The Big Payback

The Big Payback is an award winning jazz-rock band featuring the “strong and sultry pipes” of vocalist Leah Isabel Tirado and a smoking horn section (Isthmus, 11/17/16). Mixing “ambitious original tunes that challenge even the most talented instrumentalists” (La Crosse Tribune) with classic covers, the band’s live show never fails to get the crowd moving. Animal Brain, the group’s second release, won the Madison Area Music Award (MAMA) for Jazz Album of the Year in 2017. The music covers a wide range of territory, from the energetic soul/pop of “Power to Let Go” to the MAMA-winning Rock Song of the Year “Running with the Fire.” The record is wholly original material by guitarist Kyle Rightley, except an up-tempo rendition of the Jimi Hendrix classic “Crosstown Traffic.” This event is intended for UW-Madison students, faculty, staff, Wisconsin Union members and their guests. Anyone can become a Wisconsin Union member at union.wisc.edu/membership .