They are sidewalk muses who serenade passing students, state senators and shoppers; their vocal personalities are as well known as their songs that create a soundtrack for quite a theatrical downtown.
As Wisconsin's electoral votes grow more pivotal in the upcoming presidential election, the musicians of State Street, like other Badger State residents, will share the responsibility of determining our nation's next leader.
When asked to characterize his political ideology, Tom Ryan, perhaps Madison's most controversial piccolo player and a fixture outside University Book Store, described himself as more liberal than conservative. A supporter of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, Ryan cited the war in Iraq as the issue of greatest importance.
\I only saw one [of the debates], I think it was the second one between Kerry and Bush, and I thought Kerry looked a lot better than Bush,"" Ryan said, his blaze-orange jacket adorned with a Kerry-Edwards button.
Standing outside the Orpheum Theatre, 216 State St., a guitarist by the name of Chris, who declined to give his surname, performed for a receptive audience under the stage name ""Weinerstick."" ""Weinerstick"" said he was concerned President Bush and Kerry assert their own moral views when enacting legislation. He added if he was not on probation for marijuana use, he would vote for neither.
""Our minimum wage is pathetic to what it should be,"" he added.
Down the street, a trio of drummers beat the cold October night with percussion, entertaining those dining at State Street Brats, 603 State St. When asked which candidate would receive his vote Nov. 2, drummer Michael LaBella said he does not support the current political system, arguing the Electoral College system is flawed. LaBella added he found it difficult to distinguish between the candidates.
""I feel like it's the same thing with two different faces,"" LaBella said.
Some minstrels are more overt in expressing their political attitudes. Madison area musicians not affiliated with U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold's, D-Wis., campaign have established camp on Library Mall on six consecutive Thursday nights to highlight the senator's re-election bid.
Group member Michael Kuenzi acknowledged that a barrage of jungle, house and reggae techno music can be grating to those who don't appreciate it.
""We want to catch [students'] attention or annoy them into voting,"" Kuenzi said.
Kuenzi favors Kerry in the presidential election, in part because Kuenzi said he believes Kerry is more articulate than Bush and has a better comprehension of facts.
""We need common sense in the White House,"" Kuenzi said.
