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 musical start, his formative years in Titletown, basement show-related troubles with the law, relocating to Milwaukee, tricking an AOL music site into covering his band, and much more. Oh, and they talked about his honorary Lakefront beer, My Turn: Junk, and the unique reason it made headlines a few years ago.

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 Shit! ("Ban Me"). Thanks to everyone who listened to this show, sponsored episodes, helped us book guests and took the time to be interviewed. It was a pleasure doing My First Band for close to four years!

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, playing shows in Titletown as a highschooler, starting The Sleepwalkers while studying recording at UW-Oshkosh, moving to Milwaukee and getting more creative opportunities, and some surreal experiences from his varied career in 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 Daydream Retrievers ("Living Hell").

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 classical music, teaching themself to play guitar on an acoustic borrowed from a friend, the origin of early projects that eventually morphed into The Disarmers, and some of their favorite experiences from their career.

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 Mightmare ("Easy").

My First Band has reached the century mark! We're celebrating the 100-episode milestone in grand fashion with the incomparable Adam Weiner, who you might know better as the singer, pianist and driving force behind Low Cut Connie. Over the course of the project's decade-long existence, Low Cut Connie has released six acclaimed albums, toured the world, earned high praise from legendary musicians like Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, and has become a favorite of two United States Presidents. Weiner has been especially busy since last March, performing more than 70 "Tough Cookies" livestream shows to millions of viewers all over the world and releasing the latest Low Cut Connie album.

The day before he performed an official virtual event for the Biden-Harris inauguration, Weiner spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the rare honor he had to represent the new President's home state on the historic day, the band's recently released Private Lives and how a pandemic reinforced his belief in the powers of performance and the artist-audience connection. Of course, the hour-long interview also touched on Weiner's musical past, including his upbringing in New Jersey, attending art school in New York, memorable early shows and tumultuous tours during his days playing under the "Ladyfingers" moniker, and unforgettable experiences from the more than 10-year run (and counting) of Low Cut Connie.

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 Low Cut Connie ("Stay As Long As You Like").

This week's guest is Scott H. Biram, but you might know him as "The Dirty Old One Man Band." Since releasing his solo debut in the year 2000, the tireless troubadour has played thousands upon thousands of shows at venues of all sizes and scope in North America, toured Europe more than 20 times, had songs featured on popular TV shows and Oscar-nominated films, and put out 11 albums. A couple months after he released Fever Dreams — his latest album, which came out on Bloodshot Records last November — Biram took some time out of his uncharacteristically quiet schedule to talk to My First Band host Tyler Maas about his 20-plus-year solo run and everything that came beforehand.

Over the course of an hour-long discussion, Biram talked about how he's keeping busy and staying productive during a pandemic, his upbringing in a fairly small Texas town, the inspiration artists like Doc Watson and Townes Van Zandt had on him early on, and his stints in adolescent and early adulthood outfits like The Happy Trees and The Thangs. Along the way, the accomplished singer-songwriter opened up about his decision to branch out on his own, what the "H" stands for (hint: it's not his middle name), getting signed to Bloodshot, the ups and downs of more than two decades spent on the road, performing on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, punching "The Devil" in the stomach in Atlanta, and much more.

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 Scott H. Biram ("Hobo Jungle").

John Sparrow is living every Milwaukee musician's dream. The percussionist has toured all around the world, performed at legendary venues like the Sydney Opera House and Red Rocks Amphitheater, shared the stage with some of music's biggest names, and has earned a spot as the drummer of the Violent Femmes. Long before he was keeping the beat for Wisconsin's most renowned rock band, Sparrow was cutting his teeth in polka combos, dabbling in jazz and drumming along to Violent Femmes records in his basement.

Recently, Sparrow spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about many of the amazing experiences he's had as a member of the Femmes, the unexpected circumstances that led to him landing a spot in the band and all the projects that came beforehand. Over the course of the discussion, Sparrow talked about his years in The Danglers, unknowingly auditioning to become Violent Femmes' cajón player, his eventual move to becoming the band's drummer, using a grill during his performance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and playing the first musical notes in Fiserv Forum history.

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 Violent Femmes ("Not OK").

Even though Lydia Luce first came to consciousness in folk and Americana circles with her excellent 2018 debut, Azelea, the Nashville-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been working hard to hone her craft for decades. The up-and-coming artist was immersed in music since infancy. Her professional conductor mother put a violin in her hands at an early age, and she spent much of her childhood playing in a string quartet with her brother.

As Luce prepares to release her long-awaited sophomore record, Dark River, on Feb. 26, the lifelong musician talked to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the process of writing and recording the highly-anticipated album. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Luce also spoke about getting through the pandemic, a tornado hitting her home in March, her extensive and rigorous musical education, early tours with projects that preceded her solo work, and the pride she takes in her Lockeland Strings community arts organization.

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 Lydia Luce ("Dark River").

My First Band kicks off 2021 with Charlie Berens. The affable actor, writer, comedian and Emmy-winning host has made a name for himself throughout Wisconsin (and far beyond) with his "Manitowoc Minute" segments and other hilarious videos that are rooted in Midwest-themed humor. In addition to making content that has garnered millions of views, touring throughout Wisconsin and its neighboring states, starting a great new podcast called The CripesCast, and adapting his web-based material into a sidesplitting long-form theater show, Berens recently joined forces with Adam Greuel, of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, to release an album full of Wisconsin-centric bluegrass songs.

A few weeks after the release of Berens & Greuel's debut album, Unthawed, Berens spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the album and its unique blend of local love, earnest bluegrass and well-crafted comedy. Over the course of the discussion, Berens also talked about his early musical attempts in the small Wisconsin town of Elm Grove, the development of Manitowoc Minute, the careful balance of humor and social commentary he tries to strike in his material, the process of writing and recording Unthawed, and spending a week in the top spot on the Billboard bluegrass charts (unseating Sturgill Simpson in the process). Before episode's end, Berens also dipped into Manitowoc Minute mode long enough to give some bold predictions for this weekend's Packers-Bears game.

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 Berens & Greuel ("Supper Club Shuffle").

This week's guest — and the final My First Band guest of 2020 — is Shawna Nicols. Wisconsin sports fans probably know her better as "DJ Shawna," the moniker she uses while serving as the official in-game DJ for the Milwaukee Bucks as well as the Wisconsin Badgers football team. In recent years, the accomplished Milwaukee DJ and emcee has also worked the turntables and curated the musical accompaniment at the NCAA Women's Final Four, during University of Wisconsin men's basketball games, at Marquette women's basketball games, as a headliner at PrideFest Milwaukee, and as Lizzo's opener at last year's Summerfest. Oh yeah, she was also one of just four DJs invited to work in "The Bubble" when the NBA resumed its season/postseason in Orlando over the summer. Long before she was playing music during professional basketball games, Shawna was a pro basketball player herself.

Recently, a few days before the Bucks and Shawna were set to start another season, Shawna spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the work she puts into pairing music with specific players and in-game occurrences, the experience of living and working in The Bubble, and being one of the few people in attendance when Milwaukee made the historic decision to forego playing a playoff game in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Eventually, the conversation turned to Shawna's days as a Milwaukee basketball standout, a Badgers player and a professional baller in the Netherlands. Along the way, they talked about her unconventional path to becoming a professional DJ and how a mixture of tenacity and talent have opened exciting new doors for her in entertainment.

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").

Though 2020 has been a downright awful year with very few bright spots, the emergence of Bartees Strange has been one silver lining people can be happy about. The Washington DC-based singer and multi-instrumentalist first came to widespread consciousness this March with Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy, an EP of songs by The National that he reinterpreted in spectacular fashion. In October, that inventive release was followed by Live Forever, his debut full-length that's earned him international attention and high standing on a bunch of year-end best albums lists.

Last week — minutes after learning his song "Boomer" was named the best song of 2020 by Spin Magazine — Strange spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about his whirlwind year (that just so happens to be taking place during a worldwide pandemic) and what he's working on to follow-up his pair of lauded releases. Eventually, the conversation turned to the up-and-coming musician's upbringing in a Christian household with an opera singer mother, his discovery of hardcore music as a teen living in the Oklahoma city of Mustang, his years as a backing musician and touring guitarist in Brooklyn, what brought him back to DC, and the years of work and life lessons that went into creating Live Forever. Along the way, the pair talked about Hanson's underrated "Mmmhops" beer and their shared love of Appleton, Wisconsin.

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 Bartees Strange ("Mustang").

As a founding member of Less Than Jake, Chris DeMakes has spent close to 30 years traveling the world to perform thousands of shows. Along the way, the singer and guitarist has shared stages of all sizes and scope with some of the world's most renowned artists, released top-notch music at an impressive clip, and amassed an astounding collection of experiences associated with his one and only (true) project. Before he was at the forefront of the seminal ska-punk band, DeMakes was learning to play music in Port Charlotte, Florida, and laying the groundwork for what would eventually turn into Less Than Jake.

In the days leading up to the release of Less Than Jake's brand new album, Silver Linings, DeMakes spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the new album, his just-released book, his excellent "Chris DeMakes A Podcast," and the Dec. 11 "Live With Less Than Jake" livestream event. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, DeMakes also talked about opening for Bon Jovi on an arena tour, playing with Snoop Dogg and Linkin Park, leaving major label deals in favor of independent imprints, and how Less Than Jake's work ethic and live show have played an important part in the band's longevity.

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 Less Than Jake ("Keep On Chasing").

During his 10 years (and counting!) as a member of The Wild Feathers, Joel King and his bandmates have released four well-received studio albums and a live record, played hundreds upon hundreds of concerts all around the country and toured with legendary musicians like Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Bob Segar. Prior to his time with the accomplished Nashville-based Americana outfit, King — who plays bass and shares vocal duties in The Wild Feathers — was living in Oklahoma and working hard to make a living as the front man of a rock band called The Effects.

A few days before The Wild Feathers released its latest album, Medium Rarities, on Nov. 20, King spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the collection of B-sides, covers and unreleased material, as well as many of the standout moments from his decade in the band. Of course, the conversation eventually shifted to King's previous projects. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, he talked about making decent money and playing out often in high school bands like Rhythmic Overdose and The Denizens, touring avidly and even playing to American troops in the Middle East in The Effects, being courted by major labels after starting what would become The Wild Feathers, and what he hopes to do with the band once life returns to some semblance of normalcy.

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 Wild Feathers (cover of "Blue" by The Jayhawks).

These days, Zach Blair can be heard playing lead guitar in the world-renowned punk outfit Rise Against as well as Drakulas, his excellent side project. Before he was part of those bands, the guitarist was sporting formal wear as a member of Hagfish, touring overseas with a punk supergroup called Only Crime and wearing 60 pounds of prosthetics to play the part of "Flattus Maximus" in GWAR. And prior to any of that, Blair was just a kid in Sherman, Texas, who was listening to his dad's record collection and learning to play guitar.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas got a chance to hear some amazing stories from Blair's 30-plus-years in music. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, they spoke about the guitarist's lengthy tenure in Hagfish with his brother Doni, the unexpected circumstances that led to him joining GWAR (and the tragedy that brought him back to the band for a short time), memorable stints in Armstrong and Only Crime, and how he wound up joining Rise Against. Along the way, Blair also talked about ways he's keeping busy during a rare span of time in which he's not touring, all the amazing experiences he's been able to have with Rise Against and Drakulas' great new record entitled Terminal Amusements.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Drakulas ("Dark Black").

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 his middle school's jazz band, starting a group called The Para-Medics, playing basement shows and comic book shops in high school, dabbling in self-recording and rapping, and how lighthearted material about booties and inside jokes inadvertently paved the way to a successful solo career.

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 NNAMDÏ ("Grounded").

This short episode is a special announcement about My First Band now being broadcast on Milwaukee's own WMSE!

You probably know Dan Wilson as the lead singer of Semisonic, the seminal band that brought you "Closing Time." Though his output in that long-tenured alternative rock outfit is certainly remarkable in its own right, Wilson has made even more significant contributions to entertainment as a songwriter. Over the last 20 years, the songwriter and producer has worked with some of modern music's biggest names, including collaborations with Taylor Swift, John Legend, Pink, Halsey, Chris Stapleton and Jason Mraz. Most notably, he's also won two Grammys for songs he wrote with Adele — including mega-hit "Someone Like You" — and The Chicks. Long before he was crafting some of the world's most popular songs, Wilson was a Minnesota kid who was scoring a play at his high school.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas was able to speak with Wilson about his prolific co-writing résumé, the new Semisonic EP and his "Words + Music In 6 Seconds" inspirational cards. Eventually, the conversation turned to Wilson's extensive and impressive musical history. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, the Grammy-winner opened up about family singalongs on the beaches of North Carolina, beginning to play guitar, playing with his brother (former My First Band guest Matt Wilson) in Trip Shakespeare and other groups, nearly giving up on music prior to the start of Semisonic, what it's like to hear "Closing Time" out in public, and what he strives to bring to his collaborations with internationally beloved musicians. Along the way, he talked about the time Matt kicked him out of a band while he was taking a bath.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Semisonic ("You're Not Alone").

These days, listeners know William Bush for his work alongside his brother, Kevin, in Immortal Girlfriend and on his own in his new Black Challenger solo project. Years before William was making waves in electronic music circles both in Wisconsin and far beyond, he and his sibling were cutting their teeth in metro Milwaukee's once-burgeoning screamo scene.

A few weeks after putting out Black Challenger's debut album — the downright awesome Vigilance — and about six months after the release of Immortal Girlfriend's long-awaited sophomore EP, William talked to My First Band host Tyler Maas about those two releases, playing legion hall shows with Kevin in anime-influenced bands like Starwind and Hawking and Ari Armada, starting Immortal Girlfriend, the duo's unexpected rise to local notoriety, and some of his favorite on-stage moments so far.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), Immortal Girlfriend ("Phantasm"), and Black Challenger ("City Of Angels").

Not even a pandemic can slow Jon Snodgrass down. In recent months, the long-tenured and accomplished punk troubadour recorded and released a new album on A-F Records, put out a children's record and continued his cross-continental collaboration with Frank Turner. Along the way, he's also written enough new material for yet another album. Though current conditions don't permit him to tour, Snodgrass continues to be a lighthearted and eternally optimistic musician who, fortunately, has decades worth of great stories to draw from his time on stage.

Last week, Snodgrass called My First Band host Tyler Maas to talk about Tace — his new album that features accompaniment from members of Rise Against, The Lawrence Arms, Bad Cop/Bad Cop and Lagwagon — and how he's keeping active during his downtime. Of course, the conversation eventually turned to his upbringing in Missouri, formative musical experiences as a teenager, his move to Fort Collins and the ups and downs from his time in seminal bands like Armchair Martian and Scorpios. Over the course of the discussion, Snodgrass also talked about his beloved Colorado Rockies, shared some of his favorite memories from his lengthy musical career and even performed some impromptu jingles for our sponsors.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Jon Snodgrass ("Bad New Lands").

Milwaukee music is incredibly lucky to have Kelsey Kaufmann. The owner of the Cactus Club has booked literally hundreds of shows, helped produce large-scale festivals, and was at the forefront of changing laws that prohibited all-ages shows at certain venues in Milwaukee. After managing the iconic Bay View club for a few years, further bolstering its already-sterling reputation, and bringing some impressive acts to town, Kaufmann bought the bar this February. Just over a month after officially taking over, the world turned on its head. Though times are unexpectedly tough for Cactus Club, Kaufmann and her staff are committed to keeping the business running and continuing to give interesting artists a platform.

Earlier this week, My First Band host Tyler Maas caught up with Kaufmann to ask her about some of the struggles venues around the country are facing in the midst of a pandemic, some of the interesting things she's doing to bring in revenue and keep Cactus Club active during this unprecedented time and some of the positive and affirming things that have happened during her time as the bar's owner. Of course, the conversation eventually shifted to her experiences as the drummer for past and current projects like Cougar Den, Centipedes, Gallery Night and Body Work. Along the way, Kaufmann also discussed booking tours for her bands as a teenager, falling in love with D.I.Y. culture, being stranded in rural Utah for a week when Cougar Den's van broke down and some of the favorite concerts she's ever brought to Milwaukee.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Body Work ("Now Forget").

As the banjo player in Wood & Wire, Trevor Smith has traveled all around the county, shared the stage with some legendary acts, released four excellent albums (five, if you count their live record), played hundreds upon hundreds of concerts, and was even nominated for a Grammy. While the band's plans to hit the road for most of 2020 were dashed, Wood & Wire was still able to release a new album — the wonderful No Matter Where It Goes From Here — at the end of August, and are continuing to reach new listeners all around the world.

Long before Smith was plucking his heart out as a founding member of the accomplished Austin, Texas, bluegrass outfit, he was cutting his teeth and playing keyboard in hardcore bands in his native Arizona. With Wood & Wire not on the road for once, Smith had time to talk to My First Band host Tyler Maas about the process of making Wood & Wire's latest record and how he's keeping busy at the moment before the conversation shifted focus to his musical past.

Over the course of the conversation, Smith talked about his formative years in the Tucson hardcore scene, discovering bluegrass in his teens, dropping out of high school (with the encouragement of his parents!) to move to Austin and join Green Mountain Grass, the year he spent in Asylum Street Spankers, and the experience of both being nominated for a Grammy and attending the awards ceremony in quite possibly the coolest suit ever. Oh, and apologies for the background noise on Tyler's end of the conversation.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Wood & Wire ("Home & The Banjo").

David Quinn is quickly making a name for himself in country music circles with a relentless show schedule (at least until recently, of course) and ever-evolving material. The Chicago-based singer's catalog will grow by 10 more songs on Oct. 23 with the release of his latest and greatest album, Letting Go. Long before Quinn was building a reputation as the front man and namesake of a country project though, he was playing drums in a suburban Chicago rock band called Best Defense.

This week, in the days leading up to the release of Letting Go, My First Band host Tyler Maas got in touch with Quinn to talk about the process of recording the forthcoming album, getting an impressive cast of backing musicians to lend their talents to the record, and ways he's keeping busy in a year that's left him unable to tour. Over the course of the hour-plus interview, Quinn also talked about his days as a drummer in rock and blues projects, his formative year living in California, the early stages of writing his own material, and his eventual move to country music. Along the way, Quinn also talked at length about his love of Thunderbird Wine.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and David Quinn ("Letting Go").

We broke format a little this week to talk all things music with a guest who has no musical experience of his own. Jon Gabrus is an actor (Guy Code, Younger, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), comedian and veteran podcaster. Though he's not a musician by trade, the host of High And Mighty, Action Boyz and The Gino Lombardo Show has a wealth of musical memories and no shortage of great stories about concerts he's attended through the years.

Prior to the start of Season 2 of The Gino Lombardo Show, Gabrus spoke with My First Band host/longtime "shithead" Tyler Maas about his various podcasts and how he's holding up during the nightmare that is 2020. Of course, the conversation eventually turned to music, as Gabrus talked about what he's listening to now, his love of Sylvan Esso, the music scene in his native Long Island, some of the first shows he attended, blowing all the money he made in his 20s on concerts in New York, almost getting kicked out of a Radiohead show, musical tropes in action movies and so much more. Along the way, Gabrus also discussed Billy Joel and Eddie Money while Maas fought the urge to make a bunch of High And Mighty callbacks.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Sylvan Esso ("Dreamy Bruises").

Listeners all over the world know Bob Nanna as the voice of Braid (one of the most influential emo bands of all time), as well as celebrated projects like Hey Mercedes and The City On Film. Long before he was making a name for himself with those bands, Nanna was a drummer who was keeping time for lesser-known suburban Chicago outfits like Slaphappy and Friction.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Nanna about the unconventional recording process for his new solo album, Celebration States, and how he's both staying creative and keeping busy in isolation. Over the course of the roughly 80-minute conversation, the emo icon also talked about his pre-Braid projects, the highs and lows of Braid and Hey Mercedes, the wealth of other musical endeavors that came after those seminal bands, and the process of building a network of musicians for his Downwrite custom song business. Along the way, Maas also accidentally referred to Michael Cassady as "Neil Cassady" and Nanna talked about playing a recent socially distant backyard show to an audience of seven people.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), Friction ("Squelch") and Bob Nanna ("Mr. Albatross").

If you haven’t heard of Arlo McKinley yet, you should know he comes with John Prine’s seal of approval. Before Prine’s heartbreaking death this spring, the legendary folk singer handpicked McKinley to join his Oh Boy Records label, an honor granted to only a handful of musicians over the last couple of decades. This August, McKinley released Die Midwestern on the independent label, and his follow-up to 2014’s self-titled debut has been receiving high praise from music media and fans ever since. Before McKinley was releasing sad country ballads on the label of one of his musical heroes though, he was playing in Cincinnati punk and hardcore bands and teaming up with one of his buddies in projects that spanned more than a decade.

McKinley recently joined My First Band host Tyler Maas via WiFi to discuss his first exposure to musical performance as a boy in his family’s Bapist church, digging through his dad’s extensive vinyl collection as a kid and forming his first band, Mourning Child, as a teenager. Over the nearly hour-and-a-half-long discussion, McKinley also discussed being recruited to join Breaking Point, a punk rock band that he sang in, as well as how he talked himself into becoming the bassist in Headstall, a hardcore band, before he even knew how to play the instrument. After he left Headstall, McKinley quit performing for a few years and taught himself how to play guitar. A chance conversation with fellow Cincinnati musician Jeremy Pinnell led to McKinley joining a band called Latter Day and then playing with Pinnell for more than a decade in a handful of projects, including a memorable run as an indie folk duo called The Great Depression. Finally, McKinley revealed how he slowly made the transition from Tim Carr, his birth name, to the alter ego performing moniker of Arlo McKinley and how that endeavor has grown beyond his wildest dreams.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Arlo McKinley ("Die Midwestern").

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, briefly singing in a Smiths cover group and how he probably wants to sing in your project.

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 Unlovables ("Miracle Braves").

Over the course of the show's 137-episode run (and counting!), Jim Hanke's Vinyl Emergency podcast has featured in-depth conversations with notable musicians about their record collections and albums they had a hand in making. Before he was interviewing performers about their emotional attachment to wax (and producing other well-received podcasts), Hanke was a musician in his own right.

Recently, Hanke took on the guest role for a change when My First Band host Tyler Maas caught up with him to talk about his show, other projects he's working on at the moment and the ongoing vinyl boom. After swapping stories about their podcasts, the conversation turned to Hanke's musical history. Over the course of the lengthy discussion, the performer-turned-podcaster talked about impressive opening gigs his band Twinstar played, his stint in El Oso, moving to Illinois during his time with Kid, You'll Move Mountains, and the circumstances that took him from the stage to the studio.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and El Oso ("Lions").

Through the years, Trapper Schoepp has released four excellent albums, played hundreds of shows all over the U.S. and Europe, shared the stage with some of music's most noted names, had songs on television, and has established himself as one of Wisconsin's premier performers. Oh, and he also has a co-writing credit with Bob Dylan! Before he was making a living as a musician and collaborating with legends, Schoepp was a kid in Ellsworth, Wisconsin who took up the guitar after suffering a BMX-related injury.

