|
Freeman Friday Night features wee bit of Irish
Theiss & O'Connor performing
By Shannon Venegas
Special to TimeOut
07/07/2011
WAUKESHA Not many musicians can say they got
their start with an old guitar they found on a wood pile in a garage.
But Bill O'Connor did.
O'Connor is just one-third of the group
Theiss & O'Connor, an Irish folk band set to perform at Freeman Friday
Night at the Martha Merrell's/Cuddles stage at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
O'Connor got his start as a young boy with
10 lessons for $10 and the old guitar he found. His instructor told him
his fingers were too short, so O'Connor taught himself how to play. "I
even wrote a song about it called ' Stubby
Finger Blues,'"
O'Connor said.
Theiss began his musical passion at the age
of 6 with accordion lessons. In high school, his interest changed to the
guitar. "I got hurt my senior year and couldn't play basketball," Larry
Theiss said. "I used that time to teach myself guitar." O'Connor and
Theiss met at The Coffee House in Milwaukee and started playing together
at coffee shops when they were in college. "Coffee shops were different
back then," Theiss said. "Instead of fancy drinks, people just came to
drink regular coffee and hear folk music and poetry readings." After
going their separate ways to explore other musical options and have
families, Theiss and O'Connor reunited in 1996, joined by O'Connor's
wife, Lin. Lin learned to play piano at an early age and began guitar in
high school.
Theiss & O'Connor play primarily Irish folk
music. Bill's grandparents came over from Ireland, so he always had an
Irish influence in his life, and Lin always liked the Irish. "She makes
great soda bread," Bill said.
Theiss had no background in Irish, but when
they first got back together, he got a call to sing at IrishFest.
"We had the opportunity to play together at
a large festival, so I learned the Irish music," Theiss said. "Now some
of my favorite Irish songs are the ones Bill writes." Theiss &
O'Connor's Irish music is a bit different than the traditional pub music
most people think of.
"We play our Irish songs in the traditional
American folk style," Bill said.
This style makes for an interesting Irish
sound. "Our arrangement with acoustic guitar and three-part harmony
vocals sets us apart from other Irish groups that just do instrumental,"
Theiss said.
And they always have a blast with the
audience. "I tell jokes and try to get the audience involved," Bill
said. "We have fun while we're singing." In addition to entertaining
Irish music lovers, Theiss and O'Connor have extended their love for
music into other ventures. Besides having recorded music, "Bill's An
Irish Blessing" has been published and sung by various choirs while
Theiss directs a church choir, records Christmas CDs and gives guitar
lessons.
Eventually, they would love to play more often at the
bigger Irish festivals. "We've played the big stages, but I would like
to get some more prime-time spots," Theiss said. "It would be fun to be
heard by a huge group of new people." Waukesha sure seems to love them.
"This group is always entertaining," said Norm Bruce, stage manager for
the Martha Merrell's/Cuddles stage. "People are always asking when they
will play again."
Memphis Connection to play Freeman Friday Night Live
By Shannon Venegas
Special to TimeOut
06/24/2011
The Memphis Connection brings a new set of music to the streets of
Waukesha.
"There's a lot of cover and classic rock bands out there," said David
Herrmannn, bass player for The Memphis Connection. "Not too many bands
play our kind of music." The band's founder, Mike Keelan, grew up with
music always in the house. His father was part of the Bobby K Trio, and
Keelan and his brothers followed in his musical footsteps. One brother
sings for Filmore East, while another is part of the Brew City Rhythm &
Blues.
A career change at the age of 50 allowed Keelan the time to finally
start a band. The band got its start last year after Keelan put out an
ad on MilwaukeeRocks.com looking for band members to be part of an Elvis
and classic country band.
The Memphis Connection
After guitarist Paul Paikowski answered Keelan's ad, the two began
playing together and were soon after joined by Herrmannn. They also
answered an ad placed by Jim Goelz, who became their drummer.
The newest member, Randy Reed, provides additional talent on guitar
and vocals.
"Randy has really added something special to the band," Keelan said.
Reed played his first show at the age of 11, and by the end of high
school was playing major Milwaukee venues. He even played with bands
that opened for Alabama, Brooks & Dunn and Sawyer Brown.
The rest of the band members started with music a little later in
life. This is Keelan's first official band, and Herrmann only had a
little formal training in college.
