On The Record

On Monday, July 29, we hosted the 5th annual Roast Of Milwaukee at Club Garibaldi. With the help of 88Nine on-air personality and the night's emcee, Dori Zori, we treated a packed house to some localized laughs from Eric Smith, Elijah Holbrook, Raegan Niemela, Mike Kobin, Gary Zajackowski, Amy Westrup, Jeff Spankowski, Drew Flagge, and a drop-in appearance from a special "celebrity" guest. As always, the jokes weren’t just at the expense of Milwaukee. A portion of the show’s proceeds will be donated to Milwaukee Women’s Center. If you missed to show (or if you just want to hear it again), you can stream it below. Thanks to all who performed, all who attended, and to Miller High Life for sponsoring this year's Roast. We'll see you next year!

Spread the word, ya friggin' turds. Ignoring the advice of pretty much everyone we asked, Milwaukee Record decided it would be a good idea to show MacGruber at Avalon Theater this month. As the January 23 screening approaches, we wanted to spend some time talking about the film, how it's a misunderstood masterpiece, and why people should set aside their perceptions of the low-grossing 2010 cult comedy and give it a shot. Joining host Tyler Maas in appreciating MacGruber is artist, one half of 88Nine's "CineBuds" show, and Milwaukee Film employee Kristopher Pollard. The pair recently met in a conference room at Milwaukee Film's gorgeous new offices to talk about how each of them happened upon this under-appreciated SNL film, what makes it one of the funniest (if not the funniest) comedy of this young century, and what lines and scenes stand out to them. Warning: there are some spoilers in the episode, but who cares?! Hopefully this long discussion about MacGruber will help encourage you to come out to Avalon Theater on Wednesday. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") Chicken Wire Empire ("Reckless (Recluse)").

The first On The Record episode of 2019 finds us catching up with a familiar friend. Frequent guest, longtime Milwaukee improviser, and local LGBTQ+ icon Jacob Bach came to our brand new office to help us break in our recording studio. Since the last time he was on the show, Bach has stepped away from comedy and his outdoor guide business to, instead, shift his focus to music. Later this month, Bach's new band (Neidhoefer) will put out its debut album, with the first public show slated for February 9. Before the project—which also features members of Wavy V, Population Control, Moth Light, and more in its ranks—formally introduces itself to Milwaukee, the frontman and founder of the "northwoods folk band" spoke to host Tyler Maas about his decision to take a break from improv, his mindset when he was immobile much of last year, and why music is the most vulnerable medium of expression. Along the way, Bach plays a song from the forthcoming album and, as expected, he and Maas go off on some strange tangents. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") Neidhoefer ("Lui/Moi").

Even though the Green Bay Packers still have two games left this year, the season is pretty much over. Last week's loss to the Chicago Bears mathematically eliminated Green Bay from playoff contention for the second consecutive season. Despite making the Pro Bowl, Aaron Rodgers hasn't looked himself lately. Mike McCarthy was fired earlier this month, and a few veteran players are surely on the way out as well. All things considered, it's been a tough year. Instead of bothering to look for more reasons to keep watching the 2018 Packers, we decided to devote a whole podcast episode to looking back at better times. Host Tyler Maas asked Rick Katschke—friend of the site, vintage commercial enthusiast, former Family Feud contestant, and longtime Packer backer—to come to his kitchen and talk about the '96 Packers squad that won Super Bowl XXXI. With a team photo nearby, they talked about each and every player on the team, memories of that historic season, and updates on where some of those Packers are today. If you want semi-informed discussion about the likes of Don Beebe, Lamont Hollinquest, and Bob Kuberski, you're in the right place. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") Flat Teeth ("Grenade").

Midway through its third season, This Is Us has quickly become one of network TV's biggest shows. The generation-jumping NBC drama has captured the hearts of millions, won a slew of accolades, earned heaps of critical acclaim, and inspired a handful of knockoffs on other channels. The show recently entered its fall break, and boy, do viewers have a lot to talk about! Though it has absolutely nothing to do with Milwaukee in any way, This Is Us devotee/On The Record host Tyler Maas asked Matt Mueller—an OnMilwaukee writer and This Is Us recapper—to meet him at Club Garibaldi for a lengthy, winding discussion about the show. There, they talked about their introductions to the program, what they've thought about this chaotic and busy first half of the third season, things they like and dislike about This Is Us, and characters they want to see more (or less) of in the next eight episodes. They also make some very specific predictions about where the series is headed. Warning: there are tons of spoilers, so if you're not caught up, maybe sit this one out. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") The Zach Pietrini Band ("I'll Write You").

Brown Deer, Wisconsin native and realistic Packers fan Gareth Reynolds is best known as the co-host of The Dollop, a popular American history podcast that has landed him a book deal and has brought him to perform in places like Iceland, Australia, and throughout the United States. On top of being a world-renowned podcast personality, as well as a writer (Arrested Development, You're The Worst) and actor (New Girl, Maron), Reynolds regularly tours as a stand-up comedian. Last week, we hosted a special homecoming appearance for Reynolds at Club Garibaldi. Prior to that sold-out show, the comedian sat down with host Tyler Maas to catch him up on everything he's been up to since the last time he was on the podcast. Within that 18-month span, Reynolds co-wrote a book, toured Iceland and Australia, wrote for two beloved TV comedies, and landed a few more acting roles. He spoke about his show's international popularity, the differences between the Arrested Development and You're The Worst writers' rooms, how he got a part on New Girl, and what he'll be working on next. They pair also talked about the Packers, and Maas accidentally predicted Mike McCarthy's firing. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Saebra & Carlyle ("Rabbit Hole").

