By Eric Mahollitz

It was a good showing for a Wednesday night at The Frequency with Madison’s up-and-coming Jentri Colello opening up for Portland’s minimalist chamber-folk band, Horse Feathers. As the head of her local quartet, Colello led the audience through a brief, well received set, making the case for the recent Bird of Prey EP. Read up on her recent session as part of the ongoing 5 Question with Muzzle of Bees series, and keep an eye out for future Jentri Colello activities as they await their inevitable national discovery.

Horse Feathers, consisting of frontman Justin Ringle, cellist Heather Broderick and violinist Nathan Crockett, split their set between the recent House With No Home and their 2006 debut Words Are Dead. Many aspects of their music tap into roots rock and pastoral folk, but their production and songwriting are unmistakably modern. And, amazingly, the lack of a traditional percussionist is never felt in their songs as drums are replaced by shakers, the occasional saw and other atmospheric nuances. Ringle’s vocals, set louder in the mix than on the group’s recorded material, highlighted the juxtaposition between the bleak lyrics and bubbly rhythms. Swaying back and forth, his otherwise upright and stately manner exuded the pleasure he felt to be back in Madison, this their 3rd time in town. Broderick and Crockett played with a studied, focused precision as song after song was ticked off in quick succession. Notable tracks included back-to-back House With No Home highlights Working Poor and Curs in the Weeds, two songs that combine to show off the band’s subtle constructions and the too seldom addition of Broderick’s delicate whisper. Towards the end of the show, Broderick introduced a track that the group had never played live before. These are words that often have a polarizing effect on an audience, and what turned out to be Heathen’s Kiss, off their latest record, was the crowd favorite, inverting their typical song structure with a mid-song lull and brilliant buildup to the grand finale.

Horse Feathers are currently nearing the tail end of their tour, finishing off the Midwest before hitting up the East Coast. Check out their MySpace page for specifics. Meanwhile, Horse Feathers historians can grab last night’s full setlist below:

In Our Blood
Finch on Saturday
Blood on the Snow
Working Poor
Curs in the Weeds
Mother’s Sick
Father
Albina
Walking & Running
Heathen’s Kiss
Rude to Rile

Previously: 5 Questions with Horse Feathers
Previously: 5 Questions with Jentri Colello

Myspace: Horse Feathers
Myspace: Jentri Colello
MP3: Horse Feathers – “Curs In The Weeds”
MP3: Jentri Colello – “Daisies”

Find more MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

One of the best things brewing in Wisconsin local music is Jentri Colello. If you’ve yet to see her at one of the venues about town or hear her gorgeous Bird of Prey EP, you’re missing out. I trust her success to continue well beyond the boundaries of the state line and was happy to have some of her time for our continuing 5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees.

Could you lend some information on the recording process of the Bird of Prey EP? Where and how was it recorded, and were there any lessons learned that you’ll apply towards future recording sessions?

The process was, by todays standards, about as conventional as you can get. we booked time at a local studio and payed them to record us. Not as unique as a lot of home recording options we had, but it was fun as hell and probably better that we chose someone who hadnt heard our stuff before. We worked at DNA Studios here in Madison with Mark Whitcomb. It was like being on vacation. We kept calling it “summer camp” because all we had to do that week was wake up, grab coffee, meet at the studio, play, tweak, play, blow through 9 hours that felt like one, go home and get up the next day and do it all over again. It was amazing.

Although theres a certain magic in recording at somebody’s house, we feel really lucky we were able to work where we did and with who we did. We had plans to record in this leaky warehouse on Park, when this guy from my painting class started talking about a label he was starting. He offered to pay for all of our studio time and insisted that we do it in a room that wasnt moldy and infested with mice. So we took him up on it.

What artists and/or records would you consider influential in your musical upbringing

Blind Melon: Soup
Neil Young: After The Gold Rush
Pearl Jam: Vitalogy, No Code, Binaural…pretty much all of their B-Sides
Beatles: Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album
Soul Coughing: Irresistable Bliss
Radiohead: Amnesiac, Hail to the Thief
Cat Power: You Are Free
Cold War Kids: Robbers and Cowards
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

In your opinion, what has been your most successful show to date?

Our show with Mason Jennings at Majestic sounded great and I think we played well. Huge crowd with really great energy. But its a toss up between that night and a more recent show we played with The Championship, The Alarmists, and Blueheels a couple weeks ago. Earlier that night Josh and I played as a duo supporting Yael Naim at the Union Theater and I think it was a great warmup for our set with the whole band at Montmartre.

As a Madison resident, what are some of your favorite restaurants, venues, hangouts, etc?

Mickey’s Tavern, Crystal Corner, Eating: Laredo’s…and lately Kushi Bar Muramoto (but only bc employee discount), as far as rooms to play in The Frequency, Montmartre, Majestic (when the sound is good)

What was the last local and non-local band you went to see as a fan?

Non-Local: The Acorn … great show until the lead player punctuated their set with a drunken faceplant. We all thought it was some brave stage antics until we looked back up at his bandmembers who were clearly worried by the amt of booze he’d consumed.

Local: Classic Tawnies (my buddies’ cover band: Blake Thomas, Josh Harty, Shauncey Ali and Chris Sassman) at Crystal.

Photo: Ed Oliver
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Myspace: Jentri Colello
MP3: Jentri Colello – “Daisies”

The Forward Music Festival came to an end sometime early this morning, but not before an evening of live music spanning numerous venues across town. Ed Oliver was on hand to capture some photos of Jentri Colello, Mason Jennings, Gentleman Auction House, Red Romero, The Alarmists, and Thao with The Get Down Stay Down.

Jentri Colello – The Majestic Theatre

Mason Jennings – The Majestic Theatre

Gentleman Auction House – Cafe Montmartre

Red Romero – Cafe Montmartre

The Alarmists – Cafe Montmartre

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – Cafe Montmartre

Discuss: What did you think of the Festival? What were the standout sets? Who are you most did you miss?

Find MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

Coming off a very impressive performance at the Monolith Festival at over the weekend comes the news of Appleton bred Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons performing the Majestic Theatre in Madison on Wednesday, October 15th.

We’re proud to present a night’s worth of greatness that also includes sets from David Ford, Jentri Colello, and Robby Schiller of Blueheels. Speaking of David Ford, check out his myspace site for a real nice version of The Smiths “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” One of my all-time favorite tunes.

Tickets: $8 Advance / $10 Day of Show

Myspace: Cory Chisel & The Wondering Sons
MP3: Cory Chisel & The Wondering Sons – “Home In The Woods”

Find more MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic