginning with the 2014 tax year, the situation changed, and average taxpayers began to subsidize this separation of wealthy students from the common schools serving most kids.

A law supported by Republican legislators and Gov. Scott Walker gives parents of private school students the ability to recoup some of that spending through a tax deduction of up to $10,000 annually for high school tuition and $4,000 for elementary school tuition.

It was one of the most generous such subsidies ever passed by a state, and most of the money goes to the well-to-do. Using data from the Department of Revenue, the Wisconsin State Journal recently reported that the wealthiest 13 percent of taxpayers in the state collected almost $8 million — or 65 percent — of the $12 million in tax deductions awarded.

“A total of 20,560 tax filers making more than $100,000 claimed the exclusion, receiving a tax cut of about $388 per filer,” the newspaper wrote. Another 16,750 filers earning less than $100,000 claimed the deduction, with an average tax cut of $235.

Such tax breaks have been called neo-vouchers by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonpartisan research organization based in Washington, D.C. Rather than awarding money directly to families, as with a traditional voucher, the money comes through a tax credit or deduction. The

direct payment of vouchers makes more sense for low-income families who were originally targeted, as they wouldn’t be able to pay the tuition upfront and wait for a tax deduction.

And like vouchers, neo-vouchers help subsidize schools whose teaching may include religious indoctrination, like these two Madison institutions: High Point Christian School, which offers “exemplary academics with a biblical worldview,” including “the study of God’s creation”; and Abundant Life Christian School, whose mission is “Educating the next generation of servant leaders who will impact the world for the Glory of God.” Wisconsin quietly passed this program as a budget add-on with no study and little discussion, which has become a common pattern under Walker and the Republicans. And Walker, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos all declined to comment in response to the State Journal’s story, also pretty common for the state’s leaders.

Back in 2013, Fitzgerald claimed the tax cut would boost private school enrollment, thereby reducing the “huge tax burden” of funding public schools.

But if that was the goal, why not target poor and middle-class families discouraged by the price tag for private schools? Why include the well-to-do taxpayers who don’t need the tax write-off to pay for private schools?

The State Journal noted that in the 201415 school year, private school enrollment increased for the first time after six straight years of decline, from 119,801 to 123,104, or about 3,300 students, but that enrollment stayed about the same in the 2015-16 school year. Whether the tax handout helped DAVID MICHAEL MILLER cause that one-year blip in private school enrollment is impossible to say.

Certainly Fitzgerald didn’t seem eager to discuss the issue.

State Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers assailed the legislation when it was first proposed, calling it “welfare for the rich” and warning that “it’s taking money out of the system that would normally go to public schools. It’s going to hurt our public schools.”

Evers asked Walker to veto the provision, but the governor declined to do so, without explanation.

THIS MODERN WORLD

State Journal reporter Matthew DeFour recently caught up with Walker, asking the governor whether he might reconsider the tuition tax deduction given the evidence that most of the benefit goes to the state’s wealthiest families.

“That might be an issue of discussion in the future,” Walker replied. As for whether the state should target the benefit only to lower and middle-class families, Walker said, “that very likely will be what some lawmakers consider.”

Walker added that if legislators considered changing to an incometargeting approach and “tied that into then using those dollars to expand the number of low-income families that could then get vouchers...that would be interesting to me.”

The charge of “welfare for the rich” is likely one Walker prefers not to face in his 2018 reelection campaign. His most recent budget was crafted with his reelection in mind, and included a significant increase in funding for public schools. But Republican legislative leaders with safely gerrymandered districts may feel no pressure to end this questionable tax handout.

By leaving it up to them to change the program, Walker has given himself a way to sound like he opposes welfare for the rich, while knowing full well the program will continue. n

BY TOM TOMORROW

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

DEMOCRACY

14

IN CRISIS A syndicated column covering the Trump administration from journalist Baynard Woods

ISTHMUS.COM © 2017 WWW.THISMODERNWORLD.COM

■ FEEDBACK

Shhh...

Dropping the ball

Many thanks to Rick Marolt for the article “Hey, We’re Trying to Think Here” (4/20/2017) regarding noise pollution and quality of life.

The morning after reading the article, I was outside in my garden puttering around, listening to the birds. I live across the street from an apartment building. The guys who mow the lawn showed up with their commercial lawnmowers and leaf blowers and drove me inside. It was literally so loud I couldn’t think.

I live close to Willy Street and the Eastwood “highway,” and cars like to fly down that stretch, engines roaring. In the last few years, vehicles with loud mufflers seems to be in fashion, and it’s really tough on the ear drums and conversations with neighbors.

Festivals, outdoor patios and bands are popular in my neighborhood, and last summer, there wasn’t one weekend I wasn’t listening to someone else’s music at my home.

Since then, Breese Stevens has been added, and the volume is excessive. The Health Department was included in a meeting with the city, our alder and neighborhood related to noise issues and festivals. It was stated that blood pressure raises in relation to noise. Yup! That’s exactly how it feels.

Anne Walker

Nice piece on UW baseball, or lack thereof (“Varsity,” 4/20/2017).

When Pat Richter chose to drop the program, the UW athletic department was in serious trouble. The football team hadn’t provided the kinds of revenues necessary to carry all the nonprofit sports. In addition, Title IX required both men’s and women’s varsity sports to be balanced in participation.

Since that time, UW sports have done much better. Revenues are up, and some teams rank with the best in the country. In fact, the athletic department recently approved a $90 million expenditure for locker room and weight room renovation.

I’m sure those improvements will help the revenue-producing sports recruit. As would a baseball program.

Considering that all other Big Ten schools have baseball and comply with Title IX and have ongoing budget concerns, it seems the lack of baseball here is a choice, not a necessity. The money is being spent elsewhere.

Fritz Kroncke (via email)

Amen to Rick Marolt’s points. Some noise is, of course, unavoidable. You can’t easily

build a garage without power tools. And music and community festivals often serve the common good. I am more concerned about inconsiderate neighbors. If we addressed boom cars (those knuckleheads whose bass you can hear from blocks away), car alarms and barking dogs, we’d cover a great deal of the problem.

So to my fellow Madisonians, a simple plea: If you have a great car stereo, that’s nice.

Keep it to yourself. You don’t want to hear Steely Dan in your house, so I thank you kindly for not broadcasting Lil’ Jon into mine.

Turn off your car alarm, including the irritating beeps and honks that indicate you’ve locked your car. All a car alarm does is make people wish your car were stolen so they won’t hear it.

If you have a dog, please train it. Dogs are not supposed to bark nonstop at everything that moves. You’ll lower neighbors’ stress and yours, too.

Ben Seigel (via email)

Share comments with Isthmus via email, edit@isthmus.com, and via Forum.isthmus.com, Facebook and Twitter, or write letters to Isthmus, 100 State St., Suite 301, Madison WI 53703.

All comments are subject to editing. The views expressed here are solely those of the contributors.

These opinions do not necessarily represent those of Isthmus Publishing Company.

OFF THE SQUARE

BY ALAN TALAGA & JON LYONS

How about going after government-mandated noisemakers: Ambulance sirens blaring continuously at 4 on a Sunday morning, when there is hardly any traffic to get in the way. Testing the emergency sirens on the first Wednesday at noon: How about a five-second test instead of five minutes. Backup beepers: Are they really needed inside a fenced-off construction site?

Mike von Schneidemesser (via email)

Kick the habit For over half a century it’s been known that cigarette smoking is hazardous to the health of smokers as well as those nearby the smokers.

I am disgusted and offended by the full-page cigarette ad on page 5 of the April 20 edition of Isthmus. Why can’t Isthmus management show some “health sense” and seek advertising revenue for any of a variety of products that enhance life instead of jeopardize life?

Jay Fleisher (via email)

Corrections Last week’s cover story, “Life After GM,” was missing a byline. The story was written by Judith Davidoff. The crossword puzzle was mistakenly reprinted from the previous issue.

Find the correct puzzle, and the answers for the April 13 puzzle, online at Isthmus.com.

The Power of Story with NPR’s Ari Shapiro

A Centennial Celebration Tickets at wpr.org/100

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PRESENTED BY

WITH SUPP O R T FRO M

n COVER STORY

The

lifer After six decades in the Capitol,

will this be Fred Risser’s last term?

Don’t count on it.

By Mike Ivey

F

or as long as he can

says Jeff Mayers of WisPolitics.

Risser also notes he’s served “He is the institution inside the under 12 different governors — institution. While Risser isn’t in six Democrats and six Repubthe majority anymore, making it licans. And he only has harsh hard to get initiatives passed, he words for one. can look back on a long list of leg “Our current governor has islative accomplishments.” never cared about what is best While some critics have for the state,” he says. “It’s algrumbled that Risser should ways been about him.” have long ago passed his seat Risser’s roots in the Madalong to a younger person with ison area run deep. The family a more aggressive approach, it’s dairy farm, which became the hard to point to any outward failIndian Hills subdivision in the ings. He hasn’t missed a floor 1950s, once commanded some vote in 50 years, and his mind is 200 acres of high ground besharp as ever despite some selftween the railroad tracks and admitted “senior moments” — Lake Mendota abutting the villike calling on his staff for the lage of Shorewood Hills. name of someone he can’t im At the top of the hill today mediately recall. you’ll find Risser Road along “Look, I get all that, but Fred’s with the original farmhouse, passion is still burning strong,” says which has gone through a numfellow Democrat Sen. Jon ErpenPHIL EJERCITO ber of additions and changes. bach of Middleton. “With all that Risser attended Madison has gone on over the past eight Sen. Fred Risser tells reporters during protests public schools, graduated from years, it might have been easy to against Gov. Scott Walker in 2011 that “Walker’s war” West High School and did a get disgruntled or cynical but he’s was only beginning. stint in the U.S. Navy during never let it get the best of him.”

World War II in Panama before Brian Rude of Coon Valley served for years alongside Risser, switching back Still, no one can accuse Risser of being com- returning to Carleton College in Northfield, and forth as Senate president when Democrats placent. He was one of 14 Wisconsin senators who Minnesota, where he earned a letter on the were in control of that body. He remembers left the state for three weeks in 2011 to prevent a cross country running team.

Risser as a tenacious fighter who wouldn’t let go vote on Act 10, the centerpiece of Gov. Scott Walk- “I never finished first but I never finished last of an issue once he sank his teeth into it, whether er’s hardline reconfiguring of Wisconsin. It made either,” he says. a statewide smoking ban or pushing for more him a hero in Madison’s 26th Senate District but After two years he headed west to the University of Oregon, getting away from his home buildings on UW System campuses as chairman did little stop the bill from becoming law. of the Building Commission.

But Risser is convinced control will swing turf and earning a law degree in 1952.

“I’m a huge Fred fan,” says Rude, who back at some point even with the districts ger- But all the while Wisconsin politics swirled. now works as a lobbyist for Dairyland Power rymandered by GOP lawyers to favor incumbent On the wall of Risser’s office in the South Cooperative. “You’ve had a whole bunch of candidates and with traditional Democratic Wing of the Capitol hangs a frame with photos prominent Democrats like Dave Clarenbach supporters like public-sector labor unions fi- of the four generations of relatives who served in Madison, all in different political parties. or Spencer Black waiting for him to retire, but nancially hobbled by Act 10. he’s outlasted them all.”

“I hear all the doubters, but I’ve always His father, Fred E. Risser, was a Dane County Risser doesn’t back down from any discus- been an optimist,” says Risser. “When I was first district attorney and later a state senator, the last sion about his age or whether someone else elected, the Legislature was two-thirds Repub- member of the Progressive Party elected to the might have done more to counter the Repub- lican and we had two Republican U.S. senators Wisconsin statehouse in 1944, two years before lican takeover. It’s a question no doubt on the including Joe McCarthy. Things will flip back. the party disbanded. minds of many politicians in Dane County They always do. It just takes more people get- Risser’s grandfather on his mother’s side was Ernest Warner, who served in the Wisconsin Asdrooling over the chance to take the seat. ting involved.”

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

remember, Fred Risser has celebrated birthdays by riding his bicycle a mile for each year of his life. If all goes according to plan, the iconic Wisconsin senator will pedal 90 miles on May 5. He always does the birthday ride alone — although he carries a cell phone just in case.

“I may not go right on that day,” says the lifelong cyclist who now rides a Trek hybrid. “It will depend on the weather.”

Don’t bet against Risser completing his ride, which will include a roundtrip to Barneveld on the Military Ridge State Trail and a loop around Lake Monona to make sure he hits the mileage target. This is a guy who already holds claim to being the longest-serving legislator in U.S. history at 61 years and was elected last November to another four-year term.

Fit and trim as ever, the 6-foot-2, blue-eyed Risser maintains he never intended to break any kind of record for public service. He’s just managed to stay healthy and still enjoys working even as most of his political peers have long since moved on or died.

To this day, Risser claims he’s never used an elevator in the Capitol, always taking the stairs. He still likes to show off his hometown by sneaking visitors up the narrow, twisting 252 metal steps to the top of the granite dome.