This week's guest is Wisconsin Bike Fed youth programs manager Jake Newborn. Thanks in large part to the work Newborn and his colleagues do at the Bike Fed, it has arguably never been a better time to ride a bicycle in Milwaukee. There are more dedicated bike lanes than ever, new legislation being passed to protect cyclists and pedestrians alike, and there's a bunch of unique bike-centered events that bring riders together all year long. Perhaps the most notable Bike Fed-affiliated undertaking is the Santa Cycle Rampage, which brings hundreds of Claus-clad riders to local bike lanes every December. Prior to this year's Rampage (scheduled to take place Saturday, December 1), host Tyler Maas met up with Newborn at the Bike Fed's Milwaukee office in Silver City. There, they spoke about the upcoming Santa Rampage, the variety of other events and services the organization offers, ways the city and state must improve for riders, and non-Fed-fueled things like Riverwest 24 and the Bike-In Movie series that help make Milwaukee an altogether special place for cyclists. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Vinz Clortho ("Endless Road").

This week's guest is one for the ages! Host and lifelong Packer fan Tyler Maas was fortunate enough to get half an hour of LeRoy Butler's time to talk about the All-Pro safety and Green Bay legend's storied career. The Pro-Bowler and Packers Hall Of Famer told Maas about playing under Bobby Bowden at Florida State, being drafted by the perennially pitiful Pack in 1990, memories from Green Bay's unforgettable Super Bowl XXXI-winning season in 1996, and his historic first "Lambeau Leap" 25 years ago. Along the way, Butler talked about the work his foundation does to combat bullying, his upcoming wedding (which is open to the public, by the way), and whether he thinks induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame might be in his future. Oh, and players like Jeff Thomason and Ron Cox come up in conversation, too!

Half a century after his death in a North Vietnamese prison camp following horrific injuries, unimaginable hardship, and unspeakable torture, United States Air Force Captain Lance P. Sijan’s name and heroics are still as remarkable and important as they were in 1968. For those who knew the Milwaukee native and Medal of Honor recipient during his brief-but-brilliant life, the love and legacy he left behind are just as special as his bravery in battle. Thanks to the tireless efforts of his little sister, Lance's life, his accomplishments, his courage, his resilience, and his message all live on to inform and inspire future generations—both in Milwaukee and throughout the world. Janine Sijan Rozina has been present at many dedication ceremonies and has been the honorary recipient of many of her sibling’s awards and accolades through the years. Around 10 years ago, she decided to "become very proactive in maintaining his legacy." Since then, Sijan Rozina has been working on a documentary about Lance. Sijan has been in production for six years. On Tuesday, the documentary about the local hero will have its world premiere at Oriental Theatre, as part of the Milwaukee Film Festival. Before the October 23 debut (and subsequent screenings at Avalon Theater on October 28 and Oriental Theatre on October 30), Sijan Rozina got together with host Tyler Maas to talk about her big brother, expand on things Maas touched upon in his July 4 profile about Lance, and discuss the process of making Sijan. Visit LanceSijan.com for more information on Sijan and to learn more about Capt. Lance P. Sijan.

From Thursday, October 18 through Thursday, November 1, the 2018 Milwaukee Film Festival will transform this old black-and-white town into a glowing Technicolor dream. (Not that there's anything wrong with black and white films, of course.) More than 300 films will light up the screens of the Oriental Theatre, Avalon Theater, Times Cinema, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, and the new Jan Serr Studio Cinema (located inside the Kenilworth Building). Dozens of filmmakers and special guests will hobnob with the hobnobbers. Oodles of events will keep the city in a tizzy. We'll host a horror-movie-themed axe-throwing party at AXE MKE. You're welcome. In preparation for the fest, host Matt Wild and fellow film buffs Maggie Iken and Mack Bates sat down to talk all things MFF2018. Can't-miss films, can't-miss events, and Matt's long-lost student film, Super Hot Dog Man (featuring Bates as God), were all discussed. As always, this episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Amanda Huff ("Gravetalking").

Though sports is always a relevant topic (especially in Wisconsin), each autumn seems to bring about a competitive crescendo of sorts. But it's never been quite like this. The Brewers are in the NLCS and have their sights set on the World Series. Next week, the Bucks will start the 2018-19 season with a new arena, a new coach, and the Eastern Conference's best player. The Packers are, um, trying to figure it out after five inconsistent games. Ramie Makhlouf—co-host of "The Big Show" on 105.7 The Fan—is familiar with all this. The sports talk radio personality and stand-up comedian returned to Milwaukee Record headquarters to tell host Tyler Maas his thoughts on the Brew Crew's playoff chances, make some predictions for the Bucks' upcoming campaign, and to tell Packers fans to "chill the fuck out." Along the way, Makhlouf and Maas talk about the bad baseball team they both play on and they try to pronounce the name "Equanimeous St. Brown." This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Vinz Clortho ("Endless Road").

After yet another long, fun, and exhausting summer of entertainment in Milwaukee, fall has come. Historically, autumn's arrival has been a time in which things slow down in the city, as residents retreat inside and prepare from another harsh and uneventful winter. However, recent years have brought an uptick in post-summer events, including new festivals like Beet Street, Abby Jeanne's Cosmic Weekend, and Fuel Cafe's Doomsday event. That's not even counting the countless concerts, comedy shows, film screenings, and random one-off events taking place between now and late December. To help find the best, weirdest, and most interesting events taking place in Milwaukee this fall, host Tyler Maas enlisted the expertise of Milwaukee Magazine and Shepherd Express music writer Kevin Mueller. From his dining room, Mueller and Maas ran through some standout shows, talked about the handful of autumn festivals happening in the city, weighed the appeal of Napoleon Dynamite and Jake "The Snake" Roberts live shows, and talked about the odd pairing of punk rock and craft beer at Burnhearts' annual Punk House Kegger. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Join Surly at Somerset Amphitheater for the brewery's annual Darkness Day on Saturday, September 29. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Slow Walker ("Ride").

This week's On The Record is a rare out-of-town episode that features an extra special guest. Host Tyler Maas traveled to Madison to spend some time chatting with the incomparable Brooks Wheelan. The accomplished comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member, and Iowa native took some time before his pair of shows at Comedy On State last Friday to tell Maas about his Midwestern roots, his love of Madison (and other experiences in Wisconsin), his stressful stint on SNL, themes his new material touches on, and his awesome Entry Level podcast. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Join Surly at Somerset Amphitheater for the brewery’s annual Darkness Day on Saturday, September 29. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and WORK ("As It Turns Out, He Didn't Actually Have Tuberculosis").

Since starting in 2008, Mondo Lucha! has brought high-flying wrestling action, burlesque dancers, and live music to its annual Turner Hall showcase. Along the way, the variety show has managed to work with renowned pro wrestlers, sell out numerous shows, and become a must-attend Milwaukee event. Just how big has Mondo Lucha! become? This year's 10th Anniversary Spectacular sold out within a month of being announced, despite there being absolutely zero information about who'd be wrestling and who would be playing (at least until this week) at Turner Hall on September 7. Even without any details, the show sells itself. Prior to the 10th Anniversary, host Tyler Maas joined Mondo Lucha! founders Andrew Gorzalski and Jay Gilkay to talk about the incomparable show's origin, standout moments from its decade-long run, some behind-the-scenes anecdotes, what's planned for this year's Spectacular, and where the show is headed. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Join Surly at Somerset Amphitheater for the brewery's annual Darkness Day on Saturday, September 29. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Indonesian Junk ("When I Find You").

Back in 2015, we decided to help informally kick off the Milwaukee Comedy Festival by asking eight comedians to take the stage at Bremen Cafe and gently (or, in some cases, straight-up viciously) make fun of the city they love in our inaugural Roast Of Milwaukee event. Following the wonderful response to those verbal punches thrown in the direction of Milwaukee, we decided to do it again with an even bigger and better event at Club Garibaldi the following year. Then a standing-room-only affair last August. Since there's no shortage of material about Milwaukee out there, we figured we'd do it again. On Monday, July 30, a sold-out crowd at Club Garibaldi enjoyed a ton of jokes, plenty of jabs, and unofficially kicked off the Milwaukee Comedy Festival at the 4th annual Roast Of Milwaukee. Comedians Dana Ehrmann, Patrick Tomlinson, Matt Werner, Carter Deems, Jeff Wheatley-Heckman, and Kaitlin McCarthy all lambasted the city (and each other). Milwaukee Comedy Festival founder Matt Kemple and other media personalities—including Ramie Makhlouf (105.7 The Fan), Tarik Moody (88Nine Radio Milwaukee) and host Jon Adler (FM 102.1)—joined in on the biting-but-loving roasting action. Oh, and we raised a bunch of money for the Milwaukee Women's Center in the process. King Eye & The Squirts, meanwhile, blew the house down (and somehow offended one or two people in attendance) before the show. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Join Surly at Somerset Amphitheater for the brewery's annual Darkness Day on Saturday, September 29. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of King Eye & The Squirts ("Squirm," "When The Sun Goes Down").

Originating long before the city had anything even resembling a sustainable comedy community, Milwaukee Comedy Festival has grown and evolved in kind with Milwaukee's humor scene. From August 1-5, the Milwaukee-curated undertaking will offer an eclectic blend of stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy in its 13th year. In addition to the festival itself, which boasts the likes of Colin Quinn and the Lady Parts Justice League, there are also some pre-MCF kickoff shows (including our Roast Of Milwaukee event). Before the fun kicks off, host Tyler Maas went to The Underground Collaborative—the site of the vast majority of the weekend's shows—to talk about all things Milwaukee Comedy Festival with founder Matt Kemple, along with co-producers Kaitlin McCarthy and Greg Bach. Together, they discussed the festival's origin, ways it's grown and evolved through the years, what to expect at the 2018 Milwaukee Comedy Festival, and how they (through their work at Milwaukee Comedy) are working to improve stand-up in the city all year long. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Join Surly at Somerset Amphitheater for the brewery's annual Darkness Day on Saturday, September 29. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Amanda Huff ("Gravetalking").

This isn't our first podcast about beer and it probably won't be the last. The reason for the topic repetition is simple: Milwaukee brewing is continuing to grow, change, evolve, and improve. Recently, Milwaukee's reputation as "Brew City" has been bolstered with a steady string of new breweries, taproom expansions and relocations, limited bottle releases, increased acceptance from local consumers and area businesses alike, interesting collaborations, and unique events happening all around town. There's still work to be done and lots of room to grow, but Brew City is on the rise once again. It's impossible to keep tabs on everything happening in and around the realm of Milwaukee brewing, but Kathy Flanigan does one hell of a job trying to keep up. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter and author of Beer Lover's Wisconsin has been on the front lines of the city's (and state's) recent brewery boom and has spent years on the beer beat. She took time away from the newsroom—and the taproom—to meet host Tyler Maas at Company Brewing. They shared a few pints and some thoughts on the burgeoning beer scene in Milwaukee. Together, they talked about the rapid growth, the so-called "brewery bubble" that may or may not be on the verge of bursting, newcomers like Component and Vennture, how Milwaukee's breweries stack up against others in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest, and some things happening during the upcoming Drink Brew City Week (July 26 to August 5). This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Soup Moat ("Navel Gaze").

Summer is here! Yes, today officially marks the first day of the best season in the best city for festival fun. Milwaukee earns its "City of Festivals" nickname every summer with dozens upon dozens of block parties, outdoor celebrations, weekly concert series, and a myriad of other events ending with "fest." All the while, traditional venues are still hosting great concerts and comedy shows with regularity. It's tough to keep a handle on everything happening between mid-June and the end of September, but dammit if we won't try. In the waning hours of spring, host Tyler Maas invited WMSE radio personality Sid McCain (aka Squid Inc.) to the sweltering Milwaukee Record office to discuss how Milwaukee summers differ from those in the various other North American places she's called home, what festivals are their personal favorites, events they're especially excited for, things their media companies are doing, and Warped Tour. Yes, a ton of things were missed, but this is a pretty good start! This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Paper Holland ("Milpool").

For readers of a certain age and sensibility, Edgar Cantero‘s Meddling Kids will go down as easy as a bowl of sugar-coated cereal on a Saturday morning. In the summer of 1977, a group of Scooby-Doo-esque teen detectives—Andy, Peter, Kerri, Nate, trusty dog Sean—crack their biggest mystery yet, exposing the infamous Sleepy Lake monster for what it really is: a guy in a mask trying to get his hands on the treasures buried beneath old Deboën Mansion. But something doesn't sit right; thirteen years later, the so-called Blyton Summer Detective Club reforms to put to rest lingering doubts about the case. Lovecraftian horror, pop culture panache, and slapstick set pieces all figure into an animated romp about growing up, letting go, and the inherent dangers of the Necronomicon. During his recent tour to promote the paperback release of Meddling Kids, Cantero stopped by Boswell Book Company for an "in conversation" event with Milwaukee Record's Matt Wild. The two talked the genesis of the book, its "double-nostalgic" time period, how Scooby-Doo would have looked different if the gang had taken on human traffickers, and much more. A huge thanks to Cantero, Boswell's Daniel Goldin, and everyone who came out for the talk. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Paper Holland ("Milpool").

The way Milwaukee—and Wisconsin as a whole—prepares and appreciates food has evolved in countless ways over the last decade. Few (if any) people have had a closer, better, or higher resolution view of the state's all-encompassing culinary growth and improvement than Arthur Ircink. As owner, executive producer, and director of Wisconsin Foodie, Ircink has been instrumental in documenting much of that dining development over the course of 10 seasons of his Emmy-winning TV series. Along the way, he became co-owner, publisher, and editor in chief of Edible Milwaukee, which gives his ardent food appreciation another platform to be displayed. With an 11th season of Wisconsin Foodie on the way, a new issue of Edible Milwaukee set to be released this week, and local dining showing no signs of slowing down, Ircink has no shortage of work ahead of him. However, he took some time out of his schedule to welcome host Tyler Maas into his production office to have a beer and talk about just some of the astounding things going on in Milwaukee cuisine. Ircink talked about his foray into a life in food, how the term "foodie" has changed since starting the program, some standout local chefs and restaurants, where both Milwaukee and Wisconsin dining are headed, and his love of gas station Mexican food. This episode is brought to you by Bofferding—Milwaukee's new favorite import—and Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Paper Holland ("Milpool").

If you read Milwaukee Record with any regularity, you're likely familiar with the name Lucky Tomaszek. Our resident MKE SEX columnist is better known as the Education Coordinator at The Tool Shed, "An Erotic Boutique" that's become an East Side staple and Midwestern mainstay since opening in 2004. On top of its wide array of offerings, Tool Shed is Milwaukee's only mission-driven, education-focused sex toy store. Tomaszek is a large parts of what helps set the sex shop apart from the rest. After taking host Tyler Maas on a tour of the store, Tomaszek sat down with him to discuss Tool Shed's inventory, kinks, gender identity, sexuality, consent, and misconceptions both customers and society as a whole have. They also talked about PrideFest, which will feature The Tool Shed workshops and presentations, along with a variety of music, comedy, and dance parties hosted by Milwaukee Record over the course of the weekend. This episode is brought to you by PrideFest—coming to Henry Maier Festival Park June 7-10—and Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Tigernite ("Remember").

While you might not know Erik Stolhanske by name alone, you're surely aware of his work with Broken Lizard. The comedy troupe—of which Stolhanske is one-fifth—is responsible for such cult comedy classics as Super Troopers, Beerfest, Club Dread, and The Slammin' Salmon. A few weeks after the release of Super Troopers 2, Stolhanske came to Milwaukee to perform at Turner Hall. Prior to his show, Stolhanske met host Tyler Maas in a hotel lobby to discuss his latest film, the inner workings of Broken Lizard, memorable moments from set, and his Midwestern roots. The actor and comedian also opened up about growing up with a wooden leg, how his childhood obstacle helped develop his personality and inform his sense of humor, and how everyone has their own "wooden leg" to overcome. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Slow Walker ("Shades Of Ganymede").

Last year, Andy Nelson left a public relations dream job with Pabst Theater Group for a far less glamorous and much more challenging position as the Media Manager with Milwaukee Public Schools. Nelson transitioned from a career that allowed him to hang with celebrities and market Milwaukee entertainment to his current position out of a sense of duty and a desire to bring positive change to his community. He has his work cut out for him, but his efforts and the work of so many others is starting to show itself in a school system that's dealing with student poverty and homelessness, a lack of positive awareness, and segregation. Nelson came to Milwaukee Record headquarters and talked to host Tyler Maas about his decision to leave his job of 10 years, specific challenges he faces in his new career, great new programs being implemented, and why he feels MPS is a reflection of Milwaukee as a whole. They also talked about the inaugural All-City Arts Festival, which will showcase the talents of more than 8,000 MPS students at the Henry Maier Festival Grounds from March 9-11. This episode is brought to you by PrideFest—coming to Henry Maier Festival Park June 7-10—and Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue”") and 16-year-old MPS student Shaddye ("Sincerely Youth").

Jacob Bach is no stranger to this podcast. The Milwaukee improvisor and friend of the site has a few On The Record appearances under his belt, but the repeat guest has kept a pretty quiet profile lately. Over the last year or so, Bach ended his great Yeah, Bro! podcast, threw himself into improv, and started an outdoor adventure service called Good Land Guides. Amid all the life changes, he broke his foot in a climbing accident. Bach wheeled into a ComedySportz theater last week, where he met host Tyler Maas for a long-overdue return to the podcast. There, they talked about how Bach is handling the limitations of the injury, what Good Land Guides provides (or will provide again when he's better in a couple months), new comedy projects he's planning, and what he's looking forward to seeing at PrideFest. Of course, Bach and Maas go on weird tangents, do voices and bits, and have some fun in the process. This episode is brought to you by PrideFest—coming to Henry Maier Festival Park June 7-10—and Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Greatest Lakes ("Forest").

Since beginning as a joke among friends who realized Milwaukee's 414 area code had a striking resemblance to the numerals in April 14 (or 4/14), "Milwaukee Day" has turned into a full-fledged holiday. In the eight or nine years—the organizers don't recall—after its origin, the unlikely holiday has resulted in an official mayoral proclamation, a founder getting to throw out a first pitch before a Brewers game, an abundance of civic-centered specials offered by area businesses, a formidable hashtag, a cameo on Jeopardy!, and the inspiration for a beer. The citywide celebration also offers its fair share of entertainment options. This year is no different, with dozens of concerts, comedy shows, art openings, film screenings, and even a gaming festival lined up this Saturday. To help prepare you for this year's Milwaukee Day festivities, host Tyler Maas asked the holiday's co-founder, Andy Silverman, to join him at Milwaukee Record headquarters. They were met by Rebecca Ottman, the Director of Marketing at UW-Milwaukee's Peck School Of The Arts. There, the trio talked about Milwaukee Day's unexpected rise to prominence, the April 14 events they're looking forward to (including Peck's Kenilworth Open Studios), and why there's nothing quite like this holiday anywhere else. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Greatest Lakes ("Forest").

Milwaukee's festival season is just around the corner, which means visitors will be swinging by the city to take in the sights, attractions, drinks and dining delicacies, and all the amenities that help make this a special place. For many of those visitors, Visit Milwaukee is a trusted gateway to what the region has to offer. Since it focuses on an out-of-town audience, Visit might be a mystery to many locals. A few days after the tourist organization debuted its new and improved website, host Tyler Maas invited Visit Milwaukee communications manager Claire Koenig back to Milwaukee Record headquarters to discuss exactly what Visit does, why it's important, what she loves about Milwaukee, and ways the city's identity has changed recently (and continues to today). They also take a tour of the new Visit Milwaukee site. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Try Surly’s new reduced-gluten Hopshifter IPA now. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Daydream Retrievers ("New Parade").

After trudging through yet another long, unforgiving, and somewhat boring Wisconsin winter, spring has arrived. Along with the increased sunlight and climbing temperatures, a wealth of great shows are headed Milwaukee's way this season. Between the end of March and mid-June, the city's entertainment calendar is brimming with a mess of local release shows, comedians, touring musicians, and the first festivals of the year. To help find the best, weirdest, and most interesting events taking place in Milwaukee this spring, host Tyler Maas enlisted the expertise of Milwaukee Magazine and Shepherd Express music writer Kevin Mueller. From his dining room, Mueller (a proud new papa) and Maas ran through some standout shows, talked about the increase in spring festivals in the city, pondered why popular bands are playing in small venues these days, and debated how to correctly pronounce Ty Segall's name. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Try Surly’s new reduced-gluten Hopshifter IPA now. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Slow Walker ("Ride").

The "Phobruary" fun (phon?) in Silver City is over, but there are lots of other things that help this neighborhood stand out all year long. This segment of town, along with adjoining neighborhoods of Layton Park and Burnham Park, is regarded as the most racially diverse and densely populated part of Milwaukee. Those distinctions are shown in the wide array of excellent restaurants, the variety of businesses in the neighborhood, and the community that's growing progressively closer despite having no singular shared language. Though there's so much to say about Silver City and its nearby neighborhoods, few people are telling its story. Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (aka LBWN) is trying to spread the good word of what's happening in Silver City, Layton Park, and Burnham Park. The organization champions this unsung section of town, encourages commercial growth, and attempts to foster a sense of community in the region. Host Tyler Maas recently went to LBWN headquarters, where staffers Gisela Ortega and Celia Benton told him about what makes Silver City special, issues and assets that are unique to the area, and ways the neighborhoods they serve are developing and improving. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Try Surly’s new reduced-gluten Hopshifter IPA now. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and a Silver City Studios-recorded song by Surgeons In Heat ("Why'd You Start?").

Reggie "The Crusher" Lisowski is known as "The Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous." Over the course of his 40-year professional wrestling career, the South Milwaukee native and World War II vet was the pride of a region, an influence to untold numbers of aspiring wrestlers, and a WCW Hall of Famer with a heft of title belts to his name. If Chris Smith has it his way, The Crusher (who died in 2005) will also be honored with a statue in his hometown. Smith—an Oak Creek resident and wrestling fan—recently launched a campaign to pay tribute to Lisowski by building a full-size bronze statue in downtown South Milwaukee in 2019. In only a couple of months, 'Da Crusher Statue Memorial Fund has raised more than $33,000 of its $40,000 goal. Days after a Crusher event at The Vanguard, Smith joined Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to discuss his motivation for this endeavor, The Crusher's local significance, statue specifics, and upcoming events to continue to make his dream a reality. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Try Surly's new reduced-gluten Hopshifter IPA now. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Novas ("The Crusher"). Subscribe to On The Record via iTunes or Stitcher (for free!).

Believe it or not, baseball season is just around the corner. Milwaukee Brewers pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training today, and Opening Day is just over six weeks out. After one of the most exciting winters in franchise history and with expectations building around the young team, there's a lot to talk about. Kyle Lobner covers the Brewers and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for a variety of publications (including this one), the T-Rats official site, and his daily "Frosty Mug" round-up on his Twitter account every weekday. Before boarding a plane to Florida, Lobner joined Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about Milwaukee's busy offseason, needs that must be addressed before the regular season, the drastic improvement of the team's minor league system, and the sport's economic flaws. They also reminisced about going to minor league games together and dredged up some forgotten prospects from Brewers past (anyone remember Brad Nelson and Eric Arnett?). It should be noted that this episode was recorded before Milwaukee signed Wade Miley to a minor league deal. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Platinum Boys ("We Don't Dance (Anymore)"). 

If you go to enough local comedy shows, you're bound to encounter Tyler Menz. The Milwaukee comedian has been kicking around stages throughout the Midwest for six years, and his material is beginning to spread to larger audiences in more and more places throughout the country. Fresh off his run of shows in support of the legendary Todd Barry, Menz met host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters. There, they talked about how something Maas wrote once got the similarly named Menz banned from a local comedy club, the evolution of local stand-up, Menz's new podcast about bombing called "Eating It," and his worst show experiences. This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Intro and outro music comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Kiss Critique ("Prom").

Our apologies for the delay between episodes! Other than taking some time off for the holidays, we've been busy putting the finishing touches on our annual Local Coverage benefit concert. This year's show (Friday, January 19 at Turner Hall) will feature a diverse blend of eight Milwaukee acts covering each other to raise money for a local organization. That organization is the Milwaukee Women's Center. Since 1980, Milwaukee Women's Center has provided services and treatment for women, children, and (recently) men dealing with domestic violence, addiction, mental health issues, and poverty. Before Friday's show, host Tyler Maas went to Community Advocates (the Women's Center's parent organization) to speak with CEO Andi Mallmann-Elliott about the services the Women's Center provides, what their various programs strive to accomplish, and ways people can help. Call 414-671-6140 to speak to a domestic abuse crisis counselor. If you wish to donate to the center or volunteer, call 414-270-2984 or visit the Milwaukee Women's Center website. Community Advocates employees will also be at Local Coverage to field questions and distribute more information.

Twenty-seventeen was, well, it was a year. So let’s talk about it, or at least let’s talk about the things we actually liked about it. For this year's end-of-the-year recap, Milwaukee Record's Matt Wild, Tyler Maas, and Josh Hoppert chat about their favorite Milwaukee albums of 2017, reminisce about their favorite Milwaukee Record stories of 2017, and look ahead to what they'll be up to in 2018. Unusually large Gatorade displays, Corey Feldman dental mishaps, haunted cigar bars that aren’t really haunted, and Andrew W.K. shopping sprees are all included. Plus, a lot of great, great music.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens December 15. 'Nuff said. Two years after sitting down and talking about the impending release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rob Wieland, John Revord, and host Matt Wild once again shoot first the shit about a galaxy far, far away. And there's a lot to shoot the shit about: What did everyone think of TFA? How about Rogue One? What's the deal with the Han Solo movie and the new, non-Skywalker trilogy? And, most importantly, HOLY SHIT THE LAST JEDI IS GOING TO BE AMAZING, ISN'T IT? THANK YOU RIAN THANK YOU! AHHHHHHH! Matt also finally finds out what a "Mary Sue" is.

Oh my gosh! Charlie Berens is the guest on this week's podcast. Last fall, the Los Angeles (by way of Elm Grove, Wisconsin) actor, writer, and Emmy-winning host first made his mark with viral voiceover videos imagining what it'd be like if Titanic's Jack Dawson and Bane from Batman hailed from Wisconsin. More recently, Berens rose to regional notoriety as the host of Manitowoc Minute. Through about 20 episodes, the weekly Wisconsin-influenced news segment has garnered millions of views on YouTube and Facebook. While back in his home state for a run of performances (including a pair of sell-out shows at Turner Hall), Berens met host Tyler Maas at the Cactus Club to discuss the origin of the character that's quickly struck a chord in his home state, his path to L.A., where he hopes to bring the segment, and the care he puts into the 90 seconds of northwoods-accented perspective he puts into the world each week. Before episode's end, Berens also makes a bold prediction about the Packers. If you like the Manitowoc Minute, you'll love the 50-some minutes we spent getting to know the man behind "The Minute."

Though sports is always a relevant topic (especially in Wisconsin), each autumn seems to bring about a competitive crescendo of sorts. Not even counting NCAA football and basketball, the local sports world is booming with activity. The Packers are weathering the storm following Aaron Rodgers’ injury. The Bucks (and Herd) season is underway. After a surprisingly competitive season, a promising young Brewers squad is gearing up for Winter Meetings. There’s a lot to talk about. Ramie Makhlouf—co-host of “The Big Show” on 105.7 The Fan—is familiar with all this. The sports talk radio personality and stand-up comedian returned to Milwaukee Record headquarters to tell host Tyler Maas his thoughts on the Brew Crew’s offseason plans, what the final five games (and beyond) hold for the Pack, and whether the Bucks are on the path to Eastern Conference dominance. They also talked about Makhlouf’s allegiance to Illinois sports teams, the ever-changing landscape of sports media, and 105.7’s annual Toy Drive (which runs through Friday).

Occasionally, we decide to bring ye olde On The Record to the public by booking variety shows at bars or other performance venues. We strive to offer something for all tastes, with a blend of music, comedy, and general interest guests. On Thursday, November 9, we convened at Mojo Dojo (inside Urban Harvest Brewing Company) to talk to husband and wife synth-pop duo Golden Coins about their ongoing attempt to adopt a child, Liz Smith and Kari Houghtaling about their two-woman Home Alone remake, and Milwaukee writer Caleb Westphal about all things fish fry. Golden Coins performed a few songs, and we surprised Milwaukee Record Director of Advertising Josh Hoppert with some questions about being the former largest baby in Waukesha County. Fun!

The state of craft beer in Wisconsin is rapidly changing and steadily improving. At this point, it's impossible to document everything that's happening in Milwaukee brewing and in the other microbreweries spread throughout the state. That didn't stop Matthew Janzen from trying. The author and photographer took his interest in beer to the next level when he quit his job and took it upon himself to visit dozens of breweries, fields, and other facilities that work in concert to shape the reputation of Wisconsin brewing. Janzen combined the images, interviews, and information he collected into his first book, State Of Craft Beer. Between stops on his book tour of Wisconsin libraries, Janzen came to Milwaukee Record headquarters to talk about what led to his decision to take on the daunting task of capturing the story of the state's brewing scene, ways things have changed since the book's release, the economic impact beer has in Wisconsin, and what's next for him. Music comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Ravi/Lola ("Teach Her").

Brian Butch's basketball career started in the Fox Valley. After the Appleton West High School standout was selected as a McDonald's All-American alongside the likes of LeBron James and Chris Paul, he attended the University of Wisconsin and was an instrumental part of a Badgers team that made tournament runs and was at one point ranked number one in the country. Following his impressive collegiate career, Butch played internationally in Japan, China, Greece, Dubai, and the Philippines, as well as the NBA's D-League (now called "NBA G-League") during his 10-year professional basketball career. Butch's latest stop brings him back to the region where it all began, this time as a coach. The Wisconsin-born big man recently accepted a position on the coaching staff of the Wisconsin Herd, a G-League expansion team and Milwaukee Bucks affiliate franchise based in Oshkosh. Milwaukee Record's Tyler Maas made the drive to Oshkosh and met up with Butch at Herd facilities. There, Maas—who grew up one town away from Butch and graduated the same year—asked the highly touted prep player about the pressure he faced in high school, what it was like to be a Badger, how he adjusted to playing internationally, the misconceptions people have about the G-League, and what fans can expect during the Herd's inaugural season.

As far as career options go, professional video game player sits somewhere between food tester and sleep study participant. Unthinkable as it is, one Milwaukee man has managed to make an occupation out of gaming with the help of a charismatic puppet he made out of an old Super Nintendo. Joe Vella got his start in entertainment as a performer (and eventually a teacher) at ComedySportz. Two years ago, he combined his love of improv, gaming, and Mystery Science Theater 3000 into BizSNES. As one of Twitch's first, and one of the gaming platform's most popular character streamers, Vella's sole income comes from recording himself (and his plastic puppet) playing video games and streaming it online. Prior to taking part in a character streamer panel at TwitchCon, and before his upcoming move to the Twitch hotbed that is Seattle, Vella joined host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record headquarters to expand on their recent discussion about the professional gamer and all-around entertainer's foray into his unique occupation, the challenges and misconceptions he faces, how his comic background informs his viewer interactions, and what's to come from BizSNES.

Hey! Today is the first day of the 2017 Milwaukee Film Festival! From September 28 through October 12, the ninth annual fest will light up the screens of the Oriental Theatre, Downer Theatre, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, Times Cinema, and Avalon Theater with one of its strongest lineups yet. Need help navigating that lineup? Of course you do. For this freewheeling MFF2017 preview, hosts Matt Wild and Tyler Maas are joined by OnMilwaukee film, TV, and culture critic Matt Mueller to discuss their personal festival picks, the state of Milwaukee cinema, the future of Milwaukee Film, and more. Mueller gives the group a taste of his panel discussion (with Dr. Susan Kerns) on September 30, Wild makes a case for the life-affirming Stop Making Sense dance party, and Tyler keeps bringing up Eddie Murphy's Norbit for some reason.

On Friday, Black Bear Bottling will close permanently. The Oak Creek-based soft drink company has been in business for 90 years, and its closure will put more than 70 people out of a job. Black Bear's demise will also leave Wisconsin without the beloved Black Bear Soda brand, as well as a few other beverages the plant was contracted to manufacture. While the loss of Black Bear is unfortunate, both metro Milwaukee and Wisconsin as a whole still boast a number of delicious soft drinks. In honor of Black Bear, Milwaukee Record's Tyler Maas and Josh Hoppert took a sugar-fueled tour of the state's vast soft drink collection by tasting a bunch of area sodas. Between sips and increasingly-hyper evaluations, they discuss the role soda played in their upbringing, why people call it "pop," and whether they think that rumor about Yellow 5 is true. This episode is brought to you by Surly, a Minnesota-based brewery and the official beer of On The Record. Music comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Ravi/Lola ("Teach Her").

The new season of Twin Peaks—a.k.a. Twin Peaks: The Return, Twin Peaks Season 3, or just "new Twin Peaks"—wrapped up earlier this week, and even though Twin Peaks has absolutely nothing to do with Milwaukee, let's just talk about it anyway. Host Matt Wild is joined by fellow Peaks freaks Evan Rytlewski and Erin Frank to unpack and puzzle through David Lynch and Mark Frost's unexpected, oft-riveting, oft-frustrating revival of their cult '90s TV show. How did Rytlewski, Frank, and Wild originally discover Twin Peaks? What did they make of the grim prequel film, Fire Walk With Me? What were they expecting from The Return? What did they make of the divisive finale? And, above all, which one of them has attended a Twin Peaks fan festival? Grab some coffee, kiss Sonny Jim goodnight, and prepare for a yrev, very good time. (Spoilers throughout.) This episode is brought to you by Surly Brewing, who is giving back in various locally focused ways with the brewery's "Surly Gives A Damn" initiative. Music comes courtesy of Piles ("Blue Glue") and Blonder ("Fall Leaves").

There's no shortage of new shit headed Milwaukee's way. It seems as if a new multi-use apartment complex is announced every month, and just as many craft breweries are popping up as well. The populace is embroiled in heated debates about the forthcoming streetcar, public art projects, and the partially completed Bucks arena—at least when we aren't pondering whether the city's East Side is dying or merely changing. Meanwhile, local dining and music have never been better, yet the city is still dealing with rampant segregation and is struggling to retain young residents. With Milwaukee trying to preserve its past, tend to the present, and plan for the future, it can be hard to keep up. In an effort to get up to date on all the new shit that's happening in town and learn more about the impact those changes could have on residents, host Tyler Maas invited Dan Shafer to Milwaukee Record headquarters to run through a variety of topics. Just days before he was set to leave the city to take a position with Seattle Business Magazine, the accomplished former Milwaukee Business Journal reporter and Milwaukee Magazine digital editor didn't hold back with his thoughts about exactly what's going on here, his opinion on certain hot-button local issues, and ways he feels Milwaukee can be better. Oh, and true to his two previous podcast appearances, Shafer also talked about the upcoming Milwaukee Bucks season.