Now that the pandemic has canceled his European tour and thrown a wrench in his usually busy summer show schedule, Schoepp has some time to catch up with My First Band host Tyler Maas. Over the course of the conversation, the accomplished singer-songwriter talked about the ways he's keeping busy and staying productive, his experience playing a few socially distant drive-in shows, and the unexpected set of circumstances that led to him finishing a song Dylan started many years earlier. Of course, Scheopp also looked back on his early on-stage experiences, including important albums his dentist gave him, memories of his first shows, enduring some rowdy Social Distortion fans, being stranded in a small town on the way home from tour and formative figures that helped bring him to the place he is today.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Trapper Schoepp ("Keep Me In Your Heart" and "On, Wisconsin").

With such a vast and downright impressive body of work to her credit, you might be shocked to learn Lydia Loveless just turned 30. Since 2010, the singer and songwriter has released a handful of critically acclaimed albums, toured relentlessly, shared the stage with some folk and country legends, and managed to fashion quite a career for herself. Before Loveless was a household name in the realm of alt-country with her solo work, she was playing bass guitar in a band with her family members.

Recently, Loveless, who is celebrating her 30th birthday the day of this episode's release, spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about growing up on a farm in the small Ohio town of Coshocton, learning to play guitar and piano while being homeschooled, early shows with her family's band, and playing out on her own during her late teen years. Along the way, Loveless spoke about Daughter (the excellent new album she's releasing on her own label Sept. 25), the ups and downs from a musical career that's spanned more than half her life and how she's staying busy in North Carolina amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Oh, and before the interview's end, she graciously indulged Maas in a little 90 Day Fiancé- and Mest-related conversation as well.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Lydia Loveless ("Wringer").

If you're reading this, chances are you know Chris McCaughan from his work in The Lawrence Arms. Over the course of more than 20 years singing and playing guitar in the iconic Chicago punk band, McCaughan has shared the stage with some of his favorite musicians, performed throughout the world, contributed to a number of celebrated records and has earned the affection of countless diehard fans all over the globe. Prior to his unlikely beginning with The Lawrence Arms and well before he started his beloved Sundowner side project, McCaughan was just a kid taking piano lessons, teaching himself to play guitar and falling in love with punk rock.

A few weeks after The Lawrence Arms released its seventh studio album, the wonderful Skeleton Coast, the band's guitarist and co-vocalist told My First Band host Tyler Maas about the process of writing the record remotely, the decision to release it during a pandemic and how comparing songs with longtime bandmate/lifelong friend Brendan Kelly breeds healthy competition and makes for great material. Over the course of the interview, McCaughan also spoke about middle school "bands" like Vegetable Train and Glad Hand (both of which also featured Kelly), his stints in Tricky Dick and The Broadways, the unexpected origin of The Lawrence Arms, his decision to start Sundowner, and the unforgettable experiences music has given him through the years.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and The Lawrence Arms ("Ghostwriter").

You probably know Miguel Chen as a longtime member of Teenage Bottlerocket. In addition to playing bass in the renowned Wyoming punk band for close to 15 years, however, Chen is also a yoga instructor, meditation expert and author who has written three books (with a fourth on the way). Long before he fashioned a unique career out of the diverse fields of punk rock, writing and self-improvement, Chen was a kid learning the ins and outs of classical guitar in the small town of Laramie.

With the typically busy Teenage Bottlerocket currently stuck home on account of the ongoing pandemic, Chen managed to find some time to speak with My First Band host Tyler Maas about his band's canceled spring tour, his new children's book, how he's holding up in his current home of Dallas and advice he has to help people stay sane and centered during a decidedly insane point in human history. Over the course of the conversation, Chen also talked about formative punk shows in Wyoming house venues, stints in bands like Kilted Monarchs and Inspector Hector, getting a little too into drugs in his early 20s, circumstances that took him from being Teenage Bottlerocket's merch guy to the band's bassist, and unforgettable experiences he's had since joining up with the group in 2006.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Teenage Bottlerocket ("I Wanna Be A Dog").

If you don't know the name Joshua Ray Walker yet, you're about to be hearing a lot about him. Since first gaining notoriety in country music circles with his 2018 debut, Wish You Were Here, the Dallas singer-songwriter has won fans all around the world and earned high praise from some of music's most renowned publications. Walker's just-released sophomore album, Glad You Made It, has garnered even more acclaim and finds the up-and-coming country talent on the cusp of even bigger and better things. He's come quite a way since he was a kid teaching himself to play a guitar he got at a garage sale.

Not long after the release of Glad You Made It, Walker spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the process of making the new record, the decision to put out a record during a pandemic and the positive response it's received so far. Over the course of the conversation, Walker also talked about his time in emo bands during his teens, couch surfing and living off Walmart taquitos in his 20s, important life advice he got from his grandfather, and how agreeing to host a folk night unknowingly reset his artistic trajectory. Along the way, he discussed his new High, Wide & Handsome clothing line and Maas made a few questionable puns.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Joshua Ray Walker ("Voices").

Frank Turner has done it all. The English punk singer-songwriter has played thousands of shows over the course of his 25-year musical career. During that quarter-century span, he's released eight excellent albums under his own name, published books, founded a festival, shared the stage with some legendary acts and earned acclaim from fans all over the globe. Long before he was a world-renowned musician though, Turner was just a kid in a small U.K. village who was obsessed with Iron Maiden and intent on learning to play guitar.

Recently, in accordance with the release of his West Coast vs. Wessex cover split with NOFX and on the cusp of his milestone 2,500th show (which you can livestream on Aug. 9), Turner opened up to My First Band host Tyler Maas and told him all about his early musical experiences, as well as every memorable stop thereafter. Over the course of more than 45 minutes, the troubadour spoke about a recent socially distant show and the unique new Fat Wreck Chords split before looking back at regrettable band names of yore, unforgettable shows at squats throughout Europe, the unconventional way he wound up in Million Dead and the circumstances that led to him striking out on his own. Along the way, Turner also talked about his time in the London hardcore scene, his days in boarding school and playing his first solo show to exactly three people.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Frank Turner covering NOFX ("Bob").

What needs to be said about William Elliott Whitmore at this point? Over the course of an impressive career that's spanned more than two decades, the folk legend has performed all around the world, shared the stage with an abundance of renowned musicians and released seven outstanding albums. Before he was captivating crowds far and wide with his quality catalog and his incomparable voice, Whitmore was lugging gear for Ten Grand and he — and his trusty banjo — were winning over audiences at punk shows as the band's opening act.

Recently, around the time his Dope Walker side project was preparing to release its debut album, My First Band host Tyler Maas was able to get Whitmore away from his family for long enough to run through his extensive and immensely interesting career. Over the course of the conversation, Whitmore discussed being a new dad, isolating on his Iowa farm and ways the pandemic has changed both his tour and album schedules. Along the way, the Midwestern music mainstay talked about inheriting his grandfather's banjo, finding success in a solo capacity, the creative itch projects like Dope Walker and Hallways of Always scratch, and some of the life-changing experiences he's had over the past 20-plus years. Before episode's end, the pair also relive memorable Wisconsin shows at places like Cactus Club and Cranky Pat's, mention mutual friends they have, and talk about Tyler's Green Bay Packers novelty band.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), Dope Walker ("These Freaks"), and William Elliott Whitmore ("Dry").

Under her musical moniker of B~Free, Britney Freeman-Farr has released some outstanding albums, opened for Janelle Monáe and curated once-in-a-lifetime concerts. Long before the R&B singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist was making a name for herself in Milwaukee and far beyond, she was starting a lifelong journey of musical discovery, education and experience.

Recently, Freeman-Farr spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas about her life in music. Over the course of the conversation, she talked about how she's keeping busy and staying creative during quarantine with her husband/creative partner Quinten Farr, as well as growing up in a musical family, her experiences at an arts high school and in college music courses, and the start of B~Free. Along the way, the discussion also touched on Brandy, some especially memorable performances and how she dealt with losing her voice for almost an entire year.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and B~Free featuring Quinten Farr ("Say It").

As the singer and guitarist of Broadway Calls, Ty Vaughn has toured throughout Europe, Asia and across the United States. During the band's 15-year run, he's shared the stage with the likes of The Descendents, Bad Religion, Rancid, Alkaline Trio, Bouncing Souls and countless other world-renowned acts. Long before he was helping to put the small town of Rainier, Oregon, on the map as part of the long-tenured punk project, Vaughn was learning blues riffs on a rented acoustic guitar and developing tight musical bonds with kids who would go on to be his bandmates for decades to come.

A few days after Broadway Calls released Sad in the City on Red Scare Industries, My First Band host Tyler Maas asked Vaughn about the excellent new record — the band's first album in almost eight years — before taking a deep dive into his rich musical past. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Vaughn talked about formative shows across the river in nearby Longview, Washington, during his teens, his stint in a ska band, touring the country in a hardcore outfit called Countdown to Life, originally forming Broadway Calls as a side project, recording with Bill Stevenson and the life-changing compliment he once got from Tim Armstrong. Along the way, Maas also made some questionable jokes about The Oregon Trail and Milwaukie, Oregon.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Broadway Calls ("Sad In The City").

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").

If you follow Milwaukee music, chances are you've come across Samer Ghani's work in some capacity. The photographer and videographer is responsible for a number of band photos, album covers, music videos and live shots at a wide range of local events. However, with COVID-19 halting concerts for the foreseeable future, Ghani has recently taken it upon himself to use his photography talents to help bring visibility to the Black Lives Matter protests in and around Milwaukee. Before he was an up-and-coming and versatile photographer, Ghani was playing string instruments in middle school, messing around on bass guitar in some high school punk bands and dabbling with a camera in college.

On a rare afternoon this week when he wasn't working or covering the BLM movement, Ghani opened up to My First Band about his unique path to photography, paying his way into shows to take pictures, overcoming "imposter syndrome" and how getting all his gear stolen was a blessing in disguise. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Ghani also talked about the impact the pandemic is having on his work, his experience touring with Nasty Boys, the importance of quick turnaround and collaborating with others, and what it was like to take photos for (and subsequently get to spend time backstage with) his musical idol, Tom DeLonge.

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. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Paper Holland ("Slouches").

As the singer and guitarist of The Dirty Nil, Luke Bentham has toured all around the world, performed in stadiums and renowned clubs, shared the stage with legendary bands like The Who, won a Juno Award, and released some outstanding albums that have helped to carry rock and roll boldly — and loudly — into the roaring '20s. Before he was fronting the long-tenured and accomplished Canadian outfit, Bentham was living in the small Ontario town of Dundas and shredding on Nirvana and Green Day covers as a member of Twisted Minds.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Bentham about the COVID-19 conditions in his corner of Canada, keeping busy in quarantine by writing material with his bandmates/roommates and the singer's lifelong affinity for rock and roll. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Bentham also opened up about the unexpectedly lengthy run The Dirty Nil has enjoyed, once being paid for a show in Dairy Queen Blizzards, formative early performances and tours, his initial aversion to singing, and why nothing quite compares to banging out songs with his friends in their concrete rehearsal space.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and The Dirty Nil ("Done With Drugs").

Over the course of more than a decade with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Adam Greuel has shared the stage with some world-renowned acts, played some massive festivals, played throughout the country and even helped inspire a wonderful Central Waters beer. Before he was treating people throughout the Midwest (and far beyond) to his distinct bluegrass stylings, Greuel was teaching himself Grateful Dead tunes on guitar in central Wisconsin and sitting in on gigs with Loose Strings.

Prior to HHG's Driftless Music Gardens Drive-In Tailgate show on July 3, My First Band host Tyler Maas got in touch with Greuel to learn more about the unique socially distant show and to see how he's holding up under quarantine. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Greuel talked about making the most of this pause in the world's entertainment schedule, trying to focus on crucial social issues and seeking inspiration in isolation. Along the way, Greuel also gave a glimpse back at his musical start in Stevens Point, playing with the Taberna Twins in Wyoming, his stint with The Strange Machine in college, the origin of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, his solo efforts, and his modern day work with projects like Rucksack Revolution and The High Hawks.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), Horseshoes & Hand Grenades ("Cheyanne") and Greuel ("Call It What It Is").

Though Denis Buckley didn't join a band until he was 21 years old, he quickly made up for lost time when that first band went on to become a legendary Chicago punk outfit that would still be around more than a quarter century later. After trying out for a lead singer spot, Buckley became the final piece in 88 Fingers Louie. Well, he technically became the final piece in "Platypus Rex" before the band wisely changed its name to 88 Fingers Louie a few weeks later.

Recently, Buckley told My First Band host Tyler Maas about his school-age choir prowess, the chance circumstances that led to him joining 88 Fingers Louie, the rapid rise from brand-new group to getting signed to Fat Wreck Chords, unforgettable early shows with NOFX and Rancid, and his modern day musical outlook during the uncertain era of COVID-19. Over the course of the hour-long discussion, Buckley also talked about his stints in other bands like The Story So Far — well before the other band by the same name existed — and Explode And Make Up. Buckley also opened up about the time he got into a fight with an audience member at a show in Milwaukee, which Maas attended/witnessed, and the cartoon-inspired origin 88 Fingers Louie's band name.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Live From the Rock Room. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and 88 Fingers Louie ("Our Tired Vices").

As the drummer of PEARS, Jarret Nathan has toured all around North America, Europe and Australia. He's been part of outstanding releases the hardcore band has put out on Fat Wreck Chords. He's shared the stage with legendary punk bands like NOFX, Off With Their Heads and Suicide Machines, among others. Long before he did any of that as the drummer of "Your New Favorite NOLA Punk Band," Nathan was a young aspiring percussionist living in Long Island, New York.

Back in May, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Nathan about all of that and much more. Over the course of an hour-long discussion, the pair talked about their shared love of Doughboys and the NBA, Nathan's early drumming endeavors, the circumstances that led him to fall in love with punk rock, his move to Philadelphia and subsequent stints in Philly bands like Push Ups, and his bold decision to leave everything behind and move to New Orleans to join PEARS. At Nathan's request, we encourage you to donate to Black Lives Matter's Philadelphia chapter.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), PEARS ("Pepaw") and Push Ups ("Le Grande K").

Matt Wilson has been a fixture in the Minneapolis music scene for roughly 30 years. Since starting out as the drummer of The Panic — a band that shared the stage with The Replacements and Hüsker Dü and opened for U2's first Minnesota show — Wilson has earned acclaim in the Twin Cities (and far beyond) by fronting projects like Trip Shakespeare, The Twilight Hours, and his new project Matt Wilson & His Orchestra. Along the way, Wilson played in a few bands with his Grammy-winning brother Dan, went to Harvard and was courted by major record labels.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas spoke to Wilson about all of that and much more. Over the course of the 90-plus-minute discussion, Wilson talked about formative middle school drum solos, scoring a high school play with his brother, the process of forming an orchestra after three decades of rocking out, battling (and eventually overcoming) writer's block and literally — well ... almost — rubbing elbows with Prince while recording at Paisley Park Studios.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Indeed Brewing Company. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Matt Wilson & His Orchestra ("Petty Thief").

These days, you probably know Poli van Dam as one of the singers, guitarists and founding members of The Bombpops. The Los-Angeles-based band has quickly earned notoriety in the punk rock realm and recently released an excellent sophomore album, Death In Venice Beach, on Fat Wreck Chords. Before Poli was touring relentlessly and sharing the stage with some of punk's premier projects, she was a teenager playing bar shows and D.I.Y. concerts with her (much older) bandmates in a SoCal group called The Vodka Dolls.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas got in touch with Poli to talk about the process of making the new Bombpops album, the record release show and lengthy tour the band hand to cancel on account of the COVID-19 crisis, how she's keeping busy with her family in quarantine, and some of the amazing opportunities the band has given her through the years. Of course, they also discussed her musical origin story, including her years playing piano as a kid, joining a band with her guitar teacher when she was 14, inadvertently starting a riot at her high school battle of the bands and much more.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and The Bombpops ("Double Arrows Down").

These days, listeners know Jayke Orvis as the fast-picking mandolin virtuoso and banjo player in The Goddamn Gallows. Long before he was touring relentlessly with the Gallows, helping to invent the "streetgrass" sub-genre with .357 String Band and serving as the namesake of Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band though, Orvis was hosting basement shows and playing in hardcore punk bands like Penalty Box and Schwill Rotten.

With COVID-19 keeping the road dog at home for the foreseeable future, My First Band host Tyler Maas was finally able to catch Orvis in one place for long enough to record an interview. Speaking via video chat, Orvis talked about the ways he's keeping busy while confined to his home, memorable tales from living at a punk house in Riverwest in his 20s, the start (and subsequent local explosion) of .357 String Band, his years with The Broken Band in Pittsburgh, his two stints with The Goddamn Gallows, and much more.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Indeed Brewing Company. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and .357 String Band ("Rollin' Down The Track").

Listeners all around the world know Nick Wiger from his work as the co-host of Doughboys — a popular podcast about chain restaurants — and a video game podcast called How Did This Get Played?, along with his off-mic career as a television writer. Long before "The Burger Boy" was making a living with his fast-food musings, the SoCal surfer dude was immersed in music. As members of the Burger Brigade have probably heard, Nick "Double Reed" Wiger spent much of his youth playing in school bands and orchestras.

Recently, My First Band host Tyler Maas reached out to Wiger to talk about his surprisingly extensive musical history. After discussing a Bucks-Lakers NBA Finals that probably won't happen this year, Wiger opened up about playing the clarinet as a child, his motivation for moving to saxophone and bassoon as a teen, experiences at summer band camp, and his short tenure in some Orange County ska punk bands during high school. Before episode's end, Wiger also talked about writing comedic compositions like "The Original Monster Mash" (a.k.a. "The Monster Fuck") and "Gungan Style" for Funny Or Die and the unexpectedly prevalent role music plays in Doughboys.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Nick Wiger ("The Original Monster Mash").

