2007-12 Vital Source Mag – December 2007
Bottomless Pit
Could Bottomless Pit have chosen a more apt title for their excellent debut release than Hammer of the Gods? The songs on this eight-song disc pummel and crack with the deliberate force of Thor’s enchanted hammer, Mjolnir.
Dec 1st, 2007 by DJ Hostettler
Carrying A Knife In To The Gunfight
His real name is Edmund Makowski, but around town he’s known as poet Eddie Kilowatt. It suits him to a tee: his persona is electric indeed, and it shines through in his slender new book of poetry, Carrying A Knife In To The Gunfight.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Judith Ann Moriarty
Blue wings and hearing loss
Without warning, he fires, and my left ear – only inches away from his gun – explodes. The ex-duck has barely hit the water before I realize something has gone very, very wrong.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Matt Wild
Stretch your Brain
A few days ago, I opened my email to find the following message from a friend: ANTI-GOD MOVIE WARNING “I almost had this book in my hand for a Christmas present for my son, but found something else. I’m glad ... I just got this message today."
Dec 1st, 2007 by Lucky Tomaszek
Light my Fire
"Fat is the canvas upon which the flavor flows. It’s the glue that sticks the flavor particles to your tongue,” David Piette, Executive Chef of Sabor Brazilian Churrascaria, avers.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Cate Miller
Marcus Doucette
By Kenya Evans His distinctive voice graces our radio waves as a host on 88Nine, Radio Milwaukee; chalk up his tranquil tone to his meditative practices as a Yoga instructor. By night you may have found him scratching and mixing on the 1’s and 2’s at local hot spots like Jackalope Lounj and Hi Hat Garage – maybe you even caught him opening for Meshell Ndegeocello at Turner Hall in November. A DJ on the local scene for eight years, Marcus Doucette describes his work as “The Mystic Art of Just Being Yourself.” What made you turn to DJing and radio jockeying after school? I [graduated] from Marquette University back in 1998 … I had a really hard time finding a job that was anything other than another paycheck and another week of getting by. At first, DJing was an accident (because I had some records), then it was for fun (because I worked and partied too much anyway), then it was money (because I always needed it). Then something happened; with all of these motivations in mind, I sort of got lucky and landed a gig at 91.7 doing their world music slot, and that was the best opportunity. With the freedom to play music that inspired words, I found that radio was a great place for me to be. Two years at WMSE honed skills that would become a job at 88Nine. The odd thing is this is the job I had never “planned” on getting. What do you think of the Milwaukee arts scene? I have always thought of the scene here as being creative as well as progressive. With MIAD in town and the overall support of events like Gallery Night, Milwaukee has talent as well as some support for that talent. Add a party-like vibe and you have a sense of my sense of the scene in town. What are you working on and who are you working with? Right now I’m doing work with anyone who wants to work with me … currently a musician named Eltron, and another DJ, Dirty Francis, as well as The Architect, Tarik from 88Nine. How do you draw people to your work? Come to my show, I’ll probably ask you; we’ll have a beer and work it out on the dance floor. Talk about your approach to your art. I don’t really consider myself an artist in the traditional sense of the word. If you mean “being involved in creative endeavors,” then maybe, but just barely. I do appreciate it when someone calls me one; I would say that I use a little art in what I do – and that’s stretching the definition a bit. With DJing, I feel my approach is all about the moment. I’ve never been able to plan a set because the impact of the room is very important and the “art” in my DJing is all about how the environment affects my Center … what spins off of that becomes my set, […]
Dec 1st, 2007 by Vital Archives
Art vs. Craft
After seven rounds, nationally-recognized Art vs. Craft has become a Milwaukee institution – by way of minimally institutional principles. Also an anomaly: over 75 progressively-minded, “new wave” artists, crafters and designers will be vending their handmade and independent wares – just in time for the holiday feeding frenzy.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Amber Herzog
Holiday Fun Guide
It’s hard to get into the “seasonal spirit” amidst mobbed malls, wintry wind chill and foul fruitcake. But besides these holiday high jinks, there’s enough merriness and cheer for all to enjoy in Milwaukee.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Vital Archives
Northern State
By A.L. Herzog Female hip-hoppers Spero, Hesta Prynn and DJ Sprout are pushing thirty, but they still sound like snot-nosed kids who rhyme as if double-Dutching in the schoolyard or cheering at a high school football game. On their third full-length record, their political agenda is never in question, and though they’re outspoken, they’re also hilarious, if sometimes unintentionally hard to follow. “Sucka Motha Fucka,” thematically along the lines of TLC’s “No Scrubs,” offers concise wordage, several “oh snap!” moments and a name-check of Al Gore. The girls also name-check themselves and each other quite often. It’s annoying filler that may be an imitation of what “rap” is supposed to be. Three albums in and their clear lack of composure perseveres. “Cold War” and “Things I’ll Do,” two recommended songs, open up dialogue on gender relativity. Talk of marriage, babies, money, work, etc. are addressed on the former, while the latter is an anti-feminist rant that, because it’s so cheeky, remains completely inoffensive. What is offensive is that purposeful tracks like the aforementioned are amongst loafers like “Cowboy Man” (ripped from Madonna’s “Ray of Light”) and Spice Girl-esque concessions like “Run Off the Road,” single “Better Already,” and closer “Fall Apart.” Isn’t there a better group to imitate? A smart, spry group like Northern State definitely shouldn’t go away; with ducks in a row, they’d be commendable. If given the chance, maybe the fourth time can be their charm.
Dec 1st, 2007 by Amber Herzog
