Chris Ruppenthal plays 78s & Mal-O-Dua

Art in the cafe...

Laurel Statz


"The Spectator"


December 2025



Laurel Statz is a painter and Madison area native. Her work, while figurative, is influenced by abstraction and minimalism. The paintings often have a quick and instinctual nature, capturing just what’s needed. While she often times herself to eliminate extra details and over-precision, she has ventured into more detailed works as well. Laurel does not attach narrative to her pieces. Rather, she thinks of them like a journaling process for her scatter-brained psyche. The figures in the pieces are meant to be processing tools for the artist and the viewer. She hopes that seeing these figures helps the...
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Friday, September 21, 2018
8:00 pm

Between 1915 and 1925 more Hawaiian records were sold than any other genre of music! As a result there are some important firsts that happened in the Hawaiian music genre that were also firsts in the history of recorded music overall. Step back into this "Golden Age of Hawaiian Music" for some antique Aloha! Join avid 78RPM record collector and professional musician Chris Ruppenthal (Mal-O-Dua, Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble, The North Westerns) for a vintage record listening session and a very special Mal-O-Dua performance!

During the first set Chris will add historical context and significance to the original early 78 RPM record issues you will hear played on a circa 1910 Victor Monarch IV horned phonograph and vintage portable tube powered record player. Then later Chris will be joined by Cedric of Mal-O-Dua for a live performance during the second set. You will hear their unique versions of some of the classic original Hawaiian music. As a special bonus Mal-O-Dua will be joined by a local Hula dance trio for a few performances!

Chris did a similar presentation as a featured speaker at the HSGA (Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association) 2016 national conference and has been invited to do another in 2018. But now you can experience it here in Madison.