1 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Double Elvis. We're gonna do it. For those of a 2 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: certain age and maybe a certain classic TV show addiction problem. 3 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: Those words could have been spoken plainly, without music, and 4 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: you'd probably still know the city to which it refers, 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: maybe by one of its many nicknames, Bruce City, the 6 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: Third Coast, or perhaps the most evocative cream city. You 7 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: can immediately picture the beers hurling down the bottling line, 8 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: one humorously gloved. We're talking, of course, about that big 9 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: bad city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Okay, bad is a poor 10 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: choice of words, because it's definitely good and actually very pleasant, 11 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: and the big doesn't really fit either. City population doesn't 12 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: really crack six hundred thousand, but they have an internationally 13 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: recognized theater for some of the biggest names in entertainment, 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: not one, but two major sports venues, one of the 15 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: most striking and renowned museums in the game. But the 16 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: undercurrent flowing through this city, like its three rivers, the Menominee. 17 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: The Kinnikinic in Milwaukee, is decidedly manageable. Small human, real human. 18 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: It's easy to get overwhelmed living in Chicago or New York, 19 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: like the odds are stacked against you, just for living there, 20 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: but in Milwaukee you do feel like you are gonna 21 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: make it. We walked over the bridge in Milwaukee, past 22 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: the statue of the fawns and the duck with the 23 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: wind kicking in and the sparrow is running amuck. Milwaukee 24 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: the boat seated eighty miles due north of Chicago, It's 25 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: closest big city relative. There's a lot in common between 26 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: the two towns, urban cultured and cluttered, working class Lake 27 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: adjacent occasionally brutal in the winter, but Milwaukee is way 28 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: less flashy than its southern counterpart. It's the epitome of 29 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: Midwest cando DIY taken to a civil engineering extreme. This 30 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: is not a city that is handed over its keys 31 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: to chain restaurants. Indie establishments flourish. Actually they dominate. Dive 32 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: bars and old speakeasis are preferred to the mass produced 33 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 1: bars containing in its name. I don't know the word kilt, 34 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: for example, Some could say it's for the music scene. 35 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: While many famous musicians have come from Milwaukee, only a 36 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: handful of big music venues exist here. Smallish music clubs 37 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: are the spot of choice for locals and visitors alike. 38 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: From dive bar venues built into actual nineteenth century houses 39 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: to coffee house stages that feature national acts. Native Americans 40 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: had lived on Milwaukee land for thousands and thousands of 41 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: years before Europeans quote unquote discovered it in the seventeenth century. 42 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: Over the centuries, developed into one of the major industrial 43 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: cities of growing America. Factories sprung up and employed l 44 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: Vernon Shirley, who made beer. Because as you know, where 45 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: you have factories, you will also have bars. And while 46 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: so many of those factories have shuddered in recent decades, 47 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: so many of the bars have not. Many have been 48 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: around for generations, as important as a part of this 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: town's fabric as the people who frequent them. But there's 50 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: one in particular that has had international reach. Wallskis is 51 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: a family owned bar. It's been that way since it 52 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: opened over one hundred years ago. Modest, dark, unassuming, where 53 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: regulars routinely outnumber visitors more than maybe any other place. 54 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: This joint feels like Milwaukee. Even drinking here requires a 55 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: similar work ethic to the one that built this city. Example, 56 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: there's a famous bumper sticker that has been spotted literally 57 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: all over the world. Maybe you've seen it. It simply says, 58 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: I closed Wallskis, and if you want one, take a 59 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: nap before you go, because they don't just give it 60 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: to you, you have to earn it by closing Wallskis. 61 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: Even drinking in this town requires a work ethic. We're 62 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: gonna do it. And while Wall Skis doesn't have much music, 63 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: per say, other than the piped in kind pouring out 64 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: of wall speakers that look like they were installed in 65 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy one, most of the bars in town do 66 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: have live music. Music has always been an important part 67 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: of Milwaukee's life, both in and out of the bars. 68 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: Some early and important songwriting and publishing houses began here. 69 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: Charles Harris is an example, having great success with the 70 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: sheet music and popular songwriting of eighteen hundreds. One song 71 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: of his was even covered if that term existed back then, 72 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: by John Phillips Suza Chicago's World Fair, leading to that 73 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: particular piece of sheet music selling millions of copies. That 74 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: sheet went viral, long before likes, follows and stream counts. 