Sona wastes no time getting to the point on his sophomore release African Juju. His first track It’s all About Money is a smooth, catchy, radio friendly blend of beat, message and melody which he follows with track after track of anthems.

The End is Coming Soon delivers a driving, funk inspired rhythm with melodic backing synth tracks adding a thick layer of depth. The music, beats, lyrics and message blend like fluid throughout the entire album. Afrikan Juju is reminiscent of albums where vocals are treated as an additional instrument as opposed to an overriding, in-your-face assault.

Universal themes of greed, faith, honor, pride, jealousy and poverty are packaged in this diverse mix of melody and message. Sona ties it all together with his unique Afro inspired styling.

Track Picks:

It’s All About Money
The Voice
Take Ma Time
Go

The first single Its All About Money is available for download through iTunes and amazon.com

African Juju hits the shelf June 25 of 2009 and The Milwaukee Scene was delighted to get a chance to preview this Milwaukee native’s work.

Sona on the Web:
http://www.myspace.com/sonathevoice
http://intercessionsrecords.com/sona.html

Kill Hannah

Eagles Club (The Rave) 8/21/2008
Milwaukee, WI

The show started in Kill Hannah’s signature manner; green lasers and white fluorescent lights mounted on every guitar cutting through the dark and hazy venue. It’s now known that the main event has finally taken to the stage and the wait is finally over. The energetic crowd is very diverse with a predominance of younger concert goers. The mood seemed to be relatively relaxed with the opening bands Innerpartysystem, The Medic Droid, & the White Tie Affair however the atmosphere electrified with the arrival of the headliners!

As always Matt Devine delivers an excellent performance to ensure that the entire crowd is involved and participating. Playing previous local favorites such as Kennedy & Unwanted (an anthem for the disenfranchised) the band also added a few of their newer releases such as Lips Like Morphine & Crazy Angel which were all crowd pleasers. Those who have followed the band since its advent definitely appreciated the decision to play Hummingbirds the Size of Bullets which was a song from the bands debut album “Here are the Young Moderns”. Interestingly enough, the song Welcome to Chicago Mother Fucker was one of the closing songs added to the show. A song rarely played outside of Chicago, it was decided that since they were close enough to their home town the great tune deserved to be played and was well received!

The Milwaukee show was the last stop before the bands anticipated farewell show at the Metro in Chicago which followed a few days later. This marked a well deserved break in their latest US tour “Hope for the Hopeless” which will start back up at the end of September in the UK (which is also the start of their European leg). Look for video updates from Sleep Never of the tour on their website and MySpace.

http://www.killhannah.com/
http://www.myspace.com/killhannah/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Hannah

Band Members

• Mat Devine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
• Jonathan Radtke- Guitars, Background Vocals
• Dan Wiese- Guitars, Background Vocals
• Greg Corner- Bass Guitar
• Elias Mallin- Drums

By Andy Zupke

Photography by: Jessica Turnbull

Upon walking into the BBC Upper Level on February 17^th, my wife and I were immediately greeted and hugged by Jayme Dawicki, who thanked us for coming, which showed us a gratitude and appreciation that is sadly uncommon among musicians.

The night started out with a folk-rock group from Madison called The Sharp and Harkins Band. It’s hard to say anything about this band, as they seemed to be “just there”. None of the band members really seemed to be enjoying performing their music, especially the bass player who kept playing octaves as if he’d recently discovered them. The band didn’t get into the music until they started playing covers. A Johnny Cash tune got a lethargic audience somewhat worked-up enough to be ready for the next band.

Jayme Dawicki Band went on next. Plagued by technical problems, the show threatened to go down-hill quickly. Luckily, Jayme Dawicki and her accompanists are true performers, and the show went on with the fun and friendly atmosphere that they’re known for. Jayme’s compositions are varied and interesting, each song changing feel and mood. Her lyrics are sometimes fun and playful, sometimes wistful. She shows influences from the great female storytellers like Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, especially in songs like, “Jokin’ Joe, Miss Kitty, and Me” and “72 and ½ Toyota Truck”.

Her accompanists- Jordan Roepke, Dylan Brown, and Jeff Brueggeman- all shined through the set. Jordan, a mere 20 years old, is one of the most impressive guitar players in this city, and any band would be lucky to have him. The Jayme Dawicki Band creates a welcoming environment that is sure to keep the listeners coming.

The final band was Neverstatic, a reinvigorated band with a new line-up. They’re an acoustic-rock band that features two cello players giving the band a deep and dark ambience, although the sound guy didn’t really find a niche for them in the mix until the third song.

Jordan again shows his talents, this time on electric bass, with his fellow Downrazor bandmate Heath playing 12-string acoustic guitar. Their new singer Amanda has excellent stage presence, playful and bordering on flirty, with a voice to match. She blends with the band well, despite little slips into a style that may be too soulful (think Christina Aguilera). Neverstatic was highly entertaining and could definitely be placed in the “up and coming” category.

