tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43557010432464973302012-01-20T13:39:40.017-06:00Drumming my way through long winters and short summers.Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.comBlogger3031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-19033406076786846672012-01-20T11:21:00.008-06:002012-01-20T13:39:40.029-06:00

I'm heading into the studio tonight to mix a live recording from 2010. The venue where our band played was a medium sized theater with high ceilings. What tips for mixing can I bring to this session? I'm not a studio engineer, but I do know a few things that might help you help the person turning the dials. So the following advice is for those of you who want to get involved in mixing, but don't

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-47481863751414916622012-01-11T13:50:00.007-06:002012-01-11T14:04:36.346-06:00

I was listening to an interview of Ryan Tedder today. Tedder has his own band, and writes songs for many of the current pop stars like Beyonce Knowles. I respect him for the fact that he actually plays in a band and worked his way up to being a producer, writer, and star. When I did a bit of research on Beyonce Knowles, I found that I can’t say the same thing. I can’t seem to find a single

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-65425469749322041852011-12-27T10:35:00.003-06:002011-12-27T10:54:03.166-06:00

We're looking at a pair of Summerfest 2012 Headliners for the Marcus Amphitheater so far. Booked before the end of this year, we have months to wait before they scan our Summerfest tickets, and we go on to find our seats. Two classic performers will headline at Summerfest: Neil Diamond will play on July 8, and , and Lady Antebellum on June 30. Darius Rucker will open for Lady Antebellum. There

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-81416047296667772032011-12-17T08:14:00.004-06:002011-12-17T08:24:27.358-06:00

Upon the announcement of the Beach Boys 2012 reunion tour, I felt it was time to reflect upon the band that inspired so many true rock musicians. Personally, I don’t understand the lure of this band. Perhaps it was my Midwest upbringing, or my age, having come of age twenty years after the band recorded Pet Sounds. Still, they are considered to be one of the greatest “rock bands” to ever come

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-4161538774486462242011-12-07T09:18:00.009-06:002011-12-27T13:37:04.267-06:00

Does anyone remember the house band at the Bradley Center? It was StreetLife, featuring Warren Wiegratz. The band was set in one of the corners of the lower level, and they played during halftime at Bucks games, and during the breaks between the action on the court. They would also be called upon to play the national anthem from time to time. Mr. Wiegratz is a Milwaukee-based jazz musician, and

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-90020707256704362622011-11-26T08:36:00.006-06:002011-11-26T09:06:35.160-06:00

Who is Paul Leim? He's an American born drummer who can be found on more hit albums than pretty much any other drummer around. Leim's work can be found on literally thousands of disks. What does Paul do best? Everything. If I were to add my two cents, he's one of the best "groove" drummers alive today. From country, to rock, to pop, Leim can play it all.Paul Leim CatalogueI did a quick search of

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-39917973835960199312011-11-16T10:44:00.006-06:002011-11-16T11:07:09.598-06:00

What drives Courtney Love? She made headlines this week, after storming off the stage at a festival in Brazil. Criticizing Ms. Love is like shooting fish in a barrel, but this time I felt her outburst deserved just a moment of my time, at least enough time for me to give my opinion.If you believe what you read about Ms. Love’s childhood, she didn’t have the best upbringing. She brought a lot of

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-83330799125108946772011-11-09T16:18:00.004-06:002011-11-09T16:40:25.240-06:00

Jeff Beck will soon see his name among some serious rock gods. Tonight Beck was the recipient of the "Living Legend" award at the Classic Rock and Roll Honors 2011. How did he manage to acquire this award? He was voted in by the readers of Classic Rock magazine. The event will be held at the Roundhouse in London. Iggy Pop was a previous honoree, so I'm not too sure that Classic Rock magazine

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-32353596122041232902011-11-01T14:59:00.005-05:002011-11-02T10:17:11.706-05:00

When I was a young punk drummer, I would never admit that I liked a great pop song, prog rock, or classical music. It was peer pressure that kept me from turning up the radio dial. Decades later, I’m not ashamed at all to talk about any specific music, style, or classification. In fact, many of my friends were under the same pressure to keep quiet about what they liked about pop music. With that

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-76369392033759812472011-10-26T14:52:00.003-05:002011-10-26T15:56:45.578-05:00

Do you think that you would drum better if you played using a click track as backup? Have you ever tried to record using a click track? Have you ever brought it to rehearsal, thinking that it would work in a live situation? It's not easy to keep time if you don't practice with one, so starting something new like using a metronome, (while under the pressure of laying down a great recording,) falls

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-87175806728712853332011-10-19T09:27:00.007-05:002011-10-19T10:01:37.299-05:00

I was watching a video of Rush playing Rock Band yesterday and that clip inspired me to comment on those that think that playing Rock Band makes them something like a musician. Sorry kids, it does not. If there is any benefit to that game, it may be related to keeping time. After that, it's just another game.Rock Band is Not For Actual MusiciansI found myself sitting in my nephew's basement one

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-80692992656192819882011-10-12T15:10:00.007-05:002011-10-12T16:17:26.058-05:00

Now that you can’t light up a cigarette in a club, It's too bad that a nasty smoke machine can still ruin the evening. They are most often called "fog machines," and they have evolved over the years, but you still have to be careful when being exposed to one for a certain length of time. Why do clubs use them? They make the venue's lighting system better, and they create an effect that enhances

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-69431921071079589012011-10-04T15:32:00.007-05:002011-10-13T13:42:10.872-05:00

