My First Band Podcast

Christopher Porterfield has experienced a great deal of the ups and downs the music industry has to offer. He's been signed, toured the continent, performed on national television and shared the stage with some of the planet's most celebrated musicians. Along the way, he's dealt with album cycles, promotional pushes, label changes and false promises about how his work would be handled. Through it all, the Field Report singer, guitarist and bandleader is still here, still creating and more motivated than ever before. Within the past month alone, Porterfield unveiled his new label — Fellesskap Records — and put out a pair of Field Report EPs, with a handful of live shows on the horizon. Before he poured himself and his inimitable voice into being the front man and creative force behind Field Report, however, Porterfield was a supporting member of an Eau Claire (by way of Rochester, Minnesota) band called Dinner With Gregg. Just after launching the label and before what's sure to be an accomplished 2020, Porterf

It took a great deal of time and almost as much disappointment in the process, but Andrew Winistorfer is finally making a living as a music writer. Since coming on as the editorial director for Vinyl Me, Please, Winistorfer spearheaded the record subscription service's music coverage and assembled a staff of skilled contributors to assist him. Along the way, he helped put together two ambitious coffee table books, including the just-released Best Record Stores In The United States, along with contributing liner notes to celebrated reissues and handling A&R for VMP's new "Classics" division. In many ways, it's a dream job for Winistorfer, especially when taking into account the long and uncertain road that brought him to this point. Shortly before the book's release, My First Band host Tyler Maas stopped by the Midwest office of Vinyl Me, Please in downtown Madison to talk about the exciting things Winistorfer is doing now and to take a trip down memory lane. The two reminisced about their time working tog

After more than 20 years away, Giants Chair is back! The seminal Kansas City post-hardcore band, which went on an indefinite hiatus in 1997, didn't just come back for some reunion shows: They wrote a brand-new album. Giants Chair will release its loooooooong-awaited third record, Prefabylon, on Dec. 6. Just because the band wasn't active since the Clinton administration doesn't mean members weren't keeping busy with other projects in the meantime. Before Giants Chair took the stage at Cactus Club for its first Milwaukee show since the '90s, singer and guitarist Scott Hobart invited My First Band host Tyler Maas into the band's RV to discuss the long and winding path to Prefabylon and everything that came before. There, they talked about Giants Chair's brief stint as a Green Bay band before they made their mark in KC and influenced Midwestern acts for years to come. Hobart went on to talk about growing up in a musical family in rural Missouri, waiting for his moment to be pulled on stage to play guitar with U2

Mike Felumlee has the special distinction of being both the former and current drummer of Smoking Popes. Between stints in the seminal Chicago punk band, the percussionist spent a few years playing drums in Alkaline Trio. Along the way, he started a solo project, began a record label and stepped away from music for a few years before getting back behind the kit and making his way behind the camera for his Live From The Rock Room music video series. My First Band host Tyler Maas recently joined Felumlee in Rock Room version 2.0 in the veteran drummer’s new home in Milwaukee. After talking about some of his favorite pizzas and burgers in his adopted city, Felumlee went all the way back to his childhood, when his parents bought him a used drum set. Over the course of the long, interesting and incredibly open discussion, he also touched on his pre-Popes projects, the backlash the band has faced through the years, replacing one of his friends in Alkaline Trio, what led to him being kicked out of the group shortly

This week's guests are Carl Nichols and Johanna Rosa, a duo who makes beautiful music together as Nickel&Rose. Since the folk project formed roughly three years ago, the pair has played all around Europe, toured around the continental United States and shared the stage with The SteelDrivers among others. Before Nichols and Rose found each other and started Nickel&Rose, they played in a ton of other bands that touch on almost as many different musical genres. During a rare span of time between tours, they came to Milwaukee Record headquarters to tell My First Band host Tyler Maas how they met and how the project came to be, before discussing their divergent musical paths that led them to where they are today. Over the course of the long, informative and lighthearted conversation, Nichols talked about trying to recruit bandmates on Craigslist as a Mars-Volta-obsessed teen, and Rose talked about throwing herself into Milwaukee's music scene after returning home from Oregon. Along the way, Maas annoyed th

