CORE

Punk-inspired rock trio R-NØT made the trip from the D.C. area to Appleton, WI for their second year at Mile of Music, and they stopped by Fox Cities Core on WCZR Code Zero Radio to talk about it! The band has been turning heads with recent releases like "Sheep" and their newest single "K.I.S.S.," with more new music (including "Marmalade") already out and a lot more on the way.

In this interview, R-NØT — Paul (guitar/vocals and primary songwriter), Chuck (bass/vocals), and Mikey (drums) — dig into the band's roots in the DC hardcore and punk scene, growing up on MTV in the 90s, and the reality behind DC's legendary 9:30 Club. They trace how each member found their instrument, how Mikey ended up joining the band in 2023 after years of separate paths through the Marine Corps, DJing, and DC's music scene, and how their genre-blurring sound — equal parts punk, grunge, and alt rock — keeps audiences guessing. The band also opens up about their debut album "Dumpster Fire," the massive backlog of unreleased songs behind it, their connection to legendary producer Steve Albini and DC's Inner Ear Studio, and their philosophy of scrapping the setlist and calling audibles live. Plus, find out the science-based story behind the name "R-NØT."

This Fox Cities Core interview gives you the full story behind the band and a look at where they're headed next.

Follow R-NØT:

Find them on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for music videos, singles, and tour updates.

More Fox Cities Core:

Fox Cities Core is your source for interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews from the Fox Cities and Wisconsin regional live music scene, brought to you by WCZR Code Zero Radio.

Milwaukee pop punk band Gold Steps stopped by Fox Cities Core on WCZR Code Zero Radio during their first-ever Mile of Music appearance in Appleton, WI! Alternative Press has called them out as one of the artists reclaiming pop punk, and the band has toured with acts like Charlotte Sands and Stand Atlantic, played Warped Tour and Summerfest, and even performed in the legendary pool at The Rave in Milwaukee opening for The Used.

In this interview, Gold Steps — vocalist/frontwoman Betty, guitarist and co-founder Zach, bassist Ryan, and drummer John — talk about how the band started back in 2016 in Austin, Texas, and how they named themselves after a Neck Deep song. They dig into the wild, nearly four-year journey behind their debut EP, going independent after their label dissolved, and the meaning behind their song "Narcissist." The band also opens up about life on tour (breakdowns, no A/C, and catching COVID in an RV), Betty's connection to Taylor Swift as a songwriting inspiration, and their new crowdfunding partnership with the Inertia Project to build a "Digital Tour Bus" fan community ahead of their September tour. They even perform an acoustic version of their new song live in the studio!

Whether you caught Gold Steps at Mile of Music, the Bent Keg, or Fox River House, this Fox Cities Core interview gives you the full story on this hardworking Milwaukee band and where they're headed next.

Follow Gold Steps:

Find them on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @goldstepsmusic

More Fox Cities Core:

Fox Cities Core is your source for interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews from the Fox Cities and Wisconsin regional live music scene, brought to you by WCZR Code Zero Radio.