St. Vincent is early in her latest tour, and supporting the new Strange Mercy album. She stopped at the Pabst Theater last night, and I wondered if a Monday in Milwaukee would mean a sparse crowd. Yes, the balcony was closed off, but by the time that her opening act finished her set, the lower level was full. The lights went out, Annie Clark came out, and the crowd cheered her on before the first

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-81529834618197474722011-09-28T08:55:00.005-05:002011-09-28T09:14:31.870-05:00

Drummers far and wide have trashy cymbals sitting in a corner, or perhaps they are part of a rehearsal kit. Why beat the crap out of your quality cymbals during rehearsal when all you have to do is hit the mark during a song? What I find interesting is that on more than one occasion, I found that the broken cymbal starts to sound pretty good, when used in the proper context of a song.Tyrko

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-65125419005589757142011-09-21T12:03:00.006-05:002011-09-21T12:12:28.044-05:00

Who is Harry Warren? Ask anyone under 40 that very question any you might get a blank stare. I didn’t know who this composer was until I decided to look deeper into the origins of some of the music on the Carl Stalling Project-Part One. Specifically, the song I Only Have Eyes for You was the melody that stuck in my head. Harry Warren wrote that song in 1934. It was one of hundreds of hit songs

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-34066030942008088422011-09-14T15:29:00.003-05:002011-09-14T15:40:09.749-05:00

Do bands really struggle when it comes to making their third album? Is there such a thing as the “third album syndrome?” I decided to take a few minutes to do a very non-scientific study of some of the biggest rock bands and their third albums. To make it a bit more unbiased I picked ten famous bands that I like and/or don’t like so much. I put the band names into a hat, and picked three of the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-66899176031614842862011-09-07T15:32:00.002-05:002011-09-07T15:43:17.910-05:00

One of my favorite albums of the early 1980’s is the debut album by the Psychedelic Furs. No, that album does not contain their hit song Pretty in Pink. Their first disk was a darker, more powerful piece of work with songs like Imitation of Christ, Susan’s Strange, and Sister Europe. But this post is not so much about the Furs as it is about the man who produced those first two albums. His name

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-54243718573955918682011-08-31T09:18:00.004-05:002011-08-31T09:24:07.743-05:00

My neighbor told me that she will once again be backing up Cheap Trick at Potawatomi Bingo Casino in October. My neighbor is a violinist. She’s an amazing musician, and will often get called to be part of the string section for touring bands that come through Milwaukee. She’s performed with Styx, Peter Gabriel, The Moody Blues, and many more. Sometimes she tells me about her gigs after the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-10715327311653189262011-08-23T15:47:00.004-05:002011-08-23T15:55:04.211-05:00

On Friday night, I went to see my old band Wanda Chrome play with Resist Her Transistor at Linnemans. One band has been around for almost twenty years, the other is pretty new. They both played old school, punk influenced music that makes me feel good. One band’s roots are part of the Detroit rock, MC5, Stooges era. The other took a page from the most basic of punk styles, but certainly

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-14135343057864797872011-08-17T09:30:00.005-05:002011-08-17T10:17:16.205-05:00

Rock the Lakes Festival is coming to Milwaukee. Never heard of it? That's probably because you are not an evangelical christian. This is not your typical rock festival. The bands for this event all sing about their god, every song to be sure. I would like to provide links to these bands, but on the Billy Graham festival website where this event page resides, I'm finding mostly broken links. Is

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-28156526851373397962011-08-10T09:58:00.005-05:002011-08-10T10:26:17.940-05:00

It’s been four years now, and we’re deep into the bearded rock musicians look. I’m old enough to remember when this trend was popular the first time. Yes, I was a wee lad at the time, but the beards were in full bloom back then. I have just one question about this current look; what will follow this current trend? If things are cyclical, and I must say that many sounds, looks, and trends in

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-24010802170001635072011-08-03T08:14:00.006-05:002011-08-03T08:46:58.654-05:00

I remember the first time that someone introduced me to the Kings of Leon. He told me that the shows at the Rave in Milwaukee were packed with "hot girls." His comment made me uncomfortable, seeing that we are both married, and I work with his wife. Still, this person does have a pretty good ear for music, so I gave the Kings a look and listen. The first article that I found online described a

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-69373202763163287162011-07-20T08:42:00.008-05:002011-07-20T09:08:56.845-05:00

The first Strange Mercy teaser video involved young women talking directly into the camera and saying things like "Is you hair supposed to look like that?" The next video shows newborn kitties and a somewhat curious mother cat keeping an eye on the camera. Where is St. Vincent leading us? Teaser video is right. Finally, why did Annie Clark record this new album in Dallas? I'm scared. St. Vincent

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-69901607473547822992011-07-13T11:24:00.006-05:002011-07-13T11:39:51.818-05:00

I love Awolnation when it comes to their videos and studio work. As I write this, I'm once again looking at a frozen screen that should be the band's home page. Let's just say that this band is still in the crawl stages, taking their first steps, but mostly crawling. They played the US Cellular stage at Summerfest this past Sunday night, and I must say that I went away unsatisfied. First, the mix

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-26135109791213333642011-06-24T14:23:00.006-05:002011-06-29T09:39:39.923-05:00

Some people say that you should never book a gig in Milwaukee when Summerfest is going on. They cite that everyone is at the fest. They aren't going to see your band at a local club, after they have spent all of their cash at Summerfest. I decided to take a look at who is playing some of the local clubs from June 29, to July 9.I checked with Milwaukeerocks.com, and I must admit that the June 29

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-2124384415818369812011-06-14T14:07:00.004-05:002011-06-14T14:23:16.519-05:00

