december '06

>> Congratulations to Milwaukee's own The Goodnight Loving, who were picked by CMJ New Music Monthly Editor-in-Chief Kenny Herzog as having had the best album of 2006. Produced by Greg Cartright (Reigning Sound, Oblivions, Compulsive Gamblers, etc) and released by Kevin Meyer (The Mistreaters, Night Terrors, WMSE's "Dos Mutantes" program) on his Dusty Medical Records label, the band performed live on WMSE during their recording with Greg Cartright. There are rumors that the set will see the light of day on another record label, and we'll keep you informed. But in the meantime, definitely pick up a copy of Cemetery Trails from Dusty Medical, or at your local independent record store. We cannot recommend it enough. CMJ is the industray standard for college radio in this country, and to put things in perspective, Herzog's #1 single of the year went to Justin Timberlake for "SexyBack".

november '06

>> WMSE met our Fall Membership Drive goal of $125,000 on Tuesday, November 14th at 5:30PM. Thanks to everyone who pledged the money needed to reach our operating budget for the next six months, and for being an active member of the WMSE community and the Milwaukee music scene.

A special thanks goes out to all of our eighteen bands who performed live throughout the week, and to the restaurants who sustained our staff and volunteers over the course of those twelve days. Our volunteers made the Drive go very smoothly, and we are very appreciative for all they did to get us to our goal.

>> The 2006 Fall Membership Drive is underway, and nineteen bands are scheduled to perform live from the studios. A full listing is available on our schedule page, so keep checking in for updates. The celebration of our 25th Anniversary continues, and you can pledge your support while getting some pretty amazing thank-you gifts in return. Your donation could get you a 3-CD set featuring material culled from the archives of cassettes and carts, much of which has not been heard since WMSE moved to the new facilities on Milwaukee Street in 2000. As part of the MSE Project, our production staff digitized all of the analog recordings to preserve these extremely rare perfromances, and to compile 64 tracks on three CD's for our supporters. You can also pick up a 2007 wall calendar featuring the ten winning designs from our 25th Anniversary poster-design contest, plus three additional designs (it's a thirteen-month calendar) which were runners-up in the contest.

>> Full track listings for Play/Pause/Stop: From Cassette to Cart, a Brief History of the Local Tape Culture at WMSE:

CD1

1. BOB BETTS - "WMSE PROMO"

2. EVEL - "THE NATURAL"

3. MORTA SKULD - "#9"

4. FECK - "BERKELEY SLIME"

5. WARLIKSKIL - "E/FEED"

6. DIS - "WHITENESS"

7. F/I - "STOP AT THE LEFT LOOK TO THE RIGHT"

8. THE FROGS - "BUSINESSMAN (LIVE)"

9. WANDA CHROME AND THE LEATHER PHARAOHS - "KICKOUT THE JAMS (LIVE AT 

              THE UNICORN)"