75 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: Harris would then take his talents to New York City, 76 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: where he would go on to form an early tin 77 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Pan Alley group and since then some of the greatest 78 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: international stars of our Day have made their mark alongside 79 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: local heroes Al Juroute, Paul Saber, Mike Frederckson in the 80 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: Most Beaudines, Ernie Addard, Less Violent Fabaka, Alkola, Adit Aut VC, 81 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: The Dame Lebera Jaba Man Trapper Show, Hispanic Boy, Strixie Mattel, 82 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: Black Elevat Milwaukee's James Chany Cruise and at Last Bryan 83 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: Semi twenty, Jerry Harrison, Willie Pick Cabin as Least Glow, 84 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: Mike Mike Melry Promise, and Steve Miller Millie, Millie, You're Millie. 85 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: Like any major city with people from all over the 86 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: world taking up residents there, the music scene shows a 87 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: similarly wide range of styles, and in a city you 88 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't think big enough to contain all its music makers, 89 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: it absolutely does. Hip Hop bumps up against Americana, jazz asks, 90 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: power pop, That seat on the bus next to them 91 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: is taken and Poco goes Dutch on an ice cream 92 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: Sunday with speed metal. It's all done in a way 93 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: that is determined yet understated. Liberazi nowithstanding one of Milwaukee's 94 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: longest running musical acts, as a guy by the name 95 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: of Mike Frederickson. If you have lived here for any 96 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: solid length of time, you have heard of him, seen him, 97 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 1: or heard him play, or even possibly seen him without 98 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: him being in the room. How is that possible? Because 99 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: Mike is also a highly revered visual artist who does 100 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: photorealist paintings that line the walls of art bars and 101 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: venues throughout the city. Walk into the uptown or bar 102 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: where Mike also serves as the daytime tender, and you'll 103 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: see his lush, massive street scenes and highly detailed portraits 104 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: covering almost every inch of wall space. He has also 105 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: recorded eighteen albums over the years, consisting entirely of his 106 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: original material, both as a solo artist and with his 107 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: legendary Milwaukee power pop trio the Moseleyes. He played on 108 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: Saturday Night Live with his Hispanic Boys and played bass 109 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: for years with Midwest alt country godfather Robbie Folkes, and 110 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: Mike has been playing bass in the band of another 111 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: local Mke legend, Paul Sea Bar, all while quietly releasing 112 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: his own albums one after the other of incredibly catchy 113 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: pop songs that are decidedly Wisconsin ever heard of poco pop. 114 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: There are several examples across his record output where Mike 115 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: has somehow perfected the seemingly impossible fusing of these two medals. 116 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: An executive or an out algorithm wouldn't have the first 117 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 1: clue how to market this stuff. But there is no 118 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: music industry in Milwaukee like there are on the coasts, 119 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: so Milwaukee artists don't seem too focus on making it 120 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: unless it is authentic music. When Frederickson was making yet 121 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: another record a few years ago, he asked a friend 122 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: of his if he should really be dropping thousands of 123 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: dollars to self release yet another record which may or 124 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: may not do anything for his career. The friend asked, well, 125 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: let's start at the beginning. Why are you making this 126 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: record at all, to which Mike replied, I don't know 127 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: what else to do, So just keep producing, Mike, We're 128 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: going to do it like everyone else in this town. 129 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: Just keep doing it because as an artist, you really 130 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: aren't given the choice to not keep creating. And that 131 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: is what we want out of our artists, to keep 132 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: showing and sharing and producing, stepping to that edge, answering 133 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: to all our questions until it makes sense or allows 134 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: us to stop trying to make sense of it. All 135 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: for one glory night on the town. In a world 136 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: where cover bands and album nights are a consistent draw, 137 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: Milwaukee is a town where those things seem less important 138 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: than putting something new out into the world, whether it 139 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: makes you a buck or not in this town or 140 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: any other town, and you never know the ears that 141 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: Jess might be traveling through looking for a little bit 142 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: of real deal truth. Sound of Our Town is a 143 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: podcast about the music that shaped the city you are 144 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: touching down in. It is also about being present to 145 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 1: hear and experience its best music happening right now and 146 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 1: what sounds in places of shape the