Poliça, Marijuana Deathsquads @ House of Rock

Poliça, Marijuana Deathsquads @ House of Rock

Minneapolis' ultra-hyped Poliça, supported by Marijuana Deathsquads, played Eau Claire's House of Rock on January 11th, filling the tiny venue to capacity with fans eager to check out the next big thing.
Laarks, The Gentle Guest, Holly Newsom @ House of Rock

Laarks, The Gentle Guest, Holly Newsom @ House of Rock

After a lengthy hiatus, Laarks finally made their triumphant return to Eau Claire, storming the House of Rock on a frigid Thursday evening.
Bon Iver packs Zorn Arena for two sold-out homecoming shows

Bon Iver packs Zorn Arena for two sold-out homecoming shows

It’s been nearly three years since local-favorites-turned-Grammy-nominees Bon Iver have played a show in their hometown of Eau Claire, but on December 12th and 13th, the band took to UW-Eau Claire’s Zorn Arena for two sold-out shows.
Adelyn Rose, Moro @ The Cabin

Adelyn Rose, Moro @ The Cabin

December 10th, 2011 - Adelyn Rose played UWEC's The Cabin with Moro and a solo opening set by Ian Jacoby. Listen to 'Tails' by Adelyn Rose and view photographs from the show.
Collections of Colonies of Bees, The Ronald Raygun @ House of Rock

Collections of Colonies of Bees, The Ronald Raygun @ House of Rock

Friday at the House of Rock was of few words. There wasn’t much in the way of stage banter, The Ronald Raygun set was lyrically sparse (fewer of these were clearly decipherable) and COCB featured no vocals at all. But despite the lack of words there was plenty being said....
DDCW, CSGS, Kalispell @ House of Rock

DDCW, CSGS, Kalispell @ House of Rock

December 1st, 2011 - The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps and Kalispell played House of Rock.
Scott Morfitt on Local Independence, Eau Claire's music scene

Scott Morfitt on Local Independence, Eau Claire’s music scene

PeerValidated sat down with our friend and brother-in-arms Scott Morfitt, who highlights many of the same artists seen here on PV via his radio show, Local Indepedence.
The Small Cities, The Heart Pills, Good Grief @ Bottle & Barrel

The Small Cities, The Heart Pills, Good Grief @ Bottle & Barrel

Love me a drummer with pipes, a bass player that's not afraid to put his hair up, a custom built guitar, dudes that mean it when they play. The Small Cities have those things and more, count me in, I'm locked-on.
Wisconsin Built, Temple @ The Cabin

Wisconsin Built, Temple @ The Cabin

The Cabin continued its fine Fall/Winter schedule with Wisconsin Built and Temple. We've got a video of Wisco Built covering Elliott Smith's "Whatever (Folk Song in C)" and photographs of each band.
Whale House CD release w/ Merlin Monroe @ Acoustic Cafe, Menomonie

Whale House CD release w/ Merlin Monroe @ Acoustic Cafe, Menomonie

I haven't seen Whale House live for nearly a year. Since then, the local experimental rock outfit has added a new drummer and drastically fine-tuned their sound. Their new album, From the Traps...
David Bazan @ Turf Club, Apple Store

David Bazan @ Turf Club, Apple Store

PeerValidated got an exclusive press pass to take photos at two David Bazan shows in the Twin Cities. The band wowed fans by pulling off complicated versions of new and old songs as a simple three piece, with each member conquering multiple parts at the same time.
Latest entries
Peer Picks of 2011 - Caleb Price (Whale House, Peer Validated)

Peer Picks of 2011 – Caleb Price (Whale House, Peer Validated)

Caleb Price is a 49 year old 1st generation American who immigrated here from Bratislava in 1992. She makes a living by traveling to rural areas of the midwest and the adjoining bible belt where she frightens superstitious rubes into giving her money and expensive cutlery by pretending to be a powerful sorceress. It’s a...
Peer Picks of 2011 - Eric Charles Christenson (Wisconsin Built)

Peer Picks of 2011 – Eric Charles Christenson (Wisconsin Built)

Eric Charles Christenson – his name has the same cadence and a a similar whimsical ring to a certain famous Dutch fabulist.  Unlike Hans Christian Anderson however, Eric does not lope across the countryside dishing out morals to eager children, (nor was he ever portrayed by Danny Kaye in a move in 1953.)  What he...
Zoo Animal - "Laying and Lying"

