the ghost particles, Richard Wiegel

Doors 7PM / Show 8PM

$10

The Madison band the ghost particles came together in October of 2019, playing music together for the first time as a unit, just a few months before the worldwide Covid 19 pandemic would erupt and effectively shut down most live performances and interactions deep into 2020-and beyond.

In many ways this intentional shutdown, though unexpected, was fortuitous for the ghost particles, forcing them to stay inside, share files and self-record music at home in their personal studios. They focused exclusively on songs written by band member Phil Davis, producing and performing all the tracks themselves before sending them off to Jeremy Tappero (Soul Asylum) to mix. Their debut album came out in late 2022 on Artisanal Records and received unanimously positive reviews here and in Europe.

Comprised of long-time veterans of the Madison music scene (Buzz Gunderson, Spooner, First Person, Fire Town, Stavin’ Chain, The Rousers, The Water Dogs, and the Emperors of Wyoming), dating back as far as the mid 1970s, the concurrent chemistry and familiarity with one another and past bands made the transition into an entirely new band that was writing and recording original music very seamless.

Now they have a new album, their second, North Central, coming out in 2024 on Artisanal Records. The new record features more new, all original music that continues to mine their original Americana electric folk-rock vein on songs like “All Gone Now,” “Save the Ashes,” and “Drinkin’ Man’s Town,” but adding some stylistic departures. “Find My Way”is all driving rock, hooky and mysterious. “Oblivious” has a moody techno edge and features a duet with Phil Davis and Madison’s Beth Kille. “Last Call” is a trance-y, hypnotic groove highlighting Don Irwin’s spooky keyboards, while “What Remains” is a minimalist nod to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. All told, it’s an ambitious and diverse second record, and the band looks forward to performing it live.

the ghost particles are: Phil Davis, lead vocals, guitars; Dave Benton, electric guitars, backing vocals; Lee Laski, drums, backing vocals; Joel Tappero, bass guitar; Don Irwin, keyboards and piano; Pauli Ryan, percussion; Ernie Conners, electric guitar (founder of the Rousers, Water Dogs, and Stavin Chain).

Richard Wiegel has been a presence for over 50 years in the Wisconsin music scene, and has just released his fourth solo CD, Live in Mazomanie.  His solo style leans more on country blues and the Piedmont style of fingerpicking, and in performance pulls songs from his solo CDs along with four original CDs by his band, The Midwesterners.  Richard has won song of the year twice from the Madison Area Music Awards, once for "Richard's Rondo" on Wiegel Room, and once for "Pecatonica Mud" on The Midwesterners CD Pecatonica Mud.