city's culture. It's 147 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: about the abiding ritual of getting together in a room 148 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: to listen and why that matters. This is the anti 149 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: content podcast because it's encouraging you to ignore all the 150 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: other content and get out there and participate in the 151 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: sounds of all the towns litered across America, and this 152 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: is season two with the real places and sonic stories 153 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: echoing in a particular town so that your travel is 154 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: enriched with music. I'm your host, Will Daily. I'm an 155 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: independent DIY songwriter and touring artist. I've been doing this 156 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: a while and frankly, this show is also a reminder 157 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: to myself how important live music is in our existence. 158 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: The business of it kicks you around with the crowd, 159 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: never lets you down when you come with the truth. 160 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: In this second episode of our second season, we are 161 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: visiting new stuff happening in old houses in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 162 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: Imagine you live in a two story house that dates 163 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 1: back to the eighteen hundreds. Now imagine that that two 164 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 1: story house is a full service bar that can comfortably 165 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: seat one hundred people upstairs and down. Your house has 166 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: all the windows blacked out, plush carpet lining the entire 167 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: joint along with lushly dark wallpaper throughout, a nice long 168 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 1: bar with a leather armrest running in the length of it, 169 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: which just so happens to match the high top chairs. 170 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:05,599 Speaker 1: And that's just wonderful. You live in Bryan's Cocktail Lounge, 171 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: the oldest of its kind in Milwaukee, and possibly, though 172 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 1: history is a little sketchy here in all of Wisconsin, 173 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: a state so well known for its cocktail lounges that 174 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: they might as well have a picture of a brandy 175 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: old fashion on the state flag. Bryant's is what is 176 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: known as a tiered house, which originally was a house 177 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: rented or sold to a brewery through which local bar 178 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: owners were then by their booze. Bryan's has been opened 179 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: since the nineteen thirties, with a brief hiatus in the 180 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: nineteen seventies because a fire completely gutted its inerts. Renovated 181 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: a few years later. It now stands as it has 182 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: ever since, and it's really dark inside, really dark. There 183 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 1: are some ceiling lights, but they have to be on 184 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: their lowest setting. The main illumination comes from the candles 185 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: on the tables in the soft pinkish glow from the 186 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: three tiered bar rail. Places like this, authentic and revered, 187 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: are now a rarity in the US. Isn't designed by 188 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: some modern developer to feel like a vintage bar. It 189 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: just is a vintage bar. And it's all of this 190 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: with a curated playlist of early R and B and 191 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: classic jazz and soul pouring from the lounge speakers that 192 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: acclimates you to Mke. Upon your arrival, you will know 193 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: and feel where you are in America. If old television 194 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: is your metric for Milwaukee, then you won't feel lost 195 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: upon arrival. All the bartenders here are well versed in mixology. 196 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: To the point where if you don't have a specific 197 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: drink order in mind, they'll simply ask you what you'd 198 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,559 Speaker 1: like gin, bourbon, vodka, sweet, sour, floral, light or dark. 199 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: Then they will take all that information and put it 200 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: in the original computer, the brain, and make you a 201 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: custom drink that will hit exactly the notes you were 202 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: thinking of in your head, and it will likely be 203 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: something you've never heard of before. Simply magic. And everyone 204 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: goes here, old and young, clean cut and not well 205 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 1: dressed or decently dressed. Here but not that casual. It's 206 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: a microcosm of the city itself, and it has to 207 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: be your first stop. The listening room label often lands 208 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: in a space of less than two hundred and fifty people, 209 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: but the art of listening is not, never should be 210 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: monopolized by the strong arm of folk rooms and showcase venues. 