On The Record

Two of the city's most prolific improvisers (and Coyote Butler troupe members) join host Tyler Maas for 2016's first On The Record. Jacob Bach—of Yeah, Bro! Podcast, gay bar crawls, and formerly of The Improvised Musical notoriety—and veteran "yes, and"-er/coach Mike Kauth invite Maas to the ComedySportz vault to discuss the past, present, and ceiling of Milwaukee improv.

In early 1998, Jeff Sherman and Andy Tarnoff met for a drink at the Nomad Pub. With a noble idea, minimal coding background, and an overriding love for their city, OnMilwaukee.com was launched that September. Sherman and Tarnoff were kind enough to welcome host Tyler Maas—who can identify with being part of a web-only upstart—to their conference room to discuss the site's origin, its evolution, difficulties sustained along the way, and what OnMilwaukee is doing to stay ahead in an increasingly digital market. Laughs were had, insight was bestowed, and they also (jokingly?) offered to buy Milwaukee Record.

Earlier this month, Milwaukee Record unveiled its list of the 25 best Milwaukee albums of 2015. On this episode of On The Record, hosts Tyler Maas and Matt Wild discuss that list, explain how they arrived at their rankings, reveal the semi-scientific process behind them, and reveal some things they may have missed. Maas and Wild also briefly talk about the year in Milwaukee music videos, and stop the podcast at one point because Matt can’t remember who the fuck is in the band Phylums.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' opens December 18. ’Nuff said. For this decidedly geeky and non-locally focused episode of On The Record, host Matt Wild pulls up a cantina barstool at Bay View’s Boone & Crockett and has an impressive (most impressive) 'Star Wars' conversation with B&C owner John Revord and Milwaukee Record contributor Rob Wieland. (John has been known to tend bar in full Jedi regalia, and Rob has his own Wookiepedia page.) The trio discuss the upcoming films, the prequels, the expanded universe, the holiday special, Disney, Marvel, George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, and much, much more. Lightsaber sounds and confessions of bawling like an infant during the teaser trailer for 'The Force Awakens' are also included.

To discuss their own events, the rapid development of Milwaukee's "maker" culture, and the continued importance of buying local, host Tyler Maas welcomes Heavy Rotation owner/Urban Garage Sale founder Brian Holoubek, along with Whips singer Ashley Smith (Hover Craft, Maker Market, One Trick Pony) and Cortney Heimerl (Hover Craft, Maker Market, NEWaukee Night Market) to Milwaukee Record HQ for an extremely lighthearted chat and more than a few cans of Ale Asylum.

Joining host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record HQ, and in the excitement regarding the encouraging state of the region's budding culinary identity are longtime Milwaukee Magazine dining critic Ann Christenson, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee on-air personality and accomplished amateur cook Tarik Moody (who hosts a new weekly segment with Christenson on the station called "This Bites"), and Taste Of Home associate editor Rachel Seis. Together they discuss some exciting new developments in local dining, under-sung establishments, annoying fads/terms, and the city's struggle to change its edible identity while still holding to its celebrated traditions.

As a founding member of the seminal Violent Femmes, Victor DeLorenzo has left an indelible impression on the world of music and pop culture, one that reaches far beyond the Femmes’ hometown of Milwaukee and their humble beginnings busking outside the Oriental Theatre. As an actor, solo artist, and member of jazz outfit Nineteen Thirteen, DeLorenzo continues to make his mark. On this week’s episode of On The Record, host Matt Wild sits down, chats, and drinks some wine with DeLorenzo, as well as Nineteen Thirteen cellist and frontwoman Janet Schiff. Items discussed include Milwaukee, living on the East Side (it turns out Wild used to live right across the street from DeLorenzo), the Violent Femmes, an obscure Milwaukee band called The Movies, DeLorenzo’s solo career, Nineteen Thirteen, and how Schiff is singlehandedly saving humanity as we know it.

To discuss the past, present, and future of Milwaukee-area punk and hardcore, host Tyler Maas invited Jeremy Ampe and Martin Defatte of MKEPunk (Martin also plays in Volunteer, which debuts as a four piece this Friday) and Midwives drummer/local music writer/author of a forthcoming Die Kreuzen book Sahan Jayasuriya to his lavish home office. The four guys discussed notable punk projects of yore, acts making a name for themselves today, and how Milwaukee stacks up against nearby markets in the caliber of show and bands.

To celebrate the start of the Milwaukee Bucks' most promising season in recent memory, host Tyler Maas, Dan Shafer of Milwaukee Magazine, and Jeremy Schmidt of Bucksketball.com run through the team's key additions, notable departures, the growing interest in the long-beleaguered organization, Marlon Wayans' scouting prowess, the John Henson jewelry store thing, NOTHING about the arena deal, and what '90s era hip-hop or R&B talent they'd like to see perform at the annual Turn Back The Clock Night.

For the "lordy, lordy, look who's 40" episode of On The Record, Tyler and Matt sit down and chat with TMJ4 anchor and reporter Bridget Shanahan. An Illinois native, Shanahan has worked in a number of different places during her career, including Idaho, Illinois, and Vermont, and has now been in Wisconsin—and Milwaukee—for the past year. The hosts talk to her about her many moves, her thoughts on Milwaukee, waking up at three in the morning, the role of social media in TV news, and the current state of TV news in general. Oh, and why news anchors always seem to be holding iPads for some reason.