10. TANTRUMS - "POSSESSED"

11. THE MERCURYS - "64 MERCURY"

12. MISS TRIXIE - "REACH"

13. WELL - "SIGNS"

14. MORTAL PLANTS - "CAT KILLER"

15. URINAL CAKE - "SAY IT DON’T SPRAY IT"

16. FIGUREHEAD - "PUSH ME PULL YOU"

17. HASKELLS - "WALK TO THE BEACH"

18. THE GOTHICS - "RITCHIE’S BACK IN TOWN"

19. REG TILLEN AND THE WAY HAPPENINGS - "EDWIN’S WORLD"

20. THE GOMERS - "SGT CARTER"

21. HOUSECAT SIZED FENNEC - "PIECE OF MEAT"

22. STRAIGHT EDGED FEMINISTS -   "MACHO ZOMBIE"

23. TRS - "FISH FRY"

24. THE MIGHTY DEERLICK - "SKATE"

25. THE TWO FELIPES - "KAHN’S"

26. MARK S - "PUS"

CD2

1. BOB BETTS - "FRAGAMELLON"

2. THE EXOTICS - "STEEL PIER"

3. TWISTIN’ EGYPTIANS - "PERILS OF YOUNG MODELS"

4. THE MOSLEYS - "A GIRL LIKE PATTI SMITH"

5. NERVE TWINS - "SLEEPWALKING"

6. CHERRY CAKE - "DEAF RAIN"

7. TIKIBONG - "WAREHOUSE"

8. COMPOUND RED - "LOSIN’ IT"

9. EX-CHITTLE - "ALIEN BURIAL MOUND"

10. DORIAN GRAY - "HE’S SO STRANGELY BLIND"

11. VIVID PSYCH - "ELECTRIC FIELDS"

12. DARK FAÇADE - "DANCE EXHIBIT"

13. WHIRLIGIG - "CONVENTIONAL WISDOM"

14. SHIVERHEAD - "ENJOY THE VIOLENCE"

15. DOWN BY LAW - "CHANGE"

16. WILD KINGDOM - "SQUIGGLY BONE"

17. PSYCHEDELECASI - "UNDER CONSTRUCTION"

18. MEN AMONG THIEVES - "COFFEE MUGS AND HICCUPS"

19. FIRST LIGHT - "DREAD INA BABYLON"

CD3

1. BOB BETTS - "WHAT IS A DUDE?"

2. MILWAUKEE ROAD - "DOIN’ TIME"

3. GHOSTLY TRIO - "MYSTERY TRAIN"

4. HARVEY SCALES - "THE BLUES IS IN THE HOUSE"

5. PERRY WEBER AND THE WONDER RODS - "HOT LITTLE MOMMA"

6. VINCE AND THE ATTORNEYS - "PAWN BROKER" 

7. LIV AND THE RAMBLERS - "YOU’LL STOP"

8. SEMI TWANG - "MY GREAT REWARD"

9. RIP TENOR AND HIS CAVALCADE OF TOP BANANAS - "YOUNG WHITE AND

           STUPID"

10. AMY ROHAN - "DOWN"

11. SCREAMING LILIES - "HARD TO SMILE"

12. PAMELA MEANS - "SCARY DOG MAN"

13. BRIAN LEE WURCH AND THE SOULICITORS - "LITTLE GIRL      "

14. BILLY SMITH - "LORRIE ANNE"

15. TRUE HEART SUSIE - "TOMBOY"

16. WOOLTON PARRISH - "SWEET MORNING RAIN"

17. RUSTY HALO’S - "RADIO"

october '06

>> There will be no Local/Live on Tuesday, October 31st, so that Discovery World and WMSE might bring you a special live radio broadcast of Macbeth at 7:00pm. And don't forget that "War of the Worlds" airs on Monday, October 30th, also at 7:00pm. Have a safe and happy Halloween, and enjoy the twenty live performances which will occur throughout the Fall Membership Drive, November 3 - 10.

september '06

>> WMSE and OnMilwaukee.com have developed another outlet for local musicians in the community, this time in Podcast form. On Tuesday, September 19th, you will be able to download or stream the first weekly segment from OMC Managing Editor Bobby Tanzilo, and WMSE Promotions Director Brent Gohde, who will be playing four or five songs per week and chatting about what those bands have going on around that time. Each week will feature a track from a past Local/Live performance, and songs from the forthcoming OMCD 2.0 disc will be featured in the coming weeks. To tune in, subscribe to the OnMilwaukee.com music e-newsletter here, or visit OnMilwaukee.com's music page for more information.

>> Our friend melaniejane unfortunately had to cancel her Local/Live appearance of September 12th due to illness. We will be sure to have her back on the airwaves just as soon as we can. The September 7th performance by Brian Tairaku Ritchie of Violent Femmes with John Sparrow of The Danglers aired during the weekly 8pm segment.

August '06

>> Thanks to the Shepherd Express, Milwaukee's alternative weekly newspaper, for dedicating their time, energy, and pages to the celebration of WMSE's 25th Anniversary this week. You can read Dave Luhrssen and Caroline Goyette's article online, or pick up a copy of the August 17th issue around town. We also wish to thank James Kloiber for going above-and-beyond in photographing all of the staff and DJ's who appeared in the story. The Shepherd Express will be celebrating a 25th Anniversary of their own in 2007, and we would like to be the first to congratulate them on that milestone.