211 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: As a founding member of NIVA or the National Independent 212 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: Venue Association, the PAPS Music Group has under their umbrella 213 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: a few of the great independent listening rooms in Milwaukee, 214 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: including the Fitzgerald in the Turner Hall Ballroom among them. 215 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: But it's the PAPS Theater or just the PAPS that 216 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: is one of the most striking places to see and 217 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: hear music, and not just all the Midwest. It stacks 218 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: up against any venue anywhere. This might just be my dream, 219 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: wishless gig of this year. It's designated as a National 220 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: Historical Landmark in nineteen ninety one. This thirteen hundred seat 221 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 1: former opera house is a replacement for the original opera 222 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: House that burned down in the late eighteen hundreds and 223 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: has played host to the biggest names in the business, 224 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 1: spanning all genres. Yes, Merle Haggard played there, but so 225 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: did rachmaninoff, so did Harry Houdini in nineteen fifteen at 226 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: the height of his fame, and so is Nego case 227 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: Rick Springfield and local natives in the past year. Not 228 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: so many places can say that, but the fourth oldest 229 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: fully operational theater in the country can, and proudly again. 230 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: Places like this exist in most major cities, and Old 231 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: Opera House is now a music venue. It's pretty common, 232 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: but doing it right is not. When you go to 233 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: a show here, all you want to do is listen. 234 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: The sound is not just bouncing around off almost one 235 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty year old walls. It is bouncing off 236 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: of every sound that has hit them. Every standing ovation, 237 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: every cracked voice, every broken string or dream, and earth 238 00:13:56,440 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: shattering performance in those saturated sound waves. Care carry that 239 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: to your waiting years. It is not just the listening 240 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: room for MKE. It is a listening room for the ages. 241 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: Since we called a thirteen hundred CE theater our listening room, 242 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: it is perhaps fair to at least highlight a room 243 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: or set of rooms that are small yet powerful enough 244 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: to melt a face right off. Plenty of big music 245 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: venues contain a smaller performance room on their premises. In fact, 246 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: don't trust a city that doesn't have a venue like this. 247 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: It's a model that allows a venue to host both 248 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: huge international acts in lesser known acts on the local 249 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: level and touring circuit. Far fewer venues, however, can claim 250 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: to have five venues within its walls, like the Rave 251 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: Eagles Club from smaller nightclub sized rooms holding a few 252 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: hundred people to their main ballroom capable of handling thousands, 253 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: with a couple of lounges and a rooftop spot thrown 254 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: in for good measure. There is an eq system of 255 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: live music in room for all. So see if you 256 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: can follow along all under one roof, you've got the Rave, 257 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: the Rave Two, the Rave Bar, the Eagles Ballroom in 258 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: the Eagles Ballroom club Stage. Now that last one cheats 259 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: a little bit. It's still just the Eagles Ballroom, but 260 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: with a Florida ceiling curtains drawn across its twenty five 261 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: thousand square foot dance floor that cuts the room down 262 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: to a smaller, more intimate, massive ballroom, much like the 263 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: bar is built into houses for which this town is famous. 264 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: This is exactly that, but on an insanely large scale. 265 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: A club and a club, and a club and a club, 266 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: a Russian doll venue that hosts the likes of Fuego Macklemore, 267 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: Charlie Crockett and Wilco and like almost every venue in Milwaukee, 268 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: it has a fascinating history, although here that history takes 269 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: a decidedly darker turn. I did not mention the giant 270 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: pool that resides in the giant basement of this giant place. 271 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: A year after the building opened in nineteen twenty seven, 272 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: a teenager would drown in that pool. His mother would 273 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: die months later. Thus, for the last near century, people 274 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: have been reporting clear indicators of a haunting in this place. 275 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: A ghostly male figure watching sound checks from the dark 276 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: parts of the floor, or a small girl roaming certain 277 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: areas of the venue, her laughter echoing throughout the rooms, 278 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: even the strong smell of bleach near the long drained pool. 279 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: And if you're old or studied enough or listen to 280 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: season one of Sound of Our Town, you know all 281 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: about the Winter Dance Party Tour of nineteen fifty nine, 282 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: during which a plane crash would kill three of its 283 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: famous participants, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Vallens and Buddy Holly. 