My First Band Podcast

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170 – The Stereo (Rory Phillips and Jamie Woolford) Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

If you're not familiar with The Stereo, chances are you know many of the acts they've influenced. Founded in 1999, the band released four well-received albums on Fueled By Ramen, toured in Europe and Asia, and sat on the cusp of even bigger and better things. However, The Stereo also experienced more than its fair share of bad luck, unfortunate timing and member turnover before ultimately calling it quits in 2004.

Now reunited, The Stereo is back with its first new album in more than 20 years. The band preceded the May 13 release of Thirteen with a five-part companion podcast called "Kings of No Hope" that chronicles the ups, the downs and the reformation of The Stereo. Shortly after the release of both of those things, founding members Rory Phillips and Jamie Woolford spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the new album, the band's tumultuous backstory and the path back to collaboration. Along the way, Phillips talked about his early bands in Austin as well as his years in The Impossibles and Woolford talked about pre-Stereo experiences with Midwest ska staples, including The Pacers and Animal Chin.

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. You can also listen to rebroadcasts of previous My First Band episodes on WMSE every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and The Stereo ("Do You / Don't You").

169 – Josh Evert (The Fatty Acids, Silver City Studios, Dinner Set Gang) May 27, 2022

Show notes

If you follow Milwaukee music, there's a very good chance you've heard Josh Evert's work. In addition to being the longtime singer of The Fatty Acids, Evert played drums in Jaill, he's currently part of a great new project called Dinner Set Gang, and he crafts inventive and impressive solo work using field recordings he collects in natural settings all over the world. Beyond his own artistic endeavors, Evert also records a wide range of musicians at Silver City Studios — a Milwaukee-based studio he co-owns — and he's helped raise approximately $70,000 for school art programs as one of the founders of Arte Para Todos.

Shortly after returning from an artist residency on a ship stationed in the Arctic Circle, Evert welcomed My First Band host Tyler Maas into his studio to talk about that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, what he plans to create from the sounds gathered in the arctic, and what he's currently up to with Dinner Set Gang and at Silver City Studios. Along the way, Evert also talked about early bands and his stint in a boys choir while growing up in a small town outside of Madison, the start (and rapid growth) of The Fatty Acids, experiences from his time in the band Jaill, his foray into the recording business, and much more.

168 – Joshua Fleming (Vandoliers) May 20, 2022

Show notes

As the lead singer and founding member of Vandoliers, Joshua Fleming has released three outstanding albums, aggressively toured throughout the U.S., and shared the stage with legendary acts like Old 97's and Flogging Molly. Before he was wowing listeners all over the world with a winning blend of country and punk, Fleming was playing shows at roller rinks and other all-ages spaces in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas, with his high school ska band.

Just before setting out on another tour, Fleming spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about modern-day Vandoliers happenings (including an upcoming run of European shows in June), the Blink-182 and Fenix TX concert he attended as a kid that inspired his musical journey, booking day-long ska festivals as a high schooler, getting serious in his 20s as the member of a garage rock band called The Phuss, the circumstances that led him to starting Vandoliers, and some of the most memorable experiences he's had along the way.

167 – Tim Dillard (Milwaukee Brewers) May 13, 2022

Show notes

We broke format for this week's episode and invited Tim Dillard to be a guest on My First Band. The charismatic professional-pitcher-turned-broadcaster spent the vast majority of his 18-year playing career as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization, including stints at all levels of the team's minor-league system and parts of four seasons in the Majors. Along the way, he became a fan favorite, amassed some unbelievable experiences and collected some great stories.

Recently, Dillard spent part of a Brewers off day at Milwaukee Record headquarters, where he talked to My First Band host Tyler Maas about his post-retirement work in television, growing up immersed in baseball and standout memories from his lengthy career spent largely in the minors. Dillard also talked about the role music plays on the field and in the locker room, what he listened to growing up, what he listens to now, and the time he and some teammates went to an Incubus show in Iowa after a game and got into some trouble.

166 – Pete Donnelly (The Figgs) May 06, 2022

Show notes

Pete Donnelly is an accomplished solo artist and a former member of NRBQ, but you probably know him better as the bassist, one of the vocalists and a founding member of The Figgs. Since starting out in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1987, The Figgs have played thousands of shows all over the U.S. and beyond, they've toured with the likes of Weezer and The Cranberries, and they've managed dozens of timeless releases.

Prior to a recent run of shows in the Midwest in accordance with the band's just-released Chemical Shake, Donnelly spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas the new album, why Wisconsin is like a second home to the band and some of the most memorable moments from his 35 years in The Figgs. Along the way, Donnelly discussed his own musical start, his recent output, the experience of having a song placement in a Lexus commercial and the importance of retaining ownership of your material.

165 – Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!) Apr 29, 2022

Show notes

This week's guest is Laura Jane Grace! In addition to being the singer and founding member of Against Me!, Grace is also an author and an accomplished solo artist. Before setting out on The Carousel Tour — which will take place all around the U.S. throughout the month of May, including a May 2 show at The Rave — she spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the collaborative tour, which also features Anthony Green, Tim Kasher, Mikey Erg, and more; other recent solo shows; and her extensive musical history.

Over the course of the conversation, Grace talked about listening to her dad's music collection as a kid, starting bands in middle school, the early years and steady evolution of Against Me!, some of the most memorable artistic experiences she's had over the course of her career, and things she hopes to do in the years to come. Along the way, Grace talked about a song that was at least partially inspired by The Rave swimming pool and Maas showed his lack of Florida geography knowledge.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering, Lakefront Brewery and Music Go Round Greenfield. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. You can also listen to rebroadcasts of previous My First Band episodes on WMSE every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Laura Jane Grace ("The Swimming Pool Song").

164 – Vincent Van Great Apr 22, 2022

Show notes

Vincent Van Great is a man of many talents. The Milwaukee singer, rapper and producer has been showcasing his diverse set of skills for years but really started turning heads in his hometown and beyond with his attention-grabbing and award-winning Troublemakers EP collaboration he released with Amanda Huff last year.

Coming off a big 2021 and prior to what looks to be a very busy summer ahead, Van Great joined My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about recent happenings, his hopes for the future and where his musical journey began. Over the course of the conversation, Van Great talked about his artistic origin in a church choir, making beats for rappers in high school, eventually adding rapping and singing to his repertoire, and the experience of opening for Ludacris and performing with Eric Andre.

163 – Siri Undlin (Humbird) Apr 15, 2022

Show notes

Siri Undlin's musical journey started at a very young age. The founding member and bandleader of Humbird, an outstanding Minneapolis-based folk project, is the daughter of a Lutheran preacher and she sang in the church's choir as a child. Piano lessons and guitar tutorials soon followed and, by the time she was in middle school, she was regularly performing in Irish pubs in the Twin Cities as a member of a band called Celtic Club. While she's been immersed in the arts for the majority of her life, Undlin continues to be driven by music and eager to keep creating.

Recently, during a day off from Humbird's ongoing tour, which includes an April 21 performance at Anodyne in Walker's Point, in belated support of 2021's wonderful Still Life, Undlin spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the tour, the process of making the album in isolation, Humbird's Patreon page and what's to come. Along the way, the conversation touched upon her extensive musical history, formative experiences and relationships she made in the Minneapolis music scene in her teens and 20s, what early tours taught her, and why the process of songwriting will always seem magical.

162 – Robb MacLean (Limbeck) Apr 08, 2022

Show notes

As the singer and guitarist of Limbeck, Robb MacLean has been part of some excellent and influential albums. He's toured all around the U.S. and Europe with bands like Motion City Soundtrack and All-American Rejects, and he's even had a song featured on a Mac commercial. After more than 20 years together (off and on), Limbeck is still at it, and they're currently working on new material. In addition to writing new music, the band is also gearing up to play a few shows this spring.

Prior to Limbeck's pair of performances in Milwaukee and Madison as part of Good Land Records' "11-Year Anniversary Party" April 29-30, MacLean spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the band's modern-day plans, some standout moments from their two-decade run and where his personal musical journey began. Over the course of the conversation, MacLean talked about forming a band as a joke in high school, enduring bad gigs and small crowds during his years with The Machos, the unlikely set of circumstances that ultimately led to him joining Limbeck, and why the California-based band feels at home in Wisconsin.

161 – John Garrison (Kali Masi) Apr 01, 2022

Show notes

As the drummer of Kali Masi, John Garrison has performed all around the United States, toured Europe, played Riot Fest and FEST, shared the stage with the likes of The Lawrence Arms and Titus Andronicus, and released one of our favorite albums of last year (the altogether outstanding [laughs] via Take This To Heart Records). Years before he was keeping the beat for the accomplished Chicago punk quartet, Garrison was growing up in a Windy City suburb and practicing percussion in a bunch of short-lived projects that landed all over the map stylistically.

Prior to Kali Masi's April 9 concert at Cobra Lounge and upcoming European tour with Spanish Love Songs, Garrison spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about getting back on stage after an extended pandemic-related pause, the band's new Patreon page and his musical start in basements and garages in Naperville, Illinois. Over the course of the conversation, Garrison talked about the influence his older brother had on his music taste, playing songs by Megadeth and The Hives in his middle school talent show, and finally finding musical kinship when he met his eventual Kali Masi bandmate Sam Porter in high school.

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