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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

A photograph depicts a row of homes placed closely together along a sidewalk on Madison's east side. The sun is setting and there is a pale blue tint to the image.
Madison house-hunting: 2025 edition
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Microtones
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May 30, 2025

Local housing exploration offers windows into the past, present, and future.

A black-and-white photograph depicts Matt Monsoor standing with his head down and legs slightly crossed while leaning against a wall in a wood shed. He's pictured to the slight left of center, wearing a jacket, work pants, a white shirt, white sneakers, and a black-and-white baseball cap that partially obscures his face. Beams of light cut in from the right and illuminate his shoes. The floor is dirt.
Matt Monsoor’s “Sam’s Hill” is a rich slice of warm Americana
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Music
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May 28, 2025

The La Crosse-based songwriter's latest single embraces an assured sense of place.

Drummer Heather Sawyer performs live at High Noon Saloon in 2024 during the farewell show of her former band, Proud Parents. She is pictured in profile. Her eyes are closed and she is singing into a microphone while drumming. She is pictured to the slight left of the image, a microphone extending in to take up the right. A ride cymbal is in soft focus in the lower left. Sawyer sports a blonde bob, glasses, blue earplugs, a dark v-neck shirt, and a gold chain that supports an owl.
An irrepressibly energetic dose of Madison music
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Music
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April 30, 2025

New releases from March and April underscore an emergent urgency.

An illustration shows black-and-white line-drawing portraits, from the shoulders up, of Scott Gordon, Grant Phipps, Christina Lieffring, and Steven Spoerl.
Tone Madison is announcing some leadership changes
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Misc
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April 10, 2025

Our fiercely independent, journalist-owned publication will move forward as our publisher steps down.

Tone Madison seeks a News and Politics Editor
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Misc
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April 10, 2025

Apply by May 19 to help us expand our political coverage.

Alex Driver performs at Gamma Ray Bar as Fred Really. He's wearing a beanie and an MF DOOM hoodie. He's shown in deep concentration, gripping the microphone while rapping. Driver takes up the right half of the image, bathed in dark blue stage lights.
Fred Really comes out swinging
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Music
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April 9, 2025

Producer and rapper Alex Driver talks us through his latest project and expanding discography.

Two laptops are open on either side of a desk that's pushed against a white wall. The laptop on the left is open to the home page of The Yellow Button, the laptop on the right is open to the home page of see/saw. Between the laptops, from closest to the camera to furthest away, are a synth, a microphone clamped into a small stand, and two drumsticks in front of a practice drum pad.
A new wave of Wisconsin punk commentary
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Microtones
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March 21, 2025

The Yellow Button, see/saw, and the shape of music coverage to come.

From left to right: Andrew Fitzpatrick, Emili Earhart, and Julian Lynch. Fitzpatrick performs with Earhart and Lynch during his Observatory series at Gamma Ray Bar. Fitzpatrick is wearing dark clothing and a dark baseball cap, hunched over on a stool playing guitar with a row of synthesizers directly in front of him. Earhart's also seated, playing piano. Lynch is also sitting, playing guitar, and maneuvering his feet over some effects pedals in front of him.
Andrew Fitzpatrick’s “Forest Calendar” emphasizes an inevitable cycle
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Music
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March 3, 2025

The experimental musician talks us through his latest album and his Observatory series at Gamma Ray Bar.

The Spine Stealers' Emma O'Shea plays a Taylor acoustic guitar and sings into a microphone during Atwood Fest in 2024. A dark red capo is clipped onto the headstock of the guitar. Oshea's wearing round sunglasses that reflect the audience in front of her, a silver choker necklace, a lace white top, and a flowing white skirt. She's positioned to the left third of the image. A pale white sky and green trees are visible behind her in the background. Directly to her side, cutting into the frame from below, is a ukulele that is mounted on a holder attached to the mic stand. An unmanned microphone is visible in the bottom right corner.
Madison musicians tap into a renewed sense of momentum
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Music
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February 26, 2025

Spotlighting six excellent releases from 2025's first two months.

Rapper Fred Really performs during Tone Madison's 10th anniversary party at Gamma Ray Bar. He's cast in a cool blue stage light, wearing a DOOM hoodie and beanie. The microphone is near his face. He's positioned to the slight right and takes up the majority of the image. The backdrop is pitch black.
An expanded look at Madison music throughout 2024
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Music
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February 7, 2025

The third entry in our live music photo essay series places the focus back on Madison musicians and performances.