Scene Newspaper - 2015 Mile of Music - Special Edition by Scene Newspaper

SCENE MILE OF MUSIC EDITION | WWW.SCENENEWSPAPER.COM | JULY 2015

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Photos by Graham Washatka/ Graham Images & Photography*

L2 | SceneNewspaper.com | Mile of Music | July 2015

MILE OF MUSIC // 2015 ANNUAL MILE OF MUSIC

2015 Annual Mile of Music The 2015 Annual Mile of Music features over 800 free performances August 5-9. On the mile of road that runs through downtown Appleton local and out of state performers both local and out of state serenade passerby. And almost all of it is free! This year’s schedule is to the right, a more detailed breakdown will be available as the festival approaches.

DATES Wednesday, August 5 “First Songs” Kickoff Concert for Music-Maker purchasers, sponsors and select festival supporters

Friday-Saturday, August 7-8 Two jam-packed days of shows and workshops at over 60 venues

Thursday, August 6 First day of the Festival “Songwriter Salute” Mile of Music All-Star Jam for MusicMaker purchasers, sponsors and select festival supporters

Sunday, August 9 Last day of the Festival (lighter schedule) “Song Before We Go” (priority access* for Music-Makers)

ARTISTS The Milk Carton Kids Andrew Combs Roadkill Ghost Choir Luke Bell Steelism The Soil And The Sun Mount Carmel Ruby The Rabbitfoot Frank Fairfield The Suitcase Junket Andrew Bryant Har Di Har Motherfolk Blank Range Caleb Caudle Me Like Bees Tim Barry Alanna Royale Kacy & Clayton Caleb Hawley Nineteen Thirteen The Ditchrunners Sunblind Lion Modern Mod Whips Cory Chisel Adriel Denae Desert Noises Charlie Parr J.E. Sunde Fort Frances Boom Forest Swear And Shake Cedarwell Los Colognes Cereus Bright North By North Wild Adriatic Patrick Sweany The Noble Thiefs Bruiser Queen Pop Goes The Evil Ruben Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes

The Traveling Suitcase Jordin Baas Dead Horses Hayward Williams Faux Fawn Stone Cold Fox T. Hardy Morris & The Hardknocks The Janks Wild Skies Simon Balto Oh My Love Water Liars Hello Death Brother O’ Brother We Are The Willows Jamie Kent Danny Kroha Channing & Quinn Vic & Gab The Crane Wives Derek Hoke Jamie Lono & Noble Heart Santah Corey Hart O’conqueror Veseria Mutts Nick Vandenberg Adrian Krygowski Matthew Szlachetka Son Little Lily & Madeline Coup D’e Tat Hero Jr The Diamond Light The Ghost Wolves John Statz Jess Reimer No/No The Sharrows Trapper Schoepp Ggoolldd Earl Burrows The Family Business

Wilfret & Miss Auralai Kyle Megna & The Monsoons Jaik Willis Hugh Bob & The Hustle The Mascot Theory Anna Vogelzang Tall Walker Colee James The Kickback Paul Hanna Hillary Reynolds Band Raquel Rodriguez Jackson Mankowski Genevieve Heyward Oedipus Tex The Appalachians The Middle Ground The Listening Party Wooldridge Brothers Eagle Trace Cygne Ben Vanden Boogaard Jack Tell Bright Kind Porky’s Groove Machine Seasaw Twin Brother Semi-Twang Bron Sage Walt Hamburger Ricky Ganiere Matthew Davies Dan Rodriguez Tony Anders And The Radiolites Sean Raasch Brett Newski Nora Collins Nicole Rae Ryan Hommel Maggie Thorn Sam Luna Brian Wright

Jay Matthes Teddy Davenport Body Futures The Electra Color Tarl Knight Emily Frost Greatest Lakes Jamie Lynn Fletcher Naomi Marie Megan Slankard

Jeff Campbell Ryan M. Brewer Paul Dietrich Lauryn Peacock Camille Rae Weathered Souls Clemency Kurt Gunn Greg Mcmonagle Aaron Baer

Bascom Hill Art’s Fishing Club Freddie Haas & Tate Simpson Kate Tucker Brandon Bebee Stephanie Erin Brill Cool Waters Band Adria Ramos The Lately Susan Howe

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MILE OF MUSIC // BOOM FOREST