“Retirement has never been a goal of mine,” says the Madison Democrat, whose run at the state Capitol began in 1956 when Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House and contraceptives were on the indecent articles list in Wisconsin.

And he continues to press on, even with his Democratic Party reeling.

“A lot of people come and go in the Legislature, but Fred Risser remains,”

17

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

n COVER STORY

18

sembly as a La Follette Republican. Warner Park on the north side of Lake Mendota is named for him.

And Risser’s great-grandfather, Colonel Clement Warner, was a state senator and assemblyman as a member of the Unionist Party and later as a Republican. Warner served under Gen. U.S. Grant in the Civil War and lost an arm during the Battle of Deep Bottom in 1864.

“You might say I grew up with a political spoon in my mouth,” says Risser, who bears a striking resemblance to his Civil War veteran relative as seen in an old photograph.

He has some company when it comes to political longevity, but not much. Rep. John Dingell of Michigan served 59 years in Congress before retiring in 2015, and the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia holds the record in that body with 51 years in office.

Two other state legislators, Michael Kinney of Missouri and Hugh Gillis of Georgia, each served 56 years. There’s also Hilmar Moore, who spent 63 years and 73 days as mayor of Richmond, Texas.

If Risser finishes out his current term — and don’t bet against it — he’ll break that mark too. He remains coy about whether he will run again but says if he doesn’t he’ll give plenty of notice so candidates will have time to plan their campaigns.

“We’re not likely to see anyone like him again,” says Michael McCabe, director of the Midwestern Office of the Council of State Governments. “You just see so much turnover in government today I doubt anyone will ever touch his record of public service.”

The Council honored Risser during its 2015 annual meeting in Milwaukee with a proclamation read by Wisconsin Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan), who, despite their party differences, called Risser “a dedicated advocate for the community he represents and the state he serves.”

But if Risser is well known nationally in state government circles, he doesn’t enjoy the same familiarity with the general public in his home state, says Bill Kraus, who at age 91 has been active as long on the state political scene as Risser.

Kraus first worked on a Republican U.S. Senate campaign in 1952 and later ran the campaign and office of former Gov. Lee Dreyfus, a moderate Republican known for his red vest.

“Fred has always been a Madison guy,” says Kraus. “I doubt many people north of Portage could even tell you who he is.”

Rude doesn’t disagree but maintains few politicians have been more effective in representing the positions of those in his district.

“The rap on [Risser] has always been that he’s just a Madison liberal who can’t get anything done, but the fact is, he has effectively delivered for his constituents year after year,” says Rude.

Indeed, from environmental protection to opposition to capital punishment, Risser has unfalteringly carried the banner for voters in one of the most liberal Senate districts in the state.

But unlike back-slapping former Gov. Tommy Thompson or sharp-tongued Ed Garvey, who died earlier this year, Risser has never been known for dropping one-liners or entertaining the crowd with funny stories.

He can come off as a pretty serious guy.

Four generations of Risser relatives that served in the state Legislature, including Clement Warner, who fought in the Civil War. PAULIUS MUSTEIKIS

Erpenbach notes Risser has a dry sense of humor that includes being able to take a ribbing from younger colleagues.

“The joke I tell is that Fred was around when they laid the first brick at the Capitol,” says Erpenbach, referencing the 100th anniversary this year of the building. “But there is no way anyone can argue the impact he’s had on the state.”

Risser admits he’s benefitted from never having to run against an incumbent. He won a new Assembly district created in fastgrowing Madison in 1952 and then won the Senate seat in a special election against Republican Don Hovde in 1962 after Horace Wilke was appointed to the state Supreme Court by Gov. Gaylord Nelson. He’s faced some serious challenges in the Democratic primary over the years from credible candidates but has never really come close to losing — although he’s had to run some TV ads and raise a bit of campaign money.

In 1992, Risser beat attorney Michael Christopher by 11 percentage points. In 1996, he topped local activist and journalist Stuart Levitan by 34 percent. In 2000 he crushed Madison school board member Carol Carstensen, getting 75 percent of the vote. And in 2004 he stomped Green Party candidate Tony Schultz.

Risser hasn’t faced an opponent since.

Levitan, who ran at Risser from the left, can recount details from the campaign even though it was over 20 years ago. But he says he’s no longer following state government close enough to know if Risser — or anyone else — could have done anything to head off the Republican onslaught.

“Collectively, we’re not doing enough to fight Walker, but I don’t know how much of that is on Fred,” Levitan says. “When the Democrats let a Supreme Court election go uncontested, when they should have realized anti-Trumpism would drive a big turnout, there’s bigger problems than any single individual.”

When it does come time to pass the baton, many are saying firebrand Rep. Chris Taylor (DMadison) would be the immediate front runner.

“She’s a real up-and-comer,” says Risser, passing over the fact Taylor has been in the Legislature since 2012 and before that served 10 years as public policy director of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

Taylor says she was “flattered” that Risser would mention her as a possible replacement but isn’t taking anything for granted.

“Certainly I’d be interested if and when the seat does come open,” she says. “But these are not inherited seats by any means and you have to really work for it. I’m sure this would be an extremely competitive race.”

Given his 90th birthday is approaching, Risser says he figured everyone would be asking about the secret to staying active, so he came up with three answers to the aging question. First off, Risser says he was blessed with good genes.

“I have a lot of ancestors who have lived into their 90s,” says Risser, with the notable exception of his father, who died at age 71 of cancer.

Second, Risser says he was lucky to have avoided any serious diseases or injuries.

“I’ve never smoked, although I do drink,” he admits, joking that he never tried to keep pace with imbibers like Gaylord Nelson, whose only rule regarding alcohol consumption according to legend was “wait until 5.”

Perhaps most importantly, Risser credits his wife of 32 years, Nancy.

“She is a fantastic partner who I really enjoy and look forward to spending time with each day,” says Risser.

The couple met during a 50th year celebration of the opening of West High in 1980, where Nancy was a Spanish language teacher. She had lived internationally and learned Spanish growing up in Ecuador.

“I didn’t even know what a state senator was, but I did think he was kind of cute,” she laughs.

The couple have three grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all the product of adopted children from Risser’s first marriage to Betty, who died in 1976. Risser endured another tragedy earlier this year, losing a grandson to substance abuse.

But those who know the Rissers best say Nancy, who is 15 years younger than Fred, keeps his fire burning.

“You can’t give Nancy enough credit,” says Rude. “She is the best political wife anyone could imagine.”

The couple live in a condo at 100 Wisconsin Ave., but can often be found having morning coffee at the EVP on Mineral Point Road or the East Washington Avenue location. After sharing a kiss, they go their separate ways for the day.

“They’re amazing,” says EVP owner Tracy Danner. “Fred has time for everyone who comes up to him. He’s truly a man of the people.”

For vacation, the Rissers enjoy hiking trips and have now been to all seven continents, hitting Antarctica and Australia last year in a tour run through National Geographic.

Fred Risser has also maintained the family’s general law practice all these years, although it’s no longer operating out of its brick office on West Wilson Street.

That building was moved in 2002 to make way for the new Dane County Courthouse, with Risser taking some heat for collecting $728,000 for the property from local taxpayers after initially asking for $1.5 million.

Reflecting on his unprecedented political career, Risser says he is most proud of his work championing women’s rights and for pushing through a statewide indoor smoking ban.

When first elected, Risser recalls there was only one female in the Legislature and there wasn’t even a women’s bathroom on the same floor of the Capitol. White men

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Friends credit Nancy Risser, a retired teacher, for keeping the senator fired up. The two maintain a garden downtown.

Senate because the DNR was getting in the way of her home building company and she wanted to go after them.”

Risser also takes Gov. Walker to task for giving the only State of the State speech he’s heard that didn’t mention Wisconsin’s beautiful landscape or its incredible park system.

“Frankly, it all comes down to selfishness and greed,” he says. “You are always going to have that in life, but in this case they are doing irreparable harm.”

During his upcoming birthday bike ride — he likes to go alone so there is no pressure to keep up with anyone else — Risser will use the time for some peace and quiet.

It’s a chance to enjoy the outdoors in the state he deeply loves but one where he worries about its future.

“Wisconsin used to be known for clean air, clean water and clean government,” he laments. “I don’t think you can say that anymore.”

Discouraged, yes, but not defeated. And Risser still looks forward to work.

“Sometimes it can be the most frustrating job in the world, but it keeps the adrenalin going,” says Risser. “I get to learn something new every day and meet with so many different people. I still enjoy all of that.” n

E V E RY S I NGL E PL AY T IC K E T

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

held every other seat of what was a parttime position with no staff and no desk telephones.

“If you wanted to make a call you had to use the Sergeant at Arms’ phone,” he says.

Wisconsin also had a ban on contraceptive sales to unmarried people. Risser set about changing that law but faced strong opposition from religious groups, among others. It was finally changed in 1976.

Risser faced a similar uphill fight in passing the smoking ban, which was vehemently opposed by the powerful Wisconsin Tavern League and Wisconsin Restaurant Association. Risser and his allies moved forward one step at a time, first banning smoking in public buildings and finally in private establishments.

“We eventually even got it passed for the hotels, which were really opposed,” says Risser. “But now they all like it because they don’t have to pay for all the extra cleaning.”

The one issue where Risser remains frustrated, however, involves the environment. He notes that buildings come and go but says messing with the planet is another matter entirely.

“We have a DNR secretary [Cathy Stepp] who hates the DNR,” he says. “She ran for

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ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

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FOOD & DRINK ■ SPORTS ■ MUSIC ■ COMEDY ■ STAGE ■ SCREENS

“Important and proud” Q&A with Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Lee Segarra

BY ANDY MOORE

Music seems to have picked you, not the other way around.

When I was a kid I had no idea that I’d be a musician. I thought that I’d have to learn some kind of a trade. I actually found an old journal from when I was in middle school and it was a list of all the things I wanted to do before I die, and number one was to write my own songs. When I found it, I was like, well that’s pretty good. I got the first one!

The two places that seem to have shaped your art the most are two dissonant environments, the Bronx and New Orleans.

Both of these places have a history of people who are really strong — yet people who don’t really have a lot when it comes to possessions. But who have a tradition of making art, making music that tells their stories, something that they really want to keep alive. That’s

what really drew me to New Orleans.

I obviously grew up with the history of hip-hop, and while I was listening to hip-hop I still knew that it was a folk music. I knew it was very important and powerful, another form of people telling their story and their struggle.

In New Orleans when I see Caribbean culture it really reminds me of Puerto Rican culture. Your grandmother can really get down at the party as hard as you.

CONTINUE D ON PAGE 2 9

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APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

Hurray for the Riff Raff founder Alynda Lee Segarra has packed several lives into her 26 years. Her latest project, The Navigator, is a graphic-novel-like account of the emotional road she followed in her teens out of her native Bronx — the cradle of her Puerto Rican heritage — to California, and finally to New Orleans. On The Navigator, Segarra leaves her oldtime music roots behind in favor of melodies that blend Latin, Caribbean and other world beat sounds. Lyrically, these are psalms of self-empowerment — ardent music that leaves the listener alternately soothed and white-knuckled. Segarra intends to turn this project into a stage musical to premiere in her adopted hometown of New Orleans. That’s where I caught her by phone, resting up before taking Hurray for the Riff Raff on the next leg of their tour, which includes a stop at the High Noon Saloon on April 29.

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n FOOD & DRINK

Soup is back Zoup! offers a dozen varieties a day, but choose carefully

BY LINDA FALKENSTEIN ZOUP!

A decade ago there was a mini-boom 8391 Greenway Blvd., Middleton of soup restaurants in Madison. A 608-841-2566; zoup.com Simply Soup downtown and one in Middleton were joined by the Soup 11 am-8 pm Mon.-Fri., 11 am-7 Factory, also in Middleton. They ofpm Sat., 11 am-3 pm Sun. fered multiple handmade soups daily $5-$8 — up to a dozen to choose from — rotating from a larger recipe cache of 200-some soups. Genius! People love Soups come with a choice of a soup, especially at lunch and especialfrench, sourdough or multigrain roll; ly in the winter. But it can seem like a they’re all basically cottony white bread. light lunch at any time of year (there’s The Sonoma salad was an alarmalways gazpacho), and soup someing pile of gorgonzola cheese crumbles how is always more appealing than and dried cranberries dwarfing a wan salad. Yet Simply Soup was closed by romaine and spring mix (mostly ro2005; the Soup Factory by 2009. maine); I abandoned its raspberry vin Since late February, the far west aigrette, which was so sweet it could side once again has a dedicated soup have been used as pancake syrup. spot with Zoup! The original Zoup!

