Andor & Rökker Band Friday (Hour 2)

Transcript

Andor & Rökker Band Friday (Hour 2)

Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach · Fri May 30, 2025

Announcer

Broadcasting live from the Civic Media Studios in Green Bay.

This is Night Light with Pete Schwabba.

Your inside source on everything entertainment from Wisconsin to Hollywood.

And now, a guy whose house has an actual wiggle room, Pete Schwabba.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Welcome to Night Light, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's talk about wiggling.

And the Wiggles.

Welcome to Nightlight.

This is fun.

It's a Friday night, folks.

We made it through the very short week.

And now the weekend is upon us.

So hopefully we can help you transition into your leisurely time this weekend, whatever you have planned.

Conrad, how you doing?

Conrad (co-host)

You know, I'm good.

I'm good, yeah.

I gotta ask you a question.

What more of your opinion?

Yeah.

So today, this is something I usually do.

When I need to take out the garbage,

Pete Schwabba (host)

it's at the

Conrad (co-host)

end of the street.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Yeah,

Conrad (co-host)

I'll do it before I go into the studio.

Pete Schwabba (host)

OK, I'm with you so far.

So today

Conrad (co-host)

I had some I had some garbage that, you know, had some like garbage juice.

Yeah.

So what

Pete Schwabba (host)

I did is that

Conrad (co-host)

term before.

So what I did was is I put my hand out the window and I was holding the trash can like this while driving.

And I was getting the weirdest

Pete Schwabba (host)

looks

Conrad (co-host)

to look

Pete Schwabba (host)

like

Conrad (co-host)

ever.

So, do you think that's weird or what?

Yeah.

Where do you think I should have put it though?

Pete Schwabba (host)

Here's the thing.

I think if you watch people, almost everything they do will seem weird.

Yeah.

Like the movie Rear Window, it's like, oh, he must have killed someone.

Well, he's just carrying this.

Well, in that case, he did kill someone.

But I mean, the amount of times you do something like that in your life are probably thousands.

You know what I mean?

And yeah, people are probably like, what in the hell is that guy doing?

And it'll bother them, too.

That's what's funny about, what the hell is this guy's problem?

Like, who cares?

That doesn't affect you.

Conrad (co-host)

They're all my neighbors, so.

Pete Schwabba (host)

He's got

Conrad (co-host)

some garbage juice.

They just got to know that I don't want to drip an hole for my car.

Pete Schwabba (host)

See, I think, yeah.

And so you have like a community trash bin or something?

Yeah, yeah.

All right.

So.

That'll be that's something people will find a way to be pissed off, too He's gonna put that disgusting garbage in with the rest of her.

Yeah, I don't I think that's kind of strange but kind of funny I'd probably laugh if I saw somebody doing that, you know, like it felt

Conrad (co-host)

weird for

Pete Schwabba (host)

me

Conrad (co-host)

That was the first time I did it to be honest.

I I've done like Trash routes, you know for

Pete Schwabba (host)

what

Conrad (co-host)

but in my back of my car But he'd never had that much garbage juice on it.

Well, what's the juice

Pete Schwabba (host)

from you draw gravy or something or what?

I

Conrad (co-host)

actually don't remember what was

Pete Schwabba (host)

What it was.

Do you like, before you throw something out, do you empty it in the sink first or you just like?

I

Conrad (co-host)

think that's where I messed up.

I forgot to empty something.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Crucial garbage mistake buddy.

That's garbage 101.

Come on.

Right.

I think that's a forgivable sin though.

Welcome to Nightlight folks.

This is our garbage talk and we'll be right back with more garbage talk.

Lots of fun.

Great show tonight.

Great guests.

A good question.

And we're going to talk about a really cool contest coming up here at Civic Media.

It starts June 2nd.

That's Monday for those of you scoring at home.

It's the Civic Media Scotty Summer Text-to-Win Contest.

We do these.

They get more popular every time.

They're a lot of fun to do, and they're so easy.

You do have to have the Civic Media app, so if you don't have it,

Just download it.

It's so easy and you have a chance four separate times throughout the course of every day to win something.

Listen for your chance to win.

And the contest, as I said, begins June 2nd.

Listen across the network at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

for your chance to win $100 cash.

That's tax-free folks.

Well, if you want to report it, you can or a pair of Milwaukee Brewers club level seats And this is each hour every hour you have the opportunity when both of those prices and Each entry you do Qualifies you for our grand prize trips Conrad you remember where the grand prize trips

Conrad (co-host)

are.

Oh some great locations Dorr County

Pete Schwabba (host)

and

Conrad (co-host)

and Baraboo.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Yeah, two beautiful places in our state here in Wisconsin, so Every time you enter

Or you play every hour.

You have a chance to win a hundred bucks or brewers tickets, and then you've got the Grand Prizes, Dork County or Baraboo and gas money to get you there.

So it would kind of suck if you lived like in, I don't know, like, what's it, Algoma.

Oh, I want to trip to Dork County and they're gonna pay for my gas.

It's $4.

You wanna make a little bread on that,

Conrad (co-host)

right?

Yeah, yeah, why

Pete Schwabba (host)

not?

But we are paying the gas money, so you're all set, folks.

Four daily chances to enter beginning Monday, June 2nd at 7 a.m.

Just get, they'll say the keyword, text it in, and you are all set.

Good luck, everybody, another fun civic media contest.

I have to, you know, Kristen Lyrely texted me today.

She has a show and she was checking my availability and we got to talking and she said that,

we cut this promo that I thought was really funny, that we couldn't air.

Somebody kiboshed it.

But we said it on this show, so I assume it's okay to say on this show.

And Todd said, go for it.

So can we hear that promo, Conrad?

Can you play that for us?

Conrad (co-host)

Yes, I will.

Pete Schwabba (host)

All right, let's hear it.

This is a kind of a conversation that went off the rails a little bit, because Kristen Lyrely, Dr. Kristen Lyrely is a doctor.

So she brings things up from time to time.

She's not scared to talk about anything.

And neither am I when it's not my show.

But when I'm in the driver's seat, I get a little nervous, but, you know, we talked about Lube, because she brought it up and she's an OBGYN, and we ended up having kind of a fun conversation, and here's that conversation.

Nightlight with P. Chwaba.

Dr. Kristen Lyrely is here.

You just came from an OBGYN conference.

They had a lube bar, because there are

Announcer

lots of different kinds of

Pete Schwabba (host)

personal lubricants that you can use.

When you say lube, do you need that to give birth to women?

No, it's for sex.

Announcer

I recommend, generally, a water-based

Pete Schwabba (host)

lube.

Are you writing this down,

Announcer

Conrad?

Pete Schwabba (host)

I cannot speak right now.

Is he blushing?

Announcer

Nightlight with Pete Schwabba.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Weak nights from six.

Kind of tame, right?

I was blushing.

Announcer

Well, you were blushing.

Pete Schwabba (host)

You had a guilty conscience.

Announcer

You

Pete Schwabba (host)

immediately went... I was talking to her about lube in a medical sense.

You immediately went to...

off the rails.

Okay, Kristen Lyrely, check out her show, the Dr. Kristen Lyrely show here.

It's on the weekends here on Civic Media, just like you can check out New Isco Weekend.

I do a classic movie pick of the week.

My classic movie pick for this week is, well, you'll just have to tune in and find out.

That's what they call a tease in radio.

I'm getting better at this.

Conrad (co-host)

You know what mine is about?

Yeah, tell me.

Well,

Pete Schwabba (host)

don't.

Gonna have to find out.

And it's, what time is that tomorrow for those of taking notes at home?

Conrad (co-host)

I believe it's at 11.

Pete Schwabba (host)

It's 11, right?

Yeah, 11.

Saturday and Sunday.

So it's such a fun show to be part of.

And Lisa Hilda, such a great job hosting the show.

Speaking of shows, we have a great show tonight.

Rex Sykes is here, folks.

Rex is the founder of the movie beat.

He is the host of movie beat, I should say, and he did found it.

He found it.

He founded it.

He found it.

And Rex will be here at 635 talking about film incentives and where we're at here in Wisconsin in terms of enacting this great legislation.

I don't know how close we are.

I tend to talk about it here on the air every two or three weeks.

But Rex will be by, he's worn many hats in the entertainment business and he's always fun to talk to.

That's at 635.

Our pal Jimmy Cusco will be here at 705.

He is the Civic Media Sports Director and he's going to talk to us about Star Wars.

Something every sports director should be skilled in is Star Wars talk Jimmy recently rewatched Rogue one and one of the Star Wars series and I'm not gonna tell you which one but he says it's the best Star Wars has to offer and Jimmy is very he speaks very eloquently about sports but also about entertainment so I'm excited to talk to him at 705

And then 735, folks, it is a bar ban Friday night.

Terry Barr is off taking a well-deserved vacation.

Do we know where Terry went?

I actually don't know.

I'm gonna be funny if she's like at a hotel down the street, just taking a little vacation.

Big trip to GB.

I think she was going somewhere more exotic, but I don't know that and I meant to ask her and I didn't.

But anyway, her Max Inc radio co-host, Rocker, will be here tonight.

And Rocker has filled in before on bar band Friday night and he's a blast.

So very excited to talk to our pal Rocker at 735.

So there you go, that's a show.

And all right, so today this was kind of funny.

One of my favorite songs I would say of the 2000 early to mid, I'm talking 2010.

is the show, or is the song, Forget You.

Well, I can't say the real title.

That I know I can't say on the air.

So they put out a separate version.

The song was called, the actual title was FU, and they put out a Tamer radio friendly version called Forget You, and it's terrible.

That sounds awful.

Yes.

That's what we used to say when we were kids and we were afraid to swear.

And Steve Segrin has a great bit about that.

Or he starts calling someone a mother-forgetter and I forgot my girlfriend, like all that kind of stuff.

So it got me thinking, a good question might be, what is your favorite swear word or phrase?

Now, here's what we could do, folks.

You got to keep it clean because it's radio.

But you can allude to what your favorite swear word or phrase is.

Mine is POS.

I just say that and it makes me feel better.

Yeah, go ahead.

Conrad (co-host)

We forgot to do the lead to the question.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Oh, I got so excited to do that.

I don't think it's too late.

Let's do it.

Announcer

All right.

Let's talk about the question.

OK, question.

Question.

Question.

Question.

Question.

OK, I have a question.

Conrad (co-host)

Questions.

This question.

Domanda.

Question.

Question.

Questions.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Repeating.

What is your favorite swear word or phrase?

Please keep it clean now if you don't if you're not the kind of person that swears folks, that's fine, too I wish I was like you You can say you know it could be what do you say when you mean to swear, but you won't use a swear word like fiddle sticks or rats You know or what's the other one from Napoleon flippin?

Yeah, I just they're just words Sometimes

Announcer

I

Pete Schwabba (host)

just want to say just you're not gonna offend me, but you never know who you're around sometimes you want to save it

So what is your favorite swear word or phrase?

You can either describe it to us using radio friendly or text friendly on the radio language, or you can say what you say in place of that.

Freakin', flippin', you know, H-E-Double hockey sticks, whatever

Announcer

it

Pete Schwabba (host)

is, H-E-Double toothpicks.

But please feel free to share all of this stuff.

It's 8-5-5, 7-5-2.

What's 4-8-4-2?