284 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: And I'll give you one guess as to where the 285 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: first date of that tour took place. There is a 286 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: scene in the legendary music film Spinal Tap that takes 287 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: place in a fictional venue with a delightfully ridiculous name, 288 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: Shank Hall. Leave it to Milwaukee to open a venue 289 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: with that very name, And in the spirit of that 290 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: great mockumentary, they stretch the limits of truth. For one thing, 291 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 1: it's not a hall. It's a long, carpeted, low ceiling 292 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: space that feels more like a conference room with a 293 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: stage and a bar in it. But they've been booking 294 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 1: local and international heavyweights there since nineteen eighty nine with 295 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: no signs of stopping. And their LAKESI started off on 296 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: a pretty historic noe. Shank Hall is actually two buildings, 297 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: the club proper and then another largely unused house attached 298 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: to it, dating back to well there's some debate about that. 299 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,719 Speaker 1: Some maps show the properties there as of nineteen twenties, 300 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: but documents held by the city indicated the building could 301 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: date back to the late eighteen hundreds, likely as a 302 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,479 Speaker 1: carriage house replete with wall mounted rings to tie up 303 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: your horse if you travel to Milwaukee on horse. Whatever 304 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: the date, the building would go on to become acutely 305 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: important to Milwaukee music history when in the late nineteen forties, 306 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: the building that would be Shank became a distribution center 307 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: for Capitol Records. Over the next two decades, all the 308 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: great records made on Capitol would pass in and then 309 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: quickly out of the doors. Nat King, Cole, Mary Ford 310 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: and Les, Paul Sinatra, Prima Bozo, Yes that Bozo for you, 311 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: old school TV Buffs, and then Rock and Roll hit. 312 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 1: If you lived in Milwaukee and bought Servant Safari, it 313 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: passed through this building, and if you ran down the 314 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: street to your local record shop the morning after the 315 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: Beatles legendary ed Sullivan performance any record you bought of 316 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:41,959 Speaker 1: theirs came through this old coach house on Farewell Avenue. 317 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 1: The building is soaked in music history it is fitting 318 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: that such a place be MK's musical Vatican. I felt 319 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: special just booking my first gig there. Like all the 320 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: old theaters and dives, life and sound have been absorbed 321 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: here for decades, and you hold a ticket to those 322 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,360 Speaker 1: echoes as well. It's worth going there just to see 323 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 1: the mini Stoneheade replica that hangs from the rafters right 324 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 1: above where the drummer would be set up, yet another 325 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: not so subtle nod to the majestic, hard rocking and 326 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 1: completely fictional band. It's hard not to proselytize when you're 327 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 1: on the stage in such a revered dive, a bouquet 328 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: of spilled drink and cigarettes from years past careening through 329 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: your nostrils, and either before or after the show, if 330 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: it gets out early enough, you must walk the three 331 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: blocks up Farewell Avenue to the legendary Zephrino's Pizza and Bar, 332 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: in business at the same spot since nineteen fifty four, 333 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: Killer Italian food served in a perfectly crampedy at cozy 334 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: setting where the ice cold high life pairs perfectly with 335 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: their cracked thin pizza in Lasagna. That makes sixty nine 336 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: years of business seem like not long enough. And yes, 337 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: it's all well and good with your DIY small venue 338 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: Midwestern charm up to this point, you wouldn't be faulted 339 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: for thinking that you can slide into cream city anytime, 340 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: and that is true. But there is good reason why 341 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: Milwaukee is called the City of festivals. There's over one 342 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: hundred of them throughout the year. Many of those are 343 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: beer festivals, of course, because this town is honest. Milwaukee 344 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: likes its hops, but it doesn't limit its festivals. You 345 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: can find a fest here for almost any Niche celebrate 346 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: the music, food and culture of Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood. There's 347 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: a fest like twenty four hour bike ride around the 348 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 1: city and if you prefer your bike with a little 349 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: more oomph. This is the home of Harley Davidson, so 350 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: naturally the biggest motorcycle rally in the Midwest also happens here. 351 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: They have your standard music fests, blues, jazz, world music, 352 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:56,239 Speaker 1: but there's also Croatian, Armenian, Mexican fests highlighting cuisine, art, 353 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 1: and entertainment from all these cultures. There's a Juneteenth celebrat, 354 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: a kite festival, the Chinese dragon boat festival, even the 355 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: hyper specific coffee and Donuts festival, And due to the 356 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: overwhelming presence of the German population, they have not one, 357 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: not two, but no less than three October Fests that 358 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: start as early as August. Laverne and Shirley bottled a 359 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: lot of beer and it needs to be drunken, drunk drinking. 360 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: It needs to be drunk drink, it needs to be drunk. 361 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 1: But this modest town just happens to host the biggest 362 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: yearly music festival in the world. No hyperbole. I don't 363 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: mean the world as in America. I mean the world, 364 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: the planet that you are on listening to this podcast 365 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: Floating through Space, the only one we got in. This 366 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: fest takes place every summer in the heart of Milwaukee. 