My First Band Podcast

Latest Episodes:

81 – Jim Hanke (Vinyl Emergency, Twinstar, El Oso) Sep 18, 2020

Show notes

Over the course of the show's 137-episode run (and counting!), Jim Hanke's Vinyl Emergency podcast has featured in-depth conversations with notable musicians about their record collections and albums they had a hand in making. Before he was interviewing performers about their emotional attachment to wax (and producing other well-received podcasts), Hanke was a musician in his own right.

Recently, Hanke took on the guest role for a change when My First Band host Tyler Maas caught up with him to talk about his show, other projects he's working on at the moment and the ongoing vinyl boom. After swapping stories about their podcasts, the conversation turned to Hanke's musical history. Over the course of the lengthy discussion, the performer-turned-podcaster talked about impressive opening gigs his band Twinstar played, his stint in El Oso, moving to Illinois during his time with Kid, You'll Move Mountains, and the circumstances that took him from the stage to the studio.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and El Oso ("Lions").

80 – Trapper Schoepp Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

Through the years, Trapper Schoepp has released four excellent albums, played hundreds of shows all over the U.S. and Europe, shared the stage with some of music's most noted names, had songs on television, and has established himself as one of Wisconsin's premier performers. Oh, and he also has a co-writing credit with Bob Dylan! Before he was making a living as a musician and collaborating with legends, Schoepp was a kid in Ellsworth, Wisconsin who took up the guitar after suffering a BMX-related injury.

Now that the pandemic has canceled his European tour and thrown a wrench in his usually busy summer show schedule, Schoepp has some time to catch up with My First Band host Tyler Maas. Over the course of the conversation, the accomplished singer-songwriter talked about the ways he's keeping busy and staying productive, his experience playing a few socially distant drive-in shows, and the unexpected set of circumstances that led to him finishing a song Dylan started many years earlier. Of course, Scheopp also looked back on his early on-stage experiences, including important albums his dentist gave him, memories of his first shows, enduring some rowdy Social Distortion fans, being stranded in a small town on the way home from tour and formative figures that helped bring him to the place he is today.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Trapper Schoepp ("Keep Me In Your Heart" and "On, Wisconsin").

79 – Lydia Loveless Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

With such a vast and downright impressive body of work to her credit, you might be shocked to learn Lydia Loveless just turned 30. Since 2010, the singer and songwriter has released a handful of critically acclaimed albums, toured relentlessly, shared the stage with some folk and country legends, and managed to fashion quite a career for herself. Before Loveless was a household name in the realm of alt-country with her solo work, she was playing bass guitar in a band with her family members.

Recently, Loveless, who is celebrating her 30th birthday the day of this episode's release, spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about growing up on a farm in the small Ohio town of Coshocton, learning to play guitar and piano while being homeschooled, early shows with her family's band, and playing out on her own during her late teen years. Along the way, Loveless spoke about Daughter (the excellent new album she's releasing on her own label Sept. 25), the ups and downs from a musical career that's spanned more than half her life and how she's staying busy in North Carolina amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Oh, and before the interview's end, she graciously indulged Maas in a little 90 Day Fiancé- and Mest-related conversation as well.

78 – Chris McCaughan (The Lawrence Arms, The Broadways, Sundowner) Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

If you're reading this, chances are you know Chris McCaughan from his work in The Lawrence Arms. Over the course of more than 20 years singing and playing guitar in the iconic Chicago punk band, McCaughan has shared the stage with some of his favorite musicians, performed throughout the world, contributed to a number of celebrated records and has earned the affection of countless diehard fans all over the globe. Prior to his unlikely beginning with The Lawrence Arms and well before he started his beloved Sundowner side project, McCaughan was just a kid taking piano lessons, teaching himself to play guitar and falling in love with punk rock.

A few weeks after The Lawrence Arms released its seventh studio album, the wonderful Skeleton Coast, the band's guitarist and co-vocalist told My First Band host Tyler Maas about the process of writing the record remotely, the decision to release it during a pandemic and how comparing songs with longtime bandmate/lifelong friend Brendan Kelly breeds healthy competition and makes for great material. Over the course of the interview, McCaughan also spoke about middle school "bands" like Vegetable Train and Glad Hand (both of which also featured Kelly), his stints in Tricky Dick and The Broadways, the unexpected origin of The Lawrence Arms, his decision to start Sundowner, and the unforgettable experiences music has given him through the years.

77 – Miguel Chen (Teenage Bottlerocket) Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

You probably know Miguel Chen as a longtime member of Teenage Bottlerocket. In addition to playing bass in the renowned Wyoming punk band for close to 15 years, however, Chen is also a yoga instructor, meditation expert and author who has written three books (with a fourth on the way). Long before he fashioned a unique career out of the diverse fields of punk rock, writing and self-improvement, Chen was a kid learning the ins and outs of classical guitar in the small town of Laramie.

With the typically busy Teenage Bottlerocket currently stuck home on account of the ongoing pandemic, Chen managed to find some time to speak with My First Band host Tyler Maas about his band's canceled spring tour, his new children's book, how he's holding up in his current home of Dallas and advice he has to help people stay sane and centered during a decidedly insane point in human history. Over the course of the conversation, Chen also talked about formative punk shows in Wyoming house venues, stints in bands like Kilted Monarchs and Inspector Hector, getting a little too into drugs in his early 20s, circumstances that took him from being Teenage Bottlerocket's merch guy to the band's bassist, and unforgettable experiences he's had since joining up with the group in 2006.