4-8-4-2.

This is my former number, and I can't remember.

8-5-5-7-5-2-4-8-4-2.

You can text us on the app, which you should have anyway, to play the Scotty Summer Contest here at Civic Media, which starts June 2nd.

Like the way I did that gun, right?

I just snuck it in with a little extra promo.

Or if you're watching the radio on Twix.

Also known as Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.

You can text us on the stream

Announcer

as well.

Pete Schwabba (host)

We accept any and all.

The question every day has been posted to our social media accounts.

So if you're there, and especially Facebook, we get some pretty good responses.

You can share your answers there as well.

And if you're there, give us a like or a follow.

We like to get those.

So let us know what you think.

And we'll read those after the break.

But right now, I have to tell you,

And we should, this will be a question at some point next week too.

But there is a new soap on the market.

You think Irish spring is great?

Hey, great.

What is it?

Ivory, lava, whatever you use.

Now you can buy Sidney Sweeney influenced, not just influenced, but they've added, they found a way, the soap scientists have found a way to incorporate Sidney Sweeney's actual bathwater.

into the soap, and it's for sale.

So you can buy that, folks, whether you're just concerned about cleanliness or a bona fide prevert, whatever.

You can buy Sydney Sweeney soap that smells like her bathwater.

Now, I only assume it's bathwater she's bathed in and not just like she drew a bath and then just said, here's the water, because that would be fraud, right?

Would you ever buy that, Conrad?

Conrad (co-host)

Well, actually, I already pre-ordered a 30-pack.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Couple

Conrad (co-host)

cases,

Pete Schwabba (host)

yeah.

Conrad (co-host)

Perf.

Well, I think she's gonna smell good, which makes me smell better.

But

Pete Schwabba (host)

what if she doesn't smell good?

I know she's beautiful.

What if it smells terrible?

What if she stinks?

And no one is gonna tell her that because

Conrad (co-host)

she's Sydney Sweeney.

But it's the bathwater, so it's, would it smell like her soap?

Pete Schwabba (host)

Either way, it's

Conrad (co-host)

soap based off another brand.

Pete Schwabba (host)

I don't know.

Jacob Elordi Bathwater Soap?

Oh.

She could stink though and no one's gonna tell her because she makes them too much money.

So here's an open invitation to Sydney Sweeney.

Come by the Nightlight Studios.

I'll smell you.

I'll give you the go-head and let you know if this is a good product.

Maybe drop

Conrad (co-host)

off of, you

Pete Schwabba (host)

know, and give us a few bucks.

Yeah.

Yeah.

All right.

We're coming right back.

We're gonna read your texts and talk more about Sydney Sweeney.

So this is Nightlight with Pete Schwabba on the Civic Media Radio Network.

Rex Sykes (guest)

Sometimes

Pete Chihuahua (host)

in life you have to swear You just do it like I can't say fiddle sticks or ah shoot One time my dad you know he's more like he doesn't want to swear didn't want to swear around his kids my dad would get really upset and you go ah geez

That doesn't cut it, I'm sorry.

G's?

Ah, G whiz.

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

It just doesn't have the same effect, you know?

Pete Chihuahua (host)

And it's only because I was there.

I'm sure everybody swears.

I know my mom swears sometimes.

I've caught her.

But some people just aren't comfortable doing it in front of other people, so.

You know what my favorite is?

What is your favorite?

Son of a biscuit.

Son of a biscuit?

Yeah, that's a good one.

Because it

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

makes me sound a little southern when I do it.

Pete Chihuahua (host)

Yeah, all right.

Makes you hungry, too.

I know shut the front door is one.

Yeah.

I don't know where this one came from.

I've only heard this in Wisconsin, but holy buckets.

What is that?

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

That is great.

Pete Chihuahua (host)

It doesn't even make sense.

All right, we got some responses.

I'm not done with this Sidney Sweeney thing.

Did you see that?

Here she put this comment out Conrad and you shared it in the chat.

And I did see this as part of the article, but I didn't clip it.

But here's Sydney Sweeney's comment about why she's putting out a soap that has the essence of her bathwater.

She says, I honestly think it's a really fun full circle moment.

because fans always joke about wanting my bathwater.

They're not joking, Sydney.

I was like, this is just a cool way to have a conversation with the audience and give them what they want.

Do you honestly think Sydney Sweeney wants to have a conversation about men who want her bathwater?

She wouldn't go near them with a 10-foot Sydney Sweeney pole.

You know, that's a great pickup line.

What?

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

Hey, could I have your bathwater?

Yeah,

Pete Chihuahua (host)

right.

That's a great line if you want a restraining order.

She says, but then also hopefully encourage them to take care of themselves in a healthy way.

The phrase take care of themselves.

There's a little leeway there.

Let's be honest.

Guys don't want to smell like Sydney Sweeney.

They want a girl to smell like Sydney Sweeney or their wife or their girlfriend.

And that's weird, too.

Honey, I prefer you smell like this movie star.

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

So you're saying this is a potential Christmas gift as well

Pete Chihuahua (host)

or an anniversary gift.

depending on how comfortable you are in your relationship.

I think it's a product that men and women are buying for two very different reasons.

And, you know, whatever.

She's probably gonna make a, I hope it smells good.

I am, this is an open invitation though.

Come out and buy the studio, see?

I think she keeps a place in Green Bay, right?

You guys are on talking terms though?

Well, we're getting there.

Okay, it's been a long road.

I cheated.

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

On Facebook

Pete Chihuahua (host)

I Netflix cheated on her But I think I've heard and You know She might keep a place in downtown Green Bay if that's the case swing by wgbw We'll smell you free of charge and we'll let you know if it we think this is a go All right going to the social media responses to today's question folks, which is

What is your favorite swear word or phrase or imitation swear word?

Have fun with it folks, but keep it clean We've Lisa Hale host of new asco weekend says keep it clean Okay, was that grandma would say never anything stronger me.

Oh Mine is that lovely four-letter powerhouse.

Oh, there's a few of those.

Yeah, let's assume.

It's the F bomb Luke Mather says clean FFS, you know what that stands for yeah, red

That's a good one too or

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

father's sake.

Pete Chihuahua (host)

Yeah

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

for

Pete Chihuahua (host)

for Phil Dunfee sake That was a great episode of modern family where Phil thought WTF meant why the face Fitz Moranto our pal the Chicago comedian.

He's been on the show.

He says son of a diddly I never heard that one before

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

I haven't either.

Pete Chihuahua (host)

I like it though.

Yeah, sounds a little Flanders-esque My pal Dick Lesbruns.

Here's my history with Dick Lesbruns.

Dick was two years ahead of me in high school

and he used to joke that he was the all-time pregame scoring leader at Catholic Central.

He had to lay up line, shoot around.

And I broke his record.

Oh, nice.

Nice.

I was on the bench during the games, but I tore it up in the pregame.

Dick says, shizzle, bedizzle.

I never heard of that one either, but you know what, Dick, if it works for you, he could have said his first name too, I don't know.

Mike Mercury, keep it clean.

What the, and then he did asterisks, kind of asterisk is that.

Exactly.

See, Mike gets it.

Love, Mike.

Sheila Rosenberg says, I don't even know if I could say some of these lint liquor.

What's that?

That sounds obscene.

Because where is lint?

The pocket.

The belly button.

You get a lot of trouble down there.

Especially if you got a pocket full of bad intentions.

Todd Michaels says, Sheila Rosenberg, cootie queen.

It's an inside joke probably between Todd and...

Sheila.

Sarah Jean says, son of a nutcracker.

That's a good one.

I like it.

It's got the hard case sound in there.

You get a little satisfaction out of that.

Civic Media's Chuck G. Narrow says, LOL.

Yeah, I got nothing.

Come on, Chuck.

You're better than that.

That's hilarious.

Going to the text line.

Oh, I can't wait to read these because now I've given an example.

The social media one.

I have to tip my hat.

People kind of ran with it and had fun, even without any kind of direction.

All right, we've got, oh, Nick Wallander.

This is from social media too.

He says, let... Oh, no, that was... Is that from last night?

Did I scroll back that far?

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

That was from last night, but I put it in there because that was right as the show ended.

Pete Chihuahua (host)

I could swear I read that.

Oh.

I did read that, but, you know, it's better to be thorough.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Let's Tom in New Berlin says Pete.

What a topic when you realize you're a stupid human all driver leave their blinker on It's one what's due Sometimes I think Tom just says whatever's on his mind and I love his like either hits a home run or it's like I don't I need some clarification Tom you're welcome to text

Conrad (co-host/contributor)

back.

I think those all voice text too.

Pete Chihuahua (host)

Yeah.

Oh, I do that all the time as you know

WMDX, listening in WMDX, shot the front door, great one.

That's from the 212, baby.

Roger from Stevens Point says, instead of cursing, I say horse hockey and buffalo spit.

I love that.

Buffalo spit is fantastic.

Roger's in the 715.

All right, we're coming back, folks.

Rex Sykes is here.

We're gonna talk a little bit about Wisconsin incentives, film incentives.

We'll get an update as to where things are at and why people should make movies in Wisconsin, because they should.

Let's see what I did there.

All right, we're coming back.

This is Nightlight with Pete Chihuahua on the Civic Media Radio

Rex Sykes (guest)

Network.

Pete Schwab

We've got... We're having fun, folks.

We've got a great show.

Rex Sykes is here in just a minute.

We're going to talk about incentives in Wisconsin and why people should make their movies here.

We all know why, but we're going to reiterate, so to speak.

Jimmy Kuska is here at 7.05 talking about his favorite.

He thinks it's the best Star Wars has to offer.

And he's not the sports director for nothing, folks.

We're going to probably ask him a couple of sports questions, too.

And it's a Barman Friday night.

Rocker will be filling in for Terry.

Her Max Inc.

co-host at 7.35.

Our question of the night is, what is your favorite swear word or phrase?

What's your go-to?

We got shut the front door, buffalo spit.

You can use actual swear words, but we have to be able to read your text on the radio, so use your imagination.

Sherry from Oregon says, good evening, Pete and Conrad.

I say rats.

Really bad rats.

Sherry lives in a peanuts cartoon.

Thanks, Sherry.

Christine from Slinger says, Piffle.

You know that one, Conn?

I've never heard that one.

Never heard that either.

Oh, thank you, Christine.

That's a good one.

Getting some new ones here.

Brian from Green Bay says, can Conrad talk to Dr. Lierly on why, hey, can I smell your bathwater?

Is not a smooth move for the ladies.

Rex Sykes

I'm

Pete Schwab

sure and bring that up next time, Kristen's here.

I'm going by it.

It's a great pickup line.

All right, we will get to more of your tech later.

Right now, it is my pleasure to welcome to Nightlight.

He is the host of Movie Beat, and he is working actively to get incentives passed here in Wisconsin with a group called Action Wisconsin.

I don't know if he's actually part of that.

We're doing something separately, but either way, he's to be commended.

And he's an old friend.

Rex Sykes joins us now on Nightlight.

Hey, buddy.

Rex Sykes

That's so good to be with you again Pete you always do a great show and it's thank you for having me on and and having Conrad make all those arrangements So thank you.

Oh

Pete Schwab

our pleasure man.

That's what we do here Rex.

