Typhoon is better than the Badgers at: Cramming the starting line behind a tiny desk; performing live FO FREE; and having fans in Kentucky.
The Badgers are better than Typhoon at: like, basketball.
WUD Music knows where you’ll be on Saturday evening: elbow-tucked between 40,000 sweating Badger fans in your favorite bar. They also know that from 1:30 to 4:30 pm in The Sett at Union South, a certain sound will give you the evening boost you’ll need. That sound will come from three bands: Hollow Wood, Wild Ones, and Typhoon.
Check out Hollow Wood’s spirited jam “Little Bird.” This piece opens and closes at a gentle pace with a precise orchestration, painting listeners an optimistic path with flowing colors.
Wild Ones transcends this concept of audible color with “Golden Twin,” a track that could mask a Rubik’s Cube in ultraviolet camouflage in the dark. And that doesn’t even make sense!
But what is Typhoon all about? The collective’s honcho, Kyle Morton, spilled the milk on the band’s latest doings in a recent chat:
Who were you as a musician before Typhoon?
“Before Typhoon, I played in Salem, Oregon with some of the members from Typhoon — Toby, Tyler, Eric. We were a garage rock/punk band. Before that, I was in my high school band and was a guitarist in the jazz choir.”
Does the vast size of your band make it harder or easier to write and make music?
“Both. It depends on when inspiration takes you. It usually starts with a simple idea but then we have to adapt things to a larger ensemble. There are limitless possibilities with all the instruments, but at the same time it can be daunting and paralyzing to have such a big ensemble.”
I always wished I could play the sitar. What is one instrument you wish you could play? How would you fit that sound into your band?
“The cello… viola… violin… upright bass. I would sit in the recording room and create heavily layered string layers. Also the clarinet, but that’s a whole different beast.”
Do you feel the energy of Typhoon more in a tight environment, like when you performed at NPR Tiny Desk, or in front of a sold out crowd?
“It depends. The venue does affect our performances. We play to the room. We play louder in a larger room with acoustics. We played quieter when we were in a church in Austin at SXSW — some peace and quiet in the city limits. But there’s something transcendent about a big rock ‘n’ roll show. Everyone goes crazy and I play my heart out.”
What comes to mind when you think about playing at the University of Wisconsin’s student union?
“I picture there being a lot of intelligent young people. I’m excited to go back to Wisconsin. I haven’t been back since I was a kid. I used to visit my uncle who has a lake house in northern Wisconsin. The Midwest has a certain milieu that I’m comfortable with.”
Get comfortable with Typhoon on Saturday. The passionate ensemble will tickle each and every one of your fancies and round off the epic day for the Badgers. Did I mention the concert is free?