367 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: It's called Summerfest, and it's mercifully named. It's really the 368 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 1: only season that anything outdoors could take place in this town. 369 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: It's been going on every summer since the sixties and 370 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: it's an Octoberfest inspired affair for live music. If Caligila 371 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 1: was into bands, this would have been his idea. The 372 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 1: many stages for it are permanently installed by the Lake 373 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: in Milwaukee, which is an impressive commitment to a festival 374 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: that only happens once a year. Thanks to COVID, this 375 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: fest now takes place over three consecutive weekends, as opposed 376 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: to two straight weeks like the old days of three 377 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: years ago, but still impressive. Imagine going to Lalla Plooza 378 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: every weekend for three straight weeks and that is Summerfest 379 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: and everybody plays here. I mean everybody. Elvis Costello, Green Sky, Bluegrass, Trippy, 380 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: Red City Girls, Dave Matthews Band, Marcus King, James Taylor, 381 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,959 Speaker 1: A Boogie Widah, Hoodie and Night Ranger, the Avid Brothers, 382 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: Tegan and Sarah, Cheap Trick and Cautious Clay. You'd be 383 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: hard pressed not to look through the current or pass 384 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: lineups for this thing and not seem any of your 385 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: favorite bands, world famous or not. I would argue that 386 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: all this makes it one of the most significant US 387 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,120 Speaker 1: cities to plant around a calendar and not just slide 388 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 1: into the cream. In a city of splendid dives, it 389 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: would only take a light touch of elevation to stand 390 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: out as a hidden gem. The Art Bar among dimly 391 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: pink lit bar a La Bryants. It's exactly what its 392 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: name would make you think. It is a bar with 393 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: a heavy art focus, curated, always changing, and representative of 394 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: the local art community. Unlike Bryant's, however, Art Bar is 395 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: more of a trad bar, serving elevated bar food alongside 396 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: their Bloody Mary's, complete with adorable Miller high Life chasers 397 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: in seven ounce bottles, a Wisconsin tradition. They don't have 398 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: a steady calendar for it, but music does happen here 399 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: as well. Here again, it's art and music, all locals 400 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 1: and enjoyed by locals, just like we discovered in the 401 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: Portland main episode. It's these super northern cities that know 402 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: how to hold close to what they love. You could 403 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: go to any stoic historical society and whole home Wikipedia 404 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: page to find out about the nuts and bolts of 405 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: a city, But there may be no better explanation of 406 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: Milwaukee than two movies. The documentary film American Movie about 407 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: an indie filmmaker trying to finish his short horror film 408 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 1: COVID in the big budgeted, star studded film Bridesmaids featuring 409 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: Kristin Wigg as a Milwaukee baker. Two wildly different takes 410 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 1: on the same Milwaukee underdogs trying to find their dream 411 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 1: and achieve it despite numerous pitfalls themselves included. Both these 412 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: films featured the city in the most real way possible, 413 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: not as the main character of a film, but as 414 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: a backdrop to everyday life. You see bills piling up, 415 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: a walk through the art museum, getting pulled over for 416 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 1: faulty brake, lights, small business struggles but at least you 417 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: have a chance. Relationships are tested, all the wild old 418 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: factories and a wildly complicated highway system whizzing by in 419 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: each shot. You could have easily called both of these 420 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: movies American movie for the feeling with which they leave 421 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: you afterwards. Two stories of people clawing their way towards happiness. 422 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: Will they find it? Our acronym does not stand for 423 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: spoilers of our town, so you're just gonna have to 424 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: watch them to find out and to get ready for 425 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: your visit to the four one four Kansas City feels 426 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: different than Milwaukee, though they're not too distant in size. 427 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: The Saint Louis too. For cities that aren't that far apart. 