Indie rock band Scorched Waves stopped by Fox Cities Core on WCZR Code Zero Radio for an in-depth interview during Mile of Music 13 in Appleton, WI! The Stevens Point, Wisconsin group — Tyler Armstrong (guitar), Finn Vaughn (bass), Tiernan Brinkman (lead vocals), and Jaron Chick (keys), with drummer Damien Kessler holding down the road — sat down to talk band history, songwriting, touring stories, and what's next for Scorched Waves.In this interview, Scorched Waves breaks down their evolution from a high school garage band into an energetic live act — from their earliest EP recorded in a bedroom, to their debut album "Televised Paradise," to 2024's "With a Smile," and the more melodic, dynamic direction they're taking on new music like "Sinners" and "Things Will Be Fine." They also dig into their collaborative songwriting process, their weekly practice routine (every Sunday since 2019!), wild tour stories from Denver to Nashville, an unexpected shoutout from actor Danny Trejo, and their love for Wisconsin's local music scene, including Wild Adriatic's influence on their sound.Whether you caught Scorched Waves at Mile of Music, Paper Fest, or Crazy Todd's house show, this Fox Cities Core interview gives you the full story behind the band and a look at where they're headed next.Follow Scorched Waves:Find them on all social media @scorchedwavesMore Fox Cities Core:Fox Cities Core is your source for interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews from the Fox Cities and Wisconsin regional live music scene, brought to you by WCZR Code Zero Radio.CHAPTERS:00:00 Scorched Waves Interview Begins – Fox Cities Core Welcome00:31 Scorched Waves & Their Fox Valley Roots02:29 Meet the Band – Tyler, Finn, Tiernan & Jaron02:55 Scorched Waves Origin Story – How the Band Started (2017-2019)03:30 From High School Emo Band to Indie Rock05:59 Where the Name "Scorched Waves" Came From07:37 Weekly Practice Since 2019 – Their Work Ethic10:52 Inside Scorched Waves' Songwriting Process14:23 Debut Album "Televised Paradise" & Recording During COVID17:19 "With a Smile" (2024) – A More Mature Sound19:33 New Singles & Plans for a Bigger Album Project20:46 Evolving Sound – Dance Rock, Melody & "Sinners"27:45 Paper Fest Story – Choking Mid-Set30:18 Scorched Waves Returns to Mile of Music33:58 Life on Tour – Sticky Vans & Small Towns, Big Energy36:07 Dedicated Fans & Unexpected Road Trip Stories39:56 The Danny Trejo Connection41:14 Crazy Todd's House Show & the Great Bee Incident43:20 Opening for Wheatus, High Fade & Bigger Artists45:18 Goals for Scorched Waves – First Avenue & Beyond46:48 Upcoming Shows: Riverside & Appleton Beer Factory48:43 Final Words from Scorched Waves#ScorchedWaves #MileofMusic #FoxCitiesCore #CodeZeroRadio #AppletonWI #IndieRock #WisconsinMusic #LiveMusicInterview #FoxValley #IndieBand #Mile13

Atlanta blues-rock artist Buddy Red joins Fox Cities Core on Code Zero Radio live from Appleton, Wisconsin, ahead of his run of shows at Mile of Music 13. Booking agent Fiona Bloom (Frontrunner Music) also stops by as guest co-host to share how Buddy Red landed on the festival lineup.In this conversation, Buddy Red breaks down his "psychedelic, human experience" approach to songwriting, his Hendrix, Pink Floyd, James Brown, and David Bowie influences, the story behind his song "1958," what it was like opening for Little Richard's band, and why he thinks guitar-driven live music is set for a comeback. He also walks through his full Mile of Music schedule — solo sets, full-band shows, and a rare collaboration with classically trained musicians from the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival — plus his plans for a physical-media debut EP release.FOLLOW BUDDY REDInstagram: @buddyredTikTok: @buddyredWebsite: buddyredmusic.comStreaming: Search "Buddy Red" on Spotify, Apple Music & TidalABOUT FOX CITIES COREFox Cities Core is a weekly show on WCZR Code Zero Radio, an independent streaming rock station based in Appleton, Wisconsin, covering the Fox Cities and Wisconsin live music scene through artist interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews.LISTEN LIVE / MORE FROM CODE ZERO RADIOWebsite: codezeroradio.com

