"IF ONLY WE WERE JUST LIKE WE ARE" REVIEW AT I AM ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE

This band of four sisters in song is breathing some much needed life into the folk
music genre. Unlike what most have come to know from folk singers, Little Red Wolf is
to their genre what Taylor Swift is to country music…a youthful and vibrant kick in the
pants.

“Let It Go”, the opener to the band’s EP is a great introduction to Little Red Wolf’s
talent. The song embodies great rhythm, vocal brilliance, solid production and all the
key elements of a hit recording. Let It Go will have listeners tapping their toes and
singing along in no time.

My top choice from LRW is “The Balloon Song”, which is an open invitation into the
lead singer’s feelings for her love interest. My favorite part about this track is the vocal
harmonies and how LRW just keeps it simple. A light and airy song with a beautiful
vocal performance, “Balloon” is well written and keeps the music production to a
minimum, allowing the singer to showcase her greatness.

While we may never hear Little Red Wolf on Top 40 radio in a major metropolitan area
anytime soon, there’s no denying that these young ladies are poised to revolutionize
the folk music genre, and could very well become the first folk band to record a #1 hit
some day.

"Our ultimate goal we hope -- more than anything, I think -- that our music makes
people feel something - preferably good, but really almost any kind of emotional and/or
mental reaction to music is a compliment.  And maybe we can bring something you've
never heard or thought about before into your day." -- Little Red Wolf

Make sure you stop by their website and support this talented group of musicians, they
deserve it.

Reviewing the Neighbors: Little Red Wolf, "If Only We Were Just Like We Are"

One of the most common pitfalls for music that exists under the broad category of “folk” is that uncreative instrumentation can make it painfully boring. Such is certainly not the case with Little Red Wolf’s debut album, If Only We Were Just Like We Are. The album rewards multiple listens with rich and varied instrumentation. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Neko Case and the Ditty Bops, whose influence can be heard throughout, Little Red Wolf has succeeded in creating a very complete first record.

As a genre, “folk” or “pop folk” might be too limiting to describe what Little Red Wolf is capable of, anyway. Band members Meghan Rose, Kelly Maxwell, Laura Detert and Emily Mills each clearly bring a love for making their sound dynamic with a very wide range of technical proficiencies as musicians, especially with strings. Featuring a variety of guitars, a piano, harmonica, accordion, fiddle and incredibly sweet multi-part harmonies, it is impressive that Little Red Wolf’s music isn’t more chaotic. Overall, the album is crisp, cohesive and very well produced – at times perhaps even too polished in some places – but there is enough variety in their songs to keep listeners of all backgrounds happy.

If Only We Were Just Like We Are is at its best when the tempo gets going and the lyrics get darker. With a piano hook that will resonate for days, standout "Many Words" could easily be at home in the rotation of college radio stations all over North America. On the opening track, "Let It Go," the band deals with issues of loss, regret and rebirth all in a mildly subversive singsong voice. Elsewhere, on the track "Welcome to Rest," they sing of becoming increasingly complacent with life saying, “I don’t feel anything. I find it hard to be positive,” while later suggesting that the metaphysical consequences of death might not be so bad – a dark note that is cleverly hidden by a seemingly casual melodic structure.

The band’s music might benefit from a little imperfection and roughness, but Little Red Wolf has offered a first effort that will leave people who appreciate thoughtful music wondering what they might be capable of in the coming years.

Reviewing the Neighbors: Little Red Wolf's "If Only We Were Remixed"

Just last year, in blizzard-like conditions on a snowy-night in December, Little Red Wolf celebrated the release of their debut album, If Only We Were Just Like We Are. Yesterday they released their first remix album, the compilation If Only We Were Remixed, but instead of remixing their own delightful multi-instrumental folk-pop songs Little Red Wolf handed the reigns over to some of Madison’s favorite industrial/electronic artists. The EP features six re-imaginings from Caustic, Null Device, Black Jack Red Queen, and The Dark Clan. It was also mastered by Eric Oehler of Null Device at Submersible Studios in Madison.

If Only We Were Remixed features three very different remixes of “Balloon Song.” The original version was probably my favorite track on Little Red Wolf’s debut and I was curious to see how the melodic folk ballad would fare in an industrial translation. Each remix from Caustic and The Dark Clan highlight some darker elements of the song, which adds even more of a haunting aspect to the track, especially with regards to the vocals. Black Jack Red Queen’s (Brad Hawes of Cemetery Improvement Society's side project) remix is a bit more whimsical and upbeat in its interpretation, but all three are exciting remixes that still manage to compliment the original.

Null Device’s Bollywood-inspired remix of “Bend” seems to have drawn some inspiration from the lyrics (“First step right...pretend pretend this bone will bend”) with a nod to some of the seemingly anatomically-impossible dance steps and beats found in tribal dance. I bet Little Red Wolf never imagined one of their songs could make an appearance in a belly dancing class. I’m off to get my hand cymbals and tambourine now.