We need some content and you're the guy Hey, I gotta ask you all right, so Sometimes when I when I think about you I'm like well Rex is this no he's this no he's this you have worn a lot of hats and we'll get to the incentives but

You've worn a lot of showbiz hats.

Can you tell us some of the hats you've worn?

Rex Sykes

Well, I'm a fag actor, and I'm a producer.

I've done some writing.

I don't consider myself a writer, but I've written screenplays and different things and helped doctor some projects.

I consult, I teach acting, and I direct.

And I've done production management, first-aid-ing, and a whole bunch of it.

If you're going to be in the film business, you might as well learn to do everything.

And so, but what that does is it means that nobody knows what I actually do.

Pete Schwab

Jack of all trades.

Tell, all right, let's do this.

This is interesting because you just said first AD.

Tell people that are listening that might not know what that means.

What is a first AD Rex?

It's the

Rex Sykes

first assistant director and they don't assist in the director's vision.

They help, I mean, they're not directing the movie.

They're helping the director put the director's vision, the writer's vision, the producer's vision, whoever that is up on the screen.

So they're the communication hub.

They are the one who through every department in the in film business runs through.

They are the safety person and they are responsible to make sure that you move from one location to another location that you get done on time and and under budget.

So they at First AD does everything.

They help budget.

You name it, you know, it's probably not a job that a first-aid doesn't do that's why their life expectancy is like 50 years old It's a

Pete Schwab

good gig though.

Like if you get in that union, it's a great gig

Rex Sykes

What

Pete Schwab

is the I always hear this term and I think I know what it is and I've actually made a movie and I still I'm not 100% sure so maybe you can clarify What's a second second?

Rex Sykes

Second second is the second AD And there's a third AD and they all have different jobs like some

One may shuttle people, cast members, and things from the dressing rooms to, you know, from the soundstage to their trailers and whatever and get them on the set on time.

The second second usually is the person who does all the contract paperwork.

Pete Schwab

Very well done.

Rex Sykes

Thanks.

Pete Schwab

Unless I'm wrong and then it wouldn't make much difference.

Well, look, I wouldn't even know.

So well done.

No, I and I think what like what we're about to talk about soon, this stuff's important because we want, you know, if more movies get shot here, we want people to be able to come here and crew up in Wisconsin and not have to bring crew from out of state because typically, and I don't know the legislation here, but typically that's not.

deductible or refundable, so to speak.

It's what you spend here in the state.

So let's dive into the incentives, Rex.

Tell us what role you're playing.

Rex Sykes

Well, I happen to be friends with the people at Action Wisconsin and the people who are doing that.

I had a much larger role back in 2006, 2007, and 2009 when we originally had film incentives.

But I live in Los Angeles and Wisconsin.

And so it's important for me in both my homes to be able to work.

And what incentives do, and they're bringing them back to LA too, it looks like.

But if you look at the dictionary definition of incentive, it's a thing that motivates you or encourages you to do something, which means either to invest in something or to stimulate greater output.

So what tax incentives are is to, it brings business into the state where people can invest.

that you know what we want to do is we want to attract film companies to come in and spend their money in the state because when they do that there's what there's a multiplier effect what that means is for every dollar they spend they get the state would get six or seven or eight dollars back in terms of profit or return on investment you also want to incentivize the people in the state so that they can produce and we can become part of a global economy that means that we we produce and then we

or we output the product that we produce to the world.

And people sometimes have a difficult time thinking about it, but filmmaking is, in your director, filmmaking is a manufacturing process that's really not any different than manufacturing a pair of shoes or a purse or a television set.

It comes with an idea, which is then written down.

It becomes a screenplay.

It then goes into a pre-production mode where you have to...

Figure out how you're going to do what you're going to do and you're gonna allocate money You're gonna have to budget it and from the pre-production stage it goes into a production station from a production Which is a manufacturing process, right?

And then they have to do post meaning they have to edit and color it and do the sound you know Design and all that kind of thing and from there.

There's the marketing the distribution and the marketing of it So it's it's like taking any products to market

And in this case, it's entertainment.

And entertainment is one of the largest global exports of the United States in the world.

And Wisconsin could capture that and benefit by testing the incentives, which would mean that the local people would work more and that other people could come in and produce their film works and they would get a tax break.

We don't need to go into all of that because it's...

It's hard to explain in some ways, but it's all above board and there's things that you get a tax break for and there's things you can't get a tax break for.

So it's like a line item kind of thing that will give you a discount on this.

You know, you have to pay full price

Pete Schwab

on that.

In a nutshell, the more you spend in a state, the more you get either in a rebate or whatever the incentive happens to be, but it's very good for the economy, very good for state economies.

My guest is Rex Sykes.

He is the host of Movie Beat, and he is working hard to bring film projects here, hoping to get these incentives passed.

We are one of the only states Rex without a film office.

Let's say this goes and you work for the film office.

I

Rex Sykes

want

Pete Schwab

to film the film.

Rex Sykes

How do you

Pete Schwab

charge?

OK, you can wear that hat too.

What do you say to people?

How do you draw them here?

How do you pitch Wisconsin?

Rex Sykes

You pitch the advantages of the locations that you have, the beauty of the state.

We've got a big city.

We've got small cities.

We've got rural.

We've got urban.

We've got the big lake.

We've got forests.

We've got a lot of opportunity for people to come in.

and use Wisconsin as a background, but you also have the labor force here and attract people in for that.

I'm trying to think, there were a couple, I thought a couple parts to your question.

Well,

Pete Schwab

that was fine.

I was just saying, what is it about Wisconsin that you would sell?

And you kind of just did it.

You said big city, small towns, lakes, forests, we've got hills, we don't have mountains or oceans, but we've got almost everything else.

I mean, there's a lot you could film here.

Rex Sykes

When I first came here, I would encounter producers from Los Angeles and around the world who say, I would love to shoot Wisconsin.

I love Wisconsin.

It's gorgeous.

It's an incredible place to be.

The people are wonderful.

But they couldn't do it because it was too costly without incentives, without some form of brick.

Now, there's also a cap on these incentives.

In other words, there's only so much you can give away.

and to a particular production, like up to say a million dollars or a cap where after 10 million is spent, they've been exhausted for that year.

But the thing that people need to really realize is that all this money that we're talking about goes into the mom and pop shop.

It goes into all the amenities, the hotels, the rentals, the carpentry, the plumbers, the electrician.

I mean, anybody who's part of a production process within this state,

You know is the beneficiary of the influx of money because you bring it let's say they bring in a movie crew right and They can bring in X amount of people and then they have to hire X amount of people from the state They bring those people in they have to house them.

They have to feed them.

They have to you know shuttle them around They have to transport them.

They have to rent cars.

They have to rent the spaces.

They have to you know Get permits for the production.

So all of that money goes right into Wisconsin

all over the state.

I mean, that's the benefit of this thing.

It's that it benefits the entire state.

Right.

So the west side or the north side or the south side or the east side, you know, you're benefiting from increased.

Back in, you know, you made the movie here.

You did.

Yours wasn't incentivized, was it?

Not

Pete Schwab

technically.

We had so much help from the community, though.

I couldn't even put a number on it.

But and that's a big help, too.

But

Rex, how long will it take, in your opinion, and you've, like I say again, there's a reason I ask you how many hats you wear or have worn, how long will it, let's say the incentives pass, the legislation is enacted next fall, the fall after, whenever, how long does it take for us to have the workforce in terms of crews, best boys, gaffers, all that stuff?

How long does that take?

Rex Sykes

Well, it will take a while.

I mean, if you look at Atlanta, which is up and running and one of the biggest, you know,

industries in our country or Mexico has been in different locations.

It'll take a while.

There are people here who are qualified and capable and competent and ready and willing and able to work.

And then there are others who need to be brought up to speed.

Like anything, it'll take some time.

But during that time, keep in mind that the productions are going.

Let's say no local Wisconsin person worked and all we did was attract people in.

that money would still benefit the state.

And during that time, we could be educating and training all of the people to be able to do the job.

So there's a benefit even if we're slow in terms of growth.

But let me revisit something, Pete, because it's important.

Back when the incentives, we did have them.

We had them for a year, and then they were removed by governor at the time in 2009.

There were only four movies that got incentivized.

Project Solitude, which was renamed Susan Moses.

I think you know she did it up in the mic master did The Tony Shaloo movie feed the fish Terry Green came in with no God no master in 2009 and five million dollar movie on the first domestic terrorism in the United States back in the 19th century and Michael Mann had Johnny Depp public enemy, but There were 25 other productions going on in 2008

that weren't incentivized.

One was David Lynch's ex-wife that was a Baraboo, the film that she made, and a host of other projects that were going on that were all part reality TV shows and other things that came into the state, didn't get a dime in incentives, but they came here because we were film friendly and they wanted to shoot here.

And see, this is the thing.

So not every film maybe get incentives, but it will create an avenue for people to come in and produce their projects and get them then out to market.

and create the avenue for us to be able to produce here locally and get it out to market.

So it's a win-win.

We'll

Pete Schwab

pick it up right there.

We got to do a very quick break.

We'll come back with a few more minutes with our pal Rex Sykes.

This is Pete Schwab.

And Night Light on the Civic Media Radio Network.

Pete Schwabba

Hey, this is John Gries, also Uncle Rico, and you're listening to Night Light with Pete Schwabba.

Welcome back.

This is Night Light.

I am Pete Schwabba.

Great to have you with me on this Friday as we all ease into the weekend together.

Tom from New Berlin said,

Tom says, when you realize your blinker is too long, stupid.

We know we've all been there.

And then Tom says, you're Pete, Pete, once in a while, I am witty.

That's our class clown love.

You got it, Tom.

I appreciate the clarification.

Thank you, buddy.

Mark from Pray Your Sax says, uh, and S, sorry.

What is he saying?

I don't get that.

Is that the swear word?

Rex Sykes

That that's a first part of his text.

If you read up, he's

Pete Schwabba

clarifying.

Okay.

Thank you, Mark.

And Aaron Zommer says, wait,

You can say Lube on the radio.

Well, you can if you're Kristen Lierly.

I just want with it.

I don't share her potty mouth type thoughts.

But all right, we have a few more minutes with our current guest, Rex Sykes.

He is here.

He is the host of Movie Beat and helping.

He's trying to help bring incentives to the state to get more film, film shot here.

Rex, we just have a couple of minutes left.

Tell us about Movie Beat.

Rex Sykes

Well, I want to, but I want to do something really important before that.

Everybody who is interested in this.

should write their state legislators, representatives, and they can do that by going to actionwisconsin.org.

It's actually, I mean, if you have a way of putting it up, that would be good, but it's A-C-T-I-O-N-W-I-dot-O-R-G, I believe.

But reach out to your representatives.

This really does benefit everybody.

Absolutely.

I would be remiss.

I mean, I'm a champion for film and a champion for the film incentives, but actually Wisconsin, imagine Milwaukee.

people like Ann Katz, George Sucrose, Jeffrey Kurz, Susan Gerva, and so many people have been championing this and have repiloted this

Pete Schwabba

to make

Rex Sykes

it happen.

And it's being voted on, I guess, soon, and the governor's got it on his desk.

So we really need the action of the people to help make this happen and to happen as soon as possible.

But a big shout out to all those people.

