My First Band Podcast

Latest Episodes:

71 – Samer Ghani (Photographer) Jul 10, 2020

Show notes

If you follow Milwaukee music, chances are you've come across Samer Ghani's work in some capacity. The photographer and videographer is responsible for a number of band photos, album covers, music videos and live shots at a wide range of local events. However, with COVID-19 halting concerts for the foreseeable future, Ghani has recently taken it upon himself to use his photography talents to help bring visibility to the Black Lives Matter protests in and around Milwaukee. Before he was an up-and-coming and versatile photographer, Ghani was playing string instruments in middle school, messing around on bass guitar in some high school punk bands and dabbling with a camera in college.

On a rare afternoon this week when he wasn't working or covering the BLM movement, Ghani opened up to My First Band about his unique path to photography, paying his way into shows to take pictures, overcoming "imposter syndrome" and how getting all his gear stolen was a blessing in disguise. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Ghani also talked about the impact the pandemic is having on his work, his experience touring with Nasty Boys, the importance of quick turnaround and collaborating with others, and what it was like to take photos for (and subsequently get to spend time backstage with) his musical idol, Tom DeLonge.

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 Paper Holland ("Slouches").

70 – Luke Bentham (The Dirty Nil) Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

As the singer and guitarist of The Dirty Nil, Luke Bentham has toured all around the world, performed in stadiums and renowned clubs, shared the stage with legendary bands like The Who, won a Juno Award, and released some outstanding albums that have helped to carry rock and roll boldly — and loudly — into the roaring '20s. Before he was fronting the long-tenured and accomplished Canadian outfit, Bentham was living in the small Ontario town of Dundas and shredding on Nirvana and Green Day covers as a member of Twisted Minds.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Bentham about the COVID-19 conditions in his corner of Canada, keeping busy in quarantine by writing material with his bandmates/roommates and the singer's lifelong affinity for rock and roll. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Bentham also opened up about the unexpectedly lengthy run The Dirty Nil has enjoyed, once being paid for a show in Dairy Queen Blizzards, formative early performances and tours, his initial aversion to singing, and why nothing quite compares to banging out songs with his friends in their concrete rehearsal space.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. 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 The Dirty Nil ("Done With Drugs").

69 – Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, The High Hawks, Rucksack Revolution) Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

Over the course of more than a decade with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Adam Greuel has shared the stage with some world-renowned acts, played some massive festivals, played throughout the country and even helped inspire a wonderful Central Waters beer. Before he was treating people throughout the Midwest (and far beyond) to his distinct bluegrass stylings, Greuel was teaching himself Grateful Dead tunes on guitar in central Wisconsin and sitting in on gigs with Loose Strings.

Prior to HHG's Driftless Music Gardens Drive-In Tailgate show on July 3, My First Band host Tyler Maas got in touch with Greuel to learn more about the unique socially distant show and to see how he's holding up under quarantine. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Greuel talked about making the most of this pause in the world's entertainment schedule, trying to focus on crucial social issues and seeking inspiration in isolation. Along the way, Greuel also gave a glimpse back at his musical start in Stevens Point, playing with the Taberna Twins in Wyoming, his stint with The Strange Machine in college, the origin of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, his solo efforts, and his modern day work with projects like Rucksack Revolution and The High Hawks.

68 – Denis Buckley (88 Fingers Louie, Explode And Make Up, The Story So Far) Jun 19, 2020

Show notes

Though Denis Buckley didn't join a band until he was 21 years old, he quickly made up for lost time when that first band went on to become a legendary Chicago punk outfit that would still be around more than a quarter century later. After trying out for a lead singer spot, Buckley became the final piece in 88 Fingers Louie. Well, he technically became the final piece in "Platypus Rex" before the band wisely changed its name to 88 Fingers Louie a few weeks later.

Recently, Buckley told My First Band host Tyler Maas about his school-age choir prowess, the chance circumstances that led to him joining 88 Fingers Louie, the rapid rise from brand-new group to getting signed to Fat Wreck Chords, unforgettable early shows with NOFX and Rancid, and his modern day musical outlook during the uncertain era of COVID-19. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Buckley also talked about his stints in other bands like The Story So Far — well before the other band by the same name existed — and Explode And Make Up. Buckley also opened up about the time he got into a fight with an audience member at a show in Milwaukee, which Maas attended/witnessed, and the cartoon-inspired origin 88 Fingers Louie's band name.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Live From the Rock Room. 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 88 Fingers Louie ("Our Tired Vices").

67 – Jarret Nathan (PEARS, Push Ups) Jun 12, 2020

Show notes

As the drummer of PEARS, Jarret Nathan has toured all around North America, Europe and Australia. He's been part of outstanding releases the hardcore band has put out on Fat Wreck Chords. He's shared the stage with legendary punk bands like NOFX, Off With Their Heads and Suicide Machines, among others. Long before he did any of that as the drummer of "Your New Favorite NOLA Punk Band," Nathan was a young aspiring percussionist living in Long Island, New York.

Back in May, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Nathan about all of that and much more. Over the course of an hour-long discussion, the pair talked about their shared love of Doughboys and the NBA, Nathan's early drumming endeavors, the circumstances that led him to fall in love with punk rock, his move to Philadelphia and subsequent stints in Philly bands like Push Ups, and his bold decision to leave everything behind and move to New Orleans to join PEARS. At Nathan's request, we encourage you to donate to Black Lives Matter's Philadelphia chapter.