Zoo Animal – “Laying and Lying”

Another video has surfaced, in the anticipated release of Zoo Animal's Departure EP. This one is the official music video "Laying and Lying," the opening track of the EP, and was produced by Minneapolis based Northern Outpost.
Peer Picks of 2011 - Dave Power (Adelyn Rose, Meridene, Kalispell)

Peer Picks of 2011 – Dave Power (Adelyn Rose, Meridene, Kalispell)

Looking at his list of associated acts, it’s apparent Dave Power is a man with his drumsticks in a lot of pies.  As a drummer with the musical acumen to juggle several different ensembles at once, we considered it worthwhile to see what he views as the audial high-points of 2011. His list is as follows...
Peer Picks of 2011 - Ben Hinz (The Ronald Raygun)

Peer Picks of 2011 – Ben Hinz (The Ronald Raygun)

Ben Hinz is lead-singer and guitarist for Doom/Triphop outfit The Ronald Raygun. He is also the owner of Dwarfcraft Devices. While his music might suggest he'd just as soon bludgeon you to death with a lead pipe as look at you, he was kind enough to send us to jot down a few ruminations on...
Peer Picks of 2011 - Andy Plank

Peer Picks of 2011 – Andy Plank

We continue with our Peer Picks of 2011 with Andy Plank, one of the founders of PeerValidated and long-time Eau Claire music scene enthusiast. Andy gives you his top 10 albums of 2011.
Peer Picks of 2011 - Peter Miller (We Are The Willows)

Peer Picks of 2011 – Peter Miller (We Are The Willows)

Before the end of the first month in 2012, we will be sharing Peer Picks of 2011 by area musicians and contributors. First on the list, weighing in with his top 5 albums of last year, is Peter Miller of We Are The Willows.
Poliça, Marijuana Deathsquads @ House of Rock

Poliça, Marijuana Deathsquads @ House of Rock

Minneapolis' ultra-hyped Poliça, supported by Marijuana Deathsquads, played Eau Claire's House of Rock on January 11th, filling the tiny venue to capacity with fans eager to check out the next big thing.
Zoo Animal - "Dream On"

Zoo Animal – “Dream On”

The droning of a close-by generator and the scraping of the frozen rink accompany Holly for her Dreamer's serenade. This track, and the rest of Zoo Animal's Departure EP, is available streaming before its release next month.
Poliça - "Lay Your Cards Out"

Poliça – “Lay Your Cards Out”

Poliça continues to feed the hype, releasing of the official music video for "Lay Your Cards Out." The track from the recently released Give You The Ghost features a cameo by guest artist Mike Noyce (Bon Iver, Gayngs).
Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2:  Judges

Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges

Vol. 2: Judges is loosely crafted around a surrealistic narrative (which Stetson may eventually turn into a graphic novel) in which a man who has been lost at sea washes up on an island populated by a pack of blind horses (these are the “Judges”) who charge wildly about the land firing cannons that...
Laarks, The Gentle Guest, Holly Newsom @ House of Rock

Laarks, The Gentle Guest, Holly Newsom @ House of Rock

After a lengthy hiatus, Laarks finally made their triumphant return to Eau Claire, storming the House of Rock on a frigid Thursday evening.
Kurt Vile - "The Creature"

Kurt Vile – “The Creature”

“The Creature” comes from the EP So Outta Reach (Fall 2011), which was recorded in the same session as the full length Smoke Ring For My Halo (Spring 2011), all of which was produced by John Agnello, whose previous work includes bands like Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, the Hold Steady, etc.
Bon Iver packs Zorn Arena for two sold-out homecoming shows

Bon Iver packs Zorn Arena for two sold-out homecoming shows

It’s been nearly three years since local-favorites-turned-Grammy-nominees Bon Iver have played a show in their hometown of Eau Claire, but on December 12th and 13th, the band took to UW-Eau Claire’s Zorn Arena for two sold-out shows.
Adelyn Rose, Moro @ The Cabin

Adelyn Rose, Moro @ The Cabin

December 10th, 2011 - Adelyn Rose played UWEC's The Cabin with Moro and a solo opening set by Ian Jacoby. Listen to 'Tails' by Adelyn Rose and view photographs from the show.