Sponsor

Author

Steven Spoerl

Music Editor at Tone Madison. Writer. Photographer. Musician. Steven created the blog Heartbreaking Bravery in 2013 and his work as a multimedia journalist has appeared in Rolling Stone, Consequence, NPR, Etsy, Maximumrocknroll, and countless other publications.

Steven's Latest Articles

Tone Madison’s 2022 annual report charts a year of growth and challenges

By Scott Gordon, Christina Lieffring, Micaela Magel, Hayley Sperling, Grant Phipps & Steven Spoerl ● Misc ● May 15, 2023 May 12, 2023

Stories, lessons, and some key numbers from our eighth full year of publication.

A photo shows Boneset Records owner Maggie Denman standing behind a counter and holding up two LPs, one from Proud Parents and the other from Baby Tyler. Behind her is a speaker, an organizer for cassette tapes, and wall signs with messages that include "smile, you're on camera" and "beware of dog."

Boneset Records will close its Madison store on June 10

By Steven Spoerl ● Music ● April 26, 2023 April 26, 2023

The record store will be relocating to Milwaukee and pivoting to an online focus.

The album art for Mission Trip's "Expect That" is centered in a banner image. A golden border encircles the art, which is set against a swirling, dark maroon background.

Mission Trip’s “Expect That” is an exhilarating knockout

By Steven Spoerl ● Music ● April 25, 2023 April 24, 2023

Post-punk, power pop, and indie rock prove complements across six tracks.

Writer-Director Chandler Levack is pictured holding her left hand up to her face, smiling.

Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” reaches through personal history to find reconciliation

By Steven Spoerl ● Film ● April 17, 2023 April 12, 2023

The Toronto-based writer-director discusses her debut feature, which screens at the Wisconsin Film Festival on April 20.

Cicada The Burrower's album art for "Blight Witch Regalia" is centered against a background that mirrors, magnifies, and layers the center art.

Cameron Davis finds resonance in vulnerability on Cicada The Burrower’s new album

By Steven Spoerl ● Music ● April 11, 2023 April 11, 2023

“Blight Witch Regalia” is a genre-bending triumph.

A still of Seasaw's "Dial Me Up" video in which the members are huddled together on a bed, smiling and holding up a landline telephone. Each has a pair of sunglasses superimposed onto their face by way of a lo-fi video effect.

Celebrating a selection of March’s standout tracks from Madison musicians

By Steven Spoerl ● Music ● March 30, 2023 March 29, 2023

Another month, another strong slate of releases across several genres.

A still from the "Grown Used To It" video in which Tyler Fassnacht is pictured walking away from the camera in lush green woodlands. Flowers grow all around him as trees tower above.

TS Foss weathers some change in “Grown Used To It”

By Steven Spoerl ● Music ● March 24, 2023 March 30, 2023

C Nelson-Lifson helms a serene parable for our collective capacity to grow.

A simple block-letter illustration on a sheet of paper that reads "Animation is not nothing." The letters are outlined in blue and there are straight pink lines extending out from the words like sun rays.

Animation’s perpetual crossroads and confounding Wisconsin history

By Steven Spoerl ● Microtones ● March 10, 2023 March 8, 2023

Examining animation’s evolution and the importance of its preservation.

Treat yourself to the 2023 Wisconsin Film Festival

By Jason Fuhrman, Hanna Kohn, C Nelson-Lifson, Lewis Peterson, Grant Phipps & Steven Spoerl ● Film ● March 9, 2023 April 12, 2023

Our film team takes a first look at the gifts of this year’s festival guide.

Def Sonic is shown tuning his acoustic guitar at Mother Fool's during Make Music Madison. He's wearing a red Nike baseball cap and a gray shirt with a blue floral print. Next to him is a makeshift table, created by crates and an iron briefcase, holding up pieces of additional audio equipment.

Def Sonic and the unflinching power of the human experience

By Steven Spoerl ● Music ● March 6, 2023 March 8, 2023

On “Anthropia,” Def Sonic’s Johan Petty examines life’s hardships through an empathetic lens.