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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 18h

"No other film has yet to capture the mood of the country at this moment in time as piercingly..."

New contributor Lance Li untangles his thoughts on Paul Thomas Anderson's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, which is currently screening at all Madison area theaters (AMC, Flix, Marcus).

"One Battle After Another" reclaims hope in its cluttered, unpretentious, momentous rhythms

Paul Thomas Anderson's latest epic satire is currently screening at all theaters in the Madison area.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 1d

"There really is nothing like it, either in Lynch's filmography or the entire history of cinema."

Jason Fuhrman chronicles the creation and experience of discovering the seminal surrealist feature, ERASERHEAD (1977). It screens on 35mm at UW Cinematheque this Fri, Oct 10, at 7 p.m.

"Eraserhead" exemplifies David Lynch's signature blend of the surreal and the mundane

The director's psychological, seminal debut feature from 1977 screens on 35mm at UW Cinematheque on October 10.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 2d

"[Our] housing crisis has reached a boiling point, and the Common Council's decisions over the years have not done enough to cool it down."

David Rivera-Kohr advocates for redirecting money towards desperately needed housing safety nets like Dairy Drive.

Madison deserves better than the alders who voted to demolish Dairy Drive

Our current crises require a radical restructuring of the budget to meet the community's needs.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 2d

Our "Oddsconsin" pick from Howard Veregin this week details the history of @uwmadison.bsky.social's first official seal, Numen Lumen, which was designed in 1854 by John Hiram Lathrop.

Oddsconsin: Numen Lumen

Before Bucky Badger, there was Numen Lumen.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 3d

"'We’re looking for this to be a sustainable part of our life that we can legitimately live off of,'" says The Spine Stealers' Kate Ruland, in a moment of conviction.

Music Editor @stevenmps.bsky.social sits down with The Spine Stealers' Kate Ruland and Emma O'Shea.

tonemadison.com/articles/the...

The Spine Stealers aim to author a bold new chapter

Songwriters Emma O'Shea and Kate Ruland open up about their burgeoning career.

tonemadison.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 6d

Support us and several local artists today! 🙏

tonemadison.bandcamp.com/album/10

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · Aug 1

It's #bandcampfriday! Our industrious Music Editor @stevenmps.bsky.social is planning a fourth compilation of local music for the fall. In the meantime, you can pick up our three prior comps—a total of 104 tracks by local artists—for just $40!

TO GROW A GARDEN from 2022:

To Grow A Garden, by Tone Madison

44 track album

tonemadison.bandcamp.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 6d

"...Start by taking cues from your constituents, from people who already have experience organizing on the front lines of social movements, from people who need help right now."

@scottgordonwi.bsky.social has an urgent message for Wisconsin's elected officials in this week's Microtones.

Wisconsin's elected officials need to put themselves on the line

Get disruptive, get arrested, get creative, but don't play along with fascism.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 7d

If Veregin's name looks familiar, its because we previously published his pieces "The dogs of Science Hall" and "The secrets of Science Hall."

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The dogs of Science Hall – Tone Madison

World War I-era poison gas testing at UW-Madison leaves a legacy at once extensive and obscure.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 7d

In celebration of spooky season we are republishing articles from Howard Veregin’s blog, “Oddsconsin.”

tonemadison.com/articles/odd...

Oddsconsin: Dane County Asylum and Home Cemetery

Between two strip malls lies a cemetery for the Dane County Poor Home and Asylum for the Chronic Insane

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 8d

@hamsandwichmel.bsky.social reviews Quan Barry's hypnotic horror novel, THE UNVEILING, which explores "America's ongoing racial haunting." Its commentary is one that Madison readers will likely recognize in their own city.

The book launches Tues, Oct 14, with @groveatlantic.bsky.social.

Terror at the edge of the earth

Quan Barry's horror novel, "The Unveiling," mines a deadly South-Pole expedition to explore America's ongoing racial haunting.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 9d

Earlier this morning, former City of Madison Common Council Alder Juliana Bennett announced she's running for the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 76th District. @stinadale.bsky.social talked with Bennett about her decision to run, her policies, and what she's learned from @francescahong.bsky.social.

Juliana Bennett announces run for Francesca Hong's Assembly seat

Bennett promises to be "a real agitator in a space that tries to constrict innovation."

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 10d

"...It's more at the meta level about the way women appear in history."

@mminkoff.bsky.social interviews local dramatist and director Jan Levine Thal ahead of the @broomstreettheater.bsky.social premiere of HEAD ON A SILVER PLATTER: IN DEFENSE OF SALOME, which runs Oct 10 thru 26.

Jan Levine Thal's inner and outer theatrical lives

Ahead of the October 10 Broom Street premiere of her latest play, "Head On A Silver Platter: In Defense Of Salome," the playwright shares her creative process and storied career.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 13d

"As calls for community involvement grow in the current climate, we need to be wary of actors who find opportunities to capitalize on that energy."

News and Politics Editor Juan Carlos Garcia Martinez examines the scope of the recent dispute between MBC taproom and Oak Street residents in Madison.

Neighborhood noisemaker

Assessing the local political and social climate through a community dispute.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 15d

"Few people writing songs in Madison are as adept at authoring tracks that convey both damage and optimistic romanticism in equal measure."