What looks like a healthy choice, opened in Southfield, Michigan, the quinoa veggie wrap, has quinoa in 1998; its first franchise location and brown rice listed as ingredients; opened in Ann Arbor in 2003. It now the brown rice is by far the most has locations in 18 states and Canada. prominent. It was also undercooked, LINDA FALKENSTEIN Zoup (I’m tossing the exclamation so its chewy, chalky flavor dominated point!) is out in the confusing array of the cucumbers, carrots, red pepper Clockwise from top: Southwest turkey sandwich, Sonoma salad and chicken tortilla soup. mini-malls that surround the confusand out-of-season tomato. Thanks to ing mall-in-parts that is Greenway the rice, this pick has more carbs than Station. And if you have any question From the soups, I’ve liked the chicken the regular sandwiches. You’d be better off “Burger cheeseburger” soup was also whether soup is really back, Cafe Zupas tortilla, which had a flavorful but not overwith the Southwest turkey (20 carbs for a salty and reminded me of stroganoff(another soup chain, this one with a more powering tomato broth that carried a little half sandwich). But if you’re in the mood for a flavored Hamburger Helper, although there “housemade/organic” vibe) is slated to open zing (though not much in the way of chicken), was something perversely satisfying about sandwich and a salad, there are many better soon right across the street from Zoup. and the chicken wild rice medley, which had options, including Panera Bread. this cheesy concoction dotted with dill Zoup is friendly. Customers can ask good wild rice flavor (although again, little Nutrition information, by the way, is pickles. for samples at the counter, where all daily chicken). From there, things start to go off available on the online menu. This is where Somewhat better was the North Indian lensoups are displayed. The staff will practithe rails a bit. Seafood etouffee, boasting a you can discover the shocking amount of til, which is vegetarian, dairy-free and glutencally demand you sample a few, so don’t feel decent amount of shrimp, had an unpleasant sodium in those salty soups. free (Zoup is good about labeling). Yet it tasted guilty about experimenting. This can avert garlicky aftertaste and not much Creole spic Prices are more than I expect for soups. too much of curry powder and didn’t have the a choice misstep, but it also slows the line ing. Chicken pot pie soup resembled a cup of The “side” size is $4.50-$5.25; cups hover earthy flavor layers of a great lentil soup. down during the noon rush, and make no chicken gravy. between $6 and $7, and most bowls between A word about portion size: The “side” is mistake, there is a noon rush.

A pepper steak soup had generous strips $7-$8. (To compare, a cup of Himal Chuli’s supposed to be eight ounces; the “cup” is In addition to soup, there are salads, of beef, but the broth was greasy and salty. superb dal costs $2; a cup of Mediterranean supposed to be 12 ounces and the bowl 16 called “greenz!,” and “sandwichz!” The resTomato basil bisque was so salty I thought Cafe’s lemon chicken soup just $1.75. Now ounces. But the “12-ounce” cup container actaurant’s most popular menu option is the my mouth was going to blister. Its in-yourthat’s worth an exclamation point!) tually holds nearly 16 ounces, while the bowl try two combo, with a small soup and a half face tomato flavor was like spooning up a jar Sure, I’d pay that much for a delicious holds a little over 16 ounces. (So if you’re into salad or half sandwich. of Newman’s Own spaghetti sauce. bowl of soup. But not for these. n counting calories, beware.)

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

Eats events

24

Breakfast on the farm

Cheesemaking 101

Mead & cheese pairing

Sunday, April 30

Wednesday, May 3

Thursday, May 4

The Association of Women in Agriculture hosts this locally sourced breakfast of eggs with mushrooms and onion, yogurt, cheese, pancakes, sausages, milk and ice cream. Entertainment includes an appearance by Bucky Badger, the UW Marching Band and clog dancers.

Breakfast is $7/adults, $5/students and seniors, and $3/kids under 5. Proceeds benefit Rally to Fight Hunger. At UW Stock Pavilion, 1675 Linden Drive, 8 am-noon.

The Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW) are hosting experts Dave Potter and Marty Schneider for a lesson on the history, science and how-to of cheesemaking. Event (free) includes a demonstration and tasting of queso fresco. At Goodman Center, 149 Waubesa St., 7:15 pm.

Fromagination and Bos Meadery team up to feature farm-to-table mead and Roth cheeses made in Monroe. Private Reserve with Hammer Smashed Cherry, Prairie Sunset with Ace of Cascades, Golden Gouda with Cranberry Blossom and GranQueso & Magic Carpet Ride. Tickets ($35) available at cbwcheeseandmead.bpt.me. At 849 E Washington Ave., Suite 116, seatings at 6 and 7:30 pm.

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MononaEastSide.com May is restaurant month in Monona. The Monona East Side Business Alliance is spearheading the program for the first time this year and hopes to make it an annual event.

Unlike some other restaurant week promotions, participating establishments — in both Monona and on Madison’s east side — won’t be offering prix fixe menus. Monona Restaurant Month is more like a culinary scavenger hunt or food tour that ends with a prize giveaway.

Here’s how it works: The first step is to obtain a “Bite Card” (available at participating restaurants or online at mononaeastside. com/restaurantmonth-may2017). Customers must then collect stickers by spending $8 at a minimum of 12 of the 21 restaurants participating in the program. The Bite Card must

be turned in before June 5; the prize drawing is June 7. Prizes include restaurant gift card packs of $375, $200, $125 and $100.

Participating restaurants include the Breakwater, Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery, Java Cat, Mr. Brew’s Taphouse-Monona, North of the Bayou, Off Broadway Drafthouse, Rosie’s Coffee Bar & Bakery, Stalzy’s Deli, V.F.W. Post 7591, Waypoint Public House, Willy Street Co-op East, Culver’s-Cottage Grove Road, Fraboni’s-Monona, Happy Wok-South Towne, Noodles & CompanyMonona Drive, Pedro’s, Qdoba-Monona, Silver Eagle Bar & Grill, Taco John’s, the Tower Inn and Tully’s II. Contest details are online at mononaeastside.com.

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“The backbone of an ale” Common Thread 2017 is an uncommon Baltic porter

For 2017, Wisconsin brewers made more Common Thread than ever, nearly 85 barrels. It will be offered as a tap beer during Craft Beer Week in many Madison-area bars and restaurants. By mid-May it’s expected to turn up statewide in 12-ounce cans.

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APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

Madison Craft Beer Week always kicks off with the release of Common Thread, a beer that’s made collaboratively by Wisconsin brewers in a rare or challenging style. This year’s Baltic porter is made with a hefty malt bill that was partially supplied by the South Shore Brewery of Ashland.

The beer’s vivid black color is due in part to a malt called Blackprinz, which is a debittered malt used to lend color without the harsh burnt tones that can be found in some highly roasted malts.

More than a half-dozen malts go into Common Thread. “It has the backbone of an ale, yet the delicate qualities of a lager,” says Dean Coffey of Ale Asylum (this year’s host brewery).

For a big, rich porter, this beer drinks easily.

It’s deceptive and seductive with the smooth chocolate, caramel and toffee sweetness of malt throughout its aroma and flavor. Yet it finishes clean and even light, despite a 9.2 percent ABV.

25

■ FOOD & DRINK

New addresses Food carts take on MLK and Mifflin

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The official 2017 food cart season kicked off with fair weather the week of April 17, but there has been disruption in usual sites due to construction on Main Street on the Capitol Square. Carts were in new spots in some cases due to their official rankings in last fall’s city evaluation, but primarily because of Main Street being torn up.

Carts that usually vend on East Main Street have moved to the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, in front of the Madison Municipal Building.

Vendors new to this lineup are Jakarta Cafe and Common Pasta. They join regulars El Burrito Loco, Ladonia Cafe, Good Food, Bulgogi, Slide and Teriyaki Samurai. Melted and FIBs are on the 100 block.

Carts are also now populating East and West Mifflin and South Carroll on the Square. China Cottage and Cali Fresh, which have formerly sold on Library Mall, are now in front of Manchester Place.

They’re joined on Mifflin by Pots ’n Tots, Buzzy’s Lake House and Braisin’ Hussies, all of which spent last year doing the rounds of office parks and special events.

Michael Sollinger of Braisin’ Hussies says that he’s had a “busy consistency” that’s made it easy to know how much food to bring and “keep everything as fresh as possible.” He cites the advantage of walk-by traffic — “you need footfalls” — which is harder to come by when vending at office parks. He likes being in the same spot every day: “Then you’re more like a mini-restaurant than an ice cream truck,” he says.

At neighboring cart Buzzy’s Lake House, Cynthia Heffling says “the reception has been great.”

Cali Fresh has moved to East Mifflin from the Library Mall.

LINDA FALKENSTEIN

Orchid, a new cart serving healthy salads and soups, is parking at the top of State Street.

Carley Handley of Orchid says business has been “not bad so far.” It’s joined there by King of Falafel. The Pickle Jar is in front of the Wisconsin Historical Museum, and El Grito Taqueria and a new cart, the Rodeo Wagon, are at Carroll and West Washington Avenue.

The Rodeo Wagon serves burgers, pulled beef, mac ’n’ cheese and even beans ’n’ franks.

Newcomers on Library Mall include Zam Zam Afghani food and Dzi Little Tibet, while the new O.S.S. cart (an offshoot of the Regent Street restaurant of the same name) is in front of the Geology Museum at 1215 W. Dayton St. The Downtown Business Improvement District is also arranging for cafe tables and chairs to be placed near the carts in the plazas at the top of State Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday-Friday. The new seating, officially called “The Summer in YOUR City Cafe,” is slated to begin May 1. ■

No longer imaginary Hastings Cameron to launch craft beverage facility

BY ALLISON GEYER

After spending years working behind the bar (and behind the scenes) at a number of Madison’s finest drinking establishments, cocktail savant Hastings Cameron is fulfilling a longtime dream of opening a beverage production facility and tasting room.

The city’s plan commission on Tuesday night approved a conditional-use permit to convert part of a building at 1401 Northern Court on Madison’s east side into a light manufacturing facility, distillery and tavern.

The business, Imaginary Factory, will develop, produce and bottle a broad range of craft beverages, focusing first on liqueurs, potable bitters and aromatized wine.

“I view it as a flexible beverage production facility inspired by a food business incubator like the FEED Kitchens,” Cameron says. He plans to produce his own line of house spirits under the “Imaginary” label and will work with collaborators for smallbatch contract production on their own recipes. Already in the works is a partnership with Spirited Women (a local group of female bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts) to produce an amaro, a type of Italian bitter digestivo. Cameron anticipates collaborating with other bartenders and folks in the beverage industry or even farmers who have ideas for new products.

“It is the intersection of creative experimental process and having the time and resources to get to the best possible realization of an idea,” he says of his business,

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which will handle all aspects of product production, from research and development to bottling and labeling.

Cameron, who is an organizer of Madison Cocktail Week and has helped develop cocktail programs at Gib’s, Tornado Steakhouse and Underground Kitchen, has been working on his own spirit recipes for several years, but he ran into trouble finding a production facility that fit his needs.

There are a few large facilities in the state, but they focus on high-volume runs, Cameron says, and smaller craft distillery operations are more focused on growing their own brands rather than doing contract production.

“I would like to present something that’s the best of both worlds for someone in the early stages,” he says.

Construction on Imaginary Factory is anticipated to start in May, with product production starting as soon as October and a grand opening in December, though the timeline is tentative. The facility is next door to another beverage production facility, State Line Distillery, a grain-to-glass operation slated to open in June. Cameron says the businesses complement each other well, and he’s looking forward to collaborating with his neighbor.

“I’m excited to be next to [State Line], in part because I’ll learn by osmosis, and I will potentially buy some of my base materials from them.” says Cameron. “So [Imaginary Factory] is not quite grain-to-glass, but will be neighbor-to-neighbor.” ■

27

n SPORTS

Game of Thames The Brewers have a new hero

BY MICHAEL POPKE

The Milwaukee Brewers are generating some earlyseason excitement — and not just in Wisconsin.

This has been a productive April, with two series wins over the Cincinnati Reds, a two-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays and a competitive series against longtime rivals the St. Louis Cardinals and World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Through April 25, the Brewers had hit more home runs (39) and RBIs (109) than any other team in baseball. They were tied for the Major League lead in doubles (42), tied for second in triples (6) and ranked third in runs scored (102). They also were playing .500 ball (11-11).

Not bad for an overhauled roster that looks nothing like the one in place when the Brewers ended the 2016 season with a 73-89 record, 30.5 games behind the Cubs. In fact, most of the guys who helped give Milwaukee its character over the past few years are gone: Jonathan Lucroy, Scooter Gennett, Will Smith, Chris Carter, Tyler Thornburg and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

And six-time All-Star and perpetually injured Ryan Braun likely will be traded before this season’s over.

Of course, we’ve seen all this before in recent years. Remember when the Brew Crew began the 2014 season 19-8 and stayed atop the NL Central for 150 straight games — only to close out the sea-

Eric Thames takes a good look at his first home run as a Brewer on April 5 at Miller Park.

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son 82-80 and in third place?

That was the last time the Brewers came within finishing 30 games out of first. But third-year manager Craig Counsell (hired to replace Ron Roenicke early in the 2015 season) and second-year general manager David Stearns each have established themselves as risk-takers when implementing change.