Aaron Mader has made quite a name for himself in the music industry. That name just happens to be "Lazerbeak." Using the moniker, the co-founder and CEO of Doomtree has released an abundance of his own music, produced songs with the likes of Lizzo, P.O.S, Mac Lethal and Dessa and delved into the world of artist management. Long before Mader was a Midwest music mainstay and one of the driving forces of an accomplished creative collective, he was an inexperienced teen in the Minneapolis suburbs who was struggling to get shows for his first band.

That band — The Plastic Constellations — wound up lasting 13 years, being signed to French Kiss Records, touring and selling out spacious venues in Minneapolis before he could even legally drink. Along the way, Mader dabbled in beat-making and his Lazerbeak alias was born. The rest is history. Recently, Mader spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas and told him about his impressive indie rock past, the origin and unexpected explosion of Doomtree, and how he stays both active and creatively fulfilled making music in his solo project, Shredders and the brand new Night Stone, and as part of a forthcoming band with William Elliott Whitmore and members of Ten Grand.

Over the course of the lengthy and open discussion, Mader also talked about ways the COVID-19 crisis is currently impacting Doomtree and the artists he manages, accidentally sharing a stage name with an obscure Transformers character, his inspiring "little money in lots of places" approach and how Lizzo gave him a six-pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade to make beats for what would eventually become her Lizzobangers album.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Indeed Brewing Company. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), The Plastic Constellations ("Let's War") and Night Stone ("Echo Love" featuring Lady Midnight).

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").

Mike Park is nothing short of a ska punk legend. Beyond being an activist and a touring musician with more than 30 years of onstage experience, Park is best-known for his work with Asian Man Records. The label's founder/owner/pretty much everything else started Asian Man in his parents' house in 1996. In the 24 years since that humble beginning, Park's venture has managed more than 300 releases, helped introduce the world to bands like Less Than Jake and Alkaline Trio, and outlasted many of its — oftentimes much larger — record label counterparts as the music industry experienced immense change around him ... all while staying true to Park's D.I.Y. ethics and without moving to a larger office.

Recently, with most of the country under quarantine, My First Band host Tyler Maas took a shot in the dark and asked Park if he wanted to be a guest on the podcast. He said yes! After Maas fanned out for a few minutes, the seasoned ska punk and longtime label owner opened up about his high school hardcore band, his time with Skankin' Pickle, the start of and philosophy of Asian Man Records, his current artistic endeavors like Bruce Lee Band and Kitty Kat Fan Club, and why staying small and specialized has translated to label longevity. Over the course of the hour-plus conversation, Park also talked about giving RoboCop star Peter Weller a ride to the airport, signing a major label deal in Korea and striking up a friendship with Biz Markie while they were part of a nationwide Yo Gabba Gabba theater tour.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Bruce Lee Band ("If I Could Only Listen To My Heart"). If you like My First Band and/or Milwaukee Record, please consider supporting the site by donating to our GoFundMe relief fund.

Before he was traversing the continent, touring Europe and sharing the stage with some legendary punk-rock powerhouses, the singer-songwriter listeners now know as Walt Hamburger was just a guy named Walt Lontkowski who fronted little-known bands in Northeast Wisconsin and had no expectations of making a living as a full-time musician. Thanks to untold hours of experience in those projects, a great work ethic, an ever-improving catalog and a few chance meetings that turned into life-changing opportunities, Walt Hamburger has already accomplished more in the realm of music than he'd ever imagined possible.

The solo artist with the appetizing moniker and infectious material was on the cusp of even bigger things this year, with a Canadian tour and a run of overseas shows booked ... at least until COVID-19 made its way stateside and threw his plans for a loop. Now in quarantine in his hometown of Appleton, Hamburger recently took some time out of his suddenly quite-empty schedule to video conference with My First Band host Tyler Maas.

After they both opened up about the uncertainty the coronavirus has put into their livelihoods, Hamburger told Maas about his early experiences in bands like Caution To The Wind and The Hamburgers (where he got his stage name), memorable shows in rural Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, his animal foundation, early struggles as a solo artist, and how a phone call from Lagwagon's Joey Cape changed his life. You can pre-order Walt Hamburger's reissued and remastered One Week Records #1 album on vinyl now at 1332Records.com.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), Walt Hamburger ("Wisconsin Dells") and Caution To The Wind ("Rebound"). If you like My First Band and/or Milwaukee Record, please consider supporting the site by donating to our GoFundMe relief fund.

If you've been keeping up on Milwaukee entertainment and culture coverage at any point in the last 15 years or so, you're likely very familiar with the work of Matt Wild. Before co-founding Milwaukee Record with My First Band host Tyler Maas in early 2014, Wild served as the City Editor of Milwaukee's branch of The A.V. Club and got the occasional byline in national publications as well. Prior to earning a reputation as one of the Milwaukee's most talented and unique journalistic voices, Wild was a musician and film student with little-to-no writing aspirations.

During Milwaukee Record's recent "14-Hour Socially Distant Telethon," Maas and Wild worked in enough time for a My First Band recording. During the lengthy and open discussion, the co-owners and editors talked about the unlikely start of the business, the ups and downs of Milwaukee Record's first six years and how they're trying to get through the economic uncertainty and difficulty of the COVID-19 crisis. Eventually, Wild got into his 15-year run with his first and only band, Holy Mary Motor Club, which consisted of unforgettable shows in West Bend, an abbreviated tour, some interesting costumes and an opportunity to open for The Arcade Fire. Before episode's end, Wild also talked about what eventually brought him into the realm of writing and both he and Maas talked about where they plan to bring Milwaukee Record post-pandemic.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers") and Holy Mary Motor Club ("Theme To 'L.A. Llama'"). If you like My First Band and/or Milwaukee Record, please consider supporting the site by donating to our GoFundMe relief fund.