In One Wind sucked me in, twirled me about, stopped me cold, then sent me on my way down the street with all the other leaves and breezy things. This band will challenge you with stirring lyrics, flute, guitar, drums, double bass, clarinet, and more. I picked Westering as my personal favorite. They started their tour this past Saturday night, and come to Wisconsin for a weekend of shows. On June

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-25475683173314389402011-06-14T12:35:00.004-05:002011-06-14T12:53:16.168-05:00

If I were to pick a single day to hit at least three stages during Summerfest 2011, it might have to be July 2. First stop would be the Cascio Stage for the six pm performance by Testa Rosa. I would think about sticking around for a few songs by The Danglers after that. Then it would be on to The Potawatomi stage for a few songs by Paul Cebar, while I wait for Cowboy Mouth to to headline.From

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-26766659098878049952011-06-08T15:41:00.004-05:002011-06-08T16:00:03.783-05:00

I hate to think about October already, but that's when Carl Palmer will be coming to The Pabst in Milwaukee. He's 61 years old, but still plays drums like a young man. Speaking of young, the two guys playing in his band are young enough to be his sons. They bring a great flavor to ELP songs that have been around for decades. It's instrumental night if you head to the venue. Nobody can take the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-87859952745484459682011-06-01T09:43:00.005-05:002011-06-01T10:02:21.243-05:00

Police Teeth is a band based in Seattle, and now on Latest Flame Records. Their new album, titled Awesomer Than The Devil just came out, and the band is hitting the road this summer, heading east. (Is there any other direction that they can go?) I'm playing a few songs from this Police Teeth Bandcamp link, and I must admit that their sound reminds me of a band out of Croatia called Overflow. The

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-49274727172549265792011-05-25T08:52:00.004-05:002011-05-25T09:18:51.312-05:00

Boy Dirt Car is coming up on 30. 30 years of industrial sounds coming out of Milwaukee, created by Eric Lunde, Darren Brown, Dan Kubinski and Keith Brammer. Currently, the band includes other members of Milwaukee's music scene, but that's no surprise. The band is like a magnet to those who appreciate the freedom to make noise and experiment musically.Their anniversary show is tomorrow night at

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-41732730387431469422011-05-17T11:54:00.007-05:002011-05-17T12:32:11.918-05:00

I liked what Tom Petty had to say about those somewhat famous American Idol winners. He worries that those instantly famous singers may have missed out on something that could actually help them down the road. I'm talking about the dues, he called it "the training." Specifically, he thinks that the long, hard road to success will make one better prepared for the good things, and the bad. That's

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-76498263899449270562011-05-11T09:01:00.002-05:002011-05-11T09:07:11.002-05:00

How to clean a vinyl record was the title of the video. My interest was piqued because this person was about to use a very unconventional method. Before I get into that, I thought I would do some research into how to truly clean an old or dirty record. Mind you, I’m doing this post while playing an old Eagles album that was thoroughly abused by me back when I was a kid.Record Cleaning MachinesIs

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-83302981680304130862011-05-02T15:47:00.008-05:002011-05-02T16:10:30.200-05:00

Would there be songs about Milwaukee if we didn't brew beer? I think so. Aside from Jewel's Milwaukee song, which ones are truly known far and wide? If you are from this town, you may remember the channel 12 song called Hello Milwaukee. If you can't get it out of your head, you are not alone. I played this video a while back, and the tune stuck like glue. You should thank Frank Gari for that one.

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-22559684818581282872011-04-27T11:19:00.015-05:002011-04-28T15:28:40.384-05:00

I have probably played in at least ten or more rehearsal spaces over the years. I'm talking about those places that you rent, the ones that are devoted to rehearsal, not your Buddie's basement. What makes up a good space? Why are they almost always in terrible neighborhoods? What do you look for in a good rehearsal space, or is it a "take what you can get" situation every time? Heat in the winter

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-43234751898382126542011-04-20T07:44:00.008-05:002011-04-20T10:14:29.718-05:00

Does Wisconsin need the WAMI's? The WAMI organization hands out awards to deserving artists, to be sure. I like the fact that they are based outside of Milwaukee. I can respect the fact that their board is made up of local musicians. One thing is for sure, any award-handing-out body is certainly going to miss the overwhelming majority of talented musicians that just put their heads down and play.

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-86508229775119193712011-04-14T10:54:00.005-05:002011-04-14T11:08:02.331-05:00

Mike Watt, founding member of the band Minutemen will be performing at Shank Hall this Saturday night, April 16. Opening for Watt will be none other than Couch Flambeau. I never had the chance to catch the Minutemen back in the day, but I did see Watt perform his solo work from the disk Contemplating The Engine Room. That disk has some serious sounding songs. The opposite of serious would have

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-54067144693165079972011-04-06T11:25:00.003-05:002011-04-08T15:10:28.919-05:00

 I was reminded last night of the sci-fi show Space 1999. It was the 1970's when this show came out. That means it was disco time. The theme music to space 1999 certainly had a disco feel, but the song was schizophrenic in that the disco music was split up with cheese ball symphonic melodies, and lots of brass. I do like the guitar work on the song, and that's certainly the part one can

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-25437527478545059872011-03-30T15:35:00.005-05:002011-04-06T11:26:21.887-05:00

The Wisconsin based band Die Kreuzen will be inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame this April. Starting in 1981, the band exploded onto the Midwest punk scene. They were armed with a sound that rose above the two-note, rapid fire music that was easily found in the Milwaukee, Madison and Rockford clubs. It was no surprise that they gained a strong following quite quickly. Putting aside their 1982