Exhibit A: First baseman Eric Thames, a guy who bounced around four MLB teams between 2011 and 2013 and then spent three years with the NC Dinos in Korea. He became a countrywide sensation overseas before the Brewers gave him a second chance in the majors. Four weeks into this season, he’s batting .371 and leading both the Crew and MLB in homers with 11.

“Clearly, he’s made adjustments,” Los Angeles Dodgers vice president Alex Anthopoulos, who as Toronto’s GM was the first team executive to let Thames go five years ago, told USA Today. “You’ve got to give a ton of credit to the Brewers.”

Despite all the positive numbers this young Brew Crew is posting, Milwaukee still shows signs of a team in transition, whiffing for 220 strikeouts.

It’s a long season, but early indications suggest the rebuilding process is starting to pay off. n

n MUSIC

Orpheum adds familiar face Toffer Christensen hired as talent buyer for Live Nation Seattle-based Live Nation has been responsible for booking shows into the Orpheum Theater on State Street since April 2016, when the Paras family turned the keys to the venue over to them. But Live Nation hasn’t really had a local face to its talent-buying — until now.

Live Nation recently tabbed Madison native Toffer Christensen as its local talent buyer focused on Madison. Christensen has 16 years of experience booking club shows with the New York City-based Blue Note Entertainment, and has also booked shows through his own promotion company, T Presents, since 2012.

“I grew up going to these places,” says Christensen of Madison’s live music venues. “It’s exciting to be able to come back here and do this.”

Christensen has wanted to move his family back from New York to Madison and set up shop for years, but his first effort unexpectedly fizzled. The agreement he signed with the Gebhardt Company to move into the Cosmos space on East Washington Avenue — the same space that now will house The Sylvee, the new music venue owned and operated by Christensen’s primary musicscene rivals Frank Productions — fell apart, reportedly over financing issues, a suggestion Christensen disputed at the time.

Christensen gracefully sidesteps any suggestion that any hard feelings remain.

“It’s not about local competition,” he says.

“It’s about educating the industry about Madison, and why Madison is a great place to play.”

Charlie Goldstone, president of Frank Productions Concerts LLC, is similarly diplomatic about the situation.

“We feel strongly that concerts are best promoted by people who live and are invested in the community, so it’s a positive

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step for Live Nation and the Orpheum,” says Goldstone. “With the backing of such a successful company, I’m sure he will do a fine job.“ In addition to the Orpheum, Christensen expects to book Live Nation shows into other local venues, including the Barrymore Theatre, Monona Terrace and Wisconsin Union Theater.

Christensen says he will be lining up shows for audiences of varying sizes, from 50 to 2,300. “Madison is a market Live Nation is willing to invest in,” he says. “They’re an international company with tons of resources. I can draw on those resources, and we put that into creating a local feel.”

Christensen’s Madison roots could be a big plus for him in that regard.

(Near

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“I don’t think they [Live Nation] wanted to drop someone in here who didn’t understand the market,” Christensen says.

“It’s not about making money. It’s about supporting local spaces.”

For now, Christensen is focused on sending out offers and trying to build on industry relationships. Live Nation just booked Arlo Guthrie into the Union Theater and has a few more shows ready to announce soon.

“I get to book an amazing venue. I’m excited about building on that,” says Christensen of his Orpheum responsibilities. “I want to show that Live Nation is locally focused.” n

Riff Raff continued from 21

What do you want your audience to feel when you perform The Navigator?

I want people who feel that they’re being demonized to feel sane and to feel human.

To feel important and proud. I really love that if people come to our show who feel like they’re being bullied right now to walk out of there feeling proud of who they are. n Alynda Lee Segarra reaches back to her Puerto Rican roots in her latest album.

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What do you get out of your songwriting?

I originally went into writing songs as a way to find inner strength, and also I really had a desire to share feelings, particularly with other young women. I wanted to create a public forum for women’s feelings. That’s why I love the blues. That’s why I love women like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.

The best songs for me are the songs I listen to and I think, “Wow, I feel like I lived that song.” With The Navigator I listen to it and I’m proud of it, but more than that I feel like it’s doing its job. That song is living its life and making its progress. It’s like having puppies or something.

29

n MUSIC

Celebration of doom Ancient Future represents the Midwest’s heavy genres

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In a city overflowing with festivals, a pair of Madison musicians decided there’s room for one more. Jason Hartman and Jeff Bach (who owns the Madison-based Riff Reaper Records) have launched Ancient Future: Heavy Psych and Doom Fest to expose local audiences to two sprawling, experimentally inclined genres they feel are underrepresented in Madison’s scene.

Hartman has spent two decades building a reputation and forming relationships with bands around the region as a member of the long-running Madison-based heavy psych outfit Vanishing Kids, which he plays in with his wife, vocalist Nikki Drohomyreky. That’s how he attracted established acts like chugging, heavy-riffing Cincinnati-based Electric Citizen for the daylong (seriously, from 3 p.m. to close) festival at the Frequency on April 29, which features nearly a dozen bands from around the Midwest.

Jason Hartman “I thought it’d be kind of cool to bring these bands from out of town that my band has played with a bunch, from Rockford and Milwaukee and Chicago, and bring them here,” says Hartman. “I figured I could just book them all at one time and make an event of it,” he says. Electric Citizen frontwoman Laura Dolan describes Hartman as “a stand-up guy and an amazing guitar player.” Dolan says she used to run a similar festival in Cincinnati: “I’m familiar with the hard work it takes to do something like this, and I have a lot of respect for it.”

Ancient Future — with a name stolen from a former New Age crystal shop on Willy Street — will feature headlining sets from Electric Citizen and Jex Thoth, a globetrotting Madison-based group that has toured Europe but only played one show here. The lineup also includes Ausculation, Cosmic Relic and House of Lud. n

n COMEDY

Maron matured The WTF podcaster is at the Orpheum April 28

BY DYLAN BROGAN

When Isthmus called Marc Maron, he was clearing pine needles from the storm drain in front of his home in northeast Los Angeles. The comedy pro recently recorded the 800th episode of his hit podcast WTF with Marc Maron in the attached garage of his modest, Mission-style house. It’s in this domestic setting that Maron has recorded intimate conversations with scores of comedians, musicians and actors. President Barack Obama even stopped

by Maron’s garage for an interview.

By inviting guests to his personal residence, Maron has also opened a window into his own life. This gives listeners a degree of familiarity with the host that’s uncommon in any medium.

It’s also a point of pride for Maron that he’s never strayed far from his roots as a seasoned comic. He’s performed standup for

three decades, but he credits the relatively recent success of the WTF podcast for elevating his comedy chops and giving him a new level of confidence.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been funnier,” says Maron. And he’s not joking.

“It’s only surprising because I went more than half my life without really finding an audience,” says Maron. “The thing about the podcast, it’s sort of all-encompassing of every element of my personality. The fearlessness of being myself, I think, is what really changed in the garage.... As I grow to accept myself, I guess the people that get what I do have grown to accept me, too.”

Maron was a familiar face in the New York altcomedy scene in the 1990s that cultivated talents like Roseanne Barr, Todd Barry, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K. (most of whom have been guests on WTF). Maron says he was “more of a hostile comic” in his younger years.

“I think I was angry because I was preemptively defensive all the time about people’s judgment,” says Maron. “I also liked starting shit.”

In the heyday of Air America Radio — a liberal response to the dominance of rightwing talkers on the AM/FM dial — Maron co-hosted the network’s Morning Sedition show. Nowadays, Maron finds political humor limiting. But he describes the Trump era as “a shitshow” that’s indicative of broader problems with the political system.

“I do a couple of things about my own fear and panic about what’s happening,” says Maron. “All I can do is express my point of view, what my feelings are. And if that’s a shared experience, great.”

During his stop at the Orpheum on April 28, Maron will be working out new material for an upcoming special. He’s been doing some monster sets while on the road lately, routinely performing for two hours.

“I’ll try to have it tightened up for Madison,” says Maron. “Even if you don’t think it’s funny, you won’t be able to look away.” n Listen to the full interview with Marc Maron at isthmus.com.

■ STAGE

Lavish and irrational Madison Opera delivers a mixed bag in The Magic Flute

BY JOHN W. BARKER

The Madison Opera closed out its season this past weekend with a lavish production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, confirming my conviction that it is virtually impossible to do a rational staging of this work.

Conceived chaotically between Mozart and his librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder (who also appeared in the original production as Papageno), its mix of absurd comedy and noble idealism seems beyond any balance.

Fortunately, Mozart’s wonderful score works and, on April 21, opening night, the Madison Opera cast was mostly outstanding musically.

As the two lovers, Tamino and Pamina, tenor Andrew Bidlack and soprano Amanda Woodbury brought strong singing and real personality to their roles. If a little fussy at times, baritone Alan Dunbar was aptly comical as the birdman Papageno, with local veteran Anna Polum as a pert soprano Papagena.

Amanda Kingston, Kelsey Park and Anna Parks sang beautifully and acted with humor as the Queen of the Night’s three Ladies. As Her Majesty, local soprano Caitlin Cisler did not quite settle into her first fiery aria, but was dazzlingly powerful in the second.

Bass Nathan Stark’s voice lacked weight and the crucial low notes in his portrayal of the noble Sarastro. The boys who sang the Three Spirits sang weakly and were directed to look ridiculous. The lesser parts, however, were handled securely.

Guest conductor Gary Wedow kept the orchestra in tight control and gave the singers stable support. The sizable chorus sounded splendid throughout.

Stage director Dan Rigozzi, in his Madison Opera debut, deftly delivered details, but had problems making the comic and the serious fit together; he appears to lean toward the comedic side. The direction was partly hampered by the set and costumes rented from the Arizona Opera Company. The set (consisting of giant picture frames) made no sense whatsoever.

The costume anomalies and inconsistencies could be discussed at length. The chorus women are garbed as if in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and most members of the brotherhood look like refugees from a Vatican conclave.

Despite these elements, the production (sung in German, with supertitles) was certainly colorful, and the audience was greatly entertained. ■

TM

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

JAMES GILL

Local soprano Caitlin Cisler (center) was dazzingly powerful in her second aria as the Queen of the Night.

31

n SCREENS

Bloody brilliant

Film events Los Olvidados: A story of young delinquents in Mexico City, from director-writer Luis Buñuel.

UW Union South-Marquee, April 27, 7 pm.

Free Fire is a perfect shoot-’em-up

Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock: Documentary screening about Native-led movement to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. UW Science Hall-Room 180, April 27, 7 pm.

BY MARC SAVLOV

No one alive today makes the sort of movies Ben Wheatley does, and this, his sixth feature since 2009’s haunting and perfect lo-fi gangster melodrama Down Terrace, is both a formal experiment in crime caper reductionism and a comic gem riddled with enough gorily farcical moments to leave you laughing up blood. It also sports more gunfire than John Woo’s The Killer and Hard Boiled combined. I’m tempted to think that this is Wheatley’s none-too-subtle commentary on the absurdity of American gun culture — he’s a Brit — but since the story takes place in Boston in the 1970s and involves the Irish Republican Army, maybe not. As always, however, with Wheatley there’s more than meets the eye.

Armie Hammer slyly steals the show as Ord, a very chill American arms dealer who, along with associate Justine (Brie Larson), tries mightily to broker a sale between IRA member Chris (Cillian Murphy) and hyperactive South African gunrunner Vernon (Sharlto Copley). The whole movie takes place in an abandoned warehouse packed to its rotted roof with oodles of I-beams and concrete rubble, the better for wayward ballistics to ricochet off of and puncture countless times, once the deal goes awry. (There’s a certain Reservoir Dog-edness to Free Fire, but Wheatley ratchets up the ridiculousness of the situation rather than investing it with too much QT gravitas.)

This is an ensemble outing all the way to its bitter ironic end, and so Wheatley regular Michael Smiley shows up as

The Legend of Drunken Master: A young man (Jackie Chan) wants to stop foreigners from taking Chinese artifacts, but also respect his pacifist father’s wishes to not engage in martial arts.

UW Union South-Marquee, April 27 (9:30 pm) and April 29 (11 pm).

The Red Turtle: Dialogue-free animated fantasy about a castaway on a deserted island. UW Union South-Marquee, April 28-29 (6 pm) and April 30 (3 pm).

“Futurama” Marathon: Ashman Library, April 28, 6:45 pm.

Farewell Herr Schwarz: Documentary about a Jewish family divided by the Holocaust, and a reunion generations later. Hawthorne Library, April 28, 7 pm.

The Ambassador: A diplomat’s (Robert Mitchum) attempts to bring peace to the middle east are complicated by his wife’s (Ellen Burstyn) affair with a PLO leader. UW Cinematheque, April 28, 7 pm.

Get Out: An African American man’s first visit to his white girlfriend’s family may be more dangerous than anticipated, in this thriller written and directed by Jordan Peele. UW Union South-Marquee, April 28 (8:30 & 11 pm), April 29 (8:30 pm) and April 30 (6 pm).