Indie pop-rock trio Koyal stopped by the Fox Cities Core studio on Code Zero Radio (Appleton, WI) ahead of their Mile of Music 2026 shows for a wide-ranging chat about their journey from a Georgia Tech dorm basement to Los Angeles.In this interview, Pooja (vocals/bass), Wallace (drums), and Noah (guitar/production) dig into:- The meaning behind the band name Koyal — named after a rare Indian songbird- Forming the band in college and the move from Atlanta to LA two years ago- Recording their sophomore album Breathe In, Breathe Out at Head Room Studio in Philadelphia- Debuting their new single "Shadow of You" live on air- A once-in-a-lifetime story about a Tamil-language collaboration inspired by a chance meeting with A.R. Rahman's collaborator Satish Chakravarthy- Life on the road, band merch, and their favorite (and least favorite) parts of touring- Their Mile of Music 2026 performance schedule in Appleton, WIKoyal blends indie pop and psych-rock influences pulling from Glass Animals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Grouplove, and they're gearing up to release a steady stream of new singles through the fall and spring.- Follow Koyal: Instagram @koyal.official- Follow Fox Cities Core & Code Zero Radio for more indie artist interviews from the Fox Cities music scene.

Adriel Denae joins Fox Cities Core ahead of her set with Hilary Reynolds this Saturday at the Chapel for Mile of Music 13! In this conversation, Adriel opens up about growing up in a religious music commune in Chicago (complete with secret cassette-tape trading and hidden Alanis Morissette albums), learning guitar from her dad by tackling "Blackbird" as her first song, and the wild early touring days that first brought her to the Fox Valley music scene.Adriel also talks about recording her self-titled debut solo album with Norah Jones producing, how becoming a mother reshaped her songwriting, and what's next as she works on a new batch of songs with her dad playing alongside her. Adriel wraps things up with some advice for anyone hitting the festival this weekend.Catch Adriel Denae and Hilary Reynolds live at the Chapel this Saturday as part of Mile of Music 13 in Appleton, WI!Fox Cities Core airs on Code Zero Radio (WCZR) — covering the Fox Cities and Wisconsin live music scene through artist interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews.

Jim Runge spent over 30 years on the road as a tour manager for The Black Keys, Wilco, Jeff Tweedy, Alice in Chains, Major Lazer, Shakira, L.L. Cool J, Collective Soul, and dozens more. In 2020, just weeks after marrying his wife Stacy, Jim suffered a stroke — and in 2022, a Parkinson's disease diagnosis changed everything again.In this wide-ranging Fox Cities Core interview, Jim and Stacy stop by the studio to talk about the last four years: getting back on the road after the stroke, the emotional weight of Parkinson's, promoting a pair of films they were involved with (The Green Blah! and GOLD) while quietly carrying a life-altering diagnosis, and how they're now shifting from crisis mode into what they're calling "Operation Runge Restoration."Along the way, Jim shares stories from decades on tour — including the true story of a teenage Dave Grohl mailing him fan mail years before Nirvana, unforgettable nights at Minneapolis's First Avenue, and life inside the Green Bay hardcore punk scene that started it all with his band No Response.Support Jim & Stacy's recovery journey (GoFundMe):https://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-runge-restorationMore on Jim & Stacy:Follow their "Jim Runge IRL" story on YouTube and Facebook Live for ongoing updates.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587492770785#https://www.youtube.com/@jimrunge9113About Fox Cities CoreFox Cities Core on Code Zero Radio covers the Fox Cities and Wisconsin regional live music scene through artist interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews.

The Morbs make their media debut on Fox Cities Core! Jasmin Folkesson and Charlie DeVillers — both bass players by trade, from Green Bay and Stockholm — sit down for their first-ever long-form interview to talk about how a joke ("what if two bass players started a band?") turned into a real project a year after they met.In this conversation, Jasmin and Charlie break down:- How the band name came from a Victorian term for temporary melancholia ("the morbs") — and how a Spotify playlist made as a joke became a real band within the hour- Writing and finishing debut single "Plague" remotely between Green Bay and Stockholm, with Jonathan (7000 Apart) handling recording, vocals, and mix/master- Their noisy, post-punk-leaning sound, inspired by bands like Viagra Boys and Parquet Courts- Jasmin and Charlie's shared history in 7000 Apart — Charlie played bass in the band for three years before starting Modern Haunting, and Jasmin stepped in as her replacement- Charlie's new stint on drums, including a U.S. drumming debut with Nightmares for Angels (featuring Robyn Kate of Before Dawn) at Mile of Music- Upcoming shows: Modern Haunting at the Green Bay UFO Invasion Fest (Thursday, July 23rd, - Badger State Brewing) with Carly from 7000 Apart sitting in on drums, and The Morbs playing August 7th with French Irish CoalitionThe Morbshttps://open.spotify.com/track/5y7EZ702JzqW9Qwy8qNzDC?autoplay_ok=1Fox Cities Core airs on WCZR Code Zero Radio, covering the Fox Valley live music scene through interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews.

