Ha Ha Tonka

A keen move on their part, the once Amsterband from Missouri is now known as Ha Ha Tonka. The band is made up of Brian Roberts on lead vocals and guitar, Lucas Long on bass and vocals, Brett Anderson on keyboard, guitar, and vocals and Lennon Bone on drums and vocals. This indie rock band combines religious undertones, life, love, hometown pride and rockin guitar riffs. I had the opportunity to talk with Brian Roberts about their past, present, and future projects.

Jentri Colello

Jentri Colello could fool anyone. The band has been together for less than two years, this incarnation for less than six months, and the lead singer and initial song writer, Jentri Colello has only been playing slightly longer than the band has been together. Regardless, Colello is as confident on stage with her songs as any pro, having survived a weekly spot at the Local Tavern for some time and backed by a band of two long-time friends who have been playing since birth.

Colello is quick to clarify that this is not a solo singer songwriter operation with a backing band. “I’ll play [what I’ve been working on] probably halfway through and they’ll jump in and do whatever. It’s really relaxed. I prefer not too give them any guidelines because I think the best part about playing with other people is seeing how they hear it and then seeing how they manipulate it.”

Her name, it seems, was simply the best name they could find. “We were originally playing under a band name and the guys said, ‘Your name is kind of a cool name, it kind of sounds like a band name anyway, lets just play under that.’ I could really care less, but at the same time, I was a little bit apprehensive because as soon as people hear just a name think it’s just another singer-songwriter, they’re not going to bother. They [the band] have so much say in how the songs are completed. I really, really hate taking anymore credit than they do.”

Good Time Camper

We didn’t discuss it specifically, but the more and more I talked to Good Time Camper about their menagerie of sounds it became clear that the foursome is a condensed version of a group not unlike Scooby, Shaggy and the Gang, except that in the case of GTC, instead of solving mysteries, their sound is the mystery.

Patrick Sweeney, the easy Freddy of the group, brings the songs. Then the pieces are created layer by layer with the aid of the other three. Rounding out the parallel, bassist Sean Ellis runs the Shaggy route being aloof but always in the middle of the action, drummer Jamie Zander, the Scooby, brings the smile and the comic relief which leaves (sorry, dude) guitarist Adam Ginsberg to be Velma, with the fantastic guitar science into the chemistry.

God’s Outlaw

God’s Outlaw is Timeless, Old Fashioned Country

The first time I talked to Brian Smith, aka God’s Outlaw, I interrupted a pleasant afternoon he was having grilling out on his porch, having a couple beers with his friends and family. The next time I talked to him, after we’d exchanged a round of e-mails, you’ll never guess what he was up to - back at the grill with some steak and more beer. As far as grassroots country-living and playing goes, God’s Outlaw is as real as it gets.

Robert J

A man who simply goes by “Robert J” fronts the band The Rowdy Prairie Dogs who jam on the Potawatomi Stage at Summerfest on its concluding day, Sunday, July 6 at noon. I had the opportunity to talk with this man who has been through so much just in the last year: dealing with a heart attack, forming a new band, and now, preparing to play Summerfest next month. When asked about the festival, Robert J said, “I’ve played there [Summerfest] about 6 or 7 times, mostly with the Moon Gypsies, I played with a band called Howlin’ at the Moon…I’m always excited to play Summerfest; it’s a big party.”

Robert J got started in the music industry at a young age, playing the guitar when he was just two years old. He is a guitarist and singer, but most of all a songwriter. When asked how he got started in the music industry, it was obvious it was a long effort, “Ohhhhh okay, actually I graduated from college and I had been playing in bands in Detroit. And I jumped in the band van and moved to Colorado in a van.  I had been playing a little bit, but that was pretty much when I decided okay, I’m just going to go be a musician for a while.” When he jumped into this van, he was also jumping into the band Happy Trails, merely one of about 20 bands that Robert J has been a part of.

Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock arrives November 3rd, 2007 to Madison’s High Noon Saloon, playing solo but carrying overstuffed bags of interesting history. From his post-punk Soft Boys beginnings to a three decade career mixing solo stretches with bands, films, published poems and painting, Robyn is a post-modern Renaissance Man who’s songs and speech dabble in riddles, scribbles, neurosis and culture. The newly minted five CD set, I WANNA GO BACKWARDS bonuses up three of his older solo albums and includes an incredibly strong double CD of rare works. We emailed Robyn to ask about his past and present state of affairs.