My First Band Podcast

This week's guest is Matthew Stubbs. As a guitarist and founding member of GA-20, Stubbs has released two well-received albums, toured extensively, ascended the Billboard charts and helped to usher in a traditional blues revival. With a new album on the way — Crackdown, out Sept. 9 on Colemine Records! — and a bunch of shows on the horizon, Stubbs has a lot of modern day things to talk about. Even beyond his work with GA-20, Stubbs has quite an impressive musical resume. Prior to setting out on tour, Stubbs spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the new GA-20 record, what it's been like to get back on the road and why he feels it's important to give new life to traditional blues music. Of course, he also spoke about his musical past, including learning to play guitar at an early age, performing throughout New England with his dad's band, moving to Los Angeles in his early 20s and making a living as a side man. Along the way, he talked about touring with notable blues musicians like Janiva Magness and Ja

Toby Jeg hasn't ever been in a serious band, but he's been instrumental in helping a ton of other people's bands release music. As the owner/operator of Red Scare Industries, Jeg has put out more than 150 releases over the last 18 years, including albums from The Menzingers, The Copyrights, Direct Hit!, Masked Intruder, Sincere Engineer, The Falcon, Teenage Bottlerocket, Elway, Brendan Kelly and countless other accomplished punk projects. And there are more Red Scare releases on the way! Before he was running a well-respected independent label, Jeg was a farm kid in rural Washington who was falling in love with punk rock. While still unpacking from his recent move to Massachusetts, Jeg found some time to speak with My First Band host Tyler Maas about his new state, upcoming Red Scare output and times the two interacted in Wisconsin. Along the way, he also told Maas about attending college at Cal, interning at Fat Wreck Chords, volunteering to be Fat Mike's designated driver, his other career in artist managem

This week's guest is Mariel Buckley. The burgeoning singer-songwriter from Alberta, Canada is about to release a new album, open for Orville Peck and perform all around Europe. And that's just the beginning! Buckley is planning to tour extensively in 2023 and continue her upward trajectory that started in bars and at open mics throughout Western Canada. In the days leading up the release of Everywhere I Used To Be (out August 12 via Birthday Cake Records), Buckley spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the new record and other modern day happenings before talking about the musical experiences that brought her to this point. Over the course of the conversation, Buckley reminisced about growing up in Calgary, being inspired to start playing guitar by her brother T. Buckley, entering a battle of the bands at the age of 15, "woodshedding" all over Canada, opening for K.D. Lang, and finding an audience at breweries and clubs. My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The sho

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 Bre

People know Scott Radinsky for two very different reasons. During the ex-pitcher's lengthy Major League Baseball career, he managed an impressive 3.44 ERA and tallied 52 saves in almost 500 innings on the mound with the White Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals and Cleveland. In addition to being a proficient reliever, Radinsky is also an accomplished punk-rock vocalist who used to sing in Ten Foot Pole and, since the mid-'90s, has been the frontman of Pulley. Having excelled in the realms of both sports and music, Radinsky's career arc is unparalleled, so you know he has some great stories to tell. Shortly after the release of Pulley's seventh album (The Golden Life, out now on SBÄM Records!) and a run of shows in Europe and Canada, Radinsky spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the recent tour with Bad Religion and Pennywise, the response the new record has received, and what's on the horizon for the band. Over the course of the conversation, Radinsky discussed the drastic differences between life as a pro bal

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

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 th

Midwestern rock and roll fans rejoice because this week's guest is the great Allen Epley. You likely know Epley as the vocalist and guitarist of Shiner and The Life And Times, as the host of the Third Gear Scratch podcast, and as a member of BirdHands and the backing band of the Chicago Blue Man Group. He's up to a lot at the moment, including a Shiner tour (and the upcoming vinyl re-release of the band's entire catalog via Spartan Records) and writing a new The Life And Times record. Between the busy modern happenings and his decades of amazing artistic experiences, Epley had a lot to talk about when he took some time to speak with My First Band host Tyler Maas recently. After catching up on contemporary events, Epley talked about growing up in a musical family in Louisville, starting a cover band in college, the early days and significant moments from his decades in Shiner, shifting focus with The Life And Times, and why missing out on major label opportunities was a blessing in disguise. My First Band is s

This week's guest is Eric W. Krueger, who has been a musical mainstay in the Fox Cities — a region in northeast Wisconsin — for close to 30 years. Though he's been active in a wide range of bands since he was a teenager (including at least four different projects presently), Krueger only recently put out his debut solo album. Shortly after the release of Shed Songs and prior to the June 24 release show at Appleton's Deja Vu Martini Lounge, Krueger caught up with My First Band host Tyler Maas to talk about the new album and everything that came before it. After the longtime friends caught up on recent happenings, Krueger told Maas about the process of writing and recording Shed Songs, he talked about what the summer holds for his various bands, and he reminisced about some of the late '80s/early '90s house shows that prompted his foray into playing music. Over the course of the conversation, Krueger delved into the origin of Sunday Flood (and memorable experiences from the band's lengthy run), subsequent bands

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 stra

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

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 an

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. My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room

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. My First Band i

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. My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You c

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 s

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 wher

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

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 h

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