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-70524193281244921222011-03-23T11:38:00.006-05:002011-03-23T11:53:01.742-05:00

The New York Dolls play what some people call "protopunk." Protopunk precedes punk rock. Bands like MC5, The Stooges, and Richard Hell are usually grouped into the Protopunk basket. Motley Crue and Poison will have the New York Dolls open on their current tour. The Dolls will perform at the Bradley Center on June 25. I guess it's protpunk meets L.A. 1980's metal. I apologize to those who don't

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-80416633148947509522011-03-17T13:36:00.003-05:002011-03-17T14:09:20.238-05:00

As I finish reading Fahrenheit 451, I begin to wonder if there are dystopian songs just as meaningful as some of the more famous books on the same subject. Before I dive into what I consider to be four Dystopian songs for the ages, I feel that it's worth mentioning my favorite novels on that theme: The book mentioned above, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, 1984 by George Orwell, Lord of the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-89929704959534356162011-03-04T11:54:00.008-06:002011-03-04T12:18:02.697-06:00

Yes, there are probably more than five things I didn't know about Def Leppard, but I thought I would take some time to highlight what I found most interesting. First, let me say that Def Leppard is coming to Summerfest 2011. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. This is certainly a "classic rock" show. Heart will open the evening, and I find the Wilson sisters to be more of an

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-80648801483994630482011-02-28T14:04:00.006-06:002011-02-28T14:19:11.717-06:00

When my new band gets together we record everything that we play. The band is in the "crawl before you can walk" stage. Any musical part we come up with, no matter how small, could end up as a chorus, or verse. As confident as we are that we will remember that tiny part the next time we get together, we don't trust our memories to chance. We record it. We may hammer a part for a while, then hit

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-69954834241000108622011-02-19T08:13:00.007-06:002011-02-19T09:17:48.249-06:00

I have been interviewed many times over the years, by local and nationally recognized writers. There is nothing more exciting than seeing your photo on the cover of an online or printed music magazine, and reading your words on the pages inside. What I have come to learn however, is that writers tend to ask the same questions. Good writers and not so good writers would be wise to avoid certain

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-34952200706098564162011-02-08T14:55:00.004-06:002011-02-08T15:15:15.462-06:00

I have heard so many drummer jokes in the past 25 years. Some are funny, some hurt, but most allow for the word drummer to be exchanged with the words guitar player or singer. I have searched the web for the best drummer jokes, and really it boils down to the same jokes about the riser being level, and how we aren't really musicians, etc.Drummer and Guitar Player JokesI did a simple search using

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-8921143144978730832011-02-03T15:47:00.003-06:002011-02-03T15:54:25.749-06:00

The Riverside Theater has been around for decades. It survived a major fire, the television revolution, and the demolition ball. The best place to sit at the Riverside Theater depends on what you are viewing.The Riverside Theater has four sections on the main floor. The balcony also has four sections, and there are 16 box seats in the wings.The Best Place to Sit at the Riverside TheaterFor a

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-10316454056454071652011-01-25T15:01:00.008-06:002011-02-04T11:50:32.519-06:00

I'm a hockey fan, but here in Milwaukee we only have the Admirals, a minor league team. Still, the Bradley Center is a great place to watch a hockey game. The Admirals have been doing some interesting promotional events over the years. One regular post-game event is to have a concert. This Friday night Rodney Atkins will perform after the scheduled hockey game.When I first heard this, I thought "

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-33027418384071831402011-01-18T11:42:00.009-06:002011-02-04T11:51:42.503-06:00

The Plain White T's are coming to the Turner Hall ballroom on January 27. The band started playing basement shows in Lombard Illinois, and went on to find some success with the song Hey There Delilah. They charted pretty high in the US and UK with their next album titled Every Second Counts, but I must admit, I have no idea how any of their songs sound, aside from "Delilah." I stopped listening

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-72756208047243054402011-01-12T15:25:00.005-06:002011-01-18T11:42:19.258-06:00

My neighbor is a guitar player. He's been playing the Milwaukee blues scene for years now. His bands have come and gone, but he continues to perform live and record. He told me that he wanted me to be the drummer on his next recording. Just the thought of a recording session with him makes me nervous. In a polite way, I told him to find someone else. I can't record for someone else's band. Not

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-89789799280770491252011-01-03T08:50:00.004-06:002011-01-05T10:12:34.106-06:00

There are tricks of the trade that many drummers do to get loose and warm. Sometimes the simple things can make all the difference when playing the drums. Stretch your hands and wrists. I will admit that I didn’t do stretching exercises for the first 10 years of performing. I would sometimes warm up on a practice pad, but never actually stretch each finger, thumb, and my wrists. Here is a great

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-20403471335083153512010-12-29T11:32:00.006-06:002010-12-29T11:59:32.733-06:00

With my home town being Milwaukee, I can safely say that the majority of my shows have been performed there. Some Milwaukee venues are fantastic, others not so much. One of the worst gigs that I can recall was at a Milwaukee Bar that has since closed.This gig was back in the summer of 1996. As our band loaded into the venue, the bartender and sound man were setting up for the night. Just minutes

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-26585762163539772632010-12-23T15:35:00.008-06:002010-12-27T15:50:04.565-06:00

Second in my Worst Gig Ever series goes to a rock show in Kutina Croatia. The people of Kutina were gracious, mostly. The fans loved our band. They loved us too much, if you ask me. Why is it part of my Worst series? Let me present the evidence.Stale Bread and Chicken Parts for the BandWe knew that we were not going to get all the items on our performance rider. We don't expect that to happen