"I stopped playing for 25 years, and only just started again four
years ago," Herrmann said.
Paikowski was only a music listener up until the age of 42.
Paikowski's son was taking guitar lessons but didn't show much interest
and never practiced.
"I used to be a runner," Paikowski said. "I got tired of running and
took over my son's lessons." Goelz is also a self-taught player, having
only had one or two lessons.
"My uncle Jim is really the person who got me hooked on wanting to
play," Goelz said. "I heard him play and right then and there I decided
I wanted to be a drummer." Goelz has played with several blues bands in
the area, but he enjoys this new experience.
"I like the fact that all of us come from different levels and
backgrounds," he said. "We all have different influences." Most of the
band members are just looking to get out as much as they can at local
venues, have fun and create a broader playlist.
"We all have day jobs," Herrmann said.
Keelan is just excited to bring the classic sounds of Elvis Presley
and Johnny Cash to the people. Keelan has always been a big Elvis fan
and even got to see him before he died.
"I just think there's a huge following for that kind of music,"
Keelan said.
The Memphis Connection will return to Magellan's tomorrow night, the
site of one of their first shows in November. They are very excited to
be part of FFNL.
"It really brings people back to downtown Waukesha," Paikowski said.
Freeman Friday Night Live
June 24, 2011- 6:30 PM
Allô! Chocolat- Mike Westendorf
Magellan's- Memphis Connection
Generations at 5 Points- Alexa Grey
Martha Merrell's/ Cuddles- Spring City Grass Waukesha Antique Mall-
Buffalo Al Group Poppin on Broadway- Los Guys Steaming Cup/Taylor's-
Apple Jam
Mia's- Peter D'amore
Deep passion for music inspired Higbee family
By Shannon Venegas
Special to TimeOut
06/09/2011
WAUKESHA Jeff and Nick Higbee turned their passion for
music into a family business.
Their band, Higbee Higbee, will appear at the Rockin' and
Poppin' On Broadway stage at 6:30 p.m. Friday night as part of the
Freeman Friday Night Live series.
Higbee Higbee is composed of lead guitarists and vocalists,
Jeff and Nick, as well as Kerry Miller on bass lending harmony vocals,
and two different drummers, Jason Hannen and Chad Kovac. Jeff's wife,
Cynthia Higbee, completes the family business as their manager.
Jeff Higbee started playing guitar when he was just 12
years old.
"I was self-taught," he said. "I just played with a group
of friends on inferior equipment." When Jeff turned 16, he discovered
cars, girls and beer and set down his music for 20 years. When he
finally picked up the guitar again, he played with a classic rock band
called Nightshift for about 15 years.
Jeff Higbee
Fortunately, Jeff's son Nick picked up his love for music.
He played rock 'n' roll with his dad and was even a bit of a "choir
nerd." "Around the same time that my dad brought home our first compact
disc player with the Beatles' 'Revolver' and
Dire Straits' 'Brothers In Arms,' he started teaching me guitar," Nick
said. "I was super small, and he taught me 'Louie Louie' by the Kingsmen
with the guitar lying flat on my lap and me fingering the notes." Nick
eventually picked up the guitar, bass and keyboards, and he and his
father did two-person shows together before Nick went to college.
Jeff met Miller through family connections, and after
discovering a mutual love for music, they started playing together.
"Everyone, especially the audience, has gained from Kerry's
mad chops on the low strings," Nick said.
Nick Higbee
Miller also started playing when he was 12 years old. His
father was a guitarist and his brother had a Strat copy guitar. "I used
to cut the two high strings off and just play the four," Miller said.
"If my mom and dad wouldn't have bought me my first bass, I think my
brother would have pulled my arms off." After Nick moved back, Higbee
Higbee became official. They play mostly classic rock and rock-country,
such as Toby Keith. "We take a lot of standard songs and make them our
own," Jeff said.
He said they like to draw out different parts of the song
and add their own spin instead of playing the same version everyone
hears on the radio. "For example, we do this sort of punk version of
Rick Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou," Jeff said.
The vocals are Higbee Higbee's other strong point, Jeff
said. "Nick is oozing with talent, and he has that deep Johnny Cash
voice," he said.
Miller also offers harmony vocals on everything they play.
