{image1}After releasing the stunning first full-length album "Bury the Pattern," the noise-pop quintet and Sparkler Records recording artists The New Blind Nationals have called it quits.
Best known for their reputation of being the villains of the Milwaukee music scene, the split was an amicable one, according to vocalists and guitarists Kyle Altadonna and Tony Weber. Drummer Joe Kirschling, whose experience helped bring some maturity and reverence to the melodic chaos that is laced throughout "Bury the Pattern," decided to leave the group. Not wanting to again go through the frustration of finding a drummer, the remaining members -- Altadonna, Weber, bassist Josef Blind and guitarist/keyboardist Michael Marchant -- are leaving the stage on a high note.
Weber says he will look upon his days playing with the Nationals with fondness, remarking, "It sucks being in a band and not being in a band."
This also allows the band members to try some new projects of their own. Marchant is already hard at work on his. As for Altadonna and Weber, they are hitting the books and focusing on finishing school so after graduation they can focus on getting a new musical project off the ground.
However, they are not digging their noses completely into their studies. The two remain hard at work trying to unite bands in Milwaukee, so Smart Pop.net was created, a Web site that will be an encompassing and welcoming hub for local musicians and fans alike, and will include reviews, articles, show dates, links to studios, labels, stores and Web sites, and information about local bands.
Altadonna explains, "I really want to foster some sort of community (in the local scene). (The site) will not be affiliated with any particular venue, band, label or genre."
Their first step in creating some unity is a 21-track compilation called "Kill The Scene," which will include tracks from Crime and Judy, Modern Machines and The Attractive Female Twins. Altadonna hopes it will be ready when the Nationals play their farewell shows in the coming weeks.
The first farewell show will take place at the Shorewood Legion Hall on Oct. 16. An all ages show, the Nationals will perform with ifihadahifi, Bob Gun, Modern Machines, The Shuffled Vibes and Fashion UK. Their final show will take place at the venue where it all began, Riverwest Commons on Oct. 28. Ifihadahifi and 1984 will also perform.