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-33328904495572659142010-12-14T13:49:00.027-06:002010-12-17T15:09:13.721-06:00

What was your worst show? Was it the night that only two people came to see your band? Was it a night were you were sick as hell, but the show must go on? Sometimes the worst shows of your musical career make the best memories. Sometimes the show isn't the worst part, but the traveling, the accommodations, the crowd, or something completely unrelated to the show is what makes it a terrible

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-21078413363900503622010-12-08T10:23:00.006-06:002010-12-08T10:59:58.595-06:00

I was sitting with my singer at a local music venue on Saturday night. We had made loose plans to see a Smiths tribute band one month prior. The admission was $12, with 100% of the proceeds going to a fundraiser. I played the role of Morrissey three years ago at Trash Fest, so my interest was piqued as to what this band was going to do on stage, sound like, and look like. My singer was too. We

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-60010222801835362622010-12-02T14:52:00.005-06:002010-12-02T15:11:01.128-06:00

I had my wedding reception at Turner Hall back in 1990. I'm not talking about the ballroom, but the restaurant. We were lucky, there was nothing going on at the Bradley Center that night, so our friends and family found easy parking. We spent the better part of a year looking for the right venue to host our reception, and when we found Turner Hall we were pretty desperate. Sometimes you just luck

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-3548982900612005902010-11-24T08:52:00.011-06:002010-11-24T11:33:13.012-06:00

I have only been to one stadium show. That was Pink Floyd at County Stadium. Green Bay plays host to Kenny Chesney at Lambeau Field this summer. The venue may be one of the biggest he's ever performed in, and certainly the most famous. Famous for football, not concerts though. Kenny Chesney Mixes Country with CaribbeanSay what you will about modern country music. It's polished to such a shine,

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-34276917903947012492010-11-15T14:49:00.005-06:002010-11-15T15:04:49.907-06:00

Did you ever listen to a band and think to yourself, "damn, I wish I was in that band." Testa Rosa, a Milwaukee creation is just that band for me. There are no openings in Testa Rosa, because Bill Backes has the job, and he is a well respected drummer in the Milwaukee scene.I stumbled upon the Onmilwaukee.com review of Testa Rosa today, and since that moment I find myself inspired enough to

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-73985498389394406522010-11-08T12:10:00.007-06:002010-11-10T10:28:59.702-06:00

"Do you have any old videos of your band that we can show my girlfriend?" I don't have my VCR hooked up anymore. I'm glad that I don't. I don't want to go down memory lane, but I know why he does. He wants to impress his new girlfriend. I may have boxes full of my old disks, and videos from live shows, but I don't have awful band pictures hanging on my wall from days gone bye.Sometimes I forget

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-46681228248652450632010-11-03T09:34:00.004-05:002010-11-03T10:15:55.860-05:00

I fully expect to see some greased back hair tonight at Turner Hall. If I'm lucky, the Psychobilly chicks will be there too. The reverb will be cranked to ten on Reverend Horton Heat's hollow body guitar, and the drums will pound out rhythms at 200 beats per minute. I like psychobilly music because it combines super fast beats, with smoking hot guitar licks. Punk rock is certainly fast music, but

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-27130196032217535102010-10-27T09:42:00.016-05:002010-11-03T09:31:35.673-05:00

You are not going to be a rock star. Okay, perhaps those words are too harsh, and I could be wrong, but I’ll gladly bet anyone who starts a band in Milwaukee or Wisconsin that they will not become stars. Heck, I’ll give you ten to one odds on it. Here is why. Musicians still try too hard to get signed to a major label. They would have better luck producing their own disk, and self promoting. You

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-61739576000065005022010-10-20T12:24:00.004-05:002010-10-20T12:33:42.527-05:00

I remember playing a benefit concert for the members of Milwaukee's Three On Fire. Ironically, their house had caught fire, and they lost everything. That was 20+ years ago. Three On Fire will be performing a reunion show during Trash Fest at the Miramar Theater this Saturday. Trash Fest is an annual event that draws from Milwaukee's finest musicians. There are real bands and bands that just get

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-30265158622100400672010-10-12T14:50:00.006-05:002010-10-27T10:01:29.676-05:00

I hung the St. Vincent poster up in my office today. I can’t believe that it’s been eight months since that Turner Hall Milwaukee show. Still, it was one of the best live performances that I have seen in many years. It was even better, as my friend Jay came along. He’s a music encyclopedia.St. Vincent Turner Hall Milwaukee ShowWildbirds and Peacedrums opened for St. Vincent. I know that because

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-26684786832510798392010-10-06T09:12:00.011-05:002010-10-06T09:51:00.749-05:00

Mobile Phones Make Lousy Music Sound WorseUsing Mobile phones as music devices baffles my mind. Yes, an iPhone might be the exception, only because the "phone" part is almost secondary. If you have seen the HD video and sound that the latest iPhone captures, you would certainly agree with me. What I am talking about is the sound that comes out of the speakers of a non iPhone. I was crossing the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-18690591085934333912010-09-29T11:44:00.005-05:002010-09-29T12:04:02.394-05:00

Here we are, coming up on October 2, and it's Farm Aid at Miller Park. Willie Neslon is someone that I would like to see before he goes to the great beyond, but joining tens of thousands of fans in a venue made for professional sports is not the location I dreamed about. I would rather see him at the Riverside Theater, or Marcus Amp.Still, Farm Aid is a great cause, and it's less about a single

