Author

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.

Steven's Latest Articles

Kate Ruland (Left) and Emma O'Shea (Right) of The Spine Stealers are shown in their Madison studio. Both are wearing cream-colored sweaters with wintry designs. O'Shea has one arm around Ruland's shoulders and another on her hip, and is smiling at the camera. Ruland wears a stoic expression, and has her arms crossed around her chest. Both are wearing pendant necklaces. The sun shines through the window behind them, casting a subtle light on their hair and shoulders.
The Spine Stealers aim to author a bold new chapter
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Music
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October 6, 2025

Songwriters Emma O'Shea and Kate Ruland open up about their burgeoning career.

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.