Listeners throughout Milwaukee, all around the Midwest and in Rob Gronkowski's car know Kellen Abston for his extensive, eclectic and altogether impressive body of work he's released under the name Klassik. Over Klassik's near-10-year run, the rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist has earned oodles of attention in the local scene, opened for a host of impressive acts, challenged himself with a wide range of different creative undertakings and made some of Milwaukee's most impressive music this decade. But long before Klassik came to be, Abston was a kid with a knack for the sax. Weeks before his long-awaited album, QUIET., is released, Abston dropped by Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk to My First Band host Tyler Maas about his start in school band, learning to recreate some of his favorite beats at an early age, selling his own beats in high school, his foray into rapping, the decision to give up a full-ride college scholarship to pursue music, his stint in Group Of The Altos and the importance of

Ellis Ludwig-Leone has spent most of his life immersed in music. Long before the Yale-educated composer and songwriter made his mark with San Fermin, the Brooklyn indie rock collective's bandleader was a kid in rural Massachusetts looking to challenge himself with classical music and Russian "knuckle-busters" during piano lessons. In high school, he wound up playing keyboard in a short-lived instrumental metal outfit, followed by a stint performing Ben Folds and Eagle-Eye Cherry covers at Sweet 16 parties in a cover band. While at a Berklee College of Music summer camp, Ludwig-Leone struck up a friendship with a fellow camper named Allen Tate, and the rest was history. Recently, prior to a show at Milwaukee's Turner Hall Ballroom in support of San Fermin's recently released The Cormorant I, Ludwig-Leone met My First Band host Tyler Maas in the venue's balcony to talk about his formative early auditory endeavors, starting a project with Tate while they were going to college in different states and how San Ferm

If you're familiar with The All-American Rejects (and you almost certainly are), then you're also familiar with the work of Mike Kennerty. The guitarist joined the internationally known rock band in 2002, just before the Oklahoma-based group's meteoric rise to worldwide acclaim and notoriety on the wings of "Swing, Swing" and other breakout hits from their self-titled debut album. In the 17 years since Kennerty joined up, the Rejects have amassed a huge collection of hits, built a massive fan base all over the planet, shared the stage with some of the world's biggest bands, topped the Billboard charts and appreciated every step along the way. Before the band's longtime guitarist was a part of The All-American Rejects, Kennerty was an eighth grader in Houston who was playing drums in a band called The Measles. From there, he was part of a metal band in high school, before winding up on guitar after high school with a group called Mr. Crispy. Recently, while in Milwaukee to play lead guitar at the first Mini Me

In the eight-plus years Poliça has been a band, the synth-pop project has toured the world, released critically acclaimed albums that have been heard millions upon millions of times and further bolstered the already-sterling musical pedigree of their hometown of Minneapolis. Long before Poliça — an outfit Justin Vernon of Bon Iver once called "the best band [he's] ever heard" — was making incredible, innovative music and climbing the European charts, singer Channy Leaneagh was a young violinist who was agonizing over every mistake she made during recitals. Recently, before the band's headlining performance at Flannel Fest in Milwaukee (just her second show after recovering from a broken back she sustained last winter), Leaneagh invited My First Band host Tyler Maas to join her in a green room RV to discuss her unlikely path to fronting Poliça. After talking about the band's forthcoming full-length that's due out at the end of January, the singer talked about playing fiddle and singing in a bluegrass band whil

At just 30 years old, Noah Gundersen has already managed to accomplish more than most musicians do in a lifetime. The Seattle-based singer and songwriter has put out more than a dozen albums and EPs, which have been heard millions upon millions of times. His music has been featured on popular TV shows like Sons Of Anarchy, The Vampire Diaries, The Following and Nashville. He's roved the planet to play concerts to passionate audiences everywhere. Long before he was an accomplished artist though, Gundersen was a homeschooled kid from a religious family who tried to combat his loneliness and boredom by teaching himself to play guitar. Recently, prior to a show at The Back Room @ Colectivo, Gundersen met My First Band host Tyler Maas backstage for a fun and informative discussion about his formative musical endeavors. After talking about accidentally releasing a record called Lover the exact same day Taylor Swift dropped an album with the same name, Gundersen opened up about self-recording a batch of cringe-induc