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-82658193827721612222010-09-24T12:17:00.007-05:002010-09-24T12:53:52.070-05:00

Do you ever check the set list of a band just before they come to your town? I started doing that a few years ago. I like to see if the band deviates from the set, from city to city, from night to night. The majority of the time, the set never changes. When I first posted that Muse and Passion Pit are playing the Bradley Center, I didn't take the time to check the set lists for the current tour

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-64349413210624997402010-09-22T14:41:00.006-05:002010-09-22T15:08:04.955-05:00

If you are a drummer, you are more than likely to be the only person on the stage who gets to sit all evening. You are usually behind the singer, or tucked away in a corner of some small stage. The guitar player will usually try to invade your space, or push you further back, just to make room for the amps. It can be a tense few moments, when you (or your roadie) puts the kit in place. By the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-72585979871409912652010-09-16T18:33:00.003-05:002010-09-16T19:08:35.514-05:00

The DJ's will be spinning, and the beer will certainly be flowing at Stonefly Brewing Company tomorrow night. If you wished for the chance to redo your prom night, or if you finally have the courage to ask someone to prom, here is your opportunity. The Pedal Pushers of Milwaukee are hosting an "adult prom" and admission is only six bucks. No need to rent a tux, but you may want to follow the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-43637485410875596412010-09-08T12:20:00.007-05:002010-09-08T12:28:43.052-05:00

I'm sorry to all those Kiss fans. The band is just a hollow flash, and not much more. Back when I was a child, a really small child, the band was interesting. I didn't care for them, but they were interesting. Who were these guys? That was the big draw. The music was never really that good, and it just got worse over time. Now, the band that calls itself Kiss has just two original members,

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-91971871023509766102010-09-03T13:39:00.006-05:002010-09-03T13:58:56.101-05:00

The gig is fast approaching, and we did all of our digital promotions. We also sent out an email blast. Still, those hardcore fans want something physical, something to arouse the tactile senses. Time to make a great rock and roll poster. But wait, I'm a drummer, not an artist. What do I do?Hire an Artist to Create a Great PosterIn the 1980's we had Jerry "The Axe" Hammer making our punk rock DIY

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-85464012067018407862010-09-01T20:44:00.004-05:002010-09-01T20:57:01.464-05:00

For the first time in 17 years, I'm not in a band, and after playing gigs, recording, touring, and all that comes with it, I'm taking a break. It's eerily quiet here at the house. Don't get me wrong, I'm still rehearsing on my own. I would never stop drumming altogether. So what do you play on the drums when you are all alone? I'm working with a Tama metronome, and it's great fun. For those of

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-83014942795821805432010-08-25T09:19:00.003-05:002010-08-25T09:25:43.889-05:00

I’m surprised at how many fellow drummers ask me the following question: How do you tune a snare drum? I don’t like it when I see someone playing a $500 snare drum that sounds like complete crap, so I am more than happy to help, when asked. Where do you start? I start at bottom and work my way up.I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your heads fresh. I know that many musicians are “

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-9699110937302958802010-08-10T14:32:00.002-05:002010-08-10T14:57:39.117-05:00

Milwaukee does have a metal scene. So many post industrial, somewhat rust belt, Midwestern American cities do. That's not to say that the coastal cities don't also have a metal music scene. They do. In a few weeks J Rileys Bar will play host to an eleven hour stretch of what I can assume is cookie monster vocals, double bass pedal blast beats, and precision guitar playing. It's called Midwest

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-14231684439741519172010-08-04T09:29:00.007-05:002010-08-04T09:57:46.895-05:00

It was like a three day seminar on how to set up a drum set. I was the guy who had to supply three drum sets for the performance. No snare drums, no cymbals. There would be four drum kits on stage at one tour stop, and on the club floor for another. On top of that, the metal percussionist needed a place to work his magic. First thing we noticed, we didn't have enough carpeting. The band played

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-56989582534810766342010-07-27T14:34:00.005-05:002010-07-27T14:44:36.431-05:00

How can the Milwaukee Theater book Mannheim Steamroller for two performances so close to the holidays? For years I wondered if they just liked playing here around that time. Wouldn't they draw better if they played New York, or L.A. around that time? It took some work, but I figured it out. You should know that Mannheim Steamroller was created by the same man who wrote the 1970's hit song

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-22455104911319085802010-07-21T09:19:00.007-05:002010-07-27T14:33:31.269-05:00

I'm in line, waiting for my chance to buy Wicked tickets for the Marcus Center in Milwaukee. Someone is singing a song from the performance. She's about three people behind me, and I'm not digging it. Why do people insist on doing that? These are the same people who blurt out the lines in a movie theater, just before the actor on the screen does. I'm not there to hear some Midwesterners off key

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-73544828295235145352010-07-14T15:01:00.003-05:002010-07-14T15:10:45.656-05:00

I must admit, coming home at dawn on the first night of our three city tour was not what I had in mind. Yes, I expected to come home late from Chicago, but not that late. That's what you get when you jump in the van with a driver who does not have GPS. He missed the highway entrance three times before stopping for directions. The five a.m. return was followed up with a 1pm load in at the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-84311179055114767292010-07-08T09:37:00.005-05:002010-07-08T09:49:56.945-05:00

"I'm in love" he said to my band mate as he crossed over the threshold into my house. It has become my Friend's mantra since meeting her. Let's call my friend "Mike." Mike wants Rufus Wainwright to perform at his wedding. Mike has an offer for Rufus. "I'll give him my '73 Ford, in exchange for his services at my wedding." Sounds like a perfectly good offer to me. Will Rufus go for it? Mike is

