MAD TOAST LIVE!

Episode 69 - Seth Blair

An original member of Madison's favorite Balkan Funk group, The Reptile Palace Orchestra, Seth's music combines elements of ragtime, blues, novelty, country, and rock music with his own unique lyric sense. And LOTS OF CELLO. Rated many times as Critics' Choice in Madison's Isthmus, and as one of the Top Ten Best Bets at Northwest Folklife Festival by Paul de Barros of the Seattle Times, Seth is also one of the world's experts on the development of the fruitfly wing. We're not kidding.

Episode 68 - Willerm Delisfort

(Episode 2 of 2)  Pianist and composer, Willerm's versatility has created a high demand for him with prominent jazz, rap, soul, and fusion artists including 2009 Best World Guitarist Fareed Haque, Grammy Award winning artist T-Pain, Lauryn Hill , Kirk Whalum, Louis Bellson , Lew Soloff, Calvin Newborne, Corey Wilkes, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, David Sanchez, Jennifer Holiday, George Freeman, Red Holloway, Javon Jackson, Melton Mustafa Sr, Peter Erskine, Public Announcement, Freddie Jackson, and more. He has performed over 20 festivals all around the Globe, as well as having conducted or played the lead piano book in Broadway shows such as Dreamgirls, Ain't Misbehavin, Crowns, Aida, and The Best of Broadway. Along with several commercial recordings, he is also featured on the critically acclaimed “Flat Planet” by Virtuosity Guitarist Fareed Haque. Delisfort's debut album entitled "Freedom Riders" scheduled for release in September 2009. wdelisfort.com

Episode 70 - Montana Skies

A duo with the full spectrum of an orchestra and the energy of a rock band--winners of the Lifestyles Radio Music Awards for "Best New Artist of 2004" and "Best Contemporary Acoustic Album of 2005"--using a wide range of effects, Jennifer Adam's blazing electric cello and Jonathan Adam's guitar wizardry create a sound that is truly remarkable! Their extensive touring schedule has taken them across the US, Canada, and Asia. www.montanaskiesmusic.ning.com

Episode 67 - Willerm Delisfort

(Episode 1 of 2)  Pianist and composer, Willerm's versatility has created a high demand for him with prominent jazz, rap, soul, and fusion artists including 2009 Best World Guitarist Fareed Haque, Grammy Award winning artist T-Pain, Lauryn Hill , Kirk Whalum, Louis Bellson , Lew Soloff, Calvin Newborne, Corey Wilkes, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, David Sanchez, Jennifer Holiday, George Freeman, Red Holloway, Javon Jackson, Melton Mustafa Sr, Peter Erskine, Public Announcement, Freddie Jackson, and more. He has performed over 20 festivals all around the Globe, as well as having conducted or played the lead piano book in Broadway shows such as Dreamgirls, Ain't Misbehavin, Crowns, Aida, and The Best of Broadway. Along with several commercial recordings, he is also featured on the critically acclaimed “Flat Planet” by Virtuosity Guitarist Fareed Haque. Delisfort's debut album entitled "Freedom Riders" scheduled for release in September 2009. wdelisfort.com

Episode 66 - Boo Bradley

Boo Bradley is a hot blues stompin’, jelly roll jumpin’, rag jazz infusin’, two-man acoustic jug attack from Madtown, Wisconsin. These boys throw down a porch stomp boogie chock full of old time Delta moans from the likes of Son House and Charley Patton, the Piedmont shake of Blind Boy Fuller and the earliest Chicago Ragtime mastery of cats like Blind Blake and Big Bill Broonzy. Scott "Boo" Kiker on the resonator guitar and vocals, and Brad Selz on washboard. www.myspace.com/boobradleymusic

Episode 65 - Mercury Players Theatre

Excerpts from their new show, "In the Beginning: A Musical Comedy"--with musical accompaniment by members of The Gomers. mercuryplayerstheatre.com

Episode 64 - The Get-Rites

Based in Minneapolis and described as, "masters of Americana music" (Dirty Linen Magazine), "authentic, retrospective and thought provoking" (AmericanaUK), "deserving all the publicity they can get" (Blues Revue Magazine), The Get-Rites are intent on spreading the Good News in song with their unique mixture of old school, dirty, back-woods blues and shimmering, sloe-eyed country ballads. Dirty Linen Magazine's "Best of 2007"! thegetrites.com

Episode 71 - Copper Box

(Episode 1 of 2) CopperBox is an outstanding band out of Oshkosh. They won the 2009 WAMI "Americana" category (which means "hard to classify"). They tag themselves as zydeco/rock/polka but that doesn't cover it all. Their polka version of Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd is just one example of how eclectic they are. They also do cumbia, jigs, ballads, etc. Some of their best tunes are ones they wrote, but they do some great covers, ranging from Moondance to Tell Me That You Love Me (to give you some idea of their range). Their latest CD, In the Summertime, was released on July 8th, 2009, and channels the rowdy communal feel of a small town party with a groovy rhythm section and soulful accordion. CopperBox has a fun-fusion sound (Zydeco, rock, and jazz) that attracts a unique and diverse audience. Touring aggressively and playing 120+ shows a year, they have appeared on several TV shows, as well as The Early Show on CBS and countless radio stations (college & community) in the US. Garageband.com has selected many CopperBox songs in their Top 10, and their energetic live shows won them a Hi-Def Music Video sponsored by SONY in 2005. www.copperboxsite.com

Episode 63 - Kevin "Tex" Tubbs

Kevin and Jim Lottridge (longtime friend and local picker) perform original songs as a duo. A native resident of Austin, TX, for 20 years, Kevin grew up around, was influenced by, musicians that were living there at the time such as Joe Ely, Townes Van Zandt, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Inmon and many more. Kevin went back to Austin in 07 to record a CD of all original songs 'WORKIN MANS DIRGE" with some amazing players such as John Inmon, Cindy Cashdollar, Glen Fukenaga, Paul Pearcy, and Lloyd Maines. Kevin has just finished his seconed CD of original songs "LAST CALL FOR COUNTRY" released july 09. He is also an author, accomplished chef, and proprietor of The Eldorado Grill and Tex Tubb's Taco Palace in Madison.

Episode 62 - Randy Weeks & Erik Koskinen

(Part II) Born in Windom MN and currently based in Austin TX, Randy was part of the L.A. scene that included Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jim Lauderdale, Rosie Flores and Buddy Miller.  He was a member of the legendary Lonesome Strangers that recorded three influential albums, two of which were produced by Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam) and garnering a Billboard Top 40 Hit.  Joined by Minneapolis based Erik Koskinen, who is quickly becoming one of the Midwest's premier writers and singers of folk and blues music. randyweeks.com cdbaby.com/koskinen3 Erik Koskinen