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Steven Spoerl

Tone Madison’s Music Editor from 2020-2025. 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.

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Steven's Latest Articles

Jane Hobson performs live at the Crystal Corner Bar in 2023. The photograph is faded. In it, Hobson is centerstage, playing guitar. To her left is a bassist, to her right a guitarist. The band's drummer is not clearly visible, hidden in part by a large stage monitor on the image's bottom left corner.
Jane Hobson’s new single exudes an empathetic warmth
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Music
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September 24, 2025

"Walking In Circles" is an understated indie-rock gem.

Damsel Trash performs at Harmony Bar & Grill in 2024. Emily Mills is playing a red-shell drum kit and smiling to the image's left. To their right, Meghan Rose is playing a white Telecaster and scrunching up her face in concentration. In the center of the image, behind the duo, a trans flag hangs on the venue's wall. Mills is wearing a chunky necklace and a white zip-up jacket. Rose is wearing a colorfully patterned jumpsuit. Mills, Rose, and the flag are illuminated, the rest of the image is nearly black, with only some stray stage equipment visible.
A hot slate of Madison music demands extra attention
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Music
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September 3, 2025

New releases from July and August reflect a defiant determination.

Slick pose with their arms around each other in front of a vehicle being serviced at an auto repair shop. From Left to Right: Calvin Childress, Nate Opperman, Hance Throckmorton, and Morgen Nicodemus. Each band member is holding a small repair tool. They're all smiling, apart from Opperman, whose lips are pursed.
Slick swings for the fences
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Music
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August 20, 2025

The emergent indie-punk quartet prizes the power of impact.

Joe Pera is shown from behind, gazing up at a lights show at Milwaukee's Mitchell Park Domes. There's an interconnected web of lights that illuminate the image in a cool blue. Pera's centered but very low in the frame, amplifying the scope of the Domes. He's wearing a dark, fashionable jacket and his face is not visible.
Wisconsin in film and television: through the looking glass
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Microtones
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August 8, 2025

Perseverance stands out as a common denominator in our state's cultural representation.

Dan Walkner appears smiling, holding a fishing rod in front of a body of water. He's wearing a plaid shirt and black jeans. His hair is long, he's got a full beard, his sunglasses are perched on top of his head, and he's smiling.
Dan Walkner’s “Easy Going” balances subtle pathos with nostalgic warmth
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Music
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August 4, 2025

The Americana-indebted songwriter's latest album is an intoxicating concoction.

Hottt Probs perform at High Noon Saloon. Their vocalist is shown mid-strut in a black fishnet bodysuit that's worn under a black miniskirt and a gray bra with ornate designs. She takes up the middle of the image. The band's drummer is shown in soft focus in the lower left. Part of a banner cuts into the backdrop, reading "AN ERROR" behind the band.
Hottt Probs headline the next entry of a great new live concert series
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Music
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July 23, 2025

Atwood Music Hall's Locals Only emphasizes Madison's musical talent.

Tone Madison’s 2024 Annual Report
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Misc
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June 26, 2025

Assessing our financial standing as we break down the breadth and impact of our work in our 10th year as a publication.

Graham Hunt performs live at the High Noon Saloon. He's wearing a red button-up long sleeve shirt and gripping a microphone with his left hand and singing with his head down. His right hand grips the mic cable. Behind him is a cascade of blue and purple stage lighting. The stage lighting provides a soft, halo illumination effect that surrounds Hunt's head. Dusk bassist Ridley Tankersley can be seen in soft focus several yards behind Hunt, playing tambourine.
Local artists ratchet up the heat
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Music
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June 25, 2025

May and June's new music releases teem with scorching confidence.

The members of Cribshitter crouch and rest for support on a small wooden table outdoors. Trees are visible in the background.
Cribshitter celebrates a chaotic history
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Music
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June 9, 2025

The legendary Madison band is back with a mini-documentary and greatest hits compilation.

Isaiah Collier is shown in the center of the image, smiling at the camera. He's wearing a white turtleneck and an eccentric white hat. The background is gray.
Madison Jazz Festival returns with emphasis
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Music
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June 4, 2025

Isaiah Collier is one of many highlights in a sprawling, generous program.