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: “Harry Potter” prequel follows writer Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards. Hawthorne Library, April 29, 2 pm.

Armie Hammer (left) steals the show as a American arms seller trying to broker a deal.

Frank, Chris’ lieutenant, alongside the excellent Sam Riley as Stevo, his dopey, junkie little brother. Filling out the firefight-to-come are some terrific, memorable, nuanced turns from Noah Taylor (Game of Thrones) and Jack Reynor’s itchy-trigger-fingered Harry.

Wheatley, who co-scripted with his spouse and writing partner Amy Jump, sustains a level of comic violence that might normally arrive as a single set-piece in someone else’s action film, and yet Free Fire feels like

a minor work, coming as it does from the director of the unambiguously genius HighRise and the profoundly unsettling A Field in England. That’s not a serious knock, though.

Free Fire is exactly what you think it is, yet more entertaining than it has any right to be. Add to that the Oscar-caliber editing (by perpetual multitaskers Wheatley and Jump), plus random moments of John Denver, and you have one of the smartest dumb shoot-’em-ups in years. n

Born in China: Documentary about three animal families; ticket sales benefit Community Immigration Law Center & Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Point, April 29, 3 pm.

Sicilia!: Adaptation of Elio Vittorini’s antifascist novel Conversations in Sicily by directors Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub. UW Cinematheque, April 29, 7 pm.

Seed savers UW grad helps launch the stylistic indie game Tumbleseed

Dracula: UW Cinematheque: Disco-era monster flick stars Frank Langella as the count and a hammy Laurence Olivier as Van Helsing. Chazen Museum of Art, April 30, 2 pm.

32

Plenty of modern videogames draw inspiration from the classics. The touchstone for Tumbleseed, a new indie game designed by a team that includes UW-Madison grad Benedict Fritz, reaches way, way back into the cult-game recesses. It’s Ice Cold Beer, a 1983 cabinet game in which players balance a marble on an ascending metal bar — an actual metal bar, not a pixelated simulation — to roll it into lighted holes that represent bubbles in a mug of beer.

Fritz and some of his friends encountered the classic cabinet at Logan Arcade in Chicago, and Fritz was immediately struck: “Why has no one made a game with this type of play since the mid-’80s?” he wondered.

Gender Revolution: PFLAG Mount Horeb Area screening of documentary hosted by Katie Couric. Mount Horeb Community Center, May 2, 6:30 pm.

Now Fritz and four Chicago-based developers have set the moving-bar concept in a busy, visually stylistic world with all sorts of stationary and moving hazards to threaten your cute li’l seed’s ascent up the side of a mountain — holes to fall into, insects that dive-bomb and shoot projectiles at you. Fritz began designing Tumbleseed back in late 2014, and, almost three years later, it’s set to release May 2.

“The hardest part was figuring out the design, figuring out why this is fun,” says Fritz. “The game is about moving and rolling.” n Tumbleseed is rated E and will be available on May 2 on the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC for $14.99.

The Big Sick: A Pakistan-born man and his American girlfriend navigate his family’s expectations and attempts to arrange a marriage. UW Union South-Marquee, May 3, 7 pm.

AARON CONKLIN

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

BY AARON R. CONKLIN

UW grad Benedict Fritz (left) worked with a Chicago team to design Tumbleseed.

The Player: Michael Tolkin adapted his novel for this dark comedy by director Robert Altman, about a Hollywood exec being threatened by a rejected screenwriter. Central Library, May 4, 6:30 pm.

Harold and Maude: A suicide-obsessed rich kid (Bud Cort) and free-spirited elder (Ruth Gordon) strike up a special relationship in this one-of-akind film from director Hal Ashby. UW Union South-Marquee, May 4, 7 pm.

This Changes Everything: Clean Wisconsin screening of documentary based on Naomi Klein’s latest book. Majestic Theatre, May 4, 7:30 pm.

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A Toast to You: Cathy’s Thank You Party

PICK OF THE WEEK

Sunday, April 30, High Noon Saloon, 5:30 pm Any Madison music scene performer or observer will know that the “Cathy” of the headline is Cathy Dethmers, founder and owner of the High Noon Saloon.

Dethmers recently sold the venue, and her last day is Sunday. Come out to help celebrate at this free show — and don’t forget to show your appreciation for all her hard work to help keep the local scene vibrant at the Noon and its legendary antecedent, O’Cayz Corral.

True to the venue’s always eclectic schedule, the show includes metal (Bereft), country (Pupy Costello & the New Hiram Kings) and garage punk (the Hussy)...then mixes ’em all up with a special Gomeroke featuring an all-star cast of singers, and the genre-exploding turntable work of the Real Jaguar.

picks

SHARON VANORNY

BOOKS/SP OKEN WORD

thu apr 27

COME DY

MU S I C

Born Survivors: Talk by Mark Olsky (a subject of Wendy Holden’s book) and Larry Kosiek, 6 pm, 4/27, BioPharmaceutical Technology Center, Fitchburg. 729-1763.

Amy Goldstein: Discussing “Janesville: An American Story,” 7 pm, 4/27, Mystery to Me (283-9332); 4 pm, 4/28, UW Social Sciences Bldg.-Room 8417 (262-3581).

SP ECIAL EV ENTS

Hair Affair: The Art of Hair Thursday, April 27, MMoCA, 7-10:30 pm

Hari Kondabolu Zakir Hussain + Rahul Sharma Thursday, April 27, Wisconsin Union Theater-Shannon Hall, 8 pm

Two Indian masters join forces. Zakir Hussain, a celebrated tabla virtuoso, has collaborated with Yo Yo Ma, Van Morrison and Mickey Hart. Now he teams up with Rahul Sharma, who apprenticed at the Kashmiri santoor (hammered dulcimer) with his famous father, Shvkumar Sharma.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear some of India’s finest musicians playing together.

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

Bos Meadery: Hoot’n Annie, free, 6:30 pm.

Brink Lounge: Madison Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 pm.

34

Wisco: Decide Today, Loop Retard, Daddybear, 10 pm.

Frequency: Flint Eastwood, Michigander, Disq, 8 pm.

High Noon Saloon: Don’t Mess with Cupid (Otis Redding tribute), Girls Are Go, 9 pm.

Majestic Theatre: Cashmere Cat, Nina Las Vegas, Jordan Marsh, 9 pm.

Merchant: Tony Castañeda Quartet, free, 9:30 pm.

Stoughton Opera House: Suzy Bogguss, 7:30 pm.

UW Memorial Union-Play Circle: Linda Oh with Johannes Wallmann Quintet, free, 8 pm.

Thursday, April 27, Comedy Club on State, 8:30 pm

Hari Kondabolu has always been funny, but since Donald Trump took office, he’s taken on new importance. Armed with a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a razor-sharp wit, the Queens-raised Kondabolu frequently tackles touchy subjects like race, identity and gender.

With May Wilkerson, Greg Bach. ALSO: Friday-Saturday, April 28-29, 8 & 10:30 pm.

T HE AT E R & DANCE UW Dance Department 90th Anniversary Celebration: Concerts, master classes, talks & more, 4/26-30, UW Campus. Schedule: go.wisc.edu/jj97x3. 262-1691.

West Side Story: Verona Area Community Theater musical, 7:30 pm on 4/27-28 and 2 & 7:30 pm, 4/29, Verona Area High School. $16.50. vact.org.

The Underpants: University Theatre, 7:30 pm on 4/2729 and 2 pm, 4/30, Vilas Hall. $20. 265-2787.

The Nance: Madison Theatre Guild & OUT!Cast Theatre, 4/21-5/6, Bartell Theatre, at 7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays (2 pm only 5/6) and 2 pm, 4/30. $20. 661-9696.

Perfect Arrangement: StageQ, 4/21-5/6, Bartell Theatre, at 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays (2 pm on 5/6) and 2 pm Sundays. $20/$15. 661-9696.

MMoCA hosts its fifth biennial celebration with high-flying hair sculptures on the theme Myths + Monsters designed by Madison-area stylists. The event benefits the museum and includes a live DJ, seasonal hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails and a silent auction.

Cask Ale Fest: Annual Isthmus event featuring 25+ brews, 7-10 pm, 4/27, Madison Children’s Museum. $40 adv. isthmus.com/caskalefest. 251-5627.

ART EXHIBITS & EV ENTS Alex Orellana: “Middle Child,” photographs, 4/28-6/25, Chazen Museum of Art (reception 5-7 pm, 4/27). 263-2246.

The Chainsmokers Friday, April 28, Alliant Energy Center Coliseum, 7 pm

The Grammy award-winning electronic pop duo makes its first stop in Madison.

The one-time American Idol auditioners Alex Pall and Drew Taggart are blazing across the country touring in support of their debut LP, Memories...Do Not Open. You may remember the group’s viral sensation: “#SELFIE” (4.6 million YouTube views) or their unstoppable current Top-40 track, “Paris” (214 million YouTube views). With Kiiara, Shaun Frank, Emily Warren.

Alan Luft: “Photographic Portraits Berlin,” 4/21-5/21, Edgewood College-The Stream Gallery (reception & artist talk 4:30-7:30 pm, 4/27). 663-3252.

fri apr 28 M USIC

MadHatters 20th Anniversary Friday, April 28, Overture Hall, 7 pm

Madison’s critically acclaimed a cappella group has performed at the White House (twice), on the PGA tour and at Lambeau Field. This 20th anniversary show is a great chance to catch these adorable crooners in red blazers on their home turf.

Hanah Jon Taylor Quartet Friday, April 28, Cafe CODA, 8 pm

A world-class improviser who regularly tours Europe and Asia, Taylor transports audiences with his otherworldly sounds on saxophone, flute and wind synthesizer.

He’s joined at this show by Chicago pianist

Kirk Brown (who’s played with Wynton Marsalis and Phil Upchurch), bassist John Christensen, and percussionist Jacob Bicknase. Bonus: This is Taylor’s home base now; he co-founded Cafe CODA.

www.oz: PlayTime Productions zaps Dorothy into cyberspace, 6:30 pm, 4/28, Allied Family Center, Fitchburg; 6 pm, 4/30, Barrymore Theatre; 6:30 pm, 5/2, Mount Horeb High School. Donations. 437-4217.

The Jayhawks + Wesley Stace

Marc Maron

Friday, April 28, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm

The Jayhawks started as a proto-altcountry band in the mid-1980s, gradually morphing into shimmering pop and other sounds. Rock-solid songcraft has remained the group’s true north, whether the principal writer is Gary Louris, former member Mark Olson or the pair in collaboration.

Wesley Stace is perhaps still better known in the music world by his former nom de rock, John Wesley Harding, but is a wellregarded novelist under his real name.

Bandung: DuggHopper, 6 pm.

Bos Meadery: Tiny Dinosaur, rock, free, 7 pm.

Christ Presbyterian Church: Philharmonic Chorus of Madison, “Let me fly!” free, 7:30 pm. Also: 2 pm, 4/30 (Bethany United Methodist Church).

The Frequency: Genevieve Heyward (album release), Hott Ttarget, 9 pm.

High Noon Saloon: The Rousers, rock, 6 pm; Rated R (QOTSA tribute), Bon Squad (AC/DC), Saging the Seas of Cheese (Primus), 9:30 pm.

Knuckle Down Saloon: Studebaker John, 8 pm.

Luther Memorial Church: Wisconsin Chamber Choir, “Magnificat” by J.S. Bach, plus more, 7:30 pm.

Madison College-Truax Campus, Mitby Theater: Madison College Big Band/Jazz Combo, World Drumming Ensemble, free, 7 pm.

Nomad World Pub: Gerri DiMaggio, jazz, free, 5:30 pm; DJs Mojamid, Brook, 9 pm.

Overture-Capitol Theater: Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra with Michael Shinn & Jessica Chow, 7:30 pm.

Upcoming Shows!

COME DY Friday, April 28, Orpheum Theater, 8 pm

Operating a podcast out of his garage that has attracted everyone from celebs to President Barack Obama, Marc Maron has stayed true to his standup roots. See story, page 30.

THE JA YHAWKS Wesley Stace With Special Guest

(a.k.a. John Wesley Harding)

FRIDAY APRIL 28 • MAJESTIC THEATRE

B OOKS / S POKEN WORD Jane Wong: Felix Series poetry reading, 4 pm, 4/28, Arts + Literature Laboratory. felixreadingseries.wordpress.com.

Word Power! Open Mic: Finals, for ages 13-19, 7 pm, 4/28, Overture Center. jvnp.national@gmail.com.

ART E XHI BITS & EV ENTS Gerit Grimm & Gina Litherland: Sculptures, paintings, 4/28-6/18, Overture Center-James Watrous Gallery (reception 5:30-7:30 pm, 4/28). 265-2500.