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-18470023609493013922010-06-28T13:35:00.005-05:002010-06-28T14:05:54.609-05:00

Latest Flame Records and the Miramar Theater join forces on July 10 for a show that has been fifteen years in the making. I'm talking about Fuck Face from Milwaukee. They broke up a long time ago, but the fire never went out. As luck would have it, there was a full length album waiting to be released. The band never put the record out after a contract dispute, coupled with a bit of band

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-79915341242843335322010-06-15T10:06:00.005-05:002010-06-15T10:15:51.551-05:00

I'm going to Summerfest Tom Petty with ZZ Top on June 26. I have been spoiled as of late, when it comes to Marcus Amphitheater tickets. I can't remember the last time that I sat in the "yellow" sections. It's been the first 31 rows or nothing. I'll be sitting in section 6 this time. I needed a group of eight tickets, and that was the best I could do.At least I am sitting on the aisle at the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-53442700192218777872010-06-09T09:35:00.006-05:002010-06-09T10:19:06.507-05:00

Do old drummers retire? Is 45 too old to rock? Do I start learning some other instrument? Perhaps I just pick up a pair of 2B's and beat the crap out of my drum kit and stop thinking about it. I'm feeling my age this morning. As we prepare for the three city tour with my old band, I'm noticing that what I played at age 30 is not as easy to play today. I'm not writing this issue off to my age just

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-35683695451342213122010-06-02T08:50:00.005-05:002010-06-02T09:10:46.133-05:00

What is this Resch Center Star Wars In Concert all about? I first heard about it at SpoofFest 2010 from my friend Kliff McBurtney. He's a huge fan of Star Wars, and the Wisconsin Renassance Faire. He was all about the Milwaukee tour stop, but this one at the Resch Center is more in line with my day off.The music of Star Wars is played by a full symphony orchestra, while movie clips play on a

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-74703147783461830172010-05-25T08:50:00.006-05:002010-05-26T15:25:24.650-05:00

If I lived in Nashville, I would certainly be heading down to the Electric Western East Side Prom Night. This sounds like the prom of all proms. For a measly five bucks, you get to sweat it out in your best polyester frock, and rock. Jacob Jones is back in time to be a guest artist. Yes, Jones is on the road all summer, but he's no fool. He's going to the prom!The very fresh Jacob Jones website

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-28516543964922476662010-05-24T15:21:00.007-05:002010-05-26T15:46:31.324-05:00

What happened to Punk Rock in Milwaukee? I was recently approached by a promotional company based out of Chicago. They wanted to point me in the direction of one of their "Milwaukee based punk bands." OK, I'll bite on the bait. After all, I was a punk drummer for nearly twenty years before moving on to Detroit rock, chick rock, and music that cannot be described very easily. Milwaukee was home to

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-59789160836474641442010-05-14T11:26:00.006-05:002010-06-01T13:43:16.747-05:00

As we see the sun for the first time in four days, we think of The Cascio Groove Garage headliners. This oasis of local talent, surrounded by what could be described as a sea of musical acts that range from the up and coming, to "has beens," is one of my favorite spots to rest and relax. The gravel under the bleachers will make your shoes dirty, but it's worth the dust. The stage is still

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-51629841808071935912010-05-04T13:58:00.011-05:002010-05-14T11:24:38.544-05:00

Summerfest 2010 Milwaukee tickets are in hand because they booked a band that I must see. Yes, it has been 32 years since I first saw them. Yes, I am that old, but in my defense, I first saw DEVO when I was 12 years old. Do the math. They played the Uptown Theater on North Avenue in Milwaukee, and the venue was about 3/4 full. What do I remember about that show? Pink Pussycat, and Swelling

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-9978830749064744162010-04-26T12:45:00.007-05:002010-04-26T15:26:34.535-05:00

Latest Flame Records, a Chicago label that ferrets out some of the best music in the Midwest has dug up a truffle. FuckFace performed from 1991 to 1996. The lineup included members of Die Kreuzen, Boy Dirt Car, The Crusties and more. They made music that fell into a category all their own. I know that some bands would love to be called unique, while others just want to be just like (fill in the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-29029542725601360582010-04-21T11:47:00.009-05:002010-04-21T16:02:17.057-05:00

Muse and Passion Pit are playing Milwaukee's Bradley Center on October 6, 2010. Passion Pit came to Turner Hall this past April, and now they back up a major tour de force in Muse. This looks like (can't really tell,) the first time that Muse will play Milwaukee. Unless they hit a small, off the radar venue, I think I'm correct.Passion pit has one of those devoted, crazed, frothing at the mouth,

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-42586390361510368952010-04-14T08:46:00.006-05:002010-04-14T09:13:05.374-05:00

Rush will play Summerfest 2010 at the Marcus Amphitheater. This was the latest announcement for festival fans, and tickets have already gone on sale through a fan club offer. The regular Rush Summerfest tickets on sale will be April 17. The band played at Summerfest back in 2008. Rush fans had some inkling of the tour stop well ahead of the concert announcement. Some fans just know. Their tour is

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-10883720446366196772010-04-07T10:41:00.006-05:002010-04-07T11:06:41.848-05:00

Lady Gaga plays the Bradley Center on September 2. She's white hot right now, and as long as she continues to come out on stage with crazy costumes, she may stay hot for more than a year or two. Why the harsh reality here? I'll be happy to lay it out for the Gaga fans. She's popular here in the United States. She's not as popular worldwide, but close. In fact, the traffic her website receives is