Boom Forest: Ethereal Wailings

Many talented bands are part of Mile of Music 2015, the most anticipated music festival to take place in the Fox Valley this year. Some reach down and grab hold of your heart with a fury strong enough to make an indelible impression. Such is the case with repeat offender, Boom Forest. Originally from Baraboo, Wisconsin, Boom Forest describes its eclectic sound as a “mix of the Beach Boys and Depeche Mode,” but it takes standing in the middle of a crowded room listening to their soulful voices to understand what that entails. Lead vocalist John Paul Roney started writing for Boom Forest about five years ago when he did a year long experiment where he only gave himself access to tools Paul McCartney had in the 60s. “The music that was coming out was a lot different than my past projects so I decided to start something new with it,” says Roney who is joined by bandmates Andrew Fraser, Aaron Simmons, Chris Payne and Matt Scibilia. From this unique creative experience comes amazing melodies filled with beautifully emotional lyrics that pull you to a different world. Roney’s hypnotic voice tells stories of joy and woe, accompanied by melancholy instrumentation. The lament of the cello mingles seamlessly with the voices

L4 | SceneNewspaper.com | Mile of Music | July 2015

MILE OF MUSIC // BOOM FOREST

of his counterparts in a cappella, taking the listener along to astounding depths. The first song from Boom Forest’s self-titled debut album, named “Wooden Heart”, is a soft harmony that sets the tone for the collective compositions. Roney explains that “anything that moves me in a certain way goes into consideration when I’m making new music […] I’d say there’s a heavy dose of the Sufjan Stevens, Father John Misty, Bon Iver, Cat Stevens and Joni Mitchell in what we’re doing.” Another cut from the album, titled “Baby Teeth” has a combination of warlike drums, beautiful strings and voices, mixed with history and the experiences of a boy. The accompanying video is both compelling and visually creative, an artful compilation that fills the stage to sublime perfection. An example of Boom Forest’s musical accomplishment is the track “No Lion,” a full a cappella ballad that harmonizes flawlessly and speaks of the tale of unrequited love. The story reveals a protagonist who ultimately becomes stronger as a result of experiences faced. It’s inspiring, deeply

NFL Ticket

moving, and intimately relatable to anyone who’s ever been in such a predicament. As to what is in store for this collective of talent? Boom Forest has a new record titled “Post Knight Errant” with an expected release date in September 2015. They are also collaborating with Redbull’s Sound Select program, and they have shows coming up through festivals and other performances that they are very excited about. A tour is said to be on the horizon, which includes Wisconsin bookings. You can find out more about Boom Forest via their many social network links. Facebook.com/theboomforest, on Instagram @boomforestmusic and twitter @ boomforest. Also, check out their website www.boomforest.com. For Mile 3, make sure you don’t miss their performance and what they describe in their bio as “the spiritual wailings of John Paul Roney from the automated woods of Tomorrow.” If you are looking for a musical journey, take the road that leads to the Boom Forest stage.

MLB Ticket

Friday Fish Fry 11am - 2pm & 4pm - 9pm Serving Lunch Daily July 2015 | Mile of Music | SceneNewspaper.com | L5

MILE OF MUSIC // DEAD HORSES

Dead Horses Return As Trio Stronger Than Ever BY GEORGE HALAS In going to the ends of the earth to find the best music, The Mile of Music Festival has not overlooked the Fox Cities. One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be the appearance of Oshkoshbased Dead Horses, a young acoustic band with a cultivated folk sensibility well beyond their years whose sound is equally beautiful and effortless. The music is superb, combining elements of bluegrass and other genres that produce a pleasing sound that also stimulates the senses and the imagination. The troupe crafts powerful coming of age narratives sung by the alluring golden-haired songstress and founder Sarah Vos. “Space and Time,” the band’s latest release, showcases instrumental virtuosity, masterful songwriting, and heartfelt soul...an overwhelmingly impressive album. Vos, whose musical influence reads like most early-American folk musicians, was raised by a preacher father and spent a good part of her childhood singing bible hymns. Her gospel, living free and unapologetically, is supported with conviction by Peter Raboin on acoustic guitar and Daniel Wolff on double bass. Following the release of ‘Space and Time’ in 2014, Dead Horses have been touring tirelessly across the Midwest to glowing review, including shows with Brooklyn folksters Swear & Shake, Wisconsin troubadour Cory Chisel and Minneapolis newgrassers Pert Near Sandstone. With the release of “Space and Time” last October, Dead Horses commanded the ears and full attention of roots music fans across the Midwest. From newspaper covers and heavy radio airplay, to headlining gigs, it seemed like the band of twentysomethings from Oshkosh had finally