76 – Joshua Ray Walker (Joshua Ray Walker, Ottoman Turks) Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

If you don't know the name Joshua Ray Walker yet, you're about to be hearing a lot about him. Since first gaining notoriety in country music circles with his 2018 debut, Wish You Were Here, the Dallas singer-songwriter has won fans all around the world and earned high praise from some of music's most renowned publications. Walker's just-released sophomore album, Glad You Made It, has garnered even more acclaim and finds the up-and-coming country talent on the cusp of even bigger and better things. He's come quite a way since he was a kid teaching himself to play a guitar he got at a garage sale.

Not long after the release of Glad You Made It, Walker spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the process of making the new record, the decision to put out a record during a pandemic and the positive response it's received so far. Over the course of the conversation, Walker also talked about his time in emo bands during his teens, couch surfing and living off Walmart taquitos in his 20s, important life advice he got from his grandfather, and how agreeing to host a folk night unknowingly reset his artistic trajectory. Along the way, he discussed his new High, Wide & Handsome clothing line and Maas made a few questionable puns.

75 – Frank Turner Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

Frank Turner has done it all. The English punk singer-songwriter has played thousands of shows over the course of his 25-year musical career. During that quarter-century span, he's released eight excellent albums under his own name, published books, founded a festival, shared the stage with some legendary acts and earned acclaim from fans all over the globe. Long before he was a world-renowned musician though, Turner was just a kid in a small U.K. village who was obsessed with Iron Maiden and intent on learning to play guitar.

Recently, in accordance with the release of his West Coast vs. Wessex cover split with NOFX and on the cusp of his milestone 2,500th show (which you can livestream on Aug. 9), Turner opened up to My First Band host Tyler Maas and told him all about his early musical experiences, as well as every memorable stop thereafter. Over the course of more than 45 minutes, the troubadour spoke about a recent socially distant show and the unique new Fat Wreck Chords split before looking back at regrettable band names of yore, unforgettable shows at squats throughout Europe, the unconventional way he wound up in Million Dead and the circumstances that led to him striking out on his own. Along the way, Turner also talked about his time in the London hardcore scene, his days in boarding school and playing his first solo show to exactly three people.

74 – William Elliott Whitmore Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

What needs to be said about William Elliott Whitmore at this point? Over the course of an impressive career that's spanned more than two decades, the folk legend has performed all around the world, shared the stage with an abundance of renowned musicians and released seven outstanding albums. Before he was captivating crowds far and wide with his quality catalog and his incomparable voice, Whitmore was lugging gear for Ten Grand and he — and his trusty banjo — were winning over audiences at punk shows as the band's opening act.

Recently, around the time his Dope Walker side project was preparing to release its debut album, My First Band host Tyler Maas was able to get Whitmore away from his family for long enough to run through his extensive and immensely interesting career. Over the course of the conversation, Whitmore discussed being a new dad, isolating on his Iowa farm and ways the pandemic has changed both his tour and album schedules. Along the way, the Midwestern music mainstay talked about inheriting his grandfather's banjo, finding success in a solo capacity, the creative itch projects like Dope Walker and Hallways of Always scratch, and some of the life-changing experiences he's had over the past 20-plus years. Before episode's end, the pair also relive memorable Wisconsin shows at places like Cactus Club and Cranky Pat's, mention mutual friends they have, and talk about Tyler's Green Bay Packers novelty band.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), Dope Walker ("These Freaks"), and William Elliott Whitmore ("Dry").

73 – Britney Freeman-Farr (B~Free) Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

Under her musical moniker of B~Free, Britney Freeman-Farr has released some outstanding albums, opened for Janelle Monáe and curated once-in-a-lifetime concerts. Long before the R&B singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist was making a name for herself in Milwaukee and far beyond, she was starting a lifelong journey of musical discovery, education and experience.

Recently, Freeman-Farr spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about her life in music. Over the course of the conversation, she talked about how she's keeping busy and staying creative during quarantine with her husband/creative partner Quinten Farr, as well as growing up in a musical family, her experiences at an arts high school and in college music courses, and the start of B~Free. Along the way, the discussion also touched on Brandy, some especially memorable performances and how she dealt with losing her voice for almost an entire year.

72 – Ty Vaughn (Broadway Calls, Countdown to Life) Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

As the singer and guitarist of Broadway Calls, Ty Vaughn has toured throughout Europe, Asia and across the United States. During the band's 15-year run, he's shared the stage with the likes of The Descendents, Bad Religion, Rancid, Alkaline Trio, Bouncing Souls and countless other world-renowned acts. Long before he was helping to put the small town of Rainier, Oregon, on the map as part of the long-tenured punk project, Vaughn was learning blues riffs on a rented acoustic guitar and developing tight musical bonds with kids who would go on to be his bandmates for decades to come.

A few days after Broadway Calls released Sad in the City on Red Scare Industries, My First Band host Tyler Maas asked Vaughn about the excellent new record — the band's first album in almost eight years — before taking a deep dive into his rich musical past. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Vaughn talked about formative shows across the river in nearby Longview, Washington, during his teens, his stint in a ska band, touring the country in a hardcore outfit called Countdown to Life, originally forming Broadway Calls as a side project, recording with Bill Stevenson and the life-changing compliment he once got from Tim Armstrong. Along the way, Maas also made some questionable jokes about The Oregon Trail and Milwaukie, Oregon.

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