66 – Matt Wilson (Trip Shakespeare, The Twilight Hours, Matt Wilson & His Orchestra) Jun 05, 2020

Show notes

Matt Wilson has been a fixture in the Minneapolis music scene for roughly 30 years. Since starting out as the drummer of The Panic — a band that shared the stage with The Replacements and Hüsker Dü and opened for U2's first Minnesota show — Wilson has earned acclaim in the Twin Cities (and far beyond) by fronting projects like Trip Shakespeare, The Twilight Hours, and his new project Matt Wilson & His Orchestra. Along the way, Wilson played in a few bands with his Grammy-winning brother Dan, went to Harvard and was courted by major record labels.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Wilson about all of that and much more. Over the course of the 90-plus-minute discussion, Wilson talked about formative middle school drum solos, scoring a high school play with his brother, the process of forming an orchestra after three decades of rocking out, battling (and eventually overcoming) writer's block and literally — well ... almost — rubbing elbows with Prince while recording at Paisley Park Studios.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Indeed Brewing Company. 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 Matt Wilson & His Orchestra ("Petty Thief").

65 – Poli van Dam (The Bombpops, The Vodka Dolls) May 29, 2020

Show notes

These days, you probably know Poli van Dam as one of the singers, guitarists and founding members of The Bombpops. The Los-Angeles-based band has quickly earned notoriety in the punk rock realm and recently released an excellent sophomore album, Death In Venice Beach, on Fat Wreck Chords. Before Poli was touring relentlessly and sharing the stage with some of punk's premier projects, she was a teenager playing bar shows and D.I.Y. concerts with her (much older) bandmates in a SoCal group called The Vodka Dolls.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas got in touch with Poli to talk about the process of making the new Bombpops album, the record release show and lengthy tour the band hand to cancel on account of the COVID-19 crisis, how she's keeping busy with her family in quarantine, and some of the amazing opportunities the band has given her through the years. Of course, they also discussed her musical origin story, including her years playing piano as a kid, joining a band with her guitar teacher when she was 14, inadvertently starting a riot at her high school battle of the bands and much more.

64 – Jayke Orvis (.357 String Band, The Goddamn Gallows, Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band) May 22, 2020

Show notes

These days, listeners know Jayke Orvis as the fast-picking mandolin virtuoso and banjo player in The Goddamn Gallows. Long before he was touring relentlessly with the Gallows, helping to invent the "streetgrass" sub-genre with .357 String Band and serving as the namesake of Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band though, Orvis was hosting basement shows and playing in hardcore punk bands like Penalty Box and Schwill Rotten.

With COVID-19 keeping the road dog at home for the foreseeable future, My First Band host Tyler Maas was finally able to catch Orvis in one place for long enough to record an interview. Speaking via video chat, Orvis talked about the ways he's keeping busy while confined to his home, memorable tales from living at a punk house in Riverwest in his 20s, the start (and subsequent local explosion) of .357 String Band, his years with The Broken Band in Pittsburgh, his two stints with The Goddamn Gallows, and much more.

63 – Nick Wiger (Doughboys, How Did This Get Played?) May 15, 2020

Show notes

Listeners all around the world know Nick Wiger from his work as the co-host of Doughboys — a popular podcast about chain restaurants — and a video game podcast called How Did This Get Played?, along with his off-mic career as a television writer. Long before "The Burger Boy" was making a living with his fast-food musings, the SoCal surfer dude was immersed in music. As members of the Burger Brigade have probably heard, Nick "Double Reed" Wiger spent much of his youth playing in school bands and orchestras.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas reached out to Wiger to talk about his surprisingly extensive musical history. After discussing a Bucks-Lakers NBA Finals that probably won't happen this year, Wiger opened up about playing the clarinet as a child, his motivation for moving to saxophone and bassoon as a teen, experiences at summer band camp, and his short tenure in some Orange County ska punk bands during high school. Before episode's end, Wiger also talked about writing comedic compositions like "The Original Monster Mash" (a.k.a. "The Monster Fuck") and "Gungan Style" for Funny Or Die and the unexpectedly prevalent role music plays in Doughboys.

62 – Aaron Mader (Lazerbeak, Doomtree, The Plastic Constellations) May 08, 2020

Show notes

Aaron Mader has made quite a name for himself in the music industry. That name just happens to be "Lazerbeak." Using the moniker, the co-founder and CEO of Doomtree has released an abundance of his own music, produced songs with the likes of Lizzo, P.O.S, Mac Lethal and Dessa and delved into the world of artist management. Long before Mader was a Midwest music mainstay and one of the driving forces of an accomplished creative collective, he was an inexperienced teen in the Minneapolis suburbs who was struggling to get shows for his first band.

That band — The Plastic Constellations — wound up lasting 13 years, being signed to French Kiss Records, touring and selling out spacious venues in Minneapolis before he could even legally drink. Along the way, Mader dabbled in beat-making and his Lazerbeak alias was born. The rest is history. Recently, Mader spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas and told him about his impressive indie rock past, the origin and unexpected explosion of Doomtree, and how he stays both active and creatively fulfilled making music in his solo project, Shredders and the brand new Night Stone, and as part of a forthcoming band with William Elliott Whitmore and members of Ten Grand.

Over the course of the lengthy and open discussion, Mader also talked about ways the COVID-19 crisis is currently impacting Doomtree and the artists he manages, accidentally sharing a stage name with an obscure Transformers character, his inspiring "little money in lots of places" approach and how Lizzo gave him a six-pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade to make beats for what would eventually become her Lizzobangers album.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected