Since 1977, Madison has hosted an annual spring event called WisCon, a convention that aims to highlight the role of women and other marginalized groups in science fiction. It proudly calls itself the world’s first feminist science-fiction convention. The 41st annual WisCon takes place May 26–29 at the Madison Concourse Hotel. Ahead of the event, […]
A backyard full of sculptures
If you’ve ever walked down Atwood Avenue on Madison’s east side, you have likely encountered the work of Sid Boyum, namely his sometimes abstract and sometimes playful concrete sculptures. Boyum was a prolific artist and a well-known neighborhood eccentric on the east side until his death in 1991. He was involved in other important works […]
Tubal Cain’s bare-bones black metal
Madison duo Tubal Cain formed from the remains of a much-missed local metal band, The Antiprism. While their former band had a healthy tendency to mix in elements of prog-rock and stately Maiden-like melodies, drummer/vocalist Kristine Drake and guitarist/vocalist Alex Drake take a more stripped down approach in Tubal Cain, drawing on their love of […]
Pedal pubs are capital-B Bad
So now that it’s officially spring, we’re waiting for the weather to turn, and maybe thinking about all the nice outdoor things we enjoy in Madison in the spring and summer. Sidewalk cafes, bike rides, free outdoor concerts. But in Madison and many other cities, there is a dark side to the outdoors becoming hospitable […]
Deprived in the tank
Tone Madison contributor Chris Lay wrote an essay in May 2016 about his first experience with the growing sensory-deprivation industry right here in Madison. Give it a listen here, read by the author.
Nate Bjork sings about the worst show in the world
A couple of years ago, Madison-based comedian and musician Nate Bjork released Bridge Party, an entire album of songs inspired by the three-season TV adaptation of Stephen King’s Under The Dome. The 13-song effort, which Bjork wrote as he watched his way through the show’s first season, covers Under The Dome’s basic plot points (“There’s […]