Justin Vernon, or Bon Iver as he's more commonly known, is perhaps Wisconsin's most famous homegrown musician since the Violent Femmes and Packers-loving producer Butch Vig. To celebrate Vernon for putting the Badger State back on the rock map, Mayor Tom Barrett announced that tomorrow, July 22nd, will be forever known as Bon Iver Day in Milwaukee. (And we thought June 21st was Bon Iver Day.) Vernon just happens to be launching his international tour tomorrow night at the city's Riverside Theater, Pitchfork writes. No word yet if Vernon's biggest fan, Kanye West, will be in attendance.
Vernon does wear his cheese-and-beer-stained roots on his sleeve: His hometown is Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and he recorded his acclaimed debut For Emma, Forever Ago during a self-imposed exile in a secluded northwestern Wisconsin cabin. That album featured a bonus track called "Wisconsin," and his latest self-titled disc (also recorded in the state) contains a track called "Minnesota, WI." So yeah, you can say Bon Iver is Milwaukee's Best (hey-yo!).
"Bon Iver's music embraces Justin Vernon's Wisconsin heritage, as he has become an international ambassador for both Milwaukee and Wisconsin, while they travel across the world playing music and interact with national media," Barrett wrote in his official proclamation for Bon Iver Day. "The City of Milwaukee joins supporting fans to enjoy the entertaining performance of Bon Iver and commends the band for their musical accomplishments."
[Photo: Jay West/WireImage.com]