The ghost particles is a new band comprised of veteran Madison musicians, some of whom have been active on the local music scene since the mid-’70s. Bassist Joel Tappero (Spooner), keyboardist Don Irwin (The Rousers), guitarist, harmony vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Dave Benton (Spooner, The Rousers, The Waterdogs) and lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist Phil Davis (First Person, Fire Town, The Emperors of Wyoming) came together in the fall of 2019, planning to record an EP of originals and start playing live shows. But the global pandemic of 2020 changed all that, shutting down live performances worldwide.

Fortunately, the band members had extensive recording experience. They moved effortlessly into a new and vital phase—arranging and recording the new 11-song debut album of Davis originals in their respective personal studios, then transferring master quality tracks among themselves before sending them off to be mixed.

Working with Minneapolis producer, drummer, and mixer extraordinaire Jeremy Tappero, who has his own recording studio and is also the bassist for Twin Cities luminaries Soul Asylum, the new ghost particles record is built on a highly collaborative, guitar-based foundation that synthesizes a panoply of the band’s deep pop and rock musical influences and harmonies. The band plans to release single tracks and videos from the album periodically. They will make the entire album available for worldwide streaming from online music services or download from Artisanal Records, CD Baby, and Bandcamp. The ghost particles are currently recording and rehearsing with new band member drummer Lee Laski (Stavin’ Chain, The Rousers, The Waterdogs) as they prepare for live performances later in 2022.