Rökker Smith has been a part of the Madison, Wisconsin music scene for nearly four decades. In 1996 he founded Maximum Ink Music Magazine, a statewide monthly publication that ran for 27 years. In 2011 he brought that same mission to the airwaves with Max Ink Radio, now broadcasting statewide every Saturday and Sunday night on the Civic Media Network. He's also the drummer for Madison rock band Iron Plow and the longtime programmer and stage director for Atwood Fest.

In this in-depth interview, recorded at the Civic Media studio in Madison — home of Max Ink Radio's live weekend broadcasts — Andy McNamara of Code Zero Radio sits down with Rökker to talk about the 27-year run of Maximum Ink, the leap into radio, playing Bratfest and Summerfest with Iron Plow, his WAMI Wall of Honor induction, and the sudden cardiac arrest he survived on stage mid-set with his band last December. Rökker opens up about the "chain of survival," CPR and AED awareness, the PulsePoint app, and his comeback show less than a year later.

We also dig into Atwood Fest 2026 (Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26 in Madison), including how Rökker books three stages of local, regional, and national touring artists, his "wedding strategy" for lineup building, "Rocker's Torture" scheduling conflicts, and what first-time festivalgoers need to know before they go.

Learn more about Atwood Fest:

https://atwoodfest.com

Learn more about Max Ink Radio & Maximum Ink Music Magazine: https://civicmedia.us/shows/max-ink-radio

Follow Iron Plow for new music and show updates

https://ironplow.rocks

This interview is part of Fox Cities Core on WCZR Code Zero Radio, covering the regional and statewide live music scene through artist interviews, venue spotlights, and show previews.

Candlebox frontman Kevin Martin talks with Code Zero Radio's Andy McNamara ahead of the band's show at EPIC Event Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Thirty-plus years after their quadruple-platinum self-titled debut, Candlebox is back with original guitarist Peter Klett back in the fold — and new music on the way.

In this candid conversation, Kevin opens up about the true story behind "Far Behind" and its connection to Mother Love Bone's Andy Wood, what it was really like getting played on MTV every hour during the Seattle grunge explosion, and the wild Maverick Records marketing stunt that had Candlebox's name on billboards outside Madison Square Garden. He also talks about nearly retiring from music, why Peter Klett coming back reignited his passion for the band, life on the road (PlayStation golf and Spotify roulette included), and what fans can expect from the new songs the band is tracking this August in Palm Springs.

Kevin also shares his deep ties to the Midwest — born in Chicago, raised in Seattle — and says he'd love to finally bring Candlebox to Appleton, Wisconsin.

In this interview:

- The real meaning behind "Far Behind" and Andy Wood

- Getting played on MTV during Candlebox's rise

- The Maverick Records / Madison Square Garden billboard story

- Peter Klett's return to Candlebox

- Recording at Robert Lang Studios & London Bridge Studio

- New music coming this fall from a Palm Springs studio session

- Candlebox's touring rituals and songwriting evolution since the '90s

- An invite for Candlebox to play Appleton, Wisconsin

Watch, listen, and follow Code Zero Radio for more artist interviews, local music coverage, and everything happening in the Fox Cities and Green Bay live music scene.

#Candlebox #KevinMartin #FarBehind #PeterKlett #CodeZeroRadio #SeattleGrunge #90sRock #GreenBayWisconsin #EPICEventCenter #RockMusic #LiveMusic #FoxCitiesCore #WisconsinMusic #MTVGrunge #RockInterview