Midwest Unplugged

Our season two premiere highlights Kiss the Tiger vocalist Meghan Kreidler. We get a chance to see how much has changed for traveling acts in the year since our last episode, and also get a special guest appearance from Meghan's little stinker. We also discuss the different ways people digest their music, and KTT's favorite places to play. The band released their 3rd LP earlier this year Vicious Kid, which the Star Tribune has named one of Minnesota's best records of the year so far.

Website: www.kissthetiger.com

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Keep supporting NIVA and the fight for independent music venues: https://www.nivassoc.org/ 

With an infectious personality and unique lyrics, Nur-D had built up a reputation as one of the Midwest's best up and coming hip hop artists heading into this year. But when social justice was brought back into the public conscious this summer with the death of George Floyd, he felt the need to speak and be heard. His latest project 38th is one part of a two-part project that shares the personal experience of those rising up against racial and social injustice in Minneapolis this summer. We dig deep into 38th, and also "Nur-D" out for a little while!

*Note: Since this episode's release, "Chicago" has since been released. To check it out and learn more about Nur-D, visit https://nurdrocks.com

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Keep supporting NIVA and the fight for independent music venues: https://www.nivassoc.org/ 

Gooding's music is described as "Rock N' Roll From the Plains", with years of cutting their teeth across the central U.S. shining through even on their newer, darker album "The Darkest of Hours". We talk new music, how Adam came across the band in the first place, and how their live project "Funding the Future LIVE" has helped hundreds of thousands of teens learn financial literacy. We also pay tribute to one of America's finest broadcasters Orion Samuelson, who just announced 2020 will be his last year behind the mic.

Learn more about Gooding and Funding the Future LIVE here: https://www.goodingmusic.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodingmusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodingmusic

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/goodingmusic/

Continue to support NIVA and #SaveOurStages: https://www.nivassoc.org/take-action

In our final episode of the Save Our Stages Series, we recognize the work and efforts of Jason Anderson, Executive Director of the Pablo Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and sit down with Gary Witt, Executive Director for the Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee and co-founder of the National Independent Venue Association. Gary shares his thoughts on the recent Democratic National Convention, and we learn more about the history of NIVA, its mission, and how listeners can get involved.

Learn more about the Pabst Theater Group here: https://pabsttheater.org/

Support the National Independent Venue Association here: https://www.nivassoc.org/take-action

In Part Two of our Save Our Stages Series, we chat with Andy Slania and Justin Wexler of the X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy, WI, a member of the National Independent Venue Association. We discuss the growth of DIY music in the Milwaukee area, and how an all-ages venue can coexist with at-home shows during a pandemic. Also, we brainstorm some ideas that independent venues can and have tried to cope with the financial losses hitting everyone right now.

Support X-Ray Arcade's mission here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-xray-arcade-staff-through-pandemic

Support the National Independent Venue Association here: nivassoc.org/take-action

We begin our Save our Stages Series, an exploration of those working behind the scenes in music and how they're adapting to a new pandemic-minded industry. Our first conversation is with Nate Nelson, the production director for Treedome Productions in Winona, Minnesota. We discuss the ways the organization has tackled this "new normal" we find ourselves in, as well as highlight some professional accomplishments they've achieved despite the challenging times.

Find more info on Treedome at https://www.treedomemn.com/

Support the National Independent Venue Association here: https://www.nivassoc.org/take-action

We explore what happens when a prog metal group decides to transition to a DIY-influenced indie-math rock-punk outfit by analyzing the 2018 album Spring Cleaning by Minneapolis, MN-based Why Not.

The stars at night are big and bright *clap clap clap clap* deep in the HEARRRRT of Texas! We interview country music artist Tanner Usrey and discuss his successful 2019 EP Medicine Man, plus we preview his newest single "The Light" dropping later this month and lament on peoples' driving abilities.

"The Light" available for pre-save right now; full release on July 24th

Find Tanner's work at these links:

Seth James from Fond du Lac, WI joins the show. We hear about his plans during the pandemic, as well as the psychology of planning performances during a great time of concert uncertainty, his time spent in Joplin, Missouri in the wake of the historic 2014 tornado, and also his ties to South Africa.

Find more Seth James music/content at these links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sethjamesartist 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SethJames 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethjamesartist/?hl=en

Despite all the insanity of the last two months, we are preparing to push forward into this new world of virtual concerts and interviews! Adam provides an update on the show and what we are looking forward to in the next half of season one!