broken through that invisible but stifling label of “local band.” But, with an untimely line-up change, just nine months after their first break, Dead Horses may need to prove themselves all over again. It seems the trio fronted by the golden-haired Vos, anticipated the challenge. Be it determination or spite,

their acoustic folk sensibilities have more recently intensified into a sound that has more grit, something beautifully raw, and unabashedly more authentic about it. The coming-of-age narratives feel lived-in, and all of the members play with a new vigor that excites, and breaks guitar strings, three

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to be exact, at their recent Blue Ox Music Festival gig. For the already initiated, don’t fret, the immediate appeal of Dead Horses remains Vos’ biting, sultry vocals and neatly-crafted songs, supported with conviction by the fastest pickers in town: Peter Raboin on

lead acoustic guitar and Daniel Wolff on double bass. It’s just as poignantly beautiful as you remember. Or maybe you don’t, because it has been nine months since Dead Horses have last performed in The Fox Cities, but for good reason...with tours out to the Rocky Mountains and back, and a busy festival schedule, the up-and-comers have had their work cut out for them. So do yourself a favor, and catch Dead Horses when the opportunity presents itself. Consult the schedules in SCENE, but look for Dead Horses to play one of the Friday afternoon “big gigs” on the Houdini Plaza Main Stage and one other appearance at Mile of Music.

MILE OF MUSIC // DEAD HORSES

Mile of Music Pick: Dead Horses

Local folksters return as trio, and stronger than ever BY GEORGE HALAS

recently intensified into a sound that has more grit, something beautifully raw, and unabashedly more authentic about it. The coming-of-age narratives feel lived-in, and all of the members play with a new vigor

With the release of their sophomore album “Space and Time” last October, Dead Horses commanded the ears and full attention of roots music fans across the Midwest. From newspaper covers and heavy radio airplay, to headlining gigs, it seemed like the band of twenty-somethings from Oshkosh had finally broken through that invisible but stifling label of “local band.” But with an untimely line-up change, just nine months after their first break, will Dead Horses need to prove themselves all over again to claim their reign? It seems the trio fronted by the goldenhaired songstress, Sarah Vos, anticipated the challenge. Be it determination or spite, their acoustic folk sensibilities have more

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Vos’ biting, sultry vocals and neatly-crafted songs, supported with conviction by the fastest pickers in town: Peter Raboin on lead acoustic guitar and Daniel Wolff on double bass. It’s just as poignantly beautiful as you remember. Or maybe you don’t, because it has been nine months since Dead Horses have last performed in Appleton. But for good reason--with tours out to the Rocky Mountains and back, and a busy festival schedule, the up-and-comers have had their work cut out for them. So do yourself a favor, and catch Dead Horses when the opportunity presents itself. Dead Horses will be playing Friday afternoon in Houdini Plaza Main Stage and Saturday … (TBA, will confirm all of this soon)

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that excites, and…breaks…guitar strings-three to be exact, at their recent Blue Ox Music Festival gig. For the already initiated, don’t fret, the immediate appeal of Dead Horses remains

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July 2015 | Mile of Music | SceneNewspaper.com | L7

MILE OF MUSIC // AUSTIN LUCAS

AUSTIN LUCAS:

A Man, His Guitar, & His Dog BY JEAN DETJEN Recently told by another Austin Lucas that he was a “disgrace to the name” for some unknown reason, Country/Folk singer-songwriter Austin Lucas isn’t quite sure if he’s been mixed up with a different Austin Lucas. Perhaps confused with the Christian woman preacher, the baseball player, the gay porn star or maybe the white supremacist? It’s a mystery, but it doesn’t matter. Musician Austin Lucas doesn’t feel a need to be appreciated by the masses. In fact, he thinks it’s a good thing that what he brings to the stage isn’t for everyone. Lucas is true to his expressive art that is more calling than career. “Y’all, I’ve made it... Finally!!!” he responded after being inexplicably scorned by an Instagram troll. “Apparently a photo of me and my friends hanging out with my dog Sally offended someone. I just blocked him. Ha!” The following scene from Wayne’s World is brought up as a grounding reference: Garth Algar: Uh, Wayne? Wayne Campbell: Yeah? Garth: Do you ever get the feeling Benjamin’s not one of us? Wayne: Good call. It’s like he wants us to be liked by everyone. I mean, Led Zeppelin didn’t write tunes everybody liked. They left that to the Bee Gees. Words to the wise: You don’t want to mess with Lucas’s dog Sally. Cherished friend, traveling companion, workmate, stagehand, ambassador, performer, crowd tamer and more… where Lucas goes, Sally goes. Fortunately for Mile of Music (MoM) 2015 attendees, both Lucas and Sally will be road-tripping to Appleton, Wisconsin this August for several shows during the festival. “I’ve always been a dog person. I lost my previous dog when I split up with my wife. I was completely gutted after losing that animal. I cried into the neck of that dog for three hours after the breakup. After

that I got Sally and I’ve had her with me now for three years. She’s a rescue with separation anxiety related behavioral issues. I knew when adopting her that I was going to bring her with me on tour. She’s gotta have a companion all the time, and that companion is me.” Lucas can’t help but chide himself a bit, however, for what he guesses others might view as a big of a “dog and pony show.” Realizing to some extent his furry sidekick scenario must seem “gimmicky,” he unashamedly surrenders to what he feels is the most easy, natural thing in the world. “If I saw me I’d think it’s the hokiest thing ever but I literally HAD to do it,” he says with resolve. “Sally comes in and sits on stage when I’m performing, howls along with me, works the crowd a bit, and often is just happy to sit in my guitar case while I sing and play. She sees this as her work. We ease each other’s anxiety when we’re together and it’s good for both of us. Fans love her, too; I get asked about her all the time. They get upset if they don’t see her with me.” For Sally, this August will be her orientation to new sniffing grounds in the heart of the Fox Cities. Lucas himself has “a long history with Appleton,” the first time back in 1995 with pop-punk bank The Quickies where they performed at places like the Knights of Columbus and a makeshift space at the United Auto Workers building. The Appleton summon came via the urging of a local fan who heard about him from Maximum Rock’n’Roll (MRR) Magazine, a publication that has covered the international DIY punk, hardcore and garage rock scene since 1982. MMR had created a resource guide to the global punk scene called “Book Your Own F-ing Life” and a connection was thus forged. Lucas returned again to Appleton in 2006 to spend time with friends after a gig in Milwaukee. Recollections of gorging on jalapeño poppers and fried bananas foster scored from his buddy’s workplace remain embedded in his mind.

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A more recent connection involves original music aficionado Scott Christensen who volunteers with MoM’s Artist Recruitment Team. Christensen enthusiastically recommended Lucas for this

year’s festival lineup. “He’s such a cool guy and great musician. I started listening to him first because of getting into other bands/musicians who were on his label or did 7” splits with him. For example, Frank Turner and Chuck Ragan have both been on 7” splits with him. Before getting into the folk/country/bluegrass genres, I was into more punk rock. Many musicians like Tim Barry, Chuck Ragan and Austin all helped me slide more to that Americana/ folk genre. All three (Tim, Chuck and Austin) were also big into punk rock. Seeing them move the direction they moved musically helped me shift also as an enormous music fan. Good musicians transcend their genres. They can turn heads whether they have a loud backing band or it is just them and an acoustic guitar. Austin Lucas is a guy that can do just that. I am super excited to see Appleton welcome Austin because I know they will appreciate what he has to offer.”

MoM talent coordinator Kurt Kempen was introduced to Lucas’s music by Christensen. “Our committee was sending me links on bands they had seen live that they knew would blow people away. Twenty seconds into the first song I couldn’t wait to hear the next one. The more I looked into him the more it was obvious that he not only would blow people away, but deserves to be seen.” Perhaps it’s Lucas’s “open nerve” vulnerability and raw authenticity that draw people in. “I write because I can’t function if I don’t. I almost always have a guitar nearby and I try to write and practice an average of about 2-8 hours per day when I’m home. I don’t want to get lazy. Writing allows me to be happy, to work through my emotions. I need to have that creative outlet. A person doesn’t have to live life with a big load of depression and anxiety. Music allows me to whittle away at it. I’m not an actor. What I share on stage is real. This is my path to redemption.” Booked fully with a robust touring schedule, Lucas doesn’t need to win any popularity contests. He already has fans in Appleton, and he’s sure to garner many more this August. May all who are fortunate enough to see him perform find of little bit of their own cathartic redemption. ********************* BIO: Raised in the backwoods of Monroe County, Indiana, Austin Lucas

