Sonic Rendezvous

As a young New Jersey teenager John Kruth was fortunate enough to see legendary musical acts in New York City at places like the Fillmore East.

Today, his  discography numbers over a dozen albums and his collaborations as a multi-instrumentalist reveal even more.

He’s played music with Ornette Coleman, Violent Femmes and last episode’s subject Peter Stampfel. Kruth has also written biographies on Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Townes Van Zandt. During his time in Milwaukee, one memorable evening. Kruth even took over Ma Fischer’s with Rick Danko of The Band.

On this episode of Sonic Rendezvous, John Kruth takes us through his musical trajectory.

If Les Paul is the most recognized figure to come from Wisconsin‘s music scene, then Peter Stampfel might be the most important local musician you may not have heard of.

From Milwaukee’s Piggsville neighborhood, Stampfel made his way to Greenwich Village to become a member of the Fugs and form the Holy Modal Rounders--possibly the first psychedelic folk band ever.

Not too long ago the 85-year-old Stampfel overcame a condition called dysphonia and had to relearn how to sing. His return was all the more remarkable in that he released a five CD box set called Peter Stampfel's 20th Century in 100 Songs. He recently spoke with Sonic Rendezvous.

Riverwest's esteemed Circle A Cafe will be closing its doors after more than 22 years of operation in Milwaukee. On this episode of Sonic Rendezvous, we sit down with owners Warwick Sea and Jennifer Mueller about the intimate club, it's history, and some of the most infamous nights in the venue's history. We wish all the best to Warwick and Jennifer as they move forward!

Today on Sonic Rendezvous, we're talking with the original drummer of Milwaukee's Violent Femmes, Victor DeLorenzo. Forever Milwaukee's prodigal sons, the band's debut album turns 40 years old this year. DeLorenzo talks about his background in theater, how that evolved to avant garde music over time, the infamous Pretenders story and much more. Don't miss this episode!

Malcolm Michiles, aka Old Man Malcolm, has an extensive history in Milwaukee music. On this episode of Sonic Rendezvous, we talk about his origins as a DJ, how that eventually led to involvement at the tail end of Wild Kingdom, the formation of Citizen King and more. There's also a healthy appreciation for the former Sydney Hih building, and a look back at a different era of Milwaukee music.

You may not know this, but a Grammy-winning record producer got her start in Milwaukee. Cheryl Pawelski has held positions with Capitol Records, Warner Music Group, Rhino Entertainment and many more, but it all began at Radio Doctors in her hometown. On this edition of Sonic Rendezvous, we talk to Cheryl about getting her start in Milwaukee, moving out to Los Angeles, and ultimately co-founding her own label, Omnivore Records, where she currently presides.

From his early beginnings in music to what would ultimately become the beginnings of hip hop in Milwaukee, Tory Mayek has grown up around the constantly pushed boundaries of Milwaukee's music scene. His father helped produce "Yo! It's Happenin'" and "Rap It Up!" for MATA public access television, and he would later move into the band Big Bang Theory. After spending two decades in Los Angeles, Mayek returned home to Milwaukee and is now part of the Nightcrawlerz, with a regular radio show on WMSE, as well as DJ gigs and curating things like the Anti Art Gallery. Here is his story.

As a young man with wide eyes and open ears Mike Jarvis ventured from Waukesha into Milwaukee’s music scene. With Ball Turret Gunners he got an early taste of being in a band. In Root Cellar he began sending his own songs into the world, a journey that would peak with the pop confection and heavy jangle of The Blow Pops and The Lackloves. Both bands would make a mark beyond the local scene. After a hiatus Jarvis has returned with Elephonic, the group that incorporates strings and orchestration creating a signature sound.

Today on Sonic Rendezvous, editor David Luhrssen and Blaine Schultz talk to Glenn Rehse of psych rock band Plasticland. The band was one of few in Milwaukee to make a splash outside of the city and country, and the three discuss the origins as Arousing Polaris, touring Europe, and the many twists and turns of the band's career along the way. The episode is a great window into the origins of psych rock and some of the mod and UK roots that influenced the band's style.

Today on Sonic Rendezvous, we're talking with David Luhrssen, managing editor of Shepherd Express. Prior to the current iteration of the magazine, Dave helped found X-Press, a fan zine focused on underground music and culture that would inevitably become this very publication. We talk about the genesis of the magazine, his travel history and how that helped him to discover new music that hadn't made its way to Milwaukee, and the various career turns that saw him move to the Milwaukee Journal before coming back to Shepherd Express.