You might know Andy Slania from ... actually, you probably don't know him because, when he takes the stage, he's simply known as The Eradicator. The Chicago hardcore band that's based on a 25-year-old sketch from The Kids In The Hall has quickly made a name for itself in the punk world with hilarious and high-caliber shows throughout the country (and Australia) and two great releases — plus an awesome new record that came out today. When he's not wearing a ski mask and clutching a squash racquet as the brash front man of The Eradicator, Slania is a mild-mannered and pleasant guy with a ska-punk past. Recently, in advance of the release of Peak Eradicator, Slania invited My First Band host Tyler Maas to X-Ray Arcade — which he co-owns with Direct Hit! singer Nick Woods and others — to discuss The Eradicator's latest record, the inspiration behind the project and everything that came before. Over the course of the lengthy conversation, Slania talked about his formative shows as part of bands like ATFO and Tensi

Even if you don't know who Justin Perkins is, you're more than likely aware of his work. Perkins owns and operates Mystery Room Mastering, a Milwaukee-based business that masters a wide variety of Wisconsin (and Midwestern) releases, as well as albums from the likes of The Replacements, Bash & Pop, The Mr. T Experience, and many other acts from all around the world. But long before he was working on records for some outstanding bands, he was in a few of his own amazing musical projects. Recently, Perkins allowed My First Band host Tyler Maas into his basement studio (a.k.a. "Mystery Room East") for a long and informative discussion about the interesting and nuanced field of mastering, as well as his decades of experience on-stage playing in bands like Yesterday's Kids, Obsoletes, and stints with Screeching Weasel, Tommy Stinson's Bash & Pop project, and many other notable outfits. Along the way, Perkins talked about forming a band with his babysitter and his time working at the legendary (and now-clos

William "B.J." Seidel wears a lot of hats. He's owner of a celebrated beer-focused bar called Burnhearts, and he co-owns Goodkind, a nationally-regarded fine dining restaurant. He's also the lead singer and guitarist of a new Milwaukee supergroup called Dramatic Lovers. However, most Midwestern music aficionados probably know Seidel best for his work in seminal Milwaukee groups like Camden, The Promise Ring and Decibully. Aside from a short gap after Decibully and before Dramatic Lovers, Seidel has been a celebrated fixture in Milwaukee music since he moved to this city in the mid-'90s. But his musical journey actually starts much earlier. Prior to Dramatic Lovers' performance at this weekend's Bay View Bash, Seidel met up with My First Band host Tyler Maas to talk about forming the short-lived Billy Jehovah & The Pigeon Boys (which quickly became "Faceless Neighbors") as a high schooler in Racine, Wisconsin, and truly getting started in Milwaukee's music scene with a band called Matthew's Uncle. Over the

Chris Sutter wanted a drum set. His father, however, decided to buy him an acoustic guitar and a book of AC/DC tabs instead. Though his percussive aspirations never came to be, the future Meat Wave front man made the most of the situation by starting a nameless basement project with a friend in middle school, then a full-fledged band in high school that he's not exactly eager to look back on. Graduation found new influences and collaborators coming Sutter's way, which brought about the formation of Truman & His Trophy — a band that brought the suburban Chicago kid to the Windy City proper to join the city's vibrant music scene. Then along came Meat Wave. Prior to playing a show at X-Ray Arcade, Sutter joined My First Band host Tyler Maas on the Cudahy, Wisconsin, venue's patio to talk about his musical origin and his embarrassing stint in an emo band, early shows at roller rinks and malls, Meat Wave's Onion-influenced name, and getting to tour with Hot Snakes and play shows in Europe. Along the way, Sutte

If you don't know Them Coulee Boys yet, you will soon. The Eau-Claire-based bluegrass outfit just released its outstanding sophomore album, Die Happy, two weeks ago, and they're about to embark on a lengthy U.S. tour. Just days after the up-and-coming band put out its long-awaited record and just before officially hitting the road, Them Coulee Boys dropped by Turner Hall to play a one-off show in support of its new album. Before that concert, singer-guitarist Soren Staff was kind enough to talk about Die Happy and the unlikely turn of events that led to him trying to make a career in music with Them Coulee Boys. Staff met My First Band host Tyler Maas in the Turner Hall balcony before the Aug. 30 outing to talk about the process of making the "all killer, no filler" (both Maas' and Sum 41's words) record with one of his musical idols and his band's plans for the near future. He also told Maas about his start as the singer of a Fall-Out-Boy-adjacent band in a rural Wisconsin town with a population of 400 and e