MILE OF MUSIC // AUSTIN LUCAS

was born into a folk and bluegrass lineage. Learning to harmonize before learning to read, Lucas honed his vocal control early as a member of the nationally-acclaimed Indiana University Children’s Choir. Taking his music in the direction the Americana Roots and traditional country genre. Singing with the conviction of a preacher bereft of his faith, Lucas tackles recurrent themes of the soul, sin as personal purgatory, and the possibility of finding redemption in this life. Following his solo debut, The Common Cold (2006), Lucas has steadily built upon his recorded output, releasing Putting The Hammer Down (2007), the Bristle Ridge (2008) collaboration with Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, and Somebody Loves You (2009), which debuted at #7 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart, A New Home In The Old World (2011) and after signing with New West Records, Stay Reckless(2013). Lucas has consistently evolved and grown as a musician and songwriter, resting on no laurels and developing the songs’ framework further with each successive album. Having raised his profile on the road

touring with Willie Nelson and Jamey Johnson on the Country Throwdown tour, SXSW and MNFW. He has also extensively toured with Dawes, Langhorne Slim, William Elliot Whitmore, Joe Pug, Scott H. Biram, Cory Branan, John Moreland and Drag The River. Lucas has also bolstered his loyal grassroots following with appearances at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Canada’s Sled Island Festival, Florida’s Harvest of Hope. Folk music is for the common folk, and Lucas delivers, often ending his shows playing on the floor amidst the crowd. Lucas has also toured extensively throughout Australia and Europe building his fan base with each passing show and new audience. Lucas is currently on a west coast tour and then later in 2015 he will be back in Europe. Watch Austin perform “Alone In Memphis” https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=yxXHwOgmc4Q AUSTIN LUCAS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES: www.austinlucasmusic.com www.facebook.com/austinlucasmusic twitter.com/austinlucasind

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July 2015 | Mile of Music | SceneNewspaper.com | L9

MILE OF MUSIC // SUNBLIND LION

Iconoclastic Sunblind Lion still Rocks! BY MICHAEL CASPER In late 1967, five high school lads from Plymouth and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, came together to form a group known as the Love Society. The members included Dave Steffen, guitar; Keith Abler, vocals; Steve Gilles, bass; Mike Holdridge, keyboards; and Mike Dellger, drums. “To back up a bit,” Mike Dellger said “Dave and I were in our first band together in 1966, a band called the Mystics, out of Plymouth, Wisconsin. Everyone around here said ‘you gotta hear Dave Steffen!’ He was all the rage at the time. I mean, he was 14 (laugh)! It was after that when we formed the ‘Love Society.’” They won a ‘Battle of the Bands” in Sheboygan in January of 1968. “Alan Posniak, who wrote a weekly feature on Wisconsin bands in the Milwaukee Journal Green Sheet called ‘Badger Beat,’” Mike said “he came to interview the band for an upcoming article. He’d heard that we were working on a rendition of Bobby Freeman’s ‘Do You Wanna Dance?’ We performed it for him. He told us that he would like us to record the song at his studio, Target Records in Appleton, a couple weeks hence, we released the song on Posniak’s label, Tee-Pee records, to surprising (for us) acclaim. It took off, and we thought ‘wow, this is great.’ In fact, we were #1 on WDUZ in Green Bay. And we thought ‘this is so easy.’ I think at the time I was 18, and the oldest in the group, and we were just (laugh) naïve.” They started to tour. “We played all over,” Mike said “Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois primarily, and we signed with Scepter Records that summer. We did renditions of songs, following up ‘Dance’ with a cover of ‘Tobacco Road,’ the J.D. Loudermilk song, done by the Nashville Teens years earlier.” The band was signed to RCA records in 1969, recording a version of the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry, Baby.” The producer was Ted Daryl, who wrote “She Cried,” which Jay and the Americans performed, as did the Letterman. They next recorded an LP at RCA studios in Chicago. Although