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-68415423471208326232010-03-30T10:07:00.004-05:002010-03-30T10:19:56.053-05:00

Steve Martin is bringing his blue grass show to the Riverside Theater on April 20th. Yes, Mr. Martin is a comedian. In fact, I find that his books are very funny. Cruel Shoes comes to mind when I think of one of his better efforts. He's always played banjo, on top of being very funny. The Riverside Theater Milwaukee is a great venue for his show. I wonder if he played his comedy routine there

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-20092840576982204172010-03-24T11:43:00.004-05:002010-03-25T08:50:59.359-05:00

The Milwaukee Admirals had the Dropkick Murphys perform after their hockey game. It was a huge success. Would the Milwaukee Bucks do anything like that? Probably not. The NBA has so much more control over what teams do as far as promotions. A minor league hockey team is not nearly as high profile as the NBA. With that being said, would Bucks Tickets sell at a faster pace if the NBA allowed the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-20029976049520592562010-03-17T09:13:00.005-05:002010-03-17T09:23:36.826-05:00

Binky Tunny is a band that I have followed since 2005. I first saw them play at a club in Sheboygan. We were the opening act. I remember that their guitar player had purple and yellow striped pants, and Binky played a Budweiser guitar. I later found out that she was sponsored by Bud. It seemed that once I noticed the band, they were everywhere. I saw them at a church festival, Heartbreakers, the

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-76350985166707722372010-03-15T09:55:00.004-05:002010-03-15T09:59:40.837-05:00

Justin Bieber will perform his three popular songs on June 27th at Summerfest. This one has me wondering what the heck is going on with the booking of Marcus Amphitheater shows. I understood the two night Petty fest. I understand the three nights of country music, seeing that the Waukesha republicans need someone to see at Summerfest. Really? Justin Bieber as a headline act?

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-91971744058216056342010-03-10T10:43:00.009-06:002010-03-10T14:28:29.710-06:00

It's officially titled Verge Festival. It's June 4 and 5, 2010 on the Milwaukee Summerfest grounds. The picture to the left is from the other Verge Festival that featured music, and art. Don't get confused by the two. The naming contest is over, and someone didn't check that this was already in use? Anyway.This reasonably priced festival has already booked some of their headline acts. Who's

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-54938334511718318282010-03-03T11:46:00.006-06:002010-03-03T12:09:26.573-06:00

With the Tom Petty Summerfest tickets in high demand last season, the powers that be found a solution to that by having him play two nights in a row for 2010. I doubt that this is the real reason that Petty gets two nights, it's just that he's so darn popular here in Milwaukee. He loves to play Summerfest and there are rumours that he plans his tour around the date. Tom Petty will be here on June

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-53810815417828356782010-02-22T13:43:00.005-06:002010-03-02T15:50:32.312-06:00

Jimmy Buffett Alpine Valley tickets went on sale today. I'm not a fan. Really not a fan, but I do post about events that I would never attend. Jimmy Buffett can't really sing well, but he's got a fan base that cannot be ignored. His fans may get completely smashed, and act quite silly at his shows, but they can't be denied their right to have a great time. Who wouldn't like to sit on the beach?

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-66093498799527281642010-02-17T10:32:00.011-06:002010-03-05T15:21:21.680-06:00

Spoof Fest Milwaukee 2010 is at the Miramar Theater in Milwaukee on April 9 and 10. My advance pick for best act is Cyndi Lauper featuring the most laid back drummer in Milwaukee, Mr. Bill Stace. I was Morrissey two years ago. It was amazing. I had the moves down, but I didn't quite the the voice. Who could blame me. His voice is so very unique. For one time in my musical career, I got the chance

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-45221057019480249392010-02-12T08:54:00.009-06:002010-02-12T09:23:25.052-06:00

I found a great post by SJWhipp last night. I agree with her when she says that technology is moving too fast. I like what she said about people who used to bring their personal computer to a house party. I look at all my cd's on the shelf, and I know that they are all on my Ipod now. No need for that pc. Why do I still have my disks on display? Why am I taking up precious space? It's my age. We

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-41651858323264310642010-02-10T11:58:00.012-06:002010-02-20T07:40:24.119-06:00

As a drummer of 26 years, I have walked across so many stages here in Milwaukee and beyond. Some stages have been just a few inches off the ground, tucked away in a corner. Other stages have been so large that I got lonely while playing away, say at a summer festival. I want to take a moment to reflect upon my top ten favorite stages in Milwaukee (And a few extras.) Be advised, this top ten list

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-2842421331071139772010-02-01T15:31:00.004-06:002010-02-01T15:45:06.131-06:00

Wicked is coming to Milwaukee. I remember the Marcus Center for the Performing arts from my grade school days. That's where we would go for "Kinder Concerts." It was a great way to blow off half the school day. We took the city bus, sat in the orchestra level, and had a great time learning to appreciate classical music. My wife and I saw Monty Python's Spamalot at the Marcus Center last year. It

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4355701043246497330.post-15378971599321648872010-01-27T09:19:00.005-06:002010-02-20T07:21:29.036-06:00

Dave Matthews is coming to Wisconsin. Dave Matthews Alpine Valley tickets are on sale now. He's too big for Summerfest. His band has one of the highest grossing tours in modern music. Dave Matthews Alpine Valley July 3 and July 4th shows will be sold out in a matter of hours. He couldn't fit his fans in the Marcus Amphitheater, the band needs Alpine Valley for two nights.

Wisconsin Music Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04697759652323475520noreply@blogger.com0