My First Band Podcast

This week's guest — the 200th and final My First Band guest! — is the incomparable Andy Junk. These days, you can see Junk on stage as a member of Holy Shit! and Chinese Telephones, taking photos at a ton of concerts in Milwaukee and beyond, and spreading Lakefront Brewery's sales territory to faraway lands. Before he was in two long-running and respected bands, Junk was a teen starting his musical journey in unknown projects based in the tiny Wisconsin towns of Winneconne and Omro. Prior to his Milwaukee move, Junk was also an instrumental part of the once-mighty Green Bay punk scene as a member of The Fragments, an employee at the legendary Concert Cafe and a booker/resident of a short-lived house venue. Before returning to Green Bay for a concert at Lyric Room this weekend and heading back to Japan for another Holy Shit! tour in March, Junk stopped by Milwaukee Record headquarters to chat with My First Band host Tyler Maas about those recent developments, the forthcoming Chinese Telephones release, his mus

This week's guest is Ian Olvera, whose work can be heard in a variety of ways. Beyond being a current member of Blueheels and the bandleader of Daydream Retrievers, Olvera has helped record and mix music from a wide variety of other musicians at Wire & Vice and Mystery Room Mastering (and on his own), and he's been a live sound engineer for a bunch of Milwaukee venues and some very well-known artists. Before he was doing any of that, Olvera was teaching himself guitar, recording himself with a Fisher Price microphone and making friends in the Green Bay music scene. A day before heading out to Europe for a month to serve as a touring sound technician for Lucinda Williams, Olvera met up with My First Band host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about being on the road with a music legend, recent solo shows he played, and some recording projects he's taken on lately. Of course, the conversation also focused on his musical start. Olvera talked about being influenced by his dad's records, play

This week's guest is Mark Waldoch, a Milwaukee mainstay who has been a prominent part of the city's music scene for more than 25 years. Over that quarter-century span, the multi-instrumentalist and owner of Brew City's most booming voice has released outstanding material with The Celebrated Workingman, under his own name and with his current Hallelujah Ward project. Along the way, he's contributed harmonies and horns to a wide variety of songs by other local musicians and he's been relied upon to be a go-to local opener for an incredible list of touring acts coming through town. Oh, and he's also a major part of Milwaukee's holiday music tradition with an array of Christmastime concerts most years. Earlier this week, Waldoch made a long-overdue stop (our bad!) at the My First Band studio, where he talked to host Tyler Maas about all of the above, as well as his upcoming yuletide show at The Cooperage, his amazing and arduous life story, and many memories from his lengthy tenure in the local scene. As Waldoch

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

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

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 conver

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 Day

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

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 outloo

Over the last quarter century, Josh Berwanger‘s work has taken many different forms. After his time in accomplished early aughts emo outfit The Anniversary was through, the Kansas-based songwriter dabbled in alt-country with The Only Children, ventured in the direction of indie rock with his Berwanger project and joined forces with members of The Get Up Kids and The Gadjits to form Radar State. Along the way, he even stepped completely away from music for seven years to coach girls high school basketball. Most recently, Berwanger has embarked on a “genre-blending” aural endeavor called Gemini Parks. With monthly song releases, some shows in the books and a Gemini Parks release planned for next year, Berwanger has a lot of modern-day happenings to talk about. He did just that when he spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas. Of course, their conversation also touched on early bands, the beginning of The Anniversary, memorable moments from that band, his years away from music, what brought him back to the stage

This week's guest is River (a.k.a. Sarah) Shook. As the bandleader and namesake of Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Shook has ardently toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. They've released some excellent albums, including Nightroamer, which came out on Thirty Tigers in February. Following the release of that acclaimed album and ample touring in support of the record, Shook's "dark pop" project called Mightmare just put out its debut album on Kill Rock Stars last week. Before Shook and company hit the road for the first Mightmare tour (including an Oct. 29 show at Cactus Club), they spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about hitting the road in a big way again, releasing two drastically different albums on two respected labels in the same calendar year and how their recent run of European shows went. Naturally, the conversation also moved to Shook's musical history. Over the course of the discussion, Shook talked about growing up in a religious household and only being allowed to listen to worship and cl

This week's guest is NNAMDÏ. The Chicago-based singer, rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist has put out a ton of great music since 2020 (including his acclaimed new Sooper Records / Secretly Canadian album, Please Have a Seat). He's performed with Wilco, Sleater-Kinney, Black Midi, Jeff Rosenstock and Speedy Ortiz. He has garnered acclaim from Kasey Musgraves and he was named "Chicagoan of the Year" by the Chicago Tribune. Before he was an accomplished artist on the cusp of even bigger and better things, NNAMDÏ was living in the Chicago suburb of Lansing, drumming in rock bands and teaching himself to record by writing songs about butts for his friends. Recently, just prior to the release of Please Have a Seat and the upcoming U.S. tour (including an Oct. 20 show at Cactus Club), NNAMDÏ spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about making the new album, getting back on the road again, as well as some of the hopes and plans he has for the near future. Along the way, he also talked about playing drums in

This week's guest is Chris Gethard. Though Gethard isn't a musician, he is a cult comedy legend, the namesake of The Chris Gethard Show, an actor (who you might know from films like Don’t Think Twice and TV shows like Broad City and The Office), the host of the Beautiful/Anonymous podcast, a soda pop appreciator and historian, a point of New Jersey pride, and someone who has helped countless people with his openness about his mental health struggles. He's also a huge music fan who has performed alongside world-renowned musicians on stage and on his TV show. Prior to Gethard's Midwestern jaunt (including two shows at X-Ray Arcade on Oct. 7), he told My First Band host Tyler Maas about how music actually helped pave his way towards a career in comedy. Over the course of the conversation, he also talked about memorable basement shows and DIY concerts from his past, seeing Less Than Jake at a July 4th barbecue, unforgettable musical guests during The Chris Gethard Show's run, marrying a member of his house band,

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 Mast

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), starti

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

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 w

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

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" serie

This week's guest is Matt Allen, who you might know better as Nur-D. And if you don't know Nur-D yet, you will soon. The Minneapolis-based rapper, singer, dancer and all-around entertainer is poised for big things. The latest step of his ongoing journey to national notoriety is his just-released album, HVN (pronounced "heaven"), which will be celebrated tonight with a headlining performance at the legendary First Avenue. The new album and release show come after a whirlwind summer for Nur-D, which included a long run of festival appearances, significant shows and even a performance at Gen Con. Long before he was a budding talent on the cusp of even bigger and better things as Nur-D, Allen was a theater kid who was fronting an indie rock band. In advance of the Aug. 19 HVN release/release show, Allen spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about his busy summer, what people can expect from the new album and just how far he hopes to take Nur-D in the years to come. Of course, he also spoke about his past, includ