Music Editor @stevenmps.bsky.social highlights "Walking In Circles," a new single from indie-rock songwriter Jane Hobson.

tonemadison.com/articles/jan...

Jane Hobson's new single exudes an empathetic warmth

"Walking In Circles" is an understated indie-rock gem.

tonemadison.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 16d

"They're gorgeous reminders of the value of raw technique in experimental work, which Blake Barit has in spades."

Maxwell Courtright previews the versatile local artist's Mills Folly Microcinema short-film program, "Digitalog." It screens at @artlitlab.bsky.social on Wed, Sept 24, at 7 p.m.

Blake Barit's versatile experimental films value raw technique as much as conceptual ambition

The locally based educator and filmmaker presents a program of his recent short-film works at Arts + Literature Laboratory as part of Mills Folly Microcinema on September 24.

tonemadison.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 17d

"You can't really ignore the humanness of it, and then everything that it holds."

@rmbanting.bsky.social delves into the details and creative partnerships of Madison incubator space-turned-community center, Textile Arts Center, which has recently reopened at 1702 South Park Street.

A home base for a tactile, human art form

Textile Arts Center weaves together Madison's buzzing fiber-arts scene.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 20d

"Either way, good day or bad, I can probably make it through if I have falafel in the freezer."

In this month's "Small Bites," @jesseraub.bsky.social shares how he approaches cooking while managing his MS.

Small Bites: Cooking while disabled

Rebuilding kitchen habits for good days and bad days alike.

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 21d

News and Politics Editor Juan Carlos Garcia Martinez talks with local activists, like attorney Aissa Olivarez and professor Armando Ibarra, who are putting a renewed emphasis on legal strategy and grassroots movements to defend immigrant rights during a time of relentless fascist threats.

Defending immigrant rights in the fight against fascism

Local activists deploy a renewed emphasis on legal strategy and grassroots organizing.

tonemadison.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 22d

"Watching NO FEAR, NO DIE (1990) with several decades of Claire Denis' films as context, it's striking to realize how the director emerged on the scene almost fully formed."

Sara Batkie previews the new 4K restoration, screening at the @chazenartuw.bsky.social this Sun, Sept 21, at 2 p.m.

It's a thin line between men and their cocks in "No Fear, No Die"

Claire Denis' knife-sharp portrait of masculinity from 1990 screens in a new restoration at the Chazen on September 21.

tonemadison.com

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Reposted by Tone Madison

steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 23d

I'll be moderating a Wisconsin Book Fest event tomorrow evening at the university, to talk with author David Levithan and songwriter Jens Lekman about their collaborative novel, 'Songs For Other People's Weddings.' We'll talk. Jens will play a few tunes.

Come out!

www.facebook.com/events/40773...

David Levithan & Jens Lekman: SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS

Event in Madison, WI by Wisconsin Book Festival on Wednesday, September 17 2025 with 107 people interested.

www.facebook.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 23d

As the summer movie season began to wind down, our film section editor @nothingunfinished.bsky.social and contributor @drboffa.bsky.social joined OCA Media's Josiah Wampfler—host of "Two Tickets Please!"—for a collaborative discussion (to confer and commiserate).

Video: Did we discover an oasis during the summer movie drought?

A second collaborative sit-down with Josiah Wampfler at OCA Media to recap a strained but not irredeemable viewing season.

tonemadison.com

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Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 24d

In his ongoing Dane County Jail coverage, Dan Fitch examines the proliferation of mail-scanning systems and breaks down Sheriff Kalvin Barrett's skewed commentary on the issue.

Propaganda hoedown: How the Dane County Sheriff tried to sell the Smart Communications contract

Mail-scanning systems are spreading, not for safety purposes, but to strengthen punishment bureaucrats' surveillance powers and corporate extraction.

tonemadison.com

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Reposted by Tone Madison

Scott Gordon @scottgordonwi.bsky.social · 28d

A few months back I stepped down as publisher of @tonemadison.bsky.social, grateful and relieved to leave it in the hands of three wonderful colleagues. They’ve kept on putting out journalism that no one else in Madison is even trying to do. They need your help, because reader support is everything

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 28d

TWO DAYS LEFT before our fundraising deadline, and we have only raised $1,336 out of $5,000. We need to reach this goal to pay our staff and freelancers so they can continue the arts, music, film, and politics coverage you only find at Tone Madison.

DONATE TODAY! ✨ tonemadison.com/donate/

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Reposted by Tone Madison

Christina Lieffring @stinadale.bsky.social · 28d

Any amount you could give would be deeply appreciated. And most of it will go towards paying the Madison-area writers, artists and editors who make Tone what it is.

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 28d

TWO DAYS LEFT before our fundraising deadline, and we have only raised $1,336 out of $5,000. We need to reach this goal to pay our staff and freelancers so they can continue the arts, music, film, and politics coverage you only find at Tone Madison.

DONATE TODAY! ✨ tonemadison.com/donate/

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Reposted by Tone Madison

Grant @nothingunfinished.bsky.social · 28d

our publication is the only one in town still devoting substantial space to film analysis (and not primarily offering cursory, compartmentalized arts listicles). help us continue to do so, and support a terrific team of freelancers. 🙏

tonemadison.com/donate/

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