Susan Kerns, who's the head of the

Pete Schwabba

film

Rex Sykes

now, and yourself and so many other people are really doing everything they can to make this happen.

I'm just one person, a cog in the wheel.

Pete Schwabba

No, I get it.

And a perfect example of that is I have a script that I wrote and I wanted to direct.

And maybe I still will.

Maybe I won't.

But we were going to go to Northern Minnesota.

They have very aggressive incentives there.

Would I rather shoot in Wisconsin?

Absolutely.

But you have investors to answer to, to your point.

That's exactly why we need the incentives.

Rex Sykes

Well, and, you know, the other thing is the brain drain.

You know, kids graduate from college and they leave to go pursue careers elsewhere, either Hollywood, New York, or Europe.

You know, Florida or Atlanta now, a lot of people are going to Atlanta.

So what this does is it teaches a talent here, because if you can't work here, you're going to go where the work is, you know, or you're going to give up on your dreams.

So

Pete Schwabba

in order to keep the kids in mom and dad's basement for a little longer, there's nothing wrong with that.

Rex, let's be honest.

I wish my kids were in my basement right now.

I know.

I know.

I know the feeling.

All right.

So tell us about movie.

Where can people find it?

Yeah, go ahead.

No, I was going to say, tell us about MovieBeat before we let you go.

Where can people find it?

Oh, it's OK.

So it's

Rex Sykes

on recsextv.com, R-E-X-S-I-K-E-S-T-V.com.

I do live shows.

I also do another show called Create Your Best Life With Rex, which is a little different in scope.

It has to do with my book, Life on Your Terms, Create the Life That

Pete Schwabba

You

Rex Sykes

Want.

Yeah.

So, you know, but I created Recsext MovieBeat in 2009.

I had a massive website at the time.

and it addressed film incentives, film production here and all around the world and celebrities.

There's over 600 hours of archive shows available on Spotify, Apple, wherever podcasts are heard.

And on YouTube and Rex Lake's TV, I've just did a show with actually Susan Druva and Jeffrey Kerr's On Incentives.

They are Wisconsin filmmakers and Jeff worked at Miramax for eight years and Suzanne

Gerva worked with Steven Spielberg, Greenworks for 10 years.

They've come back.

They're making movies here.

And Jeff Ohnley did a show Wednesday with Jeff.

He's a post-production colorist, special effects, visual effects artist, producer.

And we did a show on what he does recently.

So you can go, you can listen, you can watch on YouTube.

You can just search Brexite's movie

Pete Schwabba

or search my

Rex Sykes

name.

And I come up in just so many different ways.

Pete Schwabba

It's a great show.

And I love how you cover different aspects of filmmaking.

And some of the stuff people might not always know.

So keep up the great work, buddy.

Rex Sykes

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

My goal when I was a kid was I didn't have a mentor.

I wanted to know what to do and what not to do.

And nobody would tell me anything in Hollywood.

They'd just go, yeah.

And so the show is film experts, TV experts, streaming experts, sharing what to do, what not to do to navigate a career and to have a career and so that you can fulfill your life and live your dreams.

And I'm very proud of it.

And I'm incredible guests and celebrities that are on it all the time.

So go check out Movie Beat, but also be sure to stay tuned to Nightlight.

Pete Schwabba

Oh, well, thank you, buddy.

And keep up the great work with the incentives and keep doing a great job with Movie Beat.

Have a great night, buddy.

Thanks for taking the time tonight.

Rex Sykes

You too.

Thank you for

Pete Schwabba

having

Rex Sykes

me.

And you keep up the great work and make that movie.

And I want to be in it.

Make that movie.

Pete Schwabba

OK.

Sounds good, pal.

All right.

That's Rex Sykes, everybody.

Check out Movie Beat and check out actionwisconsin.org.

It's actually actionwi.org.

If you want more information about the incentives, hopefully they'll pass.

Our question of the night, folks, is what is your go-to or favorite swear word

word or phrase.

And I say, please keep it clean so I can read it on the radio.

You can hint around and I'll probably figure out what it is.

I probably said it.

Or you can give us an, like kind of an imitation, like fiddle sticks, rats, shut the front door, that kind of stuff.

Mark from Prairie Disac says, FTS, includes two FCC banned words.

He says, the middle T is this may give you a clue about the F and the T. Freak this S.

Done.

I got it.

I could work for the CIA.

I

Rex Sykes

think so.

Pete Schwabba

I think so too.

Aaron Zomers says, wait, you can't see the loop on the radio.

Aaron, you cut that promo.

Do you think Zomers cut the promo and then stuck it to us and wouldn't play it?

The Z-man?

I don't see that happening.

Rex Sykes

Yeah, I don't think so.

Pete Schwabba

Mark, I'm afraid he just asked.

I said, sorry, I read that one.

All right, we got more texts to read.

We got more guests to get to.

Jimmy Cuska, Civic Media Sports.

director.

We'll be here next.

We're going to talk about some Star Wars, and we will talk a little sports, too.

Jimmy's coming up after intermission.

This is Pete Chihuahua in Nightlight.

I'm at Civic Media Radio Network.

Announcer

Broadcasting live from the Civic Media Studios in Green Bay.

This is Night Light with Pete Chwaba.

Your inside source on everything entertainment from Wisconsin to Hollywood.

And now a guy who prefers to travel by catapult, Pete Chwaba.

Pete Chwaba

Are you messing with me with that catapult thing?

I feel like I've heard that every night for the last two weeks.

Conrad (co-host)

I haven't played it at all this

Pete Chwaba

week.

That's, I will bet you a thousand dollars you've played it.

I know this is something you and Todd and Amanda are all in on this, right?

Conrad (co-host)

Son of a biscuit.

I think I just

Pete Chwaba

saw, um, shot the front door.

I think I just saw vanilla ice walk by.

Really?

I'm pretty sure.

Going to get some gelato?

Hey, Sidney Sweeney keeps placing downtown Green Bay.

Who's to say, uh... Ice, ice, baby.

Yeah, and he probably isn't paying the rent she is, but still.

Hey, this is Nightlight with Peach Waba, folks.

Welcome back.

We are about to kick off act two.

Great to have you with me on this Friday night as we ease into the weekend.

We had a great talk last hour about incentives with Rex Sykes, the host of Movie Beat.

And our question of the night, by the way, and you want to get in on this, folks, because we need some creativity here.

We've had some great responses so far, but I hope we can keep in coming.

What is your favorite swear word or phrase?

What is your go to?

And you can either use like lame words like flippin' or freakin' or you know, you can use words like the old school fiddle sticks or rats or say what the A.G.

double hockey sticks, that kind of stuff.

So share with us your favorite swear word, but remember we are on the radio.

I can work around it with my CIA capabilities of deciphering what you're trying to say, but let us know.

Be part of the show, we will read your text on the radio.

Hey, I gotta read this too, Conn.

Did you know that Civic Media has another contest?

Conrad (co-host)

Oh, do they?

Pete Chwaba

Yeah.

It's called the Scotty Summer Text-to-Win Contest here at Civic Media.

We do great contests here and we've had more and more fun with each and every one and there's another one that starts Monday, June 2nd.

I implore you to get in on this.

There is no easier way to...

possibly pocket a hundred bucks or get brewers tickets, all you have to do.

You do need the Civic Media app to play, but that's it.

And you probably already have it anyway.

So tune in every hour in the morning, starting at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and then 4 p.m., get the keyword, text it in, and you are eligible for a prize every hour, or at those hours anyway.

A hundred bucks cash in your pocket or a pair of Milwaukee Brewer's Club level seats.

Conrad's been there, he thinks they're

Conrad (co-host)

great.

Oh yeah,

Pete Chwaba

agreed.

Every hourly entry qualifies you for two grand price trips, too.

And you want to get in on those, because one of them's in Door County, one of them's in Baraboo, both beautiful places in our state.

We're throwing in gas money, too.

You got to get your own oil change, but this is a great deal.

So you have a chance to win at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., beginning June 2nd.

be part of the fun and play Civic Media's Scotty Summer Text-to-Wing Contest.

Great stuff.

Good luck, everybody.

Right now, well, it is a bar band Friday night too.

I got to remind everybody, Rocker

will

be here at 7.35.

Instead of Terry Bar, Terry is taking a well-deserved vacation.

So her pal and co-host at Max Inc Radio, excellent show.

Every Saturday here at Civic Media from six to midnight, Rocker will be here and we'll talk music with Rocker.

So bar band Friday night lives on even without

the bar part of it.

And right now I'm excited because we haven't had this guy on in a while and he is the Civic Media Sports Director.

He is incredibly knowledgeable about sports.

He speaks articulately about a lot of subjects though, including Star Wars.

And we're going to cover a few things tonight with Jimmy.

Jimmy Cusco, ladies and gentlemen, joins us here now on Nightlight.

Hey, pal.

Jimmy Koska

Hey, how's it going, man?

It really has been like a long time.

I know.

I miss

Pete Chwaba

it.

Well, you were filling in for Mike and, you know, you were kind of, you know, obviously you were in the rotation.

We love talking to you.

But then I just, you know, I read people, Jim, and I can tell when I'm pestering them or they don't have time.

That's one of my, I'm like, George Costanza can always tell when someone's not having fun at a party.

I know when I'm pushing too hard.

So, but either way, it's great to have you back, buddy.

Jimmy Koska

Well, I'm glad to be back and you know, it's fun because I you know for all the things that people talk about hey your sports guy, whatever I'm multi-dimensional.

I mean the other things such as sports and that's one of the reasons why I really enjoy your show is that you know, we have a whole day of talk and Politics and all the other fun things happening in the world, but we can relax at night and just talk about the things that make us laugh and smile So that's one of the reasons why I appreciate you Pete.

Conrad (co-host)

I appreciate that.

Thank you, Jim and your 20 bucks is on the way.

Thanks for the thanks for the plug

Pete Chwaba

and you missed

Who doesn't need 20 bucks?

Our first hour, Jim, we probably spent five minutes talking about Lube.

Where else can you find that on the Civic Media Radio Network?

Conrad (co-host)

You'll just have to go back and listen.

Pete Chwaba

All right.

So, all right, it's great to have you here.

Let's jump right in.

You sent a great text, and I read this, and I was like, oh, we have to talk about this on the air.

You said that regarding the Star Wars franchise, you just binge watched Andorra season one and two.

and Rogue One, and you said it was the best of Star Wars.

Please elaborate

Conrad (co-host)

on that.

Jimmy Koska

Yeah, so let me just take it a step back.

It's the best of Star Wars if you're looking for an adult version of Star Wars.

A lot of the movies and a lot of the marketing is geared towards younger people, right?

It's meant to be kind of a, you know, the original trilogy is kind of a coming of age, chosen one hero saves the day kind of thing, right?

That's, you know, pretty common in movies and things like that.

Andalore is a series, along with Rogue One, the movie that was released a few years back.

I think it's really more tailored towards adults.

You really have to pay attention to details in a lot of ways.

It's a lot like the spy thriller type shows that people like to watch on whatever other platform.

It's a different take on the Star Wars universe.

And I think that that's the appeal of it, especially if you're somebody who enjoys having multiple plotlines to follow, enjoying character development, depth in characters.

And that's a reason why I put it.

high, not just in Star Wars shows, but of any show.