July '06

>> Everyone here at WMSE was very sad to learn about the passing of our good friend, Evan Tyson. We all feel very privileged to have known Evan personally, and will miss seeing him at shows, at art openings, and at finer bars throughout the city. Our Music Director, Buzz, said it best, "If there was anyone out there that really understood the things behind rock and roll music, it was him." We were very happy to welcome Evan and his brother Noah into the studio during the 2006 Spring Membership Drive when they performed on the Chickenshack as Highlonesome. Evan loved all genres of music, and he was extremely excited to be performing on WMSE. And of course, we were thrilled to have Highlonesome live on our airwaves. If you didn't know Rock N Roll Evan, Bob Purvis wrote an excellent article about the man in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. You are very strongly encouraged to check it out. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Noah, their father, John, and the rest of Evan's friends and family.

>> After more than nine years of midnight madness, the Frontier Radio Friday Night Freakshow is coming to an end. The final films will be Terminator 2: Judgement Day on July 21st, and the Milwaukee Premiere of Boondock Saints on July 28th. Thanks to everyone who came out throughout the years to support the tradition of late-night movies in the city, and for bringing energy and excitement to the theatre week after week. Special thanks to Eric Levin, proprietor of the beautiful Times Cinema on 59th & Vilet in Washington Heights, for taking a chance and hosting some of the great cult classics at his historic theater for all of these years. WMSE will be very happy to work with him on future special screenings, but be sure to support Eric and his films in the meantime. More about the death of the Freakshow can be found in Julie Lawrence's OnMilwaukee.com article of July 7th.

June '06

>> We are currently experiencing some difficulties with our connection to the DistractMKE.com events listings, and are sorry for the inconvenience. A new and improved system for events listings is in the works.

mAY '06

>> Thanks to everyone who pledged their support to WMSE during the 2006 Spring Membership Drive. Due to the generosity of music lovers like you, the station met its goal of $125,000, which will cover operating expenses for the next six months. Big thank yous also go out to the twenty-one bands who performed over the course of the Drive, and to the sixteen artists who lent their music to Live at WMSE Volume 7. A special thank you goes to Jon Reiter of Solid State Tattoo in Bay View for designing the brand new WMSE tshirt, which was a huge hit. We here at WMSE greatly appreciate the talents of these members of our community, as well as the time donated by our friends who helped our office staff throughout the week. Of course we thank the area restaurants who donated food to keep the staff, volunteers, and musicians fed throughout the week, but the biggest than you goes to the thousands of WMSE listeners who became members over the course of the week, and help to keep non-commercial music radio alive in Milwaukee. Thank you all!

>> The 2006 Spring Membership Drive is underway, with a great line-up of live bands, a new line of WMSE merchandise, and Live at WMSE Volume 7. Pledging your support to our non-commercial radio station will keep things up-and-running for the next six months at a fraction of the budget of commercial radio stations in town. Jon Reiter of Solid State Tattoo has designed a great new tshirt, and we've created a great new look for our Blues Drive logo, which is now available on a black tshirt, as well. Sam Macon's design, which was previously only available on a brown long-sleeved men's tshirt during the Fall 2005 Drive, has been adapted for a grey women's tank-top. The 25th Anniversary commemorative posters are also still available by calling or stopping in.

By Jon Reiter, Solid State Tattoo

april '06

>> The track listing has been confirmed for the forthcoming Live at WMSE Volume 7, which features some of the best recent live on-air performances. This compilation will feature the usual mix of local and national acts, with a focus more on the rock end of the music spectrum. On May 5th, you'll be able to hear tracks from Wolfbite, The Cocksmiths, Freshwater Collins, American Death, IROCK Z, The Preacher's Kids, The Box Social, The Burbank Cartel, The Dials, The New Loud, On A Sun, Nick Pipitone & the 4 Forces of Evil, El Gordo, Only Lovers Left Alive, Canyons of Static, and The Danglers.

