My First Band Podcast

In the eight-plus years Poliça has been a band, the synth-pop project has toured the world, released critically acclaimed albums that have been heard millions of times and further bolstered the already-sterling musical pedigree of their hometown of Minneapolis. Long before Poliça — an outfit Justin Vernon of Bon Iver once called "the best band [he's] ever heard" — was making incredible, innovative music, singer Channy Leaneagh was a young violinist agonizing over every mistake she made during recitals

At just 30, Noah Gundersen has accomplished more than most musicians do in a lifetime. The Seattle-based singer/songwriter has put out more than a dozen albums and EPs, which have been heard millions of times. His music has been featured on popular TV shows. And he's roved the planet to play concerts to passionate audiences. But long before he was an accomplished artist, Gundersen was a homeschooled kid from a religious family who tried to combat loneliness and boredom by teaching himself to play guitar.

You might know Andy Slania from ... actually, you probably don't know him because, when he takes the stage, he's simply known as The Eradicator. The Chicago hardcore band that's based on a 25-year-old sketch from The Kids In The Hall has quickly made a name for itself with hilarious and high-caliber shows and two great releases — plus an awesome new record that came out today. When he's not wearing a ski mask and clutching a squash racquet, Slania is a mild-mannered and pleasant guy with a ska-punk past.

Even if you don't know who Justin Perkins is, you're likely aware of his work. Perkins owns and operates Mystery Room Mastering, a Milwaukee-based business that masters a wide variety of Wisconsin (and Midwestern) releases, as well as albums from the likes of The Replacements, Bash & Pop, The Mr. T Experience and many other acts from all around the world. But long before he started that endeavor, he was a part of his own amazing musical projects, including The Obsoletes, Yesterday's Kids and The Screwballs.

William "B.J." Seidel is the owner of a celebrated beer-focused bar called Burnhearts, and he co-owns Goodkind, a nationally regarded fine dining restaurant. He's also the lead singer and guitarist of new Milwaukee supergroup Dramatic Lovers. However, most probably know Seidel best for his work in seminal Milwaukee groups like Camden, The Promise Ring and Decibully. Seidel has been a fixture in Milwaukee music since he moved to the city in the mid-'90s. But his musical journey actually starts much earlier.

Chris Sutter wanted a drum set. His father, however, decided to buy him an acoustic guitar and a book of AC/DC tabs instead. The future Meat Wave front man made the most of the situation by starting a nameless basement project in middle school, then a full-fledged band in high school. Graduation found new influences and collaborators coming Sutter's way, which brought on Truman & His Trophy — a band that led the suburban Chicago kid to the Windy City proper. Then along came Meat Wave.

If you don't know Them Coulee Boys yet, you will soon. The Eau-Claire-based bluegrass outfit just released its outstanding sophomore album, Die Happy, two weeks ago, and they're about to embark on a lengthy U.S. tour. Just days after the up-and-coming band put out its long-awaited record, Them Coulee Boys dropped by Turner Hall to play a one-off show in support of its new album. Before that concert, singer-guitarist Soren Staff was kind enough to talk about Die Happy and trying to make a career in music.

Though country fans know Ryan Necci as the singer and founding member of Buffalo Gospel, the bandleader got his start as a percussionist. In middle school, Necci played drums with a group called The Flying Monkeys, before covering Limp Bizkit (and writing some regrettable originals) in high school with a band called Bangkok. Then he played in a popular Wisconsin jam band called Fat Maw Rooney, which is where he started to sing and write songs — paving the way for the project that became Buffalo Gospel.

Technically, Chris Conley has only been in one band in his life — and what a band it is! In their 20-plus years, Saves The Day has released nine albums and made deeply influential music that helped define a genre. Before he was the lead singer of Saves The Day, Conley was a teenager in Princeton, New Jersey, who set aside his classical training in cello in favor of a guitar. While in middle school, Conley started a band known as Indifference, which was later called Sefler and, eventually, Saves The Day.

Even though SistaStrings released its debut EP this summer, its members have (quite literally) been playing music as long as they can remember. Siblings Monique and Chauntee Ross started playing string instruments before they were in grade school. As children in a church family who were also raised on classical music, they learned gospel and orchestral songs with two of their older sisters. In recent years, Monique and Chauntee decided to blend their varying areas of expertise to start SistaStrings.

You might know Nick Sanborn as one half of Sylvan Esso, from his time in Decibully or from his work in side projects like Made of Oak and Rosenau & Sanborn. Long before any of that, Sanborn was a kid in Madison, Wisconsin, who was involved in his school's orchestra before picking up a bass and starting a band. Since that start, he made his way to Milwaukee and quickly became a fixture in the city's music scene before branching out to be part of touring acts and developing his solo efforts.

22 – Sarah Vos (Dead Horses)

JP Harris is less than a year removed from putting out his third solo record, Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing. Born in Alabama, Harris moved to Las Vegas before leaving home at 14 to move to Oakland. From there, he spent time at an Arizona desert commune and rode the rails and hitchhiked across the nation before settling in a remote cabin without electricity in Vermont. There he fell in love with traditional Appalachian string music, setting the stage for the Flat Iron String Band and Harris' solo project.

Brett Newski has been called the "loudest acoustic act ever," and that might not be an overstatement. Since embarking on his solo project in his late 20s, the tireless troubadour has earned a reputation as one of the Midwest's hardest-working musicians. That approach has given Newski the opportunity to tour internationally and play shows in massive venues with acts like the Pixies, Violent Femmes and Manchester Orchestra. Along the way, he's also endured his fair share of hardships.

This week's guest is Sean Tillmann, a.k.a. Har Mar Superstar. The Minneapolis music legend has written songs with pop stars, made cameos in films and TV shows, and started a great new project called Heart Bones. Before any of that though, Tillmann was a kid with an insatiable passion for music. In this episode, Tillmann talks about his upbringing, renting VFW halls for shows in middle school, getting serious about music in high school and the unexpected turn of events that set Har Mar Superstar into motion.