the LP was never released, one song, “Bang on Your Own Drum,” was released as a single. “In 1970 Love Society was signed to Mercury records,” Mike said “and recorded a version of Paul Simon’s ‘America.’ In all but one case, all of the ‘B-sides’ of the aforementioned tunes were written by Dave Steffen and myself. Back then, we were starting to be known for our vocal harmony.” The Love Society continued through the early 70’s but with a slightly different personnel lineup. Keith’s brother Duane joined the group on keyboards, replacing Mike Holdridge, and Dave Hassinger took over on drums for Mike. Eventually Steve Olschesky would replace Steve Gilles on bass, and this formed the nucleus that would eventually become Sunblind Lion. “I went to college,” Mike said “to UWOshkosh, all the while keeping in touch with the band.” Following graduation from UW-O in 1974, Dellger returned to working with SBL, but only in a lyrical capacity. Dave, Keith, and Mike Holdridge had been the primary songwriters all along, so Dellger’s coming in to write with them worked seamlessly. By September 1975, Keith and Dellger had written a number of songs together. Some of these songs had a “lighter” rock feel to them, not really the style of Sunblind Lion. While they believed that the songs had merit, they also knew that SBL would probably not record them. “These were songs the band didn’t want to play,” Mike said. Not wishing to cause dissension among the musicians, Keith recruited Larry Baldock to play bass and Dellger to drum. They traveled to Sound 80 studios in Minneapolis and recorded twelve songs, an album which came to be known as Pilgrim. “Sound 80 was a neat studio,” Mike

L10 | SceneNewspaper.com | Mile of Music | July 2015

said “Scottie Rivard was our engineer, who to this day is the engineer for Prairie Home Companion. In fact, just a few weeks before we were there (back in the day), Bob Dylan had been there recording cuts for his ‘Blood on the Tracks’ album.” Returning with a 12-song album, made the rest of the band sit up and take notice. “Once the rest of the guys saw we had gone up there,” Mike said “that freaked them out, and they said, ‘we got to go record,’ so they did, and two months later Sunblind Lion recorded the ‘Observer’ album.” Observer earned the band a lot of recognition. Two songs, “Jamaican Holiday,” and “Cat Eyes,” received substantial airplay in the Midwest. It was during this time that SBL became affiliated with Ken Adamany, who also managed Cheap Trick. Adamany & Associates then began managing and booking SBL. This is where the band and its members gets a bit convoluted. “Because the same basic people were working different incarnations of the band,” Mike said. “The keyboardist of SBL was Keith’s brother Duane Abler. In early

1977 Duane left SBL, moving to California, and was replaced by Dick Colbath, Jr. on keyboards. At the close of that same year, Dellger, who had been replaced by Dave Hassinger years earlier, now replaced him on drums, and Larry Baldock went on to replace Steve Olschesky on bass at the same time. By 1978 we had, with the exception of Dave and Keith Abler, a totally different band. I just sort of added the drumming part after that.” In summer 1978, SBL went to Shade Tree studios, then located on the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Playboy Club complex, and recorded Above and Beyond, the band’s second LP. The album was mixed by Dee Robb of The Robb’s at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles and mastered by Bernie

MILE OF MUSIC // SUNBLIND LION

Grundman. Several of the songs featured the artistic styles and intricate structures for which the band was well known. “Billboard reviewed it very positively,” Mike said “and referred to our sound as ‘art rock’ which we description we had never heard of before.” Finally in April of 1980, amid conflicts in both musical tastes and direction, Sunblind Lion, after recording Live Lion at a Milwaukee nightclub, disbanded. All of the members would eventually go on to perform in other musical incarnations. “Dave, Steve and I formed the Dave Steffen Band,” Mike said “and we stayed as one unit for three years. About 1983 I decided to go back to school to get my teaching certification. Steve and Dave moved to California, all the while Dave and I kept

writing songs long distance together.” There have been several Sunblind Lion reunions through the years. “We did our first reunion in 1989 in Cascade, Wisconsin,” Mike said “and it went over well. It was a picnic, in fact they said it was the biggest picnic crowd they ever had! We also reunited one year to perform at Summerfest.” Sunblind Lion’s latest album is titled The Sanatorium. The songs are based on a novella written by Mike Dellger. In September of 2012 Sunblind Lion performed for more than 5,000 people, a powerful testimony by their fans in appreciation for years of solid, original music from an iconoclastic Wisconsin band that has chosen to rock and roar for years to come.

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