On The Record

Juiceboxxx has been a fixture of the Milwaukee music scene since he was a teenager, performing his high-energy, follow-your-dreams rap-rock in basements, house shows, clubs, and anywhere else that will have him. He’s toured the world, opened for the likes of Public Enemy, and is the driving force behind Thunder Zone, a catch-all pop-culture brand that includes music, clothing, and even an energy drink. Host Matt Wild caught up with Juiceboxxx in the cool confines of Foundation and talked about Juice's first visits to Milwaukee with his father when he was 11 years old, his early shows and tours only a few years later, his background in the punk and noise scenes, his eventual relocation/not-really-relocation to New York City, Thunder Zone, an infamous botched TV performance, his mixed feelings on a new book about his music, and much more.

Matt and Tyler salute Friday’s big Riverwest 24 bike race by chatting about Milwaukee’s ever-growing and ever-fascinating bike culture, and by digging into the history of the race itself. Joining them live at the Riverwest Public House are MKEBKE.com proprietor and Milwaukee Underwear Bike Ride organizer Steve Roche, and Riverwest 24 organizer Jeremy Prach. They shed some light on the not-so-exclusive club of Milwaukee bike enthusiasts, the many efforts and events happening around town designed to further promote biking, and, of course, riding your bike while getting passed by carloads of hatchet-man-tattooed Juggalos.

To help delve deep into the state of Milwaukee fashion and design, style-challenged host Tyler Maas asks a diverse group of local experts to join him in Milwaukee Record HQ to share a few too many bottles of Ale Asylum and their unique insight in this unsung-but-growing part of the city. Tyler is joined by longtime local model/makeup artist Elyse Cizek, Milwaukee Magazine writer/associate editor/style writer Claire Hanan, and area designer Vanessa Andrew, who produces garments for her Madam Chino line. The sound of a weed wacker and chainsaw also make brief cameos.

Since the release of its self-titled debut record last May, Sylvan Esso has performed on The Tonight Show and Conan, played virtually every major music festival in the continental U.S., and earned oodles of love from countless respected music resources. Before last weekend’s Sylvan Esso headlining show at Summerfest, former Milwaukeean Nick Sanborn was gracious enough to let host Tyler Maas come to his hotel room for a chat. They discussed Sylvan Esso’s rapid rise to notoriety, whether there’s a glass ceiling in Milwaukee music, local places Sanborn misses most, and much more.

Milwaukee Record co-founders Matt Wild and Tyler Maas decide to take things easy this week and sit in as guests on their own show. Episode 25 finds Wild and Maas taking questions from you, the readers and listeners, about themselves and Milwaukee Record. Helping them out is Milwaukee (and soon-to-be-Chicago) comedian Liz Ziner, who serves as host and interviewer. Questions are posed, questions are answered, jokes are cracked, and Matt and Tyler get married in the end. Maybe.

This week, Tyler Maas takes the show on the road to his dad's garage bar on the outskirts of Appleton. With the help of Grantland staff writer and Appleton native Steven Hyden, along with Appleton Post-Crescent entertainment writer Shane Nyman, Maas discusses the upcoming Mile Of Music festival, unearths the undeniable trend of former Fox Cities musicians presently making a mark in Milwaukee music, reminices about Concert Cafe and Ryan's Ballroom, and ponders bands like Tenement and Dead Horses currently thriving despite having members split between both regions. Shit, the trio even talk about the WAMI Awards for a few minutes.

Tyler Maas recently chronicled his night spent dining, drinking, exploring, and being bludgeoned by a horseshoe in West Allis while in the company of Mayor Dan Devine. However, the piece was light on details about the misconceptions the city encounters and the many non-nightlife accoutrements that make it a misunderstood place whose reputation is (or at least should be) on the rise. Thus, Maas heads to year-old West Allis creative bastion Inspiration Studios and talks to Devine and Pabst Theater Marketing Director/proud West Allis homeowner Laura Mueller about the city they love.

For the most crowded (and funniest) episode so far, host Tyler Maas discusses the trials, tribulations, and validation that come along with owning and operating an independent record label in Milwaukee. Joining Tyler are Kevin Meyer from Dusty Medical Records (a 10-year-old rock/punk label that puts out vinyl releases for its primarily-Milwaukee-based roster), Chris Schulist and Jon Kuester from Dope Folks Records (a hip-hop reissue label that celebrates its fifth anniversary Friday), and Joe Peterson of Gloss Records (also of Rio Turbo and Platinum Boys).

As the one-year anniversary of marriage equality in Wisconsin approaches, host Tyler Maas talks to Erik Koepnick (who, quite coincidentally, was randomly assigned to be Maas' roommate his freshmen year of college at UW-Oshkosh) and PrideFest marketing and PR professional Michail Takach about that unforgettable early June day, the obstacles the LGBT community still faces today, and what to expect at this year's PrideFest.

Author Tea Krulos sits down to discuss his latest book, Monster Hunters: On The Trail With Ghost Hunters, Bigfooters, Ufologists, And Other Paranormal Investigators. He also talks about the upcoming Milwaukee Paranormal Conference, Saturday June 6 at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center. Organized by Krulos, the conference will feature a ton of guest speakers—some of whom are profiled in his book—along with panels, film screenings, demonstrations, and a whole lot more.