MAJESTICMADISON.COM, 800•514•ETIX, MAJESTIC THEATRE BOX OFFICE

Lucinda Williams Saturday, April 29 Capitol Theater

S PECI AL E V ENTS Madison Craft Beer Week: Isthmus presents tastings, brewer meet & greets and more (including various free events), 4/28-5/7, at Madison area locations. Schedule: madbeerweek.com.

Overture.org • 608-258-4141

Odyssey Con: Annual sci-fi/fantasy convention, 4/28-30, Radisson, with panels, gaming, art show & more. $35/day ($60/weekend). RSVP: odysseycon.org. 441-1957.

sat apr 29 APRIL 30 OVERTURE HALL

MUS I C

OVERTURE.ORG • 608-258-4141

Shitty Barn, Spring Green: Erika Wennerstrom, 7 pm.

Stoughton Opera House: Hal Ketchum, 7:30 pm.

Tip Top Tavern: Ladyscissors, free, 10 pm.

UW Humanities Building-Mills Hall: UW Concert Choir with Matt Haimovitz, 8 pm.

UW Old Music Hall: Linda Oh with UW Jazz Orchestra, High School Honors Jazz Band, 8 pm.

With Special Guest Jonathan Coulton

May 2 Barrymore Theatre

UW Union South-Sett: Sara & Kenny, Sam Ness, 9 pm.

VFW-Cottage Grove Road: Midlife Crisis, 7:30 pm.

Wil-Mar Center: Milkhouse Radio, 8 pm.

Itzhak Perlman

Williamson Magnetic: Exploration Team, Skyline Sounds, Emma Fish, Hippie X-mas, 8 pm.

Saturday, April 29, Overture Hall, 8 pm

FA IR S & F EST I VA LS Capital City Jazz Fest: Annual Madison Jazz Society showcase: Sessions 6:30 pm on 4/28, 11 am & 6 pm on 4/29 and 11:30 am, 4/30, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Fitchburg, with Bria Skonberg Quintet, Bob Schulz’s Frisco Jazz Band, Vache/Coots/Trick Trio, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi. $35/session. madisonjazz.com. 850-5400.

T HE AT ER & DA N C E NuQueer Reaction: Proud Theater Sun Prairie spoken word, poetry & dance, 7 pm, 4/28-29, Sun Prairie United Methodist Church. $10 donation ($5 students).

RSVP: reservations@proudtheater.org. 222-9086.

Gepetto: Adaptation of “Pinocchio” crossed with other tales, 4/28-5/20, Broom Street Theater, at 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays. $11. 244-8338.

Anger Dance: Left of Left Center production written/ directed by Ned O’Reilly, 9 pm on 4/28, 7:30 pm on 4/29 and 2 pm, 4/30, Express Yourself Dance Studio. $15 donation. RSVP: leftofleftcenter.com.

One of the most celebrated and beloved violinists of a generation, Itzhak Perlman has been performing for nearly six decades.

Now 71, his effortlessly beautiful music has graced stages around the world, from Sesame Street to Carnegie Hall. Along the way he’s been honored with 16 Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest honor. He’ll be accompanied by pianist Rohan De Silva.

FRIDAY MAY 26 • BREESE STEVENS FIELD TICKETS AT THE COLISEUM BOX OFFICE, TICKETMASTER.COM AND 800-745-3000.

Hurray for the Riff Raff Saturday, April 29, High Noon Saloon, 9 pm

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Frontwoman Alynda Lee Segarra is earning raves for her melding of American roots tradition with world music sounds.

She’s not likely to play in intimate venues like High Noon for long, so catch the wonders up close. See story, page 21.

➡

SEARCH THE FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT ISTHMUS.COM

AUG. 30 OVERTURE HALL

TOUR 2017

TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY 4/28 AT 11AM AT OVERTURE.ORG

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

To the Promised Land: Children’s Theater of Madison, 7 pm on 4/28, 2:30 & 7 pm on 4/29 & 2:30 pm, 4/30, Overture-Playhouse. $38 ($26 17 & under). 258-4141.

BARRYMORELIVE.COM 608-241-8633

35

n ISTHMUS PICKS : APR 29 - MAY 2 2201 Atwood Ave.

Ancient Future: Heavy Psych and Doom Fest

(608) 249-4333 SAT. APR. 29

Saturday, April 29, Frequency, 3 pm-close

Featuring 11 different bands, the all-day event will include sets from Cincinnatibased shredders Electric Citizen, globetrotting Madisonians Jex Thoth and fellow capitol city riff experts Vanishing Kids. See story, page 30.

9:45pm $7

EVERGREEN GRASS BAND

A RT EXH I B I TS & EV EN TS First 100 Days: Works responding to Trump presidency, 4/29-5/22, UW Union South-Gallery 1308 (reception noon-2 pm, 4/29). 262-7592.

S PEC I A L EV EN TS

____________________________________

EVERY MONDAY 5:30-6:15pm $3 THE KING OF KIDS MUSIC

DAVID LANDAU ____________________________________

Read(y) to Wear

MON. MAY 1 7:30-9:30pm NO COVER

Madison Reading Project’s benefit runway show features runwayready designs made of paper.

Saturday, April 29, Yahara Bay Distillery, 6:30 pm

Oak Street Ramblers

Lucinda Williams

sponsored by Door County Brewing Co.

Saturday, April 29, Overture Center-Capitol Theater, 8 pm

If alt-country were to coronate a queen, it would undoubtedly be Lucinda Williams.

With a four-decade career, 13 albums (most recently, 2016’s Ghosts of Highway 20) and three Grammy awards, Williams is a hard-living demigod. No wonder Time magazine named her “America’s Best Songwriter” in 2002. Long live the queen.

Brahms’ Requiem MAY 5, 6, 7 | Overture Hall Brahms’ profound and comforting

Art In Gallery: Rogue Rat, Redline Messiah, Texas Bubblegum Machine, rock, 7 pm.

meditation—one of the finest choral works

Bos Meadery: Katie Burns, Eric Miller, free, 7 pm.

of Western music—is complemented by Photo by Greg Anderson

the American premiere of a fascinating work by Irish composer Stanford.

CHARLES STANFORD Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra JOHANNES BRAHMS A German Requiem

Brink Lounge: #27, rock, 7:30 pm.

Club Tavern, Middleton: Love Monkeys, 9 pm.

Come Back In: Cosmic Strings, free, 9 pm.

Timothy Jones, Bass-Baritone

The Mediums: Psychics Jennifer Lloyd, Scotty Rorek, Jonna Kay, Ian Mcloughlin & Mike Pozorski on stage, 6 pm, 4/29, Comfort Inn & Suites. $40. eventbrite. com/e/31793562401. 920-379-9752.

S PEC TATO R S PO RTS

Crystal Corner: Birth Of Tragedy, Cold Black River, Momotaros, 9:30 pm.

Mad Rollin’ Dolls: Finals, 6 pm, 4/29, Alliant CenterExhibition Hall; also, Wreckers exhibition bout 4:15 pm. $15 (half price ages 6-11). madisonrollerderby.org.

First Unitarian Society: JungHae Kim & Kangwon Kim, harpsichord/violin recital, 7:30 pm.

DA N C I N G

Kiki’s House: Tommy Keene & Ivan Julian (RSVP: righteousmusicmgmt@gmail.com), 8 pm.

Devon Guthrie, Soprano

African Gala: Project 1808 fundraiser (education assistance in Sierra Leone), 9 pm-2 am, 4/29, Church Key, with fashion show, DJs Komlan, Thini & Ro, raffle. $10. facebook.com/events/571460173061534.

Crescendo: Kari Arnett, Josh Harty, 8 pm.

Harmony Bar: Evergreen Grass Band, 9:45 pm.

Nathan Laube, Organ

Hmong Gala Dinner: Hmong Language & Culture Enrichment Program fundraiser, 5:30, 4/29, Badger Rock Center, with keynote by author Dr. Xa Xiong, entertainment, dinner, silent auction. $50. RSVP: hmongenrichment.org. 255-9877 ext. 2.

Connections: DJs ellafine, psych0tron, 9 pm.

Ivory Room: Andy Schneider, Jim Ripp, 8 pm.

John DeMain, Conductor Beverly Taylor, Chorus Director Madison Symphony Chorus

Earth Day Heritage in Music & Words: 7 pm, 4/29, Wisconsin Historical Society, including John Harmon’s “Earth Day Portrait” with the words of John Muir, Aldo Leopold and Gaylord Nelson read by their ancestors.

Free/donations. eventbrite.com/e/33746419449.

Knuckle Down Saloon: Alex Wilson Band, blues, 9 pm.

Lazy Oaf Lounge: Unity, reggae, free, 10 pm.

Spring Square Dance: Pot luck 6:15 pm, dance 7 pm, 4/29, Wil-Mar Center, with music (and CD release)

by Grandpa’s Elixir. $7. facebook.com/grandpaselixir.

sun apr 30

Liliana’s: John Widdicombe & Cliff Frederiksen, 6:30 pm.

Liquid: DJay Mando, 10 pm.

MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY Kenneth A. Lattman Foundation, Inc. Larry and Jan Phelps University Research Park BMO Wealth Management

Lucille: DJ Tanner Savage, free, 10 pm.

MUS I C

Merchant: DJ Phil Money, 10:30 pm.

Orpheum Theater: Breaking Benjamin, 7:30 pm.

Paoli Schoolhouse: Jim White, free, 6 pm.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY WPS Health Solutions Carla and Fernando Alvarado Wisconsin Arts Board

Stoughton Opera House: April Verch Band, 7:30 pm.

Tip Top Tavern: Gentle Brontosaurus, free, 10 pm.

Tuvalu Coffeehouse, Verona: Open Mic, 7 pm.

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

UW Humanities Bldg-Mills Hall: UW Choral Union & Symphony Orchestra, 8 pm. Also: 7:30 pm, 4/30.

36

THEATER & DANCE Tania Tandias Flamenco & Spanish Dance: Free student recital, 7 pm, 4/29, Oakwood Village-University Woods Center for Arts & Education. 250-0369.

M A D I S O N S Y M P H O N Y. O R G buy tickets now!

MADISONSYMPHONY.ORG , the Overture Center Box Office, or (608) 258-4141.

BOOKS Mark Twain: An American Life: Excerpts read by Dennis Cook, with music by Judy Cook, 2 pm, 4/29, Sequoya Library. RSVP: 266-6385.

Alex Bledsoe, Matt Geiger: Discussing “Gather Her Round” and “The Geiger Counter,” respectively, 3 pm, 4/29, Mystery to Me. 283-9332.

Frank Iero & the Patience Sunday, April 30, Majestic Theatre, 8 pm With My Chemical Romance, Frank Iero’s guitar playing became the soundtrack to a generation of angsty kids with a penchant for theatrics. With his band the Patience, Iero goes punk, and his debut Parachutes, released last year, is an energetic, ramshackle triumph. With former Loved Ones frontman Dave Hause and his band, the Mermaid.

Peter Mulvey

FIRKIN

Sunday, April 30, Brink Lounge, 6 pm

Acclaimed Milwaukee folk singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey marks his 25th anniversary as a recording artist with a new album, Are You Listening?, released in March and produced by his friend Ani DiFranco in her New Orleans studio. The album is lovely and topical, featuring soulful songs exploring topics like bullying, police violence and dwindling attention spans.

Bos Meadery: Long Lost Family Band, Oak Street Ramblers, Stillhouse Six, Strung Up Four, Milkhouse Radio, Hoot ‘n Annie, bluegrass fest, noon.

Edgewood College-St. Joseph Chapel: Edgewood College Guitar Ensemble, Chorale, free, 2:30 pm.

The Frequency: Caamp, The Wonderfool, 8 pm.

Heritage Congregational Church: Cindy Bacon Hammer & Kristine Bengston, 4 pm.

High Noon Saloon: Madison Music Foundry Student Showcase, 11 am; Cathy’s Thank You Party, 5:30 pm.

with

AWESOME

FRIDAY FRI APR 28 . 4PM-MIDNIGHT Madison Craft Beer Week Tap Takeover benefiting the Madison Police K-9 Unit

Aimee Mann Tuesday, May 2, Barrymore Theatre, 7:30 pm

Both a celebrated musician and occasional actor (her Portlandia appearances are mandatory viewing), Mann is coming off the release of her ninth studio album, Mental Illness, a collection of musically lush songs about the depressing aspects of life, featuring contributions from her bandmate in The Both, Ted Leo. With Jonathan Coulton.

GRAN BAILE

w/ Los Principes and More!

SUN APR 30 . 4PM

$25

I Set My Friends on Fire

Growing, Wide Awake, The Most of Me, Grateful Dead Kennedys MON MAY 1 . DOORS 7:30 $12 ADV 18+ TO ENTER / 21+ TO DRINK

1212 REGENT ST. 608-251-6766

THEREDZONEMADISON.COM

Overture Center-Overture Hall: Beach Boys, 7:30 pm.

Sequoya Library: Michael BB Trio, jazz, free, 1:30 pm.