On March 25, Milwaukee Rock Posters Radio Show will broadcast it’s 200th episode. Ron Faiola began the Milwaukee Rock Posters website as a digital collection for Milwaukee music ephemera, branching out to include a regular radio program hosted by Paul Host and Tim Noble as part of their Saturday afternoon show on WMSE 91.7. The 200th episode will feature music from the 2022 Lest We Forget concert that celebrated local music.

Faiola, Host and Noble are all veterans of Milwaukee’s music scene. In this Sonic Rendezvous, the trio dive into the rabbit holes where local music history continues to be uncovered.

Wanda Chrome & The Leather Pharaohs have maintained a healthy DIY philosophy for decades. From self-booked tours that included CBGBs to a handful of European treks to maintaining a South Side compound that is home to creatives, artisans and like-minded bands the Milwaukee trio’s philosophy could be boiled down to: Other bands talk about it, they do it. Marie and Cliff Ulsberger stopped by for a chat about life and rock and roll.

Capturing the history of a transformative era in Milwaukee’s music scene is no easy task. However, that is what Doug Lavalliere, Judy Simonds and Clancy Carroll set out to do in the creation of Taking The City By Storm, a documentary which explores Milwaukee music from roughly 1975 – 1985. Over 80 people were interviewed for the movie, spanning the genres of power pop to new wave, punk, glam and more. We talked about the years of production that went into the documentary, including compiling source materials that were sitting in basements and attics for decades and gathering interviews in a steaming hot Miramar Theatre. The film is screening at the Beloit Film Festival on February 26 and 27, as well as the Green Bay Film Festival on April 15th, but you can learn more about it here on Sonic Rendezvous.

Jack Koshick got his start in the music biz in NYC working with Caravan of Stars shows, in the aftermath of the payola. He later managed Badfinger during their tenure in Milwaukee. Taking over from Café Volaire in 1987 his Odd Rock Café on Kinnickinnic Avenue felt like a roadhouse with a CBGB pedigree. Scores of local bands played the room with the likes of Bo Diddley, The Feelies, Gene Clark, Johnny Thunders, GG Allin, Doug Sahm, Soundgarden and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.

Who else do you know who’s been on a first name base with Beatles, created Metal Fest and bar-hopped looking for karaoke with The Crusher? Barely slowing down, Koshick still works in promotion, as well as offering his experience to local a band that includes the next generation of Koshicks, Tigera.

With his imposing height Stanley Ryan Jones was an easily recognized figure in Milwaukee’s clubs during the Punk/NewWave era. The photographer captured enduring images of legends like Iggy Pop and Lenny Kaye, as well as local personalities like The Shivvers.

He moved on from photography to jumping from airplanes to fight wildfires out west, then returned to Milwaukee and and dove into mixed media then collages. Jones spoke with us recently about his adventures at punk hotel The Norman and run-ins with Elvis Costello’s goon squad.

Decades ago, a chance encounter in a record store in Liechtenstein set Mary Bartlein on a musical journey that continues to this day. A vagabond student with a Eurail pass, she made a point to stop in record stores in the cities she visited and asked what local music they recommended. At the hole-in-the-wall shop in Liechtenstein she was pointed to the music of Andreas Vollenweider, the Swiss harpist. Bartlein was intrigued by his take on instrumental music and it influenced her radio shows.

When genres like New Age, World, Ambient, Electronic, are tossed around, Bartlein simply calls it Instrumental Music. As a pioneering woman DJ, she has been on the Milwaukee airwaves for over 30 years. Her three-hour interview and music programs allow deep dives that artists dream of. She’s also worked behind the scenes at Milwaukee’s Bastille Days as well as festivals in New Orleans.

Julie Brandenburg’s enthusiasm for music has taken her from playing in bands to leading bands, and from writing string quartets to composing electronic music. Her early resume includes playing with Trance and Dance Band and Liquid Pink.

By the time she formed Trueheart Susie, Brandenburg had become something of an analog to Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe in that she selected players for the group from diverse musical personalities and gave them room to contribute. Some of them would move on to form groups of their own. Not unlike Monroe.

As an educator, she mentors her students. As a musician, she plays with Lost Tribes of the Moon and will soon release the solo album Aqua Vocalis.

Today on Sonic Rendezvous, Blaine Schultz sits down with Dr. Philp Naylor, a professor that teaches on the history of rock and roll at Marquette University, as well as David Luhrssen of Shepherd Express. Along with Bruce Cole, the trio worked on a book entitled Milwaukee Rock and Roll, 1950-2000: A Reflective History. Learn about some of the earliest iterations of rock and roll in Milwaukee, all the way up through the first wave of punk and post-punk music in the city in this fascinating discussion.