Heads up, Milwaukee: the 2017 Milwaukee Film Festival—which takes over the Landmark Oriental Theatre, Landmark Downer Theatre, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, Times Cinema, and Avalon Theater September 28-October 12—is just over a month away. So who better to talk to in the weeks leading up to the fest than Milwaukee Film's artistic and executive director, Jonathan Jackson? Host Matt Wild met up with Jackson at the not-so-bustling Shops of Grand Avenue food court to chat about the ninth installment of the festival, Milwaukee Film's multi-pronged mission statement, and, oh yeah, the organization's upcoming takeover of the Oriental Theatre. What will change? What will stay the same? Will they be showing stuff like Avengers 12 and Thor 7? (Answer: no.) Jackson and Wild also discuss Milwaukee's nascent film industry, UWM, weird Stan Brakhage movies, and the time they shared a bed together in Cleveland.

This week's guest is Jim Hanke. Each week, the host of Vinyl Emergency interviews musicians, media personalities, and other movers and shakers about their relationship with records and the impact wax has had on their lives. During the show's 66-episode (and counting) run, Hanke has introduced the likes of Ted Leo, Speech from Arrested Development, Strand Of Oaks, David Bazan, Rocky Votolato, Matthew Sweet, members of Braid, Joe Block, and many more. Along the way, the host relocated from Chicagoland to his native Milwaukee. Now part of the small-but-passionate Milwaukee podcast community, Hanke and fellow local podcast host Tyler Maas met up to talk about the growing medium, the challenges both of them have faced gaining local listeners, and the future of the format—both in Milwaukee and elsewhere. Hanke also discusses the evolution of the vinyl market and whether the tipping point is nigh for records and podcasts. Tyler also incorrectly claims Twinstar (Hanke's former band) wrote a song called "On My Dick."

On Monday, July 31, a standing-room-only crowd at Club Garibaldi enjoyed a ton of jokes, plenty of jabs, and the deft hosting skills of FOX6 anchor Ted Perry at the 3rd annual Roast Of Milwaukee. Comedians Ryan Lowe, Greg Bach, Addie Blanchard, David Louis, Rita Landis, AJ Grill, and Carly Malison all lambasted the city (and each other), and Perry and V100.7 DJ Promise joined in on the biting-but-loving roasting action. Milwaukee Record's own Tyler Maas did a set, too, and was unfavorably compared to a sickly Dave Grohl at least once (Matt Wild took a "Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory" hit). Oh, and we raised a bunch of cash and supplies for the Milwaukee Women's Center. Static Eyes, meanwhile, blew the house down before and after the show.

Even though we try to keep our whereabouts secret at all times (except when McDonald's is concerned), we still get a lot of stuff sent to our office. CDs, tapes, books, hot sauce, wine, condoms, and threatening letters from the President of the United States are just a few of the things that regularly pop up in our mailbox. But what to do with all this sweet, sweet swag—especially the sweet, sweet swag that doesn't fit in with our usual coverage? Welcome to the second installment of Milwaukee Record Clearinghouse, a stirring Facebook Live event (and podcast) where we sort though and discuss a bunch of random stuff. This time around, hosts Tyler Maas, Matt Wild, and Milwaukee Record Director Of Advertising Josh Hoppert give some quick-hitting evaluations of Liv Mueller's outstanding Liv Sings, and The Eradicator's enjoyable demo. Matt then reads a Milwaukee-related excerpt from Jeff Pearlman's 2016 Brett Favre biography Gunslinger, as Tyler leads an alcoholic excursion through Luxembourg with samples of two Bofferding beers and the brand new (to the U.S.) Ramborn cider. Finally, the guys give a long-overdue review to a record by the mid-'70s Milwaukee soft rock outfit The Movies.

Matt Kemple is a busy man. When he's not producing theatrical events and comedy showcases at the Underground Collaborative (which he founded and manages), he's booking nationally known comedians like Godfrey, Nick Thune, Neil Hamburger, Andy Kindler, and Joe Mande at venues around town as part of his Milwaukee Comedy endeavor. This August, Milwaukee Comedy Festival—which Kemple founded and produces—will turn 12 years old. Later that month, he'll co-produce the second annual Milwaukee Fringe Festival, which he co-founded as well. Though Kemple can rarely get out of his office at this point in the year, he did set aside some time to let host Tyler Maas swing by his abode to share a few beers and talk about his whirlwind August. The pair discussed each day of the Fest (starting with our semi-affiliated Roast Of Milwaukee event), the decision to move the majority of the festival to the Underground Collaborative, and how the event has quickly grown to a level capable of bringing talents like Michael Ian Black and Deborah Wilson to town. They also get into the Fringe Festival and the various difficulties and rewards that come with producing large-scale undertakings.

Host Tyler Maas was joined by Kevin Mueller, a local freelance entertainment writer (and our resident "eating while driving" columnist) who contributes to Milwaukee Magazine and Shepherd Express. Both were audibly depleted from the craziness of recent weeks, but they still managed to look ahead and round up a wealth of events to help your summer end on a fun note. Tyler even mentions a super secret Milwaukee Record film screening that hasn't been announced yet.

Last week, Milwaukee Record dropped by Cactus Club for another edition of our Book Club. This time around we invited Vinyl Me, Please Senior Editor Andrew Winistorfer and VMP contributor Benjamin Munson to join us for a lively chat about the record subscription club's first book, 100 Albums You Need In Your Collection. Before welcoming the guests of honor, hosts Tyler Maas and Matt Wild commemorated On The Record's 100th episode by discussing some memorable past guests. Then, Winistorfer and Munson came on stage to talk about the process of picking just 100 records, all four of their crossing paths, differences between Madison and Milwaukee, and who Ben thinks the Madison Mallards' recent Chris Farley bobblehead resembles.