Resurrecting Reverence

Wednesday evening is the kickoff of day one of the annual Reverence music festival that almost didn't happen this year.

For five years, rivetheads and other connoisseurs of dark electronic music looked forward every summer to the biggest party of it's kind in the Midwest. What had started as a going away party for a local musician ironically transformed into the start of something big; by it's fifth year, Reverence had grown into four nights of industrial music and other harsh electronics from underground acts both in the land of cheese and from many other states and continents. But last year promoter Matt Fanale had grown weary of the constant stress that goes with booking bands and losing money. He announced that he was leaving the business, with the exception of setting up occasional shows for local acts or friends (as he did when the California powernoise duo C/A/T made a pit stop here while on tour in July), and was probably taking Reverence with him. But like a certain Green Bay quarterback, Fanale decided that retirement sucked (after his wife talked him out of it) and Reverence is back for a 6th round of mayhem.

The party is somewhat scaled back this year, at least in comparison to 2007; there is no Thursday gig, giving patrons' livers a day of recovery between Wednesday's show at the Inferno (featuring Madison's own CTRLSHFT, Chicago's Breath And Decay, and Defcon, who have members in both cities) and the weekend's festivities. Friday is an all ages night at the High Noon Saloon that imports music from all corners of the globe, with headliner Scandy (from Atlanta and Norway, featuring Andy LaPlegua who fronts the more well known Combichrist), Claire Voyant (from California, making good on a raincheck as they had to cancel last year after an illness sidelined them), Sensuous Enemy (a half male and female quartet from Madison who expect to release a CD this fall) and Cervello Elettronico (from New York). On Saturday the party swings back to the Inferno, with performances from Soman (Germany), The Gothsicles (Chicago, formerly of Madison), Ego Likeness (Baltimore), Parasite Twin (a side project of Fanale and Madison solo artist Brian Schuh), Marching Dynamics (California) and The Dark Clan (Milwaukee). Surprises have happened every year, including unannounced bands taking the stage, and there are promises for that to continue.

Reverence wasn't originally intended to happen a second time. Travel back to 2003; Ned Kirby, the founding member of Stromkern, was leaving for the West Coast. Matt's goodbye present for the frontman of the legendary industrial band that had achieved underground popularity in both America and Europe was booking five of Ned's favorite bands from around the US for a night of music and drinking at the Inferno, with Stromkern putting the finishing touches on the evening. It was such a success that another party was booked the next year; dubbed Irreverence, with Stromkern once again headlining, it ended up being known more for the drinking competition that seemed to take place among most of the bands, but they all put on solid performances.

Year three expanded to two nights of music; Stromkern didn't play this year, but performances from popular underground acts Manufactura, Imperative Reaction, and Combichrist more than made up for Ned's absence. Stromkern returned the next two years, but a shadow hung over last year's event as it appeared that a good thing was coming to an end. Wanting to go out with a bang, Fanale booked a four-night marathon.

The resurrected Reverence won't have Stromkern this time around, but it will still be what it has always been: a celebration of both locally grown talent and an enduring global scene.

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An Interview with Matt Fanale before Reverence 2007