March '06

>> Thanks to everyone who made March 17th such a special day at WMSE 91.7FM, as we celebrated twenty-five years of broadcasting non-commercial radio to the Milwaukee area. Thank you to everyone who stopped by 820 N Milwaukee Street on Friday during our open house, and a special thank to those who made a donation for a commemorative keychain or original artwork. Click here to check out the ten winners of our commemorative poster art contest. Each design has been printed in a run of twenty-five posters, and you can take one home as a gift with your $100 donation. Quantities are limited, so hurry before they're gone. The twenty-five hour marathon ran through 10:00am on Saturday, at which point we welcomed some of your favorite DJ's from years past back onto the airwaves to spin music, reminisce, and let you know what they've been up to. Thank you Milwaukee, for all of your support throughout WMSE's 25 years of broadcasting new and unique music to the area without ever having aired a single commercial.

>> New mp3's have been posted from recent performances by F/i, Marcella, Little Blue Crunchy Things, Copper Box, and Heidi Spencer, as well as tracks from Monte Montgomery and Steve Cohen Blues?Band, both of which were included on Live at WMSE Volume 6. Enjoy these performances which have not been heard since their original airdate!

february '06

>> Congratulations to the winners of WMSE's 25th Anniversary Poster Contest! We picked our ten favorite designs form more than fifty submissions, and will print them to be made available to our listeners on our 25th Anniversary, March 17, 2006. The winners are (in no particular order): Dave Zylstra, Eileen Muza, James Kloiber, Jason McDowell, John Protasiewicz, Luke Chappelle, Eric Von Munz, Mark Brautigam, Milan Zori, and Dmitry Myaskovsky. Thank you to everyone who took the time to create artwork dedicated to WMSE's twenty-five years of broadcasting commercial-free radio to the Milwaukee area. We had a difficult time picking only ten winners, but are very happy with the collection of work which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

>> Join WMSE at Club Anything this Friday, February 24th at 9pm at an event to benefit Milwaukee’s new rollerderby league, the Brew City Bruisers. WMSE DJ’s Lemonie Fresh, Dori, Bts.Wrkng, Jonny Z, and The Get Drunk will be spinning some of your favorite WMSE music throughout the evening. Come down to Club Anything at 5th and National this Friday to meet your favorite WMSE personalities, and the Brew City Bruisers, in a dance party to benefit the Bruisers, WMSE, and the Hot Boards charity.

January '06

>> WMSE is celebrating its 25th Anniversary on Friday, March 17th, and we’re looking to our listeners to help commemorate this historic moment! On that date only, we will be offering ten unique limited-edition prints as we kick off a year-long celebration of special events and programming, and this is where you come in. Put your artistic talents to work and create an image that reflects illustrates what WMSE means to you, or the contribution the station has made to the cultural landscape of Milwaukee. The ten winning designs will be printed in a limited edition of 25 posters, and made available to listeners on March 17th. Detailed information and guidelines for submissions are available as a PDF by clicking here.

>> Thanks to everyone who supported WMSE throughout 2005. We had another great year of broadcasting commercial-free music to the Milwaukee area, and around the world via wmse.org. In the 365 days of 2005, the station welcomed 219 musical acts onto our airwaves, 114 of whom performed live for our listeners. Eighty-nine of those performers were recorded by our Engineer, Billy Cicerelli, via our state-of-the-art ProTools system. Of the artists who appeared, 195 are based in Southeastern Wisconsin. Forty-four of those bands and solo musicians performed on our weekly Local/Live program, which launched in February of this year, and has already seen a great deal of success. Additionally, more than fifty community organizations, visual artists, and promoters stopped by for interviews to discuss their projects and events. There are plenty of other talented musicians who did not have the chance to perform live on WMSE this past year, and we'll make sure to pack as many in as possible throughout 2006. Stay tuned all year long for special events on the airwaves and in the community as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary on March 17, 2006.