428 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: On a map, there's a distinctly southern vibe that stops 429 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: at a certain point along I fifty five. Is it 430 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: the weather patterns? Is it the barbecue tradition? Is Milwaukee 431 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: just far enough north in those two cities, just far 432 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: enough south to distinguish them so dramatically. The existence of 433 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: Minneapolis might confirm that under five hours north of Milwaukee, 434 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: the two cities bear more than a few similarities. But 435 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: despite the fact that Milwaukee is bigger in most ways 436 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: in these three other cities, it gets way less love 437 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: when local music scenes get discussed. Is Milwaukee not trying 438 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: hard enough to compete with other nearby cities because they 439 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: absolutely can't hold their own or is it just that 440 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: they don't feel the need to compete. The latter seems 441 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:42,199 Speaker 1: to make more sense. It's a pretty badass way to 442 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: go to. Milwaukee just does this thing while not worrying 443 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,360 Speaker 1: about the joneses. I'm concerned about other cities doing it 444 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: just their own. And you know what the town of 445 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 1: Milwaukee is. It's homey, which makes perfect sense when you 446 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: think about it. Even when you leave your own house 447 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: to go to a show or a bar or a restaurant, here. 448 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: Oftentimes you're just going to someone else's house, Sofrino's, Cactus Club, 449 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 1: the Jazz Estate, Mad Planet, Liniments. People lived in these 450 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 1: establishments before they were established, before music, before booze, before industry, 451 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 1: musical and otherwise, and they keep on being there, Like 452 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 1: a cocktail at Bryan's. They just keep on doing it. 453 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:25,400 Speaker 1: And you know what, Vernon Shirley were right. We are 454 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: going to do it no matter what changes come our way. 455 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: And Milwaukee is our proof. And one more thing in 456 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: a city that feels like a hidden gem in and 457 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,440 Speaker 1: of itself, relishing in its own well worn yet cherished 458 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: American antiquity. There weights one of the world's largest collection 459 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: of antique microphones on display inside an electronics store on 460 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: East National Street. Mike Guru Bobikuett is a massed collection 461 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: of more than one thousand microphone phes, most made before 462 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty, in most in working condition thanks to Piquette's repairs. 463 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 1: The microphones are climbing up the walls foot to ceiling. 464 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:13,399 Speaker 1: A telephone from eighteen seventy six. There's a microphone that 465 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: was used by Hitler and also one of the very 466 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: first forty fours for any view audio files out there, 467 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 1: and it all highlights how far we've come in recording 468 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: tech while simultaneously driving home how short of a period 469 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: humans have been recording their sounds compared to the thousands 470 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 1: and thousands of years of playing music with and four 471 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: each other. Milwaukee did not invent the microphone, nor does 472 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: it own the dive bar or the bowling alley. It 473 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: just feels determined not to forsake the beginning of things 474 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: for the expansion of things. Maybe we're going to make 475 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: It also means making sure the past is part of 476 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: the present, not to hold on to it or lament 477 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: its passing, but to see how far we've come, and 478 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 1: to temper our shock at the CONTs rate of change, 479 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: to hold strong to the wonders of all that we 480 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: have created and yet to create. Happy days if we 481 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: want them, are always waiting to be recorded. And that 482 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: is our time in Milwaukee now. DM. If you have 483 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: any questions or further suggestions, or if you just want 484 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: me to cover your town in this season, you can 485 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: hit me up on Instagram at Will Daily Official, or 486 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: search Will Daily anywhere on your favorite platform. You just 487 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: gotta spell Daily dai l e y. I'm on threads too, 488 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 1: finally a new social media platform, and I was starting 489 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: to get a little worried. This show got a second 490 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: season because of you. Thanks for all the reviews, the follows, 491 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: and the shares. If you aren't following Sound of Our 492 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: Town or having a reviewed yet, just think you could 493 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: be the reason when you get a season three. Sound 494 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: of Our Town is a production of Double Elvis and iHeartRadio. 495 00:29:58,000 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: You can also hit us up on ig at Double 496 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: Elvis and Twitter at Double Elvis FM. The show is 497 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: executively produced by Jake Brennan and Brady Sadler for Double Elvis. 498 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: Production assistants by Matt Bowden. The show is created, written, hosted, 499 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: and scored by me Will Daily. This episode's head writer 500 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: is Gerald Dowd. I won't say that Gerald has an 501 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: eye closed Wallski sticker plastered across the back of his 502 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: old school day Runner date book, but I also won't 503 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: say that he doesn't. Music for this episode was composed 504 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: and performed by me Will Daily. You can check me 505 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: out on Spotify, Apple Bandcamp, and will Daily dot com, 506 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: or you can see me on the road in August 507 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 1: with the Wallflowers. I'm gonna be stopping through the Midwest, Madison, 508 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: Kansas City, Des Moines, Iowa City, Buffalo, and New Jersey. 509 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: All right, off to the next town, the next venue. 510 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your ears.