UW Memorial Union-Shannon Hall: Lea Salonga, 7:30 pm.

THURSDAYS H 8:30PM H FREE

Tate’s Blues Jam

FRI, APR 28 H 8PM H $7

Studebaker John Alex Wilson Chicago Blues Star

SAT, APR 29 H 9PM H $7

WAMI Winner: Guitarist of the Year, Blues Artist of the Year

FRI. MAY 5 SAT. MAY 6 Big Wes Turner’s Trio Aaron Williams & The Hoodoo

2513 Seiferth Rd. 222-7800 KnuckleDownSaloon.com

WISCONSIN UNION THEATER

West Middleton Lutheran Church, Verona: Dann Coakwell & Trevor Stephenson, tenor/piano duo, 3 pm.

SP ECI A L EV EN TS Burger Family Benefit: 10 percent of proceeds donated, 10 am-10 pm, 4/30, Waypoint Public House, Monona, plus music by Material Boys noon, Detourious 3 pm, silent auction noon-2:30 pm. facebook. com/events/264455144002583.

Threads: Ensemble: UW Textile & Fashion Design runway show & reception, 4 & 7 pm, 4/30, Masonic Center, plus exhibits. $35 ($15 students). fashionshow.wisc.edu.

Magic Men: 8 pm, 4/30, Orpheum. 250-2600.

The Bodega: Farmers, artisans, antiques, food carts, kids’ activities, 1-5 pm, 4/30, Breese Stevens Field, plus music by WheelHouse, demo by Milwaukee Blacksmith. Free admission. breesestevensfield.com.

mon may 1

Tuesday, May 2, Frequency, 8 pm

Close your eyes and imagine a crowded basement where Thin Lizzy, the Replacements and Green Day are all jamming together. Now open them — the band you just imagined is White Reaper. The precocious Louisville-based punks just put out The World’s Best American Band, their second LP, a beer-soaked blitzkrieg that will undoubtedly serve as the soundtrack to your next party. See you in the pit. With No Parents, Clean Room.

Capital Brewery, Middleton: Mannish Boys, 6 pm.

MU SI C Frequency: Sweet Delta Dawn, Flowpoetry, Gary David & the Enthusiasts, Shruggers, Anima, Jon Schinke, 9 pm.

Harmony Bar: Oak Street Ramblers, 7:30 pm.

Liliana’s: Sun Prairie High School Jazz, free, 6 pm.

ZAKIR HUSSAIN

White Reaper

Malt House: Cajun Strangers, free, 7:30 pm.

Ohio Tavern: Bill Roberts Combo, free, 7 pm.

Verona Library: Madison Flute Choir, 7 pm.

TODAY!

with Rahul Sharma Apr. 27, 2017

LEA SALONGA Apr. 30, 2017

S PECI AL E V ENTS

Malt House: Grandpa’s Elixir, free, 7:30 pm.

Willy Street Pub/The Wisco: Boss’ Daughter, Winning Ugly, Bashford, punk, 7 pm.

P OL IT I C S & AC T I V I S M May Day in Madison: Annual Immigrant Workers Union rally, gather 11 am, 5/1, Brittingham Park, for march to Capitol. 345-9544.

tue may 2 Lewis Del Mar Tuesday, May 2, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm The last time Rockaway Beach, N.Y., experimental folk-pop duo Lewis Del Mar played in Madison was as the headline act of a crowded Live on King Street on July 15. They return to Madison behind their self-titled LP, released in October. With Anna Wise.

Tuesday, May 2, Overture Hall, 7:30 pm One of the Food Network’s biggest stars is coming to Madison: Alton Brown, the mad scientist who hosted the wildly popular Good Eats series for 13 years. Eat Your Science is a multimedia experience that includes comedy, music, puppets (yes, puppets) and, of course, food. Brush up on your culinary skills — Brown likes to pull audience members up to help him with his concoctions.

➡

May 21, 2017

UNIONTHEATER.WISC.EDU 608.265.ARTS TM

The Anonymous Fund

Evjue Foundation

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

MU SI C

Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

37

PARTY FEATURING

for Purgolder Sports!

Congratulations On Your Wedding Engagement!

Madison’s favorite disco/funk group

You are cordially invited to discover how Monroe Street merchants can help you prepare for happily ever after!

What: Monroe Street Wedding Showcase When: Tuesday, May 2 6:00-8:00 pm Where: Orange Tree Imports

FRI. MAY 5 7PM - 11:3OPM

Join Your Friends and neighbors in supporting Purgolder athletics Coaches recognition prior to VO5

Hosted by Orange Tree Imports, HotelRED, Bloom Bake Shop, Art Gecko, Brocach, Karner Blue Candles

Prize Drawings • Food Samplings RSVPs Appreciated 608.255.8211 poster_11x17_2016_vers2.pdf

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■ ISTHMUS PICKS : MAY 3 - 4

wed may 3

COM EDY

thu may 4

MU SI C

MUS I C

Brink Lounge: Gin Chocolate & Bottle Rockets, 6:30 pm.

Chief’s Tavern: Hoot’n Annie, free, 8:30 pm.

Frequency: Acid Mothers Temple, Babylon, Vanishing Kids, 7:30 pm..

Frequency: Scott H. Biram, Boo Bradley, Jack Grelle, 8:30 pm.

High Noon Saloon: Big Dill & the Boys, Mudroom, Glostik Willy, FlowPoetry, 8 pm.

High Noon Saloon: Lonesome Willie Jones & His Dime Store Posse, free (on the patio), 6 pm; Trout Steak Revival, The Brothers Comatose, 8 pm.

Malt House: The North Westerns, free, 7:30 pm.

Mickey’s Tavern: Mal-O-Dua, French swing, 5:30 pm.

Me and Julio, Fitchburg: Briana Patrice Trio, 6 pm.

Shitty Barn, Spring Green: Suitcase Junket, 7 pm.

UW Memorial Union-Play Circle: UW Black Music Ensemble, School of Music concert, free, 8:30 pm.

U.S. Bank Building-Capitol Square: Paul Dietrich Quintet, Jazz at Five benefit concert, 6 pm.

B OOKS / S POKEN WORD

FU NDRA I S ER S Save Our Lakes Community Breakfast: Clean Lakes Alliance event, 7 am, 5/3, Monona Terrace. $100.

RSVP: cleanlakesalliance.com. 255-1000.

Spring into Choice: Annual NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin fundraiser, 5-7 pm, 5/3, Old Sugar Distillery. $35 donation. RSVP: facebook.com/ events/1814638505443085. 287-0016.

tions about politics (perhaps) or Dr. Pepper commercials (probably). With Zach Martina, Anthony Siraguse. ALSO: Friday-Saturday, May 5-6, 8 & 10:30pm

A RT EXH I B I TS & EV EN TS

Who You Lookin’ At? Portraits

by Generation Potential Thursday, May 4, Overture Center’s Playhouse Gallery, 5-7 pm

James Adomian Thursday, May 4, Comedy Club on State, 8:30 pm

Kristen Radtke: Discussing “Imagine Wanting Only This” in conversation with Jamel Brinkely, 7 pm, 5/4, Central Library. 266-6300.

T HE AT E R & DANCE Edgewood College Student Directed One-Acts: Department of Theatre Arts, 7:30 pm on 5/4-5 and 2 & 7:30 pm, 5/6 Edgewood College-Ballweg Theatre. $12. 663-6710.

BARRYMORE

A well-known impressionist, Adomian’s Bernie Sanders hit a chord with mainstream audiences as he made appearances on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast, Comedy Central’s @Midnight, and toured the country as a duo act with fellow comedian Anthony Atamanuik, who played Donald Trump. Now Adomian shares his lighthearted observa-

THEATRE

FRI. FEB. 10 - 8:00PM

701A E. Washington Ave. 268-1122 www.high-noon.com

418 E WILSON STREET MADISON, WI 53703

SESSIONS

Design Studies Masters in Fine Arts Exhibition: 4/305/14, UW Nancy Nicholas Hall-Ruth Davis Design Gallery (reception 5:30-7:30 pm, 5/4). 262-8815.

2090 Atwood Ave. (608) 241-8864

FRI. MAY 12 - 8:00PM

Friday

Students in alternative high school programs from Madison and Sun Prairie switched from taking selfies to painting self-portraits for this partnership with Dane Arts Mural Arts. Their triumphs, struggles, personalities, perspectives and hopes for the future all come through in full color. On display through May 28.

thu apr

APRIL 28 Gerri DiMaggio @ 5:30

27

(Otis Redding Tribute)

Girls Are Go! 9PM

fri apr

Tickets: $40 advance, $45 d.o.s.

Gold Circle VIP: $75 advance (includes Early Entry & Preferred Seating, on sale by phone only)

FRI. MAY 19 - 7:30PM

28

THE

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sat apr

29

Whad’ya Know AT HIGH NOON SALOON NOON $10

30

u c e tt e cus d o DJ mar

mon may

TUes

Paul Dietrich Ensemble

1

The Barrymore Theatre presents

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The NEW BREED jazz jam

2

9-12am

NOMADWORLDPUB.COM

Free Hot Lunch! with special guest

5:30PM FREE

PUNDAMONIUM:

The Madison Pun Slam!

LEWIS DEL MAR Anna Wise

RANDY SABIEN

$30 advance, $35 dos / VIP: $40 advance, $45 dos, (incl. Early Entry & Preferred Seating)

Tickets on sale at Sugar Shack, Star Liquor, MadCity Music, B-Side, Frugal Muse, Strictly Discs, the Barrymore, online at barrymorelive.com or call & charge at (608) 241-8633.

wed may

3

$12 adv, $14 dos

Big Dill & The Boys Mudroom / Glostik Willy FlowPoetry 8PM $7 Summer Patio Series

thu may

4

18+

Lonesome Willie Jones & His Dime Store Posse 6-8pm FREE

Trout Steak Revival The Brothers Comatose 8pm

$15

18+

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

6-10PM

HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF CATHY’S THANK YOU PARTY Bereft / The Hussy Rockstar Gomeroke: Local Rocker Edition Pupy Costello & The New Hiram Kings / DJ Real Jaguar

SHOWCASE

8pm

LAKEFRONT BIKE

(Primus Tribute) 9:30pm $8

7pm $6

6:30-8:30PM

THURSDAY

Bon Squad

(AC/DC Tribute)

Saging the Seas of Cheese

Ron Gallo

10:30AM $3 SUG. DON.

Tickets: $25 advance VIP $85 (incl. Early Entry, Preferred Seating, Meet & Greet)

Rated R (Queens of the Stone Age Tribute)

9pm $16 ADV, $18 DOS 18+

sun FOUNDRY’S apr STUDENT

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$8

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MADISON MUSIC

sundays

Night

Don’t Mess With Cupid

39

n EMPHASIS

R E G I S T R AT I O N NOW OPE N 3 8 TH A N N U A L

S AT U R D AY J U LY 2 9

Reek Havoc helps combat pet smells in an envirofriendly way. Far left: freshly poured sea spray-scented soy candles.

Party poopers Local women cope with a farting dog and dream up a business

BY ERICA KRUG

JAM ES MADI SON TO

O L B R I C H PA R K F E ATU R I N G

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

F R I DAY N I G H T BOAT D RO P

40

S I G N U P N OW AT

PA D D L E A N D P O R TAG E .CO M

Sometimes ideas come out of thin air. And sometimes, as is the case with Madisonbased candle company Reek Havoc, they come out of stinky air.

Amy Lambright Murphy and Jill Schaefer, co-owners of Reek Havoc, were sharing a bottle of wine one night in 2012 at Lambright Murphy’s house when Otis, her yellow lab, started passing gas nearby. “Otis started gassing us out,” Lambright Murphy laughs.

They lit candles to cover the odor and then realized they had a good business concept on their hands.

The two women, who met in 2001 and have worked together for several art companies, hatched a business plan. The first candle they created was called Dog Fart Fixer, which remains their bestselling candle today. Normally, Schaefer says, “candles are spa-like, Zen and serious. We realized we could have some humor.”

Today Reek Havoc offers 10 to15 different kinds of candles, including Litter Box Relief, Dog Breath Buster, Pardon My Frenchie and Dysfunctional Family Fumigator. They’re all meant to help neutralize pet smells or clear the aura of your space. (For the record, there is nothing to prevent the petless from using them, too.)

The candles, which come in tins, are 100 percent natural soy wax sourced from the United States and contain no pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified materials.

Lambright Murphy, who has an art degree,

makes the candles at her home studio, and Schaefer designs the labels.

They had never made candles before Reek Havoc, and it took them about a year to come up with their formula. All are available in custom-made scents from pure essential oils. Scents alternate seasonally, but Schaefer says they always make an array of smells ranging from woodsy and spicy to citrusy, floral and herbal. Current scents include sea spray, lavandin lemongrass, rosemary peppermint and fresh-cut grass.