"I really enjoy the singing and harmonies that Jeff, Nick
and I can accomplish," Miller said. "I feel it is one of our strongest
features." And what does the future hold for Higbee Higbee? "I just want
to play as often as I can without being burned out," Jeff said.
"The thing I love the most about Higbee Higbee is being
able to spend time with my dad in a meaningful way," Nick said. "I
imagine some other 32-year-olds out there that have to try to have a
good time with their dad, and I feel sorry for them." Miller just loves
performing and the rush of entertaining a crowd. "Music is just the
paint on the canvas that brings the smile to a face," he said.
And more specifically, besides hoping that Higbee Higbee
lasts as long as it can, Nick hopes to someday play at one of
Summerfest's smaller stages. "I want that mostly for my dad," Nick said.
"He would be so psyched." So grab a slushie and a bag of popcorn outside
Poppin' on Broadway and listen to the unique sounds of Higbee Higbee on
Friday night.
Freeman Friday Night Live returns to
downtown Waukesha with more sounds
By Shannon Venegas
Special to TimeOut
6/2/2011
WAUKESHA
Musical sounds will stream the streets of
Waukesha on Friday night as Freeman Friday Night Live launches its first
set of the summer with three new stages.
FFNL has become a real asset to downtown Waukesha,
according to Roger Igielski, president of the Waukesha Downtown Business
Association.
"I think the FFNL series of music performances has enhanced
the downtown to the point that thousands of guests now come down to
enjoy the Riverwalk, music, restaurants, art galleries and shops," said
Igielski, who is also the owner of Allô! Chocolat and an organizer of
the event. "Prior to FFNL, on Friday nights, the downtown was a ghost
town." Joining the five stages from last year will be Allô! Chocolat on
West Main Street, Mia's on Clinton Street and Magellan's on West Main
Street.
Dan Italiano, owner of Magellan's, is pumped to be part of
the excitement this summer. "We want to take it to a larger scale with
our stage this year," Italiano said.
 |
The Pat Dermody Duo is set to kick off Week 1
of Freeman Friday Night Live at Generations at Five Points in
downtown Waukesha. The popular free music series runs every
Friday through September from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. |
Italiano already has live music in his restaurant every
Friday and Saturday night, playing everything from rockabilly to western
swing to oldies.
With his stage this year, he plans to keep it "safe but
big," pulling from bands that have played FFNL in the past and putting
his own spin on it.
"I've seen the Christian and the folk music," Italiano
said. "I want to give the people a little more mainstream music."
Italiano wants to see some of the aspects of downtown Milwaukee's
excitement in Waukesha. "If we're going to do live music, let's do it
right and fill the shops and the restaurants," he said.
More than anything, Italiano wants to draw in a crowd. Both
Italiano and Sandy Cianciolo, owner of Mia's, want to draw more people
down to their end of the city.
Joining Magellan's, Mia's and Allô! Chocolat will be five
returning stages
including:
n Martha Merrell's/Cuddles on West Main Street n The
Waukesha Antique Mall on Bank Street n Poppin' and Rockin' on Broadway
on West Broadway Street n Generations at 5 Points on Main Street n
Steaming Cup/Taylor's on West Main Street.
Every Friday night through Sept. 30, the Waukesha streets
will start rockin' at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the Waukesha Freeman, the Business
Improvement District and many other sponsors, FFNL welcomes Waukesha
State Bank, Guardian Credit Union, Chevrolet, K-Love Radio FM 105.3 and
many others as new business sponsors this year.
As an added bonus, Rockin' & Poppin' on Broadway will be
offering hot buttered popcorn, Black Bear sodas and slushies this year
outside by the tent. Also, there will be van from the Milwaukee Radio
Group where people can register to win prizes, said Kathy Garcia, stage
manager for Rockin' & Poppin' on Broadway.
Also returning this year, there will be a Christian- themed
music stage. "It will be located next to Allô! Chocolat," Igielski said.
FFNL was what first attracted Igielski to downtown
Waukesha. "FFNL gives people a chance to slow down and stroll through an
incredible downtown, just like in the 'good ol' days' that we're so fond
of looking back on," he said.
"Spending time visiting with friends, listening to music, eating,
drinking, shopping, it's all good and doesn't get much better." For more
information, visit
www.downtownwaukesha.com.
|
|