I put

Pete Chwaba

it

Jimmy Koska

pretty high up there because it gives you a lot to think about.

And you can get invested in just about any of the several main characters throughout the series.

Pete Chwaba

That's a great answer.

And I, you know, I'm one of those guys, I like Star Wars.

I don't eat, sleep and breathe it.

You know, I, if I have Star Wars questions, I go to my son, he's more into it.

And he, like, even before this interview, I'm like, Joe, what was Rogue One about again?

Because I, as much as I like Star Wars and they're, they're.

Just outstanding entertainment.

I do tend to forget what happened where there's so many movies There's so many TV shows.

I've watched a few of them with my son and I even on those I know there's captain rex and this is part of this show and this guy But rogue one once we got talking about it.

You're right Jim It is a great movie and it just has an energy that the other Star Wars don't have and the ending is pretty bleak Which you don't really see a lot either, right?

Jimmy Koska

Right and you know for the people who originally watched Rogue one when it came out several years ago After watching and or when you watch Rogue one again after you've seen the two seasons of and or a Lot of things stand out much differently about the movie Just based on what you had watched the shows like even the main character Cassie and and or played by Diego Luna

You view him a lot differently in the context of the movie after seeing the series because the series obviously develops his character, gives him quite the backstory and everything like that.

But the motivations in the movie itself and why he does the things he does and all the emotional payoffs and hooks that are in the movie, there's a whole bunch of context to it all now.

brilliantly really explains everything throughout the series.

One of the things the series does really well is foreshadows coming.

We know the ending.

We know Rogue One is coming, right?

We know that.

Conrad (co-host)

Right.

Jimmy Koska

And still the show is finding ways to kind of place things along the way that lead you to the things that happen in the movie.

Pete Chwaba

That's so cool.

So, all right, so talk us through this.

For the people that are listening, Jim, that have maybe seen both or one, like I haven't seen Andor, I've seen Rogue One.

Tell us the timeline there.

Rogue One or Andor leads into Rogue One, which leads into episode four with Luke Skywalker, correct?

Jimmy Koska

Correct.

Yeah, the series leads into Rogue One.

So yeah, and then it goes into the original trilogy, episodes four through six.

In fact, the ending of Rogue One is it pretty much.

you know, a new hope picks up right where Rogue One leaves off.

The end of indoor season two leads into everything that happens in Rogue One.

So it gives you a lot more lead up to two episode four.

So, you know, if you're starting, obviously, you would start with season one, then go to season two and then go to Rogue One.

Pete Chwaba

Okay.

So you you binge watch both seasons.

How long did that take you?

Jimmy Koska

Quite a while.

I mean, I'd seen I watched them both.

when they came out right away.

And I had seen Rogue one years ago.

I just made a decision.

I'm like, you know, I'm going to watch it all just in a row.

I just want to see how many things I can pick up on and see how everything kind of leads in.

You know, the first time you watch through, you're watching it for the entertainment.

You know, your brain is off.

You're not thinking as much,

Announcer

right?

Jimmy Koska

Yeah.

Second time through, you're trying to pick up on things like, oh, that's what happened.

Or, oh, that character actually plays a part here, you know, five episodes later.

It's it's it's that deep of a show where there's things that happen.

episodes ago that are suddenly relevant later.

So it took me a couple of weeks to get through everything just because of life and things.

But I think, like I said earlier, the thing I appreciate is that there's a lot of depth to it.

And it's not just the main storyline of developing the main character of the show.

I feel like the show actually has several main characters.

It's not just one character.

You're learning a lot more about all of the pieces that kind of move in.

And if you're somebody who's really invested into things like politics,

or if you're invested in things, you know, the spy thriller stuff, the heist movies, things like that.

There's all of those elements throughout both seasons.

Pete Chwaba

That's great.

Folks, that is the familiar voice of Civic Media Sports Director Jimmy Koska.

We're talking Star Wars.

He's a big fan and just binge watched season one and two of Andor.

Is that on Disney?

That's Disney, right?

Yeah, that's the philosophy up.

So let me ask you this, Jim.

Do your kids are they as big on Star Wars as you are?

Do they watch with you?

And do they agree with you in your opinion on that it's the best, at least for adults?

Jimmy Koska

My kids are pretty young.

So

Pete Chwaba

this

Jimmy Koska

would not be a show.

You know, they're one of them just graduated kindergarten, right?

Pete Chwaba

Oh,

Jimmy Koska

little young for this.

But I think for them, there's a couple of animated shows that they'll watch occasionally, but they're not as into it as I am.

I get it from my dad.

My dad was really big into it.

He's taken me to theater for all this stuff.

So that's where I picked it up from.

But my kid's not so much.

But I do think that this show is most specifically targeted towards adults.

I don't know.

I don't know that kids could follow it.

There's a lot of exposition.

Yeah.

So not as there's no Jedi, right?

There's no lightsabers in this.

So

Announcer

it's

Jimmy Koska

not the Star Wars that people think of.

They think of lightsabers and big explosive flashy battles.

And there are a few battles, but, you know, there's no Jedi.

There's no there's no lightsaber clashes.

None of that.

It's it's it's a much different take on the Star Wars universe, which is, you know, and not that having a lightsaber two wouldn't be bad, but it's a different take on things.

And I think I think people can appreciate that.

Do you have you seen the born

Pete Chwaba

identity movies?

Yes.

Do you see any similarities?

Tony Gilroy wrote those, and I think he's the main writer of Andor or Rogue One, I can't remember.

But do you see similarities?

Jimmy Koska

Yeah, there's definitely some crossover pieces.

I think there's a couple of twists that really, it makes you call back to some of his other work.

Also, just in the sense that, you know,

There's characters who you see throughout, and you kind of know where things are kind of heading with certain characters on the show, but it doesn't make any of the payoffs less satisfying knowing what's happening to everybody at the end of all this, which I think just lends you to just appreciate the fact that it's an incredibly well-written show.

And more to that point, when I say there's multiple main characters, the main character on the show obviously is Andor, Cassie and Andor, main character, right?

But there's a lot of characters kind of in the universe around him that you learn a lot about.

And, you know, I would say that, you know, of all the cast, there are multiple women who are part of the show.

who all you could argue could be the leading actress in this show.

There's five or six of them.

Pete Chwaba

And

Jimmy Koska

they all do a brilliant job in this.

And a couple of them are even relatively new into acting.

I think one of the main characters is actually brand new to acting.

So there's a lot of depth to the characters.

And I think you're right.

The Bourne trilogy or the Bourne series, there's definitely some similarities.

I think especially in how, you know, character arcs kind of turn out and the way the

show is structured as several mini arcs throughout, three episode arcs throughout it too.

Pete Chwaba

That's great.

We'll have a few more minutes with one of our pals, Civic Media Sports Director Jimmy Koska.

When we come back after this very short break, don't leave folks, it's Peach Waba and Nightlight on the Civic Media Radio

Network.

So you can see

Pete Schwabba (host)

Welcome back, folks.

This is Nightlight with Pete Schwabba.

You've got the Civic Media Radio Network, and it is a bar band Friday night.

Rocker will be here at 7.35 after the news, filling in for his pal Terry Barr tonight.

I'll tell us what's coming up on Max Inc Radio tomorrow night, and...

We'll talk a little music, too, as we do every Friday, I should say.

Right now, we've got a few more minutes with our buddy Jimmy Koska, Civic Media Sports Director.

Jimmy, I've got a couple of sports questions for you, but I'd like to put a button on this Star Wars talk.

After Rogue One and Andorra, where do you go?

What's your favorite?

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

So I'm partial to the original trilogy because that's what got me into it I think that there's just a lot of magic and how Simple things were you know relative to all the CGI and things that we have now You know you can suspend disbelief a little bit and just enjoy those movies for what they are I don't tend to poke holes in a lot of the older movies that I watch I I just try I just try to enjoy it and You know just kind of revel in some of the performance too of some of the better the better actors and things like that I just I really enjoy

just kind of the introduction to it.

And, you know, I guess I just kind of take it at that.

So I guess it's kind of a boring answer.

I know there's there's also a cartoon that there's there's a cartoon and animated shows that also do really well, you know, with rebels with bad batch, bad batch is one of my personal favorites.

It's great.

You know, Clone Wars, like there's there's there's a really big expanded universe of Star Wars things.

But I always come back to the original trilogy because that's what got me into it.

Little little nostalgia there.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Great answer.

And I'm right there with you.

That's fantastic.

Are you going to see a mission impossible?

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

Um, you know, it's funny is all the movies I see in the theaters now It's it's they're all kids movies.

So, you know, I've seen the Minecraft movie in the theater about seven times now I just got to see the leeload stitch.

It's all kids movies.

My kids are going in the fourth and first grade So

Pete Schwabba (host)

I don't know why I got I thought I knew you had young kids.

I thought you had a couple old I can't keep the civic media personality kids straight, you know, oh

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

My

Pete Schwabba (host)

older years are young stewards are in the middle.

It's hard to keep track of them But that's what I love watching those movies with my

kids all the all the kids movies just are so much fun hey before we let you get out of here what I want to ask you something because I feel like the the bucks are in a really weird spot what would you if you were like

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

their GM what would you do

You know, it's funny is you get to simulate this.

If you buy a video game, you can actually simulate what you do.

And for me, I would be finding a way to turn off the thing that lets the computer say no to trades and just build a roster of nothing but three point shooters around Yanis and let him go to work.

You know, the bucks though, in real life, they don't have that option.

They can't force trades.

They can't turn off the salary cap.

It's going to be kind of a weird year because it's, you know, it's kind of like a gap year, right?

They really just need a year to let

everything kind of cool off.

They don't have any assets to move.

There's not a whole lot of roster flexibility.

There's no draft picks, nothing in the future that can dish out.

They have an injured superstar that they have to wait to return.

Achilles injuries are notoriously terrible for professional athletes.

It doesn't seem like Yanis is trying to force his way out, but I think this is like one of those years where you kind of just take pause and maybe it's one of those years.

I liken back to when Kobe Bryant was kind of between

you know, after he'd won the championships and he had that year where he didn't have all those pieces around him and the Lakers basically said, Kobe, you can shoot 100 times.

Go score 60 points in a game.

We don't care.

Go have fun.

Maybe the Bucks do that with Yanis this year.

See if Yanis can score 40 a game.

Let him go nuts.

That's where I would be.

But I'm not an NBA GM either.

I want Yanis to stay selfishly in Milwaukee.

But I also understand the appeal of wanting a championship and wanting to be on a team that competes for things as well.

The Bucks are good as long as Yanis is here.

There's nothing you get even close to Yanis in any trade.

So I think the Bucks are just going to ride it out and hope that he's happy with probably some kind of.

every building year coming up.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Yeah, they're in a weird position because you wouldn't blame them for making a move, even if they had to move Giannis.

I think they would all part as friends and the fans would even understand that on some level, but as a fan, you don't want to see your hero leave, right?

I mean, it's a weird

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

position.

No, and also, again, you're not getting anything back close to Giannis.

You're not getting a transcended superstar.

with any of those draft picks you might acquire, with any of those players you get back, you just aren't.

You don't get a roster makeover in a trade like that.

There's no IDA team that's going to completely gut what it has just to land Yanis, right?

They're not going to take.

three or four ready-made starter rotation guys and a bunch of draft picks to do it.