Candles burn for about 30 to 36 hours and retail for $15, with a portion of proceeds from all sales going to Underground Pet Rescue of Wisconsin, an all-breed companion animal rescue based in Dane County. It was important to both women to also give back to the community.

In the Madison area, Reek Havoc candles are available at Hatch Art House, Booth 121 and Nutzy Mutz & Crazy Catz (both east and west locations). Lambright Murphy and Schaefer also sell their candles at craft and pet shows, including the Bodega at Breese Stevens Field, the monthly pop-up market that kicks off on Sunday, April 30.

Reek Havoc candles are also available online through an Etsy shop. But Lambright Murphy and Schaefer say they love doing shows and meeting customers in person — they invariably end up sharing stories about their pets. “Our booth always turns into a big party,” says Lambright Murphy. n

REEK HAVOC n Reekhavoc.com n etsy.com/shop/ReekHavocLLC

n CLASSIFIEDS

Housing Rural Acreage: Spectacular, beautiful, 40 acre parcel near Mt. Horeb, 1⁄2 woods—1⁄2 open land. Very quiet and private. Build your dream home, or excellent for hunting, greenhouses, investment, etc. The possibilities are endless! First Weber Realty. Contact Donald Sands at 608-767-2868. MLS #1798716

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All real estate advertised is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking; or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Isthmus will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are on an equal opportunity basis.

Jobs

We’re Hiring! SPRING JOB FAIR Friday, 4/28 5-8 pm Saturday, 4/29 11 am-2 pm Accepting applications for all positions in our community: nursing, CNA, RCA, professional, security, maintenance, housekeeping, dining.

Many available NOW! Apply and interview onthe-spot. Coventry Village Retirement Community, 7707 N. Brookline Dr, Madison west. coventryvillagewi.com

Henry Vilas Zoo is hiring seasonal staff for our food service, gift shop and carousel. Located near downtown Madison. Positions starting May 1st.

Please go to www.vilaszoo.org/employment or stop at the zoo for an application.

Volunteer with UNITED WAY Volunteer Center Call 246-4380 or visit volunteeryourtime.org to learn about opportunities Spring Gardening Day at Blair Street Gardens. Help with spring gardening chores such as raking, pruning, etc. on April 29 from 9amnoon. We have tools and gardening gloves.

Please bring your own drinking water.

Do you know your way around Adobe InDesign and want to volunteer from the comfort of your own couch? Reach Dane (formerly Dane County Parent Council) needs a little help creating brochures and a template for the annual report.

United Way 2-1-1 is seeking new volunteers to staff our telephone lines, answering questions about resources available in the service area. If you are looking for an opportunity to learn more about community resources and would like to assist people in finding ways to get and give help, United Way 2-1-1 may be the place for you!

Services & Sales PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards.

Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 877-362-2401 CHECK OUT THE FOUNDRY FOR MUSIC LESSONS & REHEARSAL STUDIOS & THE BLAST HOUSE STUDIO FOR RECORDING! 608-270-2660 www.madisonmusicfoundry.com

SOFTBALL TEAMS FORMING NOW! 12 week season, looking to start mid-May. Wednesday & Thursday nights. 6 & 7pm games. $400 covers all sponsor fees and player fees for the entire team! Contact: WILLOWS TAVERN (608) 244-8458 5485 Willow Road Waunakee, WI 53597

Health & Wellness Swedish Massage For Men, providing immediate Stress, Tension and Pain Relief.

Seven days a week by appt.—same day appointments available. Contact Steve, CMT at: ph/text 608.277.9789 or acupleasur@aol.com. Gift certificates available for any reason or season @ ABC Massage Studio!

MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY. Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment. Get help!

It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855-732-4139 (AAN CAN) Awesome Massage from the heart, gift certificates available; Hypnotherapy: Quit Smoking! Lose Weight!

Remove Anxiety, Etc Ken-Adi Ring 608-444-3039 www.Wellife.org

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WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE? Call 608-251-5627 to place an ad. isthmus.com/classifieds

ISTHMUS.COM/PROMOTIONS

WILLIAM isthmus liveELLIOTT sessions Local & National Artists Perform in the Isthmus Office WHITMORE

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

Happenings GIGANTIC USED BOOK SALE: Friends of Alicia Ashman Library, 733 North High Point Road, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, May 4-6.

Pre-sale for Friends only, Thursday 5-8 pm (may join same evening).

Public Sale Friday 9:30-7:00 and Saturday 9:30-3:00.

BODEANS ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

$5 bag sale Saturday 1-3 pm.

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

Watch previous Isthmus Live Sessions by Rhett Miller, Dessa, Joe Pug and others at: isthmus.com/ils

Adult and children’s books, videos, CDs, more.

Al. Ringling Theatre, Baraboo WI, Saturday, May 6 at 7:30pm ART Live Performance Series Presents the Dylan Doyle Band! Roots, Rock and Jazz! alringling.org AIRLINE CAREERS begin here – Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN CAN)

Jackie Green

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

Caroline

APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

There’s never been a better time to reach out to those in need. We’re seeking quality people who wish to make a difference by providing companionship and in-home help to the elderly. Flexible P/T day, evening and weekend shifts. No certification required.

Home Instead Senior Care: (608) 663-2646.

LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED! Be your own boss. Flexible hours. Unlimited earning potential. Must be 21 with valid U.S. driver’s license, insurance & reliable vehicle. 866-329-2672 (AAN CAN)

41

WELCOMES

MARC MARON

ORPHEUM 4.28

JONESIN’ “Mic Drop” — [silence!]

9 10 11 12 13 19 21 23

THE JAYHAWKS MAJESTIC 4.28

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ACROSS

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ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017

AIMEE MANN

42

THE BEACH BOYS

OVERTURE HALL 4.30

BOSTON

BARRYMORE 5.2

BREESE STEVENS 5.26

CLOUD CULT

ROBERT EARL KEEN

MAJESTIC 6.2

BARRYMORE 6.13

WIN TICKETS @ ISTHMUS.COM/PROMOTIONS

1 Alarm clock button 6 Last name of a trio of singing brothers 11 1040 preparer 14 “It is ___ told by an idiot”: Macbeth 15 Dizzying images 16 Set your sights 17 Bialik of “The Big Bang Theory” 18 Highly important cloak?

20 Goes on 22 Lightning McQueen’s pal 23 ___ kwon do 25 “To ___ is human ...”

26 Freezer bag brand 27 Draw 29 Novelist Turgenev 31 180° from WSW 32 Salad dressing with a light, woody taste?

P.S. MUELLER

35 Singles, in Spain 36 Shirt that’s seen better days 37 “My Way” lyricist Paul 41 Business course that draws heavily on Julius Caesar?

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55 “That was ___-death experience” 56 Having sides of different lengths, as triangles go 59 Rip on one type of lettuce?

61 Samurai without a master

64 Chaney of “The Wolf Man” 65 “That ain’t gonna work” 66 “Einstein on the Beach,” for one 67 ___-Caps (theater candy) 68 Representative Devin in 2017 news 69 Fix a friend’s listing in a Facebook photo, e.g.

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Hit with force Flight stat Greet someone “Death of a Salesman” director Kazan Paint in a kindergarten classroom Ledger role, with “The” Unwrap Bill-killing votes

Biceps site Durability Stampede members Load up with Punish by fine Crash for a few Beforehand, for short “Forbidden” fragrance brand name 24 “QI” regular Davies 26 Unpredictable move 28 “Back in the ___” (Beatles song) 29 Foolheaded 30 “Luka” singer Suzanne 33 Neighbor of Azerbaijan 34 Skatepark fixture 38 Sensory system for some primitive invertebrates 39 Have down pat 40 Dirt bikes’ relatives, briefly 42 First American college to go co-ed 43 Farmer Yasgur of Woodstock 44 Country singer Vince 45 Akihito, e.g.

46 Makes use (of) 47 Thomas of “Reno 911!”

48 Largest inland city in California 52 Either T in “Aristotle” 53 Sail poles 56 Read a QR code, e.g.

57 Road work marker 58 “That ain’t gonna work” 60 Ft. Worth campus 62 Glass on NPR 63 Badger repeatedly LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

n SAVAGE LOVE

Restless

BY DAN SAVAGE

I’m a 31-year-old gay male. I’ve been with my fiancé for three years, and we are getting married in the fall. I’ve got a question about initiating sex in my sleep — I read somewhere that “sexsomnia” is the “medical” term, but maybe the internet invented that? According to my fiancé, I have initiated or performed some kind of sex act in the middle of the night and then gone right back to sleep. The next day, I don’t remember anything. This freaks me out for a couple of reasons: My body doing things without my mind being in control is concerning enough, but it feels kinda rapey, since I doubt I’m capable of hearing “no” in this state. My fiancé doesn’t feel that way; he finds it sexy. The other thing — and maybe I shouldn’t have read so much Freud and Jung in college — is that I’m worried my body is acting out desires that my conscious mind doesn’t want to acknowledge. According to my fiancé, the last time I did stuff in my sleep, I rimmed him and told him how much I wanted to fuck him.

Rimming isn’t a typical part of our sex life (although I’d like it to be), and my fiancé has never bottomed for anyone (I’ve topped guys in prior relationships, but in our relationship I’ve only bottomed). Is my body doing things that my mind won’t admit it wants to do? Is there a way to prevent it from happening?

Sexsomniac Hoping Eventually Eager Trysts Stop

JOE NEWTON

to acknowledge.” (Unless you wrote me in your sleep.) Like all sleep disorders, sexsomnia is just something that happens to a very small number of people, SHEETS; there’s no need to endow it with deeper meaning. Take it away, Dr. Bornemann....

“The brain is made of approximately 100 billion neurons, or electrical connections that allow effective communication between brain subunits. As with all electrical systems, errors in transmission may occur — these are called ‘switching errors.’ In sleep, switching errors may activate previously quiescent areas of the brain while other areas remain off-line.

In sleep-related behaviors, it is thought that deep-seated subunits near the sleep-wake generating center become triggered, which activate primal automatic behaviors. Simply stated, electrical switching errors in sleep may unleash the animal that actually lies within us all — sometimes to an extent that may have unintended criminal or forensics implications.”

In most cases, sexsomniacs will hump a pillow or jerk themselves off. The sexsomniacs who tend to make the news — the ones we hear about — are the “unintended criminals” Dr. Bornemann alluded to, i.e., people who’ve sexually assaulted someone while asleep. Luckily for you, SHEETS, your fiancé is okay with your “primal automatic behaviors.”

But you might wanna watch Sleepwalk with Me, an autobiographical film by Mike Birbiglia, a comedian with a sleep disorder.

Birbiglia wasn’t initiating sex in his sleep — he was jumping out of windows. A danger to himself and others, he sought treatment and is no longer jumping out of windows in his sleep. You’re not a danger to yourself or others currently, SHEETS, but if you got a new partner or your current partner’s feelings about surprise, middle-of-the-night rimjobs were to change, you could be a danger. So you should chat with a doctor now about drugs and/or other interventions.

“My catch-all advice is to read this book called The Promise of Sleep by Dr. William C. Dement,” said Birbiglia in an email after I shared your letter with him. “He’s sort of the father of sleep medicine. He talks about sleep hygiene extensively, i.e., how to have the best night’s sleep possible by avoiding TV, eating heavily, drinking, etc., a few hours before bed. I know this isn’t exactly an answer to SHEETS’s specific question, but getting a better night’s sleep could probably help him across the board in ways that he doesn’t even realize.” n For more of Savage Love see Isthmus.com.

Email Dan at mail@savagelove.net or reach him on Twitter at @fakedansavage.

Dinner shouldn’t be one of them.

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APRIL 27–MAY 3, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

Sexsomnia is a real and sometimes troubling phenomenon, SHEETS, and not something the internet made up like Pizzagate or Sean Spicer. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says sexsomnia is real — a real clinical condition — but they prefer the fancier, more “medical”-sounding name: sleep related abnormal sexual behaviors. Dr. Michel Cramer Bornemann, a lead researcher at Sleep Forensics Associates (sleepforensicmedicine.org), describes sexsomnia as “sleepwalking-like behaviors that have sexualized attributes.” And sleep-rimming your delighted fiancé definitely counts.

“Sexsomnia may be expressed as loud, obscene vocalizations from sleep (that are typically uncharacteristic of the individual while awake), prolonged or violent masturbation, inappropriate touch upon the genitals, buttocks and breast of a bed partner, and initiation of sexual intercourse,” said Dr. Bornemann. “The vast majority of sleep disorders are not reflective of a significant underlying psychiatric condition.”

So your unconscious, late-night gropings/initiatings/rimmings don’t mean you secretly desire to be an ass-eating top. And there’s no need to drag poor Sigmund or Carl into this, SHEETS, since you’re not doing anything in your sleep that you don’t desire to do wide awake. You wanna rim your fiancé, you’ve topped other guys and would probably like to top this one too — so neither of the examples you cite qualify as desires your “conscious mind doesn’t want

Life is full of hard choices.

43

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