This week host and Northland student Dan Romano takes on golf and Tiger Woods’ performance at the AT&T Pebble Beach tournament last weekend, as well as Knicks player Jeremy Lin’s time in the spotlight after the Knicks/Raptors game. The show wraps up with a review of Northland men and women’s basketball and Northland men’s hockey. Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. on 97.7 WRNC.

Local musician Nathan Parent

Nathan Parent is a young musician hailing from the Lake Superior shore city of Ashland, Wisconsin.

Music was a passion from a very young age, citing A-Ha’s, “Take On Me” as his earliest known favorite song at the age of 2. He got his musical start when his oldest brother began teaching him to play drum kit at the age of 10. From there, he moved to guitar; which he learned from his, then, best friend (LarsErik Lee Hagglund) and his father (Lars Hagglund) at the age of 15.

Upon completing high school in May of 2006, he went on to study Chemistry at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, only to drop out after one semester to pursue his passion as a singer-songwriter, a la Sondre Lerche.

Along the way he met many new friends from around the world and befriended almost every major musical influence in his life. He recorded his first studio track titled, “Please, Stop the Rush” with Sound Engineer, Ryan Rusch during July and August of 2007; and soon after moved to Bowie, Maryland. While living Maryland, he was offered the chance opportunity to record with Norwegian musical artists, Petter Folkedal (a.k.a.: Sergeant Petter) and Tommy Haltbakk (The Royalties) in Bergen, Norway during January of 2008. In his one week living there, and with help from both musicians, he completed his second studio track, “You’re Mine.”

He later returned home to Ashland, feeling defeated in Maryland and uncertain of his direction, he began working with Ryan Rusch again. Together they spent the many months (starting in May of 2008) working on the then titled, “Listening In” LP. Finishing in a rush (during December of 2008), he returned to Bergen once again in search of help for his album. He spent the entire month of January developing his style while playing out at local cafes and music venues, along with many of his favorite artists (Sergeant Petter, The Royalties, Professor Pez, Real Ones, Unknown Joe, Oh! Little Sangmen, and others), and writing a brand new song that would become one of his best known fan favorites, “First Blood”. He realized that night, that he must start over on what he worried was a failed attempt at capturing his vision. Upon arrival back in the U.S., he asked for Ryan Rusch’s assistance once more. This time, however, they would spend almost two years (starting in February of 2009) developing the complex arrangements (featuring many local and three international musicians) that would become his debut album, re-titled, “Words Without Meaning”. It is seen as a major milestone in his life and has begun the next phase of an already epic journey to musical artistry.

Sen. Fitzgerald Refers Mining Bill to JFC

Madison, WI — In an effort to ensure that mining legislation can pass before the end of the session, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) announced today that he is dissolving the Senate Select Committee on Mining Jobs and referring the Assembly mining bill to the Joint Finance Committee.

Sen. Fitzgerald released the following statement:

“A new mine in Northern Wisconsin has the potential to bring thousands of jobs and real economic relief to an area of Wisconsin that desperately needs it. Wisconsin needs jobs, not politics, and Republicans will continue to fight to get our economy back on its feet.

“Over the past five months, the Select Committee on Mining has taken a close look at a wide range of issues surrounding a potential mine in Northern Wisconsin, and they have heard from a wide range of voices. But we can’t allow the clock to run out on a project that could mean a generation of good-paying jobs and revitalize an entire local economy.

“Sadly, we’re stuck in a hyper-political world where the Democrats are likely to say and do anything to oppose this jobs bill, just for the sake of opposing it. I’m glad to be among leaders in Madison willing to work through distraction and discord to keep job creation as the top goal for Wisconsin.”

For more information on the latest news on the bill, you can visit the following links to learn more.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article

91.3 KUWS/Wisconsin Public Radio story

Associated Press story

Dan Romano

Note to listeners: A technical issue with WRNC’s recording equipment has resulted in some minor clicks and jumps in the audio.

College basketball, Superbowl aftermath and Northland sports

Romano’s Rage covers college basketball, the aftermath of the Superbowl and Northland’s women’s and men’s basketball, as well as Northland hockey. Host, and Northland student, Dan Romano goes over the fall of the New England Patriots and New York Giants’ comeback in the second half. Also, Romano covers Wednesday’s college basketball face-off between Duke and the University of North Carolina. The show wraps up with a reflection on men’s and women’s basketball games last weekend and a look ahead to the teams’ last home games this weekend.

Steve Matier (left) and Andy Noyes

Northland College radio station 97.7 WRNC-LP will unveil a new show featuring local musicians on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. WRNC Music Director and Northland student Jeremiah Cornehl hosts the radio segment, interviewing local artists and bands about the music they create. Musicians also perform live in-studio or bringtracks from their latest work for broadcast.

“The Chequamegon Bay area is rich with local talent, and we at WRNC recognize the benefit of a community with a strong, vibrant music and arts scene,” said Danielle Kaeding, WRNC station manager. “WRNC aims to do what it can to raise awareness of the gifted musicians who have made their home on the south shore of Lake Superior.”

The first guests on the debut show of “Studio Sessions” are local musicians Andy Noyes and Steve Matier. Noyes plays acoustic guitar and has more than 25 years of experience in audio engineering, concert sound and studio recording. Noyes is also a guitar instructor, maintaining his own teaching studio. Matier, a native of Belfast, Ireland, is a singer/songwriter and drummer. He was one of the founding members of Different Drums of Ireland and performed with the group before former President Bill Clinton in 1999. The two musicians, who both reside in Washburn, met at Big Top Chautauqua and have been playing together since June 2010. They hope to release a CD exploring the links between American and Irish music in the spring of this year.

“I grew up in Belfast and the time I grew up there was not very pleasant. There were a lot of bombs and peoplegetting shot. I think looking back at it, music was a way for me not to getinvolved with that,” said Matier during “Studio Sessions.”

“Music is medicine and medicine is good for people,” added Andy Noyes. “The longer I’ve played, I realize that’s my job: go get the medicine.”

WRNC welcomes local musicians who live in the Chequamegon Bay area to be interviewed on “Studio Sessions.” Musicians are encouraged to share their thoughts about why music is important to them, as well as what inspires or influences them. Programs are recordedahead of time and aired at a later date. Any local artists interested in being interviewed on the show may call (715) 682-1664 for more information or email md@wrnclp.org. Listeners may stream the show online at www.wrnclp.org.