While it may have sounded odd initially that a band known for pretty harmonies and a penchant for using a myriad of string instruments would be remixed by some of Madison’s industrial heavyweights, If Only We Were Remixed is well worth the download. Little Red Wolf’s spirit shines through on this compilation, even with a liberal dusting of EBM here and there.

The EP is only being released digitally and you can find it here. Little Red Wolf asks for at least a $1 for the download, but be generous and give these ladies some more dough, especially if you enjoyed their first album.

"2009 Madison's Favorites: Arts & Entertainment"

The winners in the Arts & Entertainment category are a mix of old favorites and newbies, some of them in ripped fishnet stockings. Madison clearly likes to rock, but it also has a penchant for William Shakespeare, art movies and Latin jazz. Yes, we have a particular kind of taste in this town — and Lou & Peter Berryman have probably already written a quirky folk song about it.

Madison's Favorite New Band
1. Little Red Wolf
2. Shaneshane
3. Sexy Esther & the Pretty Mama Sisters
The female rockers of Little Red Wolf caught your attention with soaring harmonies and unusual colors provided by such instruments as accordion and viola.

"Women Rock for the Cure on seven Madison stages"

Even in Madison in 2010, more men than women join local rock bands, aspire to be DJs or try to make a go of it as a rap artist or hip-hop producer. But for one night, on Friday, Oct. 15, Madison's live-music calendar features a lot more female performers than usual.

That's because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for the third consecutive year, the Madison affiliate of the national nonprofit Susan G. Komen for the Cure is taking its prevention campaign to local music venues.

Women Rock for the Cure features 16 performers entertaining on seven stages, from the east side to the west side. They'll represent a wide variety of genres and styles.

"We wanted the music to be diverse and to appeal to different audiences, because this is an awareness event, and breast cancer doesn't know a person's age or socioeconomic status," says Laura Richards, development director for Komen Madison.

Richards says that, in 2008, the organizers considered having the event in one big venue. "But then we decided we might reach more people by spreading it out across the community." An all-volunteer organizing committee approached club owners, who helped invite bands and solo artists.

If you attend the event, where you go will likely be decided by your taste in music. If you're an acoustic-roots music fan, check in to the Brink Lounge by 7 p.m. Friday. You'll be treated to the swooning vocal harmonies of Little Red Wolf. The Madison quartet's instrumentation includes viola, accordion, keys, guitars, bass and drums. On songs like "Bella in the Elm," the band turns up its amps and rocks. The folk-rock of Madison's Beth Kille and Racine's Liza Day is also in the Brink lineup.

At the Inferno, the evening's most alternative show begins at 9 p.m. with two all-female rock bands and one coed punk group. Dharmonic Deluxe mixes its keyboard work with bluesy, psychedelic guitar rock for a raw, jagged sound. With apologies to Aretha, the Deluxe's synth is played by Urethra Franklin. Venus in Furs brings B-52's-style surf-guitar to its highly danceable pop-punk songs. The trio describes its sound as "gritty body moving surf rock disco shit straight outta the Midwest." The Type uses heavy distortion to ground its garage-rock melodies. On MySpace, the band says it's influenced by "booze, getting dumped via text message, bitter cold Wisconsin winters and that time of the month," among other things.

Starting at 8:30 p.m., the program at the Hemingway Lounge features plenty of variety. The drums-'n'-guitar duo of Alex Fulton and Erika Zar perform as the Hemlines. Their lo-fi sound may be stripped down, but it's fueled by indie-rock energy. Fulton drummed for Charlemagne and, along with Zar, also performs in the Runners-Up. Sarah Hastings plays saxophone and sings in Blue Beyond, a blues-rock band that adds elements of soul and jazz to its sound.

Is Celtic music your thing? Head to Brocach on the Capitol Square at 5:30 p.m. to see the Currach. Jazz? At 8 p.m., the Tom Gullion Quartet performs at Inn on the Park (yes, some male musicians will be rocking for the cure, too). Country? Check out Tuscan Road at the Club Tavern (9 p.m.).

Even cover bands are represented. The all-female cover band Wicked Lily plays the Club Tavern, too, while the Brandymans perform at the Claddagh Irish Pub (9 p.m.).

Richards notes that 75% of funds raised will stay in Madison. She says the local Komen affiliate provides grants to help uninsured and underinsured women gain access to preventative care and treatment.

"But this isn't a huge fundraiser for us," she says. "It's mostly a fun way to do an awareness event."

"Press Yourself: The Wolf snuggles with the lamb"

The whole point of flyers, posters, and publicity photos is to attract attention to yourself and/or your event. We at Decider go through dozens of these things a week, and it's true that some are better than others. In Press Yourself, we reward clever, gimmicky, and/or offensive promotional tactics by highlighting them.