On our way out, Jayme Dawicki once again gave us a smile and thanked us for coming. It’s always nice to see musicians who understand the value of their fans, and how crucial it is for them to go home feeling like they’re part of something. This is the incredible value of local music. By supporting it, you can really feel like you’re supporting something unique that most people don’t know about, but you’ll feel good if a few more do because of you.

For more information on the Bands, Venue or Big Andy’s Milwaukee Music Support:

The Sharp and Harkins Band - http://www.myspace.com/harksharp
Jayme Dawicki Band - http://www.myspace.com/jaymedawicki
Neverstatic - http://www.myspace.com/neverstaticband
Upper Level - http://myspace.com/upperlevel
Big Andy - http://www.myspace.com/bigandybassplayer

Adam the Tree is the Midwest’s best kept secret. Straight from the Northwoods, Adam has become not only an inspiring DJ, but also an originally creative producer. His original track selection, flawless sets and smooth blend of tribal and progressive sounds keep the body moving. Adam’s own sound has grown along with him over the years and his original tracks have an indescribable uniqueness to them that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.

Since he first heard those pulsating beats radiating from the speakers, electronic music has become his life, his love, his obsession. Because of that rising passion Adam started DJing in 2001 and has since played hundreds of shows across the Midwest.

In 2006 Adam released this first original EP, The Seed EP This EP included five of Adam’s originally produced tracks. Since promotion began for this release he has received amazing great feedback on the EP. The first track on the album, Slow Seduction was nominated for a Madison Area Music Award in 2006 for the category of best electronic song. This same track was also added the Belladonna Records Summer Compilation Album.

2007 will prove to be a busy year for Adam the Tree. Recently married, Adam became a daddy to the “Little Tree.” This new life changed Adam’s musical career as he spends most of his free time in his newly formed studio producing track after track. Later this year he will be releasing another track on Ambersound Records. He also will be spinning at the next StudioGangsta event in Stevens Point on Saturday February 24.

This is a brief look into the life of Adam the Tree.

For any more information, music or video clips visit him at:

http://www.adamthetree.com
http://myspace.com/adamthetree

It was a freezing cold night on December 2^nd as my wife and I walked into the Mad Planet in Milwaukee. The headliner was Marcella, a group we’d seen before and enjoyed greatly. I hadn’t checked on the openers to find out what to expect, but I’m glad I didn’t, because my expectations were completely blown away.

The night started with an incredible band from Appleton called Sunday Flood. This band is heavy, passionate, and intense. Sunday Flood has the rhythmic complexity of Tool, with odd time signatures and intricate drumming, but with a melodic sound all their own. From the very first song, I was hooked. My foot was tapping, my head was bopping, and my lips were smiling. Each member brought incredible talent and voice to the band. The singer part sang and part screamed, giving emotional intensity to the already physically intense riffs. The bass player had the gain cranked, while still retaining both melodic and rhythmic importance in the band. The guitars drove the songs forward in a roller-coaster ride of dynamic hard rock.

Find out More About Sunday Flood and Listen to Tracks at:

http://myspace.com/sundayflood

The second band was another one for complex musical tastes. Self-Evident, from Minneapolis, was as intense and rhythmically complicated as Sunday Flood, but in a different way. As a jazz enthusiast, I can always spot a metal band that has dabbled in the genre, and Self-Evident definitely has a jazz flair to their music. They use intricate rhythms and staccato riffs filled with full jazz chords and dissonance that would get Thelonious Monk bopping his head and spinning, while still retaining a rock and roll edge to the music, making the band completely unique and original.

Find out More about Self Evident and Listen to Tracks at:

http://myspace.com/selfevident
http://www.self-evident.net

The final band was Marcella, which rounded out the evening very nicely, giving us a laid back sound that felt calming at the end of the night. Marcella is a female fronted rock group with dynamic tunes and tight musicianship. The singer/pianist gives the music a sultry, playful edge that commands the attention of the audience, while the guitarist on the other side of the stage dabbles in different effects and ways of playing that gives the music more atmosphere and modernity. The rhythm section creates a swinging bluesy feel that lures in everyone else who hasn’t already succumbed to the music.

This was one of the best local concerts I’ve been to in quite a while. It was one of those rare nights where each band left me wanting more. You can check out all three bands on their Myspace pages.

Find out More About Marcella and Listen to Tracks at:

http://www.myspace.com/marcellamusic
http://www.marcellamusic.com

Written by Andy Zupke
http://www.myspace.com/bigandybassplayer

Welcome to the Reviews section of The Milwaukee Scene where we eat, drink, listen, enjoy and tell you all about it.