JACKIE LAIN

The legendary Capitalist Casualties burn it down at Babe Haüs in Laramie, Wyoming. 

REVIEW of Medicine Bow’s - Vedauwoo

I’ve gotta be honest, I think I’ve listened to this album a dozen times already. And I’m not the only one buzzing about Medicine Bow’s new record. Since its surprise release on May 1st, Vedauwoo has been blowing up online!

After the big announcement and bandcamp release, the band’s Facebook page went from 500 to nearly 700 likes overnight. And the album is doing crazy good on bandcamp, with more than 20 supporters in just 3 days! It’s no wonder the album is doing so well. To anyone who gives this record a quick listen, it is undeniable that Madison Marquer is the real deal.

By releasing “Horology” a week early on soundcloud, Marquer reasserted Medicine Bow’s catchy yet thoughtful sound we heard in Tree last February. However, early listeners of “Horology” (which means the art or science of measuring time) could not have been prepared for the diverse sound spanning across Vedauwoo’s 9 tracks.

The album starts with “Everything is Nothing”, a perfect intro track confronting the meaning of life. This track points out the inevitable mortality of humans and Earth and space. “The sun explodes / in 4.5 billion years / but the earth will be gone before then” pays homage to the album artwork courtesy of NASA. 

Some might question the artwork choice - an image of space without any text indicating the album title or artist - but a closer look at the album’s overall themes of  clears that up.

Bassist Niko Kolis’ screams are missed at the beginning of “Tiger Lily”, another of Vedauwoo’s catchier tacks. Friends and fans that see the band live will be disappointed hearing the song without Kolis’ passionate shouts, but this will add a distinctive appeal to Medicine Bow’s live performances. The song’s chorus “But I do not weep” will get stuck in every listeners head.

I’ve already mentioned “Horology’s” catchiness and I won’t hesitate to say that this will be the most played song off the album. The track’s drum intro shows off the expert skills of Charlie O’Neil on the instrument. Throughout the album, and on this track especially, O’Neil dominates the kit. Something anyone who has seen him live - in any one of the half dozen bands he’s a part of - could not dispute.

There’s a lot of relatability on tracks like “Dragon Strat” with the line “I have problems with my past actions and I have issues with my self esteem” and he gives good advice in “Water Chaser” with “When it's all said and done / do what makes you happy”, but more than that, I think listeners will feel admiration for Marquer as he embraces his issues with self assurance and shares his thoughts on life.

Marquer stays true to his roots with “Brannon Magic”. Just like Tree’s “Tuckered Out” alluded to friend and fellow musician Coleman Mummery, friends and avid fans will recognize a portrait of Old Sport’s Derek Brannon - long time friend and fellow touring band of Medicine Bow’s.

My favorite verse off the album goes to “Rugged”: “Who am I to judge flaws in character / and who am I to say I'm better / at least I'm myself / be yourself.“ But let’s talk for a second about the genius that is Sb-129. This track shows off the talents of Marquer and Katherine Landvogt, newest member - and lead guitarist - of the band. 

While I’m not sure if Landvogt contributed in the recording of “Sb-129″, you can see the benefit of having a lead guitarist when playing this song live. For the longest time Medicine Bow was a three-piece and that dynamic worked well. But with this new release it’s easy to see Medicine Bow is growing, now both in size and maturity. 

Lyrically, the best track is “Sinic” as it directly confronts religious ideals. In a mere two minutes, Marquer points out the flawed comfort in believing in the after life, his own fear of death and disbelief in reincarnation. Marquer’s honest, non-threatening way of expressing his philosophy - that there is no ultimate truth in life - is something religious and atheist listeners alike can appreciate.

With Vedauwoo, Medicine Bow is a band to watch. The only danger I see for these guys is how will they ever top this album? If anyone could do it, it’s Madison Marquer. And with Landvogt, Kolis and O’Neil alongside him, this band is crossing over to a much larger scale than merely Laramie, Wyoming. 

Picture credit: Amanda Wells (https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWellsPhotographyWY?fref=ts) and Medicine Bow Album Art. 

Medicine Bow is Madison Marquer, Katherine Landvogt, Niko Kolis and Charlie O’Neil.

Grab their album on bandcamp! It’ll be the best dollar you ever spend: https://medicinebow.bandcamp.com/album/vedauwoo

April 20, 2015 was a night of firsts. And fill ins. I played my first ever solo electric set. It was last minute because the bands scheduled to play--Bubblegum Octopus (NJ) and Femoral (TX)--could not get around the pileups on I-80. Stoic. and Felipe Lehtinen also filled in. Stoic. played that night for the first time as a three-piece, as they had recently lost their bassist. As planned, Caged Bird Songs and our friends in Lame Brain (Fort Collins) played. Lame Brain features members of Old Sport and Justine Drugs and it was their first set at the house and I think one of their first ever shows. You could say the acts were sort of all over the place in genre--from Felipe Lehtinen’s acoustic punk (on my Ovation), CBS and Stoic’s hardcore, Lame Brain’s. I don’t know, you kind of had to be there. And then of course my sort of pop punk indie rock mismash--but despite all the local fill ins, the night was still what it was supposed to be: A 4/20 bash on a Monday night. Personal highlights from the night include Niko taking the mic for Stoic.’s Haunted Lives, taking a hit of weed on “stage” during my set and capturing Lauren and Lindsay “front row”. Lauren in all her barefoot glory. I filmed A LOT throughout the night & it’s all going into the documentary. All pictures taken from video footage except the 1st three by Niko Kolis and Amanda Wells. Thanks to all the acts who filled in and to Cole for running things as usual! // 4.20.15 @ Babe Haus

When I perform, things make sense. I feel whole. It's like my entire life disappears & for 30 minutes or so I can get away. // Foot Foot Fest // Saturday October 11, 2014 // 

Artists and people from top to bottom: Me, Ms. Springfield, Amos Helvey and Coleman Mummery (foot foot fest founders), Obtuse, Markus Holley, Madelyn Burns, Niko Kolis, Kolis + foco crew.