That's the thing.

A trade is only going to happen if Yanis forces it to happen.

And when that happens, the bucks are going to be trading, they're going to be trading their dollar bill for six dimes.

And they'll have to live with it.

And they won't be as relevant without Yanis.

Pete Schwabba (host)

That's a great point.

Jim, thanks so much.

You're the best, buddy.

Great to catch up again.

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

Appreciate you guys.

Thank you

Pete Schwabba (host)

like back at you.

All right.

That's Jimmy Casca civic media Sports director.

It's funny because you know, we're fans of Jimmy and Mike they both are phenomenal

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

personalities and do great

Pete Schwabba (host)

work Jimmy's a sports director and I kind of call Mike the sports authority because that's more of a vague term, right?

Yeah, and then there's no pecking order because those guys are friends.

What would you call

Unnamed Speaker 3

yourself?

Pete Schwabba (host)

Sports walkings, I don't know

A bench warmer, how does that sound?

The civic media bench warmer, that's what I am.

I think in high school, I was like the ninth guy, like, you know, the sixth man.

That was a term I didn't even understand when I moved to Marinette, when I was like in sixth grade, people were like, oh, I'm the sixth man.

I'm like, what is it?

I had never heard that before.

I'm like, so you don't start, but you're bragging about it.

It's just a weird.

But there's nothing wrong with being the first guy off the bench.

My whole high school career, I was like, maybe eighth on a good day, most likely ninth, tenth, or eleventh, you know?

That's what happens when you can't dribble.

Unnamed Speaker 3

You know, I was left corner, you know?

So I was all the way at the...

Pete Schwabba (host)

Left corner.

Explain that.

All the way at the end.

You were like...

Is he on the bench for the team or is he watching the game?

You're like, it'd be great if I was the sixth man on like a football team.

But well, never quite got there either.

Yeah.

Um, all right.

So our question of the night, folks, what is your go to swear word or phrase?

608 says piece of f-ing S. Mine was just piece of S, but this 608 is putting another adjective in there.

Uh, Ed from Madison says, see.

We'll see you next Tuesday.

Jimmy Koska (Civic Media Sports Director)

I

Pete Schwabba (host)

know I can read that, but I don't even think you can read that in the air.

Thank you, Ed.

And thank you, 608.

We're coming right back.

It is a bar ban Friday night.

Rocker is coming up next, folks.

It's Peach Wabba and Nightlight on the Civic Media Radio Network.

Narrator

Time to check out original music with Bar Band Friday on Nightlight.

Now your host, Pete Schwabba and special guest, Terry Barr.

Pete Schwabba

Terry Barr is a special guest, but she is not here tonight.

So the bar band part of this segment is gone.

It's just a band Friday night.

We'll call it, we'll rename it Rocker Band Friday Night because Terry Barr's co-host

at MaxIncRadio is filling in for Terry, who is taking a well-deserved vacation.

It is my pleasure to welcome back tonight, our good pal, Rocker, who is filling in for Terry.

Hey, buddy, how are you?

Rocker

How you doing, man?

Thanks for

Pete Schwabba

having me.

Dude, I really appreciate you filling in for Terry.

I like to keep this going, and I love nothing more than to talk about music with you guys, because you and Terry both have turned me on to more music.

and a lot of it homegrown that I just love.

It's fantastic.

So thank you.

How are you doing tonight?

Rocker

I'm doing really good.

Thank you.

Great day.

A lot of fun.

Started out this morning on the John and Gordy show talking about Maxine Gradio and we finished the night on Peach

Pete Schwabba

Fava.

That's great.

It looks like you have an excellent show tomorrow.

You've got a few bands coming.

You've got a great band live in the lair.

I've heard of these guys.

lower fifth, but I don't know much about him.

Can you tell us about him?

Rocker

The lower fifth are a band that probably started in Madison around 2012.

And they're just a great instrumental folk kind of Americana type act.

And their singer Luke Jorgensen was just a major player in the music scene here in Madison.

And he passed away suddenly.

year or something before the pandemic.

And the band kind of was like, you know what, we're going to keep going in his name and keep it rolling.

So they're just an amazing group, I think, of people.

And they're led by Corey Swadley, Paul Metz on drums, Audrey Pesatelli on bass and vocals, and Jeremy Henning on trombone and Michael Berger trumpet.

We're going to have a duo tomorrow night, live in the studio on Max Sync Radio.

Max Sync Radio is on the Civic Media Radio Network, 6pm to midnight.

And we feature interviews, we feature live music performance, and this week with the lower 5th.

And one really cool thing about the lower 5th is that they will also be playing at Wood Fest.

If you don't know, I'm the guy who kind of is the music programmer at Wood Fest.

So we just broke the schedule.

We have three stages over two days with 30 bands.

So tonight is going to feature many of those bands who are playing and next week as well.

Right now, the lower fifth will be playing Sunday, July 27th on the Sugar Maple stage.

And I have a little clip to play.

This is from their song called hopes.

This is the Lord fifth.

Unknown Speaker

Love it.

Pete Schwabba

I love that trumpet.

That sounds great.

Rocker

Isn't that good?

Yeah.

You know, horns, Americana folk, great guitar player and a lot of vocals.

Pete Schwabba

Yeah.

Rocker

It's gonna be a lot of fun tomorrow night.

Pete Schwabba

And that's they're live in the layer at 9 p.m.

Correct?

8 p.m.

Oh, 8 p.m.

Okay.

All right.

So that's lower fifth.

That was the song Hope folks.

You can you can listen to them tomorrow night.

You should tune into Max, Inc.

from 6 to midnight, but at live in the layer.

Uh, lower fifth will be there at eight PM for a solid hour.

How many songs will they play their rocker within that hour?

Rocker

Alive in the layer features six songs with interview between the songs.

Great.

And, uh, we feature a live concert in our studio every Saturday night.

So it's always worth it to tune in.

We just have tons and tons of great artists.

And you can actually hear a lot of that stuff.

If you go to the website, civicmedia.us slash maxing radio.

Pete Schwabba

Have you built a mantle at your home yet, Rocker, for all the hardware you guys are taking home from these award shows for Maxi?

That's pretty amazing.

Rocker

You know, we've been fortunate to win some awards last year.

And this year already, in the WAMI Awards, I actually won online on-air personality of the year.

And so I'm up for the same award with Terry.

I'm going against Terry, so we're going to see where people voted.

for on-air personality for the mama awards the madison area music awards and she's an all-star there so i lost her last year

Pete Schwabba

it's all good for the show though so right yeah

Rocker

oh we love it man she's awesome i love her yeah you guys are

Pete Schwabba

awesome together too uh tell us about adam i don't even want to try to say that last name is it the adam

Rocker

a damn test fade

Pete Schwabba

A Dem Tess Faye.

Oh, I like that.

Rocker

Okay.

A Dem Tess Faye.

The Dem Tess Faye man.

You know what?

You know, it's kind of funny is right when I'm done with radio tonight.

I'm going to see him live because he's playing tonight in Madison at the Burr Oak, which is on Madison's east side, the Winnebago

Pete Schwabba

Street.

Rocker

And doors are at seven.

So I'm just going to walk in there probably when the show starts.

A Dem Tess Faye.

He was in the Black Poet Society, rock, hip hop, funk.

He's a legend here in Madison.

He moved to New York City to pursue a music career.

And then when he was back here visiting, the lockdowns happened and he was just like, you know what?

I'm just staying in Madison.

Things were getting crazy.

So it's pretty great because we got him back and he's just an awesome band.

It's going to be a night of soul, groove and connection.

The lights are going to be low and the band's going to be tight and the energy, pure fire and intimacy.

He's gonna be playing out with us.

He's gonna be headlining the Luther Allison stage on sunday july 27th at 6 p.m.

I have a little clip from a dem test for your band.

It is from his twenty twenty two e p. This song is called the being way.

Narrator

All right.

Perfect.

Don't waste your time.

But then you stand in line You gotta see what you wanna be You gotta see to be away To be away, yeah So let's start And get to the heart of the answers And I can be where it is Just a small part of the process For what it is

That was... Say it

Pete Schwabba

again, Rocker.

Adam Tesfaye?

A Dem.

Rocker

A Dem Tesfaye.

A Dem

Pete Schwabba

Tesfaye.

Okay, there

Rocker

we go.

A

Pete Schwabba

Dem.

Yes.

Love that song.

Tesfaye.

That was great.

Wait, outward fest

Rocker

sounds like a damn test for your band.

He'll be headlining at Woodfest.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Are you I sent you the list.

Yeah, I just released the schedule yesterday.

I got to make it down.

So it's again, at Woodfest is July 26th and 27th.

It happens on Madison's East Side on Atwood Avenue from Tex Taco Tubs all the way to Monty's blue plate.

There are three stages.

the Luther Allison stage, the Clyde-Subtlefield stage, and the Sugar Maple stage.

And so there's about 30 bands over two days.

And backstage at the festival, we feed this year probably about 275 musicians over two days.

Wow.

Yeah.

Pete Schwabba

That I have heard nothing but amazing stuff about Atwood Fest.

I got to check it out.

But let's get to my guest is rocker.

He's filling in for Terry Bartonite for Barbie on Friday night.

He's her co-host on the award-winning Max Inc radio, which you can check out here at Civic Media on the network every Saturday from six to midnight.

And be sure and check out live in the layer tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Or you can hear lower fifth.

And we just heard a sample for them.

I want to get to VO five.

I want to make sure we get VO five in

Unknown Speaker

because

Pete Schwabba

every year the first few years I went to the

Wisconsin Film Festival, they always played the party, the opening night party, and they are so fun.

Tell us about VO5.

Rocker

Wow.

Well, you know, VO5, I've been booking Atwood Fest and Atwood Summer Fest since 2002.

So for 23 years, right?

In about 2008, me and my wife were actually going to Halloween.

I was dressed as Darth Rocker and she was dressed as Padme.

And we walked into the frequency bar and there's this band playing disco and they're wearing angels outfits and halos and wings.

And my wife loves disco.

She loves dancing.

So we're, you know, boogie and down.

And she's like, oh, you have to hire these guys, you know, for Edward Fest.

And I was thinking to myself, you know, a disco band for the rock stage.

And so we did.

And you know, people started showing up.

and they danced and the next year we hired them and moved them up to the schedule and people came and within a couple of years, they had worked up to be the headliner and just thousands and thousands of people come to dance in the streets, the VO5 at Atwood Fest every year.

So it's really a magical community experience.

And when you look around and see the people's faces in the crowd,

just go to the website atwoodfest.com.

And we have a couple of pictures from last year where the people are just smiling, having a great time.

It's really one of the best festivals, I think, even though I happen to be a huge part of it.

But yeah, it's really good.

Pete Schwabba

All right, so we got a song here from VO five.

We

Rocker

do, you know, they'll be playing at Disco on the Lake here at the Eastside Club in Madison on Thursday, June 5th at 6 p.m.

And they'll be playing at Woodfest July 26th after Fat Function.

That'll be on the main stage of Clyde Solfield stage right now.

This is one of their originals and this song is called Soul's Shiny Day from their album Dance

Unknown Speaker

Originality.

My soul's a blowing look into a certain blue sky And I feel as high And my feet are on fire Spirit's rising higher and higher on a brand new day Chase my troubles away

That

Pete Schwabba

is awesome because I know they made their chops as a cover band, but that's a great original.