Though country fans throughout the Midwest know Ryan Necci as the singer and founding member of Buffalo Gospel, the bandleader actually got his start as a percussionist. While growing up in the small town of Ixonia, Wisconsin, Necci first got behind a drum kit in middle school to play with a group called The Flying Monkeys, before spending his high school years covering Limp Bizkit (and writing some regrettable originals) with a band called Bangkok. From there, he spent some time with a popular western Wisconsin jam band called Fat Maw Rooney, which is where he started to sing and write songs of his own — thus paving the way for him to take center stage with a project that became Buffalo Gospel. Between tours and during a day off from his new career as a professional songwriter, Necci met My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters. There, they talked about Necci's percussive past, buying a band bong with the money from his first paying gig, touring the jam-band circuit in his 20s, the unli

Technically, Chris Conley has only been in one band in his life — and what a band it is! In their 20-plus years as a band, Saves The Day has toured the world many times over, released nine studio albums and made some deeply influential music that has helped define a genre. Before he was the lead singer, founding member and bandleader of the band the world knows as Saves The Day, Conley was a teenager in Princeton, New Jersey, who set aside his classical training in cello in favor of a guitar. While in middle school, Conley started a band known as Indifference, which was later called Sefler and, eventually, Saves The Day. Earlier this month, when Saves The Day was in Milwaukee as part of a tour with Joyce Manor, Conley took some time before the show to meet My First Band host Tyler Maas in the Turner Hall Ballroom balcony and revisit his long-running project's interesting origin. There, the singer talked about playing with future emo and hardcore heavyweights in New Jersey's then-unproven DIY scene, getting si

Even though SistaStrings just released its debut EP this summer, its members have (quite literally) been playing music as long as they can remember. Siblings Monique and Chauntee Ross started playing string instruments before they were in grade school. As children in a church family who were also raised on classical music, they learned a wide variety of gospel and orchestral songs. Along with two of their older sisters, Monique and Chauntee spent much of their youth plying their early experience in a band that played enough church gigs, festivals and corporate events to fund their education. In recent years, they decided to blend their varying areas of expertise with their own material to start SistaStrings. After getting back from tour and before a flurry of local shows, Monique and Chauntee came by Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk to My First Band host Tyler Maas about what SistaStrings is up to, as well as everything that came before. While drinking a few cans of Boulevard Jam Band, the trio had a lig

You might know Nick Sanborn as one half of Sylvan Esso, from his time in Milwaukee's own Decibully or from his work in side projects like Made of Oak and Rosenau & Sanborn. Long before any of that, however, Sanborn was a kid in Madison, Wisconsin, who was involved in his school's orchestra before picking up a bass guitar and deciding to start a band of his own. Since that start in a high school group called Point B, he made his way to Milwaukee and quickly became a fixture in the city's music scene before branching out to be part of touring acts and developing his solo efforts. While he was in Milwaukee to rehearse for the Rosenau & Sanborn show at The Back Room @ Colectivo, Sanborn met My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about his musical outset, early tours with Decibully, landing in Headlights and Megafaun, the random set of circumstances that allowed him to meet (and subsequently collaborate with) Amelia Meath, and what it's like to have his band's music play not

This week’s guest is Sarah Vos of Dead Horses. The singer, guitarist, and founding member of the up-and-coming Americana/bluegrass outfit continually tours the country to play concerts at bars, theaters, festivals, amphitheaters, and everywhere in between. Prior to hitting the road yet again and before September’s Dead Horses show with The Who at Alpine Valley and headlining outing at Pabst Theater, Vos managed to squeeze enough time out of her perpetually-packed schedule to meet up with My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about what her modern day musical happenings, and everything that came before. Vos talked about new happenings and spending roughly 150 days a year on the road before telling Maas about growing up in Oshkosh, playing her first open mic at a religious venue in middle school, starting a high school band called Ocean View, and how the start of Dead Horses came at just the right time in her life. Along the way, the two Fox Cities expats made some pretty specif