When Decider emailed Emily Mills, drummer for Little Red Wolf, for a photo to run with our calendar blurb on their appareance at The Frequency's Slappy Hour Variety Show next Friday, she informed us the relatively new local band doesn't have a proper press photo yet: "We've only got live photos and the one shot of us all sitting around holding a baby lamb." Well, we figured the lamb one would do, so here are the four ladies of LRW, looking a bazillion times more Lilith Fair than their feisty mix of folk, power-pop, and chamber-rock actually sounds. We couldn't help writing back: "Thanks. You guys are nurturing the shit out of that little fucker." "Yes," Mills replied, "but our thoughts are filled with visions of mint jelly."

There Ain't An Outlet Big Enough For A Plug This Big.

There's nothing more satisfying than discovering a new band that you can't wait to share with as many people as possible. Therefore, there's nothing more interesting or worthwhile that I'd rather share with you today than this clip from Madison's newest (and best) new band, Little Red Wolf. Here they are, performing their first song at their first live show; so even if you weren't there, you can still earn hipster cred and say 'I saw 'em first!'

Some of you will recognize the scarlet-mohawked drummer as notorious Madison gadabout (and CDP Alumni), Emily Mills. Now, Emily is a proud member of about...oh...164 different local bands, but LRW to me, seems like the one most poised on the edge of something serious. Sure, they're all adorable and perky and whatnot (which doesn't hurt a bit), but their songwriting prowess, seamless multi-instrumentation (Ms. Mills plays both the accordion and drums at the same time) and gorgeous harmonies speak on a much larger plane than a group of musically-inclined friends with nothing better to do. These women are not messing around in the least.

So, for goodness sake, check out the clip. And hey, if you dig what you hear, click on the LRW link to hear a six-pack of free tunes and get in on something new and wonderful.

Little Red Wolf

by Troy Johnson

May 2011

Success is happening fast for Little Red Wolf. The four Madison women who make up the group and have been writing multidimensional folk based pop songs together since 2008. Each member of LRW is well-versed in various instruments and the singers harmonize like a group that has been together for years. With influences ranging from seminal riot grrrls Sleater Kinney to current groups with diverse but traditional sounds like The New Pornographers and Grizzly Bear, listening to LRW develop their sound is going to be a thrilling ride. When asked what groups they would most like to share a stage with drummer Emily Mills mentioned the Ditty Bops and Fleet Foxes. “Both of these groups have taken traditional American music and found a way to put their own, unique and—frankly—awesome, spin on it. I think we’d mesh pretty well with them.” Kelly Maxwell added, “Little Red Wolf with Fleet Foxes would be amazing. I would just die of happiness.”

The four seem to agree that traditional folk music is just a starting point in their quote"collaborative” song writing process. Maxwell said, “Most of the time it starts with something simple and we all add to it: One of us has a riff, we’ll work on it in rehearsal several times with different instruments until it sounds right, then someone will bring lyrics and that person gets to sing it.”

On a recent song they are working on called “Pop Song” that has been in the works for a while Maxwell and Mills described specifically what it’s like for LRW to write. “We were just goofing around in practice and Emily had a very punk drum beat, Meg had this annoying guitar solo riff that was pretty fast, and Laura grabbed the bass and played this walk-down thing, then Em called dibs on lyric-writing right away…the three of us tend to take turns singing lead on any given song and we know pretty early on whose voice best fits the music of a particular track.” Mills adds, “Then Kelly came back from being abroad this winter and we tried a few different instrument variations until she picked up the keytar and it fit in perfectly. We are all conscious of not stepping on each other’s range—if what I’m playing on guitar is the same pitch range as Laura’s viola, for example, we try to change it or have it harmonize with the other.”

Early this year they released ‘If Only We Were Remixed’ a collaborative with other Madison musicians that puts an electronic spin on their debut album “If Only We Were Just Like We Are” and is a perfect example of their eagerness to branch out in their style. On it, LRW’s original and already entrancing folk track “Balloon Song” is remixed three different times. Included is my favorite: Caustic Static Cling’s remix with a spooky trance sound that would fit the mix at any house party. The band is thrilled with how well the project turned out. Maxwell said, “Our genre of music isn’t typically the kind that lends itself well to remixing. We were blown away by all of the artists we worked with, how different the tracks were both from the originals and from each other.”

The band tries to connect directly with fans through their website www.littleredwolfmusic.com and Facebook page where they frequently post new material and concert details. Little Red Wolf will be playing at the WORT Block Party on Sunday, May 22 at 12:30 p.m. Maxwell told me how their sound and style can change greatly when they are live depending on audience, venue, the crew that sets up the sound system. “At the WORT block party, you can expect to see a lively, harmony-heavy set of our more up-tempo songs, some brand-new songs, and Little Red Wolf having a great time because playing music is our favorite thing of all.”