Oh, yeah.

Rocker

And they have that album is a great album.

That's fantastic.

They perform quite a few originals now.

As well as the great, you know, the great hits, people are gonna love the big disco hits.

They're gonna play disco inferno, you know.

Pete Schwabba

Rocker, you got a fan here, PJ listening or watching on the stream says, all that live music is what I miss about living in Madison.

Well said, PJ.

And PJ, PJ also answers our question tonight.

He says, used to have a favorite that would confuse people often.

Yuck-foo, bun of a stitch.

Go back off in your own jackyard.

If you rearrange the letters, you'll get it.

We get it, PJ.

We'll have a few more minutes with Rocker after a very short break here, folks.

It's a Bar Band Friday night on Nightlight with Pete Schwabba on the Civic Media Radio

Unknown Speaker

Network.

Conrad (producer)

Welcome

Pete Schwabba (host)

back, ladies and gentlemen.

This is Nightlight with Pete Schwabba.

Great to have you with me for a few more minutes here on a Friday night.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Monday night, I will be live from Madison doing the show, Lighting Up State Street, folks.

It's going to be a great show.

Filmmaker Austin Galante, I hope I'm saying that right will be will be in the studio.

He's got a new film He's a Madison based filmmaker and then my pal Ben riser who does all the programming at UW cinema tech will be joining me in studio as well for some movie talk Our question of the night was what is your go-to swear word?

Keep it clean for the radio Terry Ryan on the she's or he is in the 414.

I think it's a she do we establish that con?

She says

F them if they can't take a joke.

That's one of my go-tos.

I love that one too.

People that are like too uptight and can't laugh.

Heath into forest says F stain or fudge stain.

I'm guilty of using that one myself sometimes.

And then steady Eddie says, I'm listening to Nightlight on this BBFN.

from my giggle room, which is just down the hall from my peach wabba-inspired wiggle room.

I don't swear too much in public, but I curse like a drunken sailor in private, mostly at TV commercials.

I'm with ya, Eddie.

He says GD at Pete.

Fun fact, gentle, giant, Haas Cartwright, Dan Blocker on the TV show Bonanza, would cuss by saying, dad gummit.

I swear he really did.

It's true.

No SHI blank, Sherlock, Pete and Conrad.

Have a good weekend, all three of you.

Steady Eddie.

Thank you, buddy.

And Lil' Erv on the stream finally says, uh, I don't know what that means, Conrad.

You?

Shiv?

Conrad (producer)

So I'll say this.

Instead of the last, instead of the U or the C, he puts a

Pete Schwabba (host)

V.

Conrad (producer)

A V.

Pete Schwabba (host)

I kind of know what he's doing.

I can't really, I don't even think I can say what he put, so.

No, no, I wouldn't try.

All right, we've got a few more minutes here with our pal, Rocker.

He is one of the co-hosts of Max Inc Radio that you can listen to here on the Civic Media Radio Network.

Every Saturday, the award-winning Max Inc Radio from six to midnight, he is filling in for his co-host, Terry Barr.

Rocker, who do you wanna, who do you, who should we get to next, Rocker?

And by the way, you look great, man.

I'm glad you're feeling better and you're on the mend.

You look like a million bucks.

How you feeling?

Rocker (co-host)

I'm doing good, man.

You know, I got to go practice with my band for the first time since I had a heart attack and my cardio rehab and all that stuff.

So I'm really happy to be playing in the band and looking forward to trying to play in some shows in the fall and kind of, you know, get back to doing things.

Pete Schwabba (host)

And is that a sign like you're really fully back when you can actually jam with the band?

Rocker (co-host)

I think so.

I mean, you know, I use big stakes and I don't play in a country band.

Pete Schwabba (host)

All right.

So we got we got time probably for one more.

Who do you want to go with here, Rock?

Parker Barrow, Jeremiah James Band.

Rocker (co-host)

Well, you know, Jeremiah Jams Band, that'd be a band that'd be great.

We can get to Parker Barrow maybe next week.

Okay.

Jeremiah Jams Band, they're going to be playing Atwood Fest on Sunday, July 27th.

4 p.m.

Luther Allison stage Jeremiah Jams man is from Appleton.

There's a 2025 Bammys band of the year.

Wow, right?

That's Bammys.

That's up in your territory.

Yeah.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Oh, we

Rocker (co-host)

got to get the area of music.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Right.

Love to have

Rocker (co-host)

their Jeremiah and his wife, Emily Jams.

They front the band.

They're incredible multi instrumentals.

They even added a new drummer.

So they have two drummers.

And they're really fun.

I thought they're

They're really great.

They're playing all over the place.

June 25th, they're up in Green Bay at Hagermeister Park.

On July 4th, they're at One Barrel Brewing Company up in Door County, which that would be a lot of fun.

Oh, that's fantastic.

We're right next door.

And August 13th at the Tarleton truck yard.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Oh, God, they're like right in there.

Hagermeister Park is like next door and the Tarleton's blocks down.

So there you go.

Right.

all right so

Rocker (co-host)

uh well i got a song from them um this is one of their latest songs it's by jeremiah jams band this is called dancing in your soul all

Conrad (producer)

right

Pete Schwabba (host)

Jeremiah James Band.

Love it.

That's great.

Jeremiah

Rocker (co-host)

Jams.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Oh, Jams.

I'm sorry.

I can't read my own writing.

Rocker (co-host)

Jeremiah Jams,

Pete Schwabba (host)

man.

Hey, we got another text on the stream.

PJ says, oh, I know the Jeremiah Jams.

He says, I live in Nina and my friends in Oshkosh know Jeremiah and I have hung out with them at their shows.

So there you go.

You're bringing the truth to the people.

Rocker, thank you so much, buddy.

It's great to see you and I really appreciate you filling in for Terry.

And if you're game, well, yeah, we'll do this again next week.

It'll be great to continue this.

Rocker (co-host)

Sounds good.

I'll put together another batch of songs and we can preview a little more.

of the bands that are coming to Atwood Fest.

Oh, and by the way, we have Austin Galante on our show tomorrow night.

He's really hitting up the, the Civic Media radio network.

He's also going to be on John and Gordy, I think, uh, Monday.

So he's making the rounds.

Pete Schwabba (host)

He's doing good.

That's great.

And I'm glad I pronounced his name, right?

Even though it was kind of an accident, but thank you, buddy.

Uh, great to see you and have a great weekend.

Thank you.

You

Rocker (co-host)

got it.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Appreciate it.

That's rocker.

He ain't in no country band, Conrad.

That was my favorite line of the

Rocker (co-host)

night.

I love

Pete Schwabba (host)

it.

All right, thank you to Rocker for filling in for Terry.

Thank you to Rex Sykes.

Thanks to Jimmy Koska.

Thank you for all your texts, folks.

And have a great weekend on behalf of the lovable producer, Conrad.

Good night,

Conrad (producer)

Wisconsin.

Announcer

Broadcasting live from the Civic Media Studios in Green Bay.

This is Night Light with Peach Wabba.

Your inside source on everything entertainment from Wisconsin to Hollywood.

And now, a guy who likes pina coladas, but hates getting caught in the rain, Pete Schwabba.

Pete Schwabba (host)

We are back, ladies and gentlemen, for Act 2.

Great to have you with us.

We are talking about movies tonight, and we're going to segue or pivot, should I say, to a very cool rock contest.

Our guest Dennis Graham at 720 is trying to find the best garage band ages 7 through 12 in Wisconsin.

It's called Rock-Honson.

That's coming up at 720.

Our question of the night is what are your favorite burger toppings?

It is National Hamburger Day and the text of the night so far I would have to say is from Civic Media's own Melissa Kay who said peanut butter, pineapple and cilantro with a dash of sriracha.

I don't know if that's real or if she's trying to get listeners to vomit, but either way, that's her answer.

And maybe she loves it.

Who am I to question Melissa?

She's fantastic.

And right now we have a few more minutes with our guest, Matt Miller, Milwaukee based film critic.

We're talking about the box office, the crushing box office this last weekend.

Matt, will that be the biggest weekend of the summer, do you think?

It'd be pretty tough to top that, right?

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Yeah, that's gonna be tough because you had the joint powers of Lilo and Stitch and Mission Impossible plus final destination holding better than expected

Unidentified speaker

Yeah,

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

plus it was a long weekend and you know Hollywood loves to add that bonus day and be like ah, yes big opening weekends when you add an opening day Of course, it's gonna be a little bit bigger.

I do think Fantastic Four is going to do very well

I think that is a Marvel movie that people are excited about.

It is the first time the Fantastic Four has been in the Disney MCU.

So I think that will do well.

I also think Jurassic World will do well because dinosaurs always do well.

I'll be interested to see how Superman does.

I don't think they've done a very good job of selling that movie to audiences thus far.

It weirdly feels

Similar to the past Zack Snyder superman movies in terms of the story, it seems to be telling with a brighter color palette, which is not a bad thing, but it's just I just don't think they're doing a good job of

Making a reason why this new Superman needs to exist But the big reason is that a lot of these movies are the only movies coming out those weekends Hollywood wants to get out of the way of a lot of these blockbusters There's not a lot of good counter programming that you know gives you the kind of barbenheimer weekend or you know

The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia runs, where those movies both made tons of money their opening weekends.

There's not that smart counter-programming that there used to be.

That's why this weekend did well.

You had Lilo and Stitch for Families.

You had Mission Impossible for an older audience.

They just don't plan that way the same way anymore.

So I think that was probably the biggest weekend you'll see this summer But I think we have a lot of big weekends to come still so that's positive.

Pete Schwabba (host)

That's great Yeah, I think it's fantastic and I saw that I can't remember was barbenheimer was at a four-day weekend because this beat Bart this week of the two films Mission Impossible and Lilo and Stitch crushed the barbenheimer number and I think that was a four-day weekend too

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

I think that was just a three-day weekend.

If I remember that was mid-July.

I think that was just July 20th around there.

Because that's the Christopher Nolan weekend.

He loves that kind of mid-July weekend.

So yeah, that was just a regular weekend, which the reason why this one was probably bigger was because there were other things to see.

There were other movies in theaters that people wanted to check out this weekend.

And Sinners is still doing well.

You had Thunderbolt still drawing kind of an audience.

It's good to have a variety of things in theaters that people want to see and Hollywood is starting to remember that, you know, you see the look at the summer.

They've got some romantic comedies.

They've got some dramas.

They've got some, you know, F one is kind of like an adults action movie.

They've got franchise movies and horror movies and kids movies.

They are they are starting to remember that there are lots of audiences that you can please all at once if

Pete Schwabba (host)

you ride.

Matt, let's, oh, before we go any further, I want to say you got a great shout out.

on your sub-stack from another friend of ours, Rob Thomas, who gave you this great compliment saying nobody covers the Milwaukee Film Festival like Matt Miller.

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

That was a great test.

That's very sweet of him.

There are a lot of really good film writers.

My friend Eric Beltman writes some really good stuff as well.

Follow him on the various socials as well.

He watches even more Film Festival than me.

That's great.

And this year there was a lot of fun stuff to see.

Pete Schwabba (host)

But just accept this Hosanna for yourself.

That was a great

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

thing.

Rotter you guys have.

You're too kind.

You're too kind.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Matt, before we let you go, tell us about Final Destination Bloodlines.

You mentioned it earlier, like it's got some serious legs.

It may have had another great weekend.

What are we missing if we haven't even seen any of the bloodlines?

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Honestly, if you haven't seen any Final Destination movie before, it's fine.

The franchise is not very good.

It's a fun, hokey,

Horror comedy, arguably, franchise, because it's never scary.

It's very violent, gross, bloody things happening to people.

For people who don't know, the Final Destination franchise is about people who survive a near-death experience, and then death is like, no, no, no, I want to kill you.

And it's a slasher movie starring death as the villain, essentially.

It's a great premise.

great Rube Goldberg ways of brutally killing these people.

And so you go to it, it's kind of like, I described it to someone as like live action, itchy and scratchy.

Oh,

Pete Schwabba (host)

nice.

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

It's kind of that tone and vibe where like horrible, violent things are happening to people, but it kind of doesn't matter.

And it's kind of just silly and gory and macabre and ridiculousness.

And I think Final Destination Bloodlines is kind of the peak of that form of what it's doing, where the kills are so ridiculous, and so tends to see how they're going to line all of these things up to brutally murder these poor people who've done nothing wrong other than live.

There's just enough tweaks to the formula to make it feel like a different movie, because not every Final Destination movie does that.

A lot of them are, frankly, extreme.

And there's even just a little bit of actual character work in this new movie, too.

There's just a little bit of seasoning to it, so I think it's the best in the franchise.

I had a lot of fun watching it.

I know the crowd that I watched it with was having a blast.

It's just kind of, in this era of very important, this movie is actually about an important topic, horror movies.

It's kind of fun to watch a horror movie that's just like...

I don't know, man.

Death sucks.

And I think that's why people were drawn to it.

You know, it's, it's, it's a, it's a franchise.

Sure.

But it's not connected really in any way, meaningful way.

And it's just a horror movie about man dying sucks.

Death is cruel.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Still going to probably take a pass, but

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

it's not a, I would not describe it as a peach swab.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Okay.

Unidentified caller

Conn,

Pete Schwabba (host)

go ahead, buddy.

Unidentified caller

Yeah, man.

I saw this.

Movie was marketed all over Instagram and I saw some behind the scenes stuff and I saw a certain scene with a lawnmower was that Was that part in there?

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Oh It very much is and that's maybe the second or third best kind of big set piece kill in the movie But it's just they've really kind of mastered in this movie the art form of like we're gonna get all these weird Rube Goldberg things going on in a scene

And you don't know where things are going to break and what's going to end up killing boo But you just know it's gonna end real bad for somebody and it's just this funny stress and release and

I know I had a really good time with it.

It's not gonna be for everybody, but if you are kind of a goofy horror movie fan, you can't do much better than Final Destination Bloodlines.

It's such a good, silly, gory time at the movies.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Matt, what did you think of The Accountant 2?

You mentioned you saw that earlier.

I saw it too.

I like the first one better.

I like the caper parts of the second one, but the brother stuff really kind of threw me.

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Yeah, I was...

puzzled by accountant two.

It seems like it's trying to be a more fun movie than the first movie.

It's trying to have this kind of fun brother banter.

It's trying to be kind of have these comedic set piece moments.

But it is paced so sluggishly that the comedy should have some pop to it, should have some wit.

And those scenes just take forever.

And for ostensibly an action movie, there's very little action in it, I found.

So I was kind of disappointed by it.

I kind of wanted it to be either the ridiculous sequel to a very straight-faced, ridiculous movie that the first accountant is.

And it kind of just ends up being this odd,

man's land of like, we tried to be goofier, but we didn't have the right tone.

Ben Affleck is weirdly thinking like, for some odd reason, he kind of has a British accent.

Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.

It

Pete Schwabba (host)

is.

He turns to his brother at the end.

He's like, what are your plans?

It's like, wait, you didn't have the accent in the first movie.

What is this?

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Yeah, he's trying to do this like.

I mean, it's not the most you know progressive thing ever but he's trying to do this like impression of somebody on the spectrum Yes, but he for some odd reason trans like that this like stilted speech.

It's like vaguely British I'm

Pete Schwabba (host)

glad you said that I thought was like it was driving me crazy and there are a couple scenes that movie that made me angry the one of

Burnthal in his underwear, rehearsing his speech, and then Ben Affleck with the line dance.

It was really

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

hard to watch

Pete Schwabba (host)

at times.

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

And those scenes are supposed to be funny, and you kind of laugh a little bit, but like.

It's got to have a quicker wit to land that and those scenes just take forever like line dancing is the funniest thing you'll ever see for two three minutes at a time It's not that funny guys

Pete Schwabba (host)

Even if you're wearing hokas Matt one more question for you what the film centers the more distance I have from it the more I liked it and I'll probably see it again Will that is that an Oscar film?

Will that get nominated?

I'm sure it will on the fringe stuff, effects maybe, but acting, script, directing, what are your thoughts on that?

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Yeah, it's an interesting case because this is a new Oscars era where a movie like Get Out can get nominated, a movie like The Substance can get nominated.

Yeah, great point.

I think this movie...

has really become a cause of celebration for a lot of Hollywood because it is a original movie that had a very passionate creative mind behind it, Ryan Coogler.

Somebody who has been due, he didn't get really the flowers he deserved for Creed and really for Black Panther.

The Oscars kind of gave those movies kind of, you know,

Complimentary nods, but nothing for Googler, nothing for Michael B. Jordan.

I think there is a love for what Sinners is doing that a studio movie was this interesting and creative and thoughtful.

But also entertaining and that it was received well by audiences.

I think you'll see a best picture nomination for Sinners.

I

Pete Schwabba (host)

hope so.

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

I would love.

I think this was that's going to be kind of the Dune part two of this year or the get out of this year.

I would love to see it get other nominations as well.

I bet he gets an original screenplay nomination because they oftentimes have to reach because there just aren't that many original screenplays that they unite behind.

I'd love to see Michael B. Jordan get nominated, but Best Actor is hard to get into, especially if you're in a movie that came out early in the year.

If you're not top of mind.

You know, I do think it's gonna get a lot of below the line nominations.

I think you'll see a production design nomination, a special effects nomination for impressively putting two Michael B. Jordan's on screen.

If it doesn't get some sort of music sound, if it doesn't coordinate for all of those categories,

I would be stunned.

I don't know how original the music.

I don't know enough about the blues music in it to know how much of that is original and how much of that is, you know, previously made material.

But this is not the last you will hear about centers this year.

You will hear that coming up through the awards season.

And I'd be shocked.

At this point, I'd be shocked if it doesn't get a best picture nomination.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Well said, buddy.

As always, so much fun.

Thanks so much, Matt.

Matt Miller (Milwaukee-based film critic)

Pete, it's always fun.

Thank you so much for having me.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Always, buddy.

We'll talk soon.

That's Matt Miller.

Check him out at A Man About Film and read his stuff.

He's a great writer.

Peachwaba (host)

on a Tuesday, technical glitches behind us, Drew Smith crushed it.

We have a few more minutes with my pal, Rob Paravanian, who we just heard his song, Driving With Grandpa, and we have a baby in a bar on tap.

Rob, I just want to ask you, was the inspiration for baby in a bar, like to pick up girls?

Rob Paravonian (guest)

No.

No, it was just my...

fascination with how many babies kept showing up at my local bar.

Peachwaba (host)

Before we get to that song, I have to ask you, you told me earlier, you got the opportunity to open up for George Carlin on his final tour.

That is so unbelievable.

How did you get that gig and what was it like?

Rob Paravonian (guest)

The gig came about.

through his managers, I think his manager's granddaughter was college age and it was right around the time my pocket bell rant was becoming really popular.

So she had seen this video of mine on YouTube that was, you know, just started getting, it was viral and she passed it up along to her dad and her grandfather.

And Carlin's like long time opening act was a guitar comic, his name's Dennis Blair.

And that's the guy who opened for him for like decades.

And so they thought I'd be a good fit for the shows that he couldn't make.

So it just sort of came out about that way.

Just really good luck that someone in their group saw a video and thought I'd be a good fit.

And then I started a few dates for him in the fall of 2007 when he was just starting to work on his material for what would be his last special.

It was called It's Bad for You.

And so I got to see him, like, do that material when it was new, kind of work on it.

And then I did some shows with him the following, you know, the following spring into, like, May of 2008, when he had shot his special and the material was, like, polished.

So I got to see him, like, develop an hour over the... I did about 12 shows with him.

So it was fascinating

Peachwaba (host)

to see,

Rob Paravonian (guest)

like, a legendary comedian, like, sort of work on a new hour.

Peachwaba (host)

That is unbelievable.

Rob Paravonian (guest)

Yeah, it was cool.

Did you get to... Did you get to...

Random spots with him.

So like Erie, Pennsylvania, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, they were all just like scattered gigs that their other guy couldn't make.

So I was, I was all over the place.

Peachwaba (host)

Wow.

So did you get to meet him?

Rob Paravonian (guest)

Yeah.

Yeah.

I met him like the first show I did with him, I met him backstage and had, had a little chat and it was great because.

Uh, his manager had showed him the, the pocket bell rant, the video that was becoming really popular.

And so he's like, yeah, I saw that pocket bell thing that you did.

That's pretty good.

Pretty good.

It's like anyone else saying you're pretty good is like, well, that's lukewarm, but from carlin, that was like my best review ever.

Peachwaba (host)

That's like, there are legends and then there is a legend like George carlin.

I mean, maybe the greatest standup ever.

And I remember not walking across the street to meet them once, thinking, well, I'll have other opportunities.

And of course, they never did.

Here it is.

You got to meet them and not only open for them, but hang out with them a little bit.

And I think that's really cool.

Rob Paravonian (guest)

Yeah, it was a huge thrill.

Still one of the biggest thrills in my career.

How was the crowd?

Amazing.

The crowd were great.

Yeah, they were, you know, he played theaters, you know, like some, you know, 1200, 1500 seat theaters.

We played this theater in Boston called the Wang Center.

And it's one of those giant theaters.

The next night I asked him, it's like, yeah, that was like, and it was sold out.

It was like a Saturday night.

And I asked him the next night, it's like, yeah, that place was big.

There must have been like, what, 1800, 2000 people there?

And they're like, Rob, there were 3,100 people there last night.

And I'm like, I'm glad I didn't know that till now.

It's like had, you know, one of those places that had like balconies and low sections that were so in the dark, I couldn't even see where they were, but it was, yeah, it was cool.

Peachwaba (host)

What a thrill.

You're

Rob Paravonian (guest)

proud than I could have ever drawn in my life.

Peachwaba (host)

Yeah, a little bigger than Zany's downtown in Chicago that holds about 90 people,

Rob Paravonian (guest)

which is also good if they're listening.

Peachwaba (host)

You know,

Rob Paravonian (guest)

I love Zany's downtown Chicago.

I'm available this fall.

Peachwaba (host)

We'll see what we can do.

Rob Parmonian is my guest.

He's a very funny stand-up comedian, New York City based.

You've seen him on Comedy Central, Dr. Demento, and he's opened up for George Carlin, which is pretty cool.

We have another song that Rob shared with us called Baