milwaukee record

Caley Conway and Newski meetup in Milwaukee to discuss defeating anxiety, why busking stinks, punishers, and how the internet has become our new God.

More on Conway: https://www.caleyconway.com/

Support the pod: https://www.patreon.com/Newski

NEWSKI TOUR:

SOUTH AFRICA

27 Sep - JOHANNESBURG, ZA - Radium

29 Sep - JOHANNESBURG, ZA - Sognage (Boosh)

30 Sep - PRETORIA, ZA - Railways Cafe

7 Oct - DURBAN, ZA - Habitat

13 Oct - CAPE TOWN - Armchair Theatre 

 

EUROPE

17 Oct - PARIS, FR - Supersonic

19 Oct - HOOFDDORP, NL - C.

20 Oct - ERMELO, NL - In De Rimboe

21 Oct- HOORN, NL - ’t Kroegie

22  Oct - ROTTERDAM, NL - secret house show

24 Oct - FURTH, DE - Kunstkellar 

25 Oct - SALZBURG, AT - hu:goes 14

27 Oct - TIMELKAM, AT - Bart 

28 Oct - HOF, DE - Zur Linde

29 Oct - HAMBURG, DE - Monkeys Music Club

31 Oct - KOLN, DE - Trink-Genossin

1 Nov - ST WENDEL, DE - JJs pub

2 Nov - HENGELO, NL - secret house show

3 Nov - AMERSFOORT, NL - Boothill Saloon

10 Nov - GUERNSEY, UK - St James Concert Hall 

This week's guest is Julia Blair. In addition to being a member of two long-running and accomplished Wisconsin bands in the form of Dusk and Holy Sheboygan!, Blair released her excellent debut solo album earlier this year. Between putting out that album (and touring in support of it), Blair and her Holy Sheboygan! bandmates released the band's fifth full-length this year, and Dusk also recorded an album that will come out sometime in 2023. While she has a lot of interesting things happening these days, her artistic backstory is quite compelling as well.

Shortly after returning home from a run of November shows in the Midwest and on the West Coast, Blair chatted with My First Band host Tyler Maas about her big 2022, plans for the year to come and where it all started. Over the course of the conversation, Blair spoke about playing in an ensemble in high school that performed at weddings and other functions, studying vocal performance at Lawrence University, meeting some of her future Holy Sheboygan! cohorts in college and starting to play out together, the chain of events that found her joining Dusk, and overcoming her apprehensions to finally release a solo record.

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 Holy Sheboygan! ("Uncle Mike").

As a founding member of All-4-One, Jamie Jones has been an integral part of Platinum-selling releases that feature some of the biggest R&B hits of all time. He's toured all over the planet, performed for world leaders, won a Grammy Award, spent months atop the Billboard charts and had a song on the soundtrack of an animated Disney feature. Though he's still an active member of All-4-One, Jones has also managed an impressive solo career and has found success behind the scenes with The Heavyweights production company. Before he was part of renditions of hit songs like "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That," Jones was turning heads and building a reputation with his vocal performances in church.

Prior to setting out on tour with members of 98 Degrees and O-Town as part of "A Boy Band Christmas" (which comes to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino on Tuesday, Dec. 20), Jones spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the format of the upcoming seasonal show, his recent solo output, his production work and what's to come. Of course, they also talked about his early artistic efforts, the formation of All-4-One, the group's rapid rise to worldwide consciousness, highlights from his accomplished career and unforgettable experiences he's had with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Prince.

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 Jamie Jones ("All I Want").

This week's guests are Gold Steps singer Liz Mauritz and guitarist Zach Duarte. Though the band is currently making a name for itself in Milwaukee with frequent shows, garnering loads of listeners on streaming sites and winning over new fans on a nightly basis during its ambitious tours, the up-and-coming "alt-pop-hyphenated-punk band" actually got its start in Austin. After a few years and a couple hundred shows in and around the musically vibrant Texas capital, Mauritz and Duarte — who are married, by the way — moved back to Mauritz's home state and set their sights on the Milwaukee music scene.

Not long after getting back from Gold Steps' latest U.S. tour, Mauritz and Duarte met up with My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about the recent run of shows, the reception their great new EP (That Ain't It — out now on Revival Recordings!) and hitting the ground running in their new home base after close to two years of pandemic-prompted inactivity. Over the course of the conversation, Mauritz and Duarte talked about their brief stint in another band, what led to the start of Gold Steps, opportunities and obstacles they experienced in the competitive Austin music scene, the move to Milwaukee and plans for the future of the band. Along the way, Liz talked about her love of Lakefront Brewery, her employer and the beer sponsor of this very show!

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 Gold Steps ("Petty").

You might not know who Jeff Meilander is, but you're likely aware of his work. As the owner, founder and jack of all trades at Redwall Screen Printing, Meilander's company has made merchandise for professional sports franchises, multinational corporations and countless bands and brands from all over the country. Currently, Redwall calls a 100,000-square-foot building in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, its home. However, Meilander's super successful screen printing business actually started in the basement of his then-apartment on Milwaukee's East Side ... and his personal musical history has a lot to do with the life-changing venture.

A couple months ago, My First Band host Tyler Maas went to Redwall to catch up with Meilander. While there, the two talked about what the business has been up to the past few years, working together on Milwaukee Record apparel and other exciting aspects of his ever-evolving operation. Along the way, Meilander talked about how his time in punk and hardcore bands like Linoleum and Seven Days Of Samsara incited his printing passion, how the money-saving measure unexpectedly morphed into a legitimate business, and how he balanced the growing endeavor while playing with Bosio and Spitalfield. Oh, and Maas talked about working at Redwall for a couple of years and his own printing experience he learned from Meilander!

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 Seven Days Of Samsara (''New Anthem For The T-Shirt Revolution'').

This week's guest is Charlie Parr. Over the course of his 30-year career, the Duluth-based guitarist and singer has released more than a dozen albums, played thousands of shows all over the U.S. and beyond, opened for legends like B.B. King and Doc Watson, and has remained thoroughly captivated by the guitar the entire time. Along the way, he's performed at massive festivals and in empty bars (and everywhere in between), built a more-than-respectable fan base, and has made friends all over the globe by way of his tireless touring.

Prior to setting out on yet another tour, Parr spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the autumn jaunt (including a Nov. 23 show at The Back Room @ Colectivo), his new book and what the near future holds for him. During the conversation, Parr also talked about first playing the guitar at the age of 8, diving into songwriting in his 20s, busking for change and sandwiches while living in the Twin Cities in the '80s, landing a life-changing opening opportunity that brought him to stages in England and Ireland in his 30s, the good — and the not so good — aspects of his nomadic line of work, some standout experiences from lengthy and accomplished career, and why getting to play music remains his favorite thing in the world.

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 Charlie Parr ("Last Of The Better Days Ahead").

This week's guest is Chris Barker, who you probably know better as "Chris No. 2." The longtime Anti Flag bassist has been an integral member of the iconic and important Pittsburgh punk band since late 1998. Over that span, he's played on some influential albums, performed all over the planet and helped spread activist ethos to generations of listeners throughout the world. With a new album on the way (Lies They Tell Our Children, out Jan. 6!), The General Strike recently being reissued on Side One Dummy and a bunch of shows on the horizon, Chris No. 2 has a lot of modern happenings to discuss.

A few days before he headed to The Fest, he spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about those two albums, the band's upcoming Anti-Fest show in Chicago and their tour in Quebec before delving into his personal musical past. Over the course of the conversation, No. 2 talked about finding a drum set in the garbage and starting a "band" called Land in grade school, how seeing Green Day forever changed his musical outlook, his decision to dive headlong into playing both music and ice hockey as a teenager, his tenure in O.B.S., getting an opportunity to join Anti Flag, and some of his most significant artistic experiences from the past quarter century on and off stage.

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 Anti Flag featuring Stacey Dee of Bad Cop/Bad Cop ("NVREVER").

This week's guest is Mike Reed. These days, Reed can be heard as the guitarist and vocalist of 84 Tigers, a tremendous Michigan-based project that's preparing to release their debut album, Time In The Lighthouse, on Spartan Records this fall. Prior to that album's Oct. 21 release and the band's upcoming appearance at The Fest, Reed spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the formation of his new band, the process of writing and recording the forthcoming album and what the near future holds for 84 Tigers.

Of course, the interview also touched upon Reed's years in legendary Midwest emo outfit Small Brown Bike, as well as LaSalle, Able Baker Fox, his solo material and even his first band ever. Along the way, Reed discussed booking noted punk bands at a rural Michigan community center as a high schooler, memorable Small Brown Bike tours with Hot Water Music and Cursive, and how his approach and expectations he has for 84 Tigers differs from his past projects.

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 84 Tigers ("Kingdom Of One").

This week's guest is No Trigger vocalist Tom Rheault. Though the long-running Massachusetts melodic punk project doesn't put out albums very often, they really make it count when they do. The 20-year vets released Dr. Album — only the band's third album ever, and its first since early 2012 — last month, and now they're playing some shows in support of the exceptional Red Scare Industries record. No Trigger performed at Riot Fest last weekend and they're gearing up to play a Punk In Drublic tour stop in their hometown of Worcester this weekend.

Before both of those shows (as well as a show with The Lawrence Arms on Sept. 30 and an upcoming appearance at The Fest in October), Rheault spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the making of Dr. Album, getting back on the road and plans for 2023. Along the way, the singer talked about the early impact bands like NOFX and Rancid had on his musical trajectory, playing shows at gymnasiums and all-ages venues (where he regrettably threw pastries everywhere), starting the band that would eventually turn into No Trigger, unforgettable experiences he's had on stage and on tour through the years, and why people should consider micro-dosing.

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 No Trigger ("Too High To Die").

This week's guest is Josiah Johnson! As a vocalist and founding member of The Head And The Heart, Johnson was part of a certified Gold-selling album, he toured the world with some of music's biggest acts and performed at many of the planet's most renowned venues, he played various late-night shows and had songs featured on countless TV shows, and his voice can be prominently heard on songs that have been listened to millions upon millions of times. While he's no longer a member of that indie-folk outfit, Johnson is an accomplished solo artist in his own right, and he's poised to bring his music into exciting new territory.

With a follow-up to his excellent solo debut, Every Feeling On A Loop, due out on ANTI- Records sometime next year, Johnson has released a few new singles in recent months and he's gearing up to hit the road to treat audiences around the Midwest and East Coast to live renditions of songs from his ever-growing, ever-evolving catalog. Prior to that fall tour (which includes an afternoon show at Cactus Club on Sept. 18!), Johnson spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about modern-day developments, upcoming plans and highlights from his unbelievable career. Over the course of the conversation, Johnson talked about playing in a screamo group in his late teens and early 20s, moving to Seattle and quickly bonding with his future collaborators in Head And The Heart at open mics, the band's rapid rise to mainstream consciousness, unforgettable moments from his years in the band, and his newfound appreciation for being able to go out on tour again.

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 Josiah Johnson ("Hello, Hello On Fire!").

This week's guest is the great Rhett Miller. The Americana legend has been a member of Old 97's for close to 30 years and, along the way, he's released seven solo albums. Miller's eighth album, The Misfit, is set to come out on Sept. 16, just a few days after Old 97's begin their long-awaited tour in support of 2020's Twelfth. Prior to both of those milestones, the influential and accomplished singer-songwriter spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the new album, getting back on the road and standout moments from his incomparable career as an artist and performer.

Over the course of the conversation, Miller opened up about his musical upbringing, bonfire shows and nude photo shoots with his teenage bands, being his hometown's "teen folky" who was tapped to open for touring artists like Rosanne Cash and Chris Isaak, the formation and major label courting of Old 97's, touring and collaborating with some of music's biggest names, and some of his favorite experiences that music has brought him. Along the way, Miller and Maas discussed the ups and downs of podcast booking, their shared affinity for the Milwaukee Brewers and disc golfing, and the time Miller was approached to audition for a role in Fight Club that eventually went to Jared Leto.

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 Rhett Miller ("Go Through You").

This week's guest is Tim Kasher. In addition to fronting legendary Omaha emo outfit Cursive, Kasher can be heard in The Good Life and on his four solo albums. Over the course of his nearly-30-year career, he's toured extensively, put out some downright incredible records that have reshaped the genre and has influenced countless musicians along the way. Before any of that, Kasher was a high school kid cutting his teeth as the guitarist in a little-known Nebraska band called The March Hares.

A few months removed from the release of his fourth solo album, the outstanding Middling Age, Kasher spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the new record and accompanying tour, his approach to songwriting, his Patreon page, and the upcoming vinyl reissue of Domestica on 15 Passenger. Over the course of the conversation, Kasher talked about the musical influence his elder siblings had on him, starting out on a Cascio keyboard before taking up guitar, performing at bonfires and bars with The March Hares and Slowdown Virginia, some of his favorite experiences with Cursive and The Good Life, and much more!

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 Tim Kasher ("I Don't Think About You").

Though Josh Modell isn't a musician, the veteran entertainment writer has been covering music for decades. Over the course of his career, he's held prominent positions at The Onion, The A.V. Club and his current role as Executive Editor of Talkhouse. Before his work was reaching millions of readers all over the world, Modell was producing a Milwaukee-based magazine he co-founded between booking shows and working shifts at a beloved record shop.

Recently, Modell — a few months removed from moving back to the Milwaukee area — met up with My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about his lifelong love of music, notable moments from his writing career and projects he's working on now. Over the course of the conversation, Modell talked about his record-shopping routine as a teenager, landing a job at Atomic Records, the start and cult following of Milk Magazine, his unconventional path to working at The Onion and The A.V. Club, the inner workings of the iconic "A.V. Undercover" series, his modern-day efforts at Talkhouse, and what's to come.

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").

This week's guest is Chris Rosenau, whose impressive and inventive guitar work you might recognize from accomplished projects like Pele, Collections of Colonies of Bees and Volcano Choir. Before he was playing to audiences all over the world, collaborating with Justin Vernon and members of The Promise Ring, and releasing influential albums that have stood the test of time, Rosenau was a kid teaching himself Metallica songs in his suburban Milwaukee home.

Prior to next weekend's Seventh Stanine Festival at Cactus Club, Rosenau spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about new CoCoBees developments, his upcoming release with Nick Sanborn and other modern day happenings. Eventually, the conversation found Rosenau discussing early projects like Orion Black and 21 Guns, playing club concerts with Smashing Pumpkins, starting a band with Jon Mueller (and then another), and some of the most memorable experiences from his decades of playing music.

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 Collections Of Colonies Of Bees ("Harms").

This week's guest is Ricky Ramirez, who Milwaukee-area listeners might know as the owner of The Mothership. Since opening the Bay View bar in early 2019, Ramirez has managed to navigate his business through a worldwide pandemic, earn attention by way of The Mothership's unconventional/unflinchingly honest social media presence, and (probably) sell more Hamm's beer than anywhere else in the state of Wisconsin. Along the way, Ramirez has brought some interior and exterior changes to the bar and he's launched an on-site food truck. Oh, and have we mentioned Ricky is also in a band?

Recently, Ramirez welcomed My First Band host and Mothership regular Tyler Maas into his bar to talk about his bartender past, the origin of The Mothership, some challenges he's faced and lessons he's learned over the last three-plus years, the decision to start the Gavilán food truck, and goals he has for both ventures in the future. After chatting about the bar business (and reminiscing about the time they watched the Bucks win the NBA Finals at The Mothership), Ramirez told Maas about hiding his hip-hop albums from his religious parents as a kid, his introduction to heavy metal in high school, how he unknowingly auditioned to become the vocalist in Population Control and some of his favorite experiences from his time in the band so far. You can see Population Control at X-Ray Arcade on Sunday, July 10.

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 Population Control ("Drowning In The Trenches Of My Mind").

This week's guest is Chris Cresswell. You probably know this Canadian crooner as the singer/guitarist of The Flatliners, as a guitarist in Hot Water Music or from his work as a solo artist. This year is the 20th anniversary of The Flatliners, and the band is marking the occasion with the release of its sixth full-length album — New Ruin, out Aug. 5 on Fat Wreck Chords — and with extensive touring throughout Europe and North America in the coming months. Additionally, Hot Water Music also released an album earlier this year and is embarking on a 25th anniversary tour throughout Europe and North America. In short, Cresswell is staying busy.

During a rare moment at home between tours, Cresswell was gracious enough to spend an hour speaking with My First Band host Tyler Maas about those exciting modern day developments and his pre-Flatliners musical backstory. Over the course of the conversation, Cresswell talked about growing up in a Toronto suburb, his mom's musical influence on him, taking guitar lessons in the late '90s, forming Short Notice (which essentially turned into The Flatliners), the ups and downs of early tours, memorable moments from the past two decades of The Flatliners and how the opportunity to join Hot Water Music came to be.

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 Flatliners ("Souvenir").

This week's guest is Aymen Saleh. The Milwaukee singer, songwriter and producer — who releases music under the Holy Pinto moniker — has kept busy of late with a steady run of local performances, semi-frequent tours and collaborations with artists from all ends of the musical spectrum. Long before he became an unlikely ambassador for the Milwaukee music scene, Saleh was growing up in Canterbury, England, and devoting his time to learning the drums and guitar.

Recently, Saleh joined My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about modern musical happenings, upcoming work (including an upcoming song with Bartees Strange) and how music transported him across an ocean and squarely into the unknown. Over the course of the conversation, Saleh talked about playing some of his first concerts in Canterbury, moving to London to study music, starting a band with a longtime friend, some important advice he got from The Front Bottoms and how a random set of circumstances and the kindness of strangers found the kid from England eventually calling Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his home.

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 Holy Pinto ("Milwaukee").

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").

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.

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 Vincent Van Great featuring Amanda Huff ("Double Strawberry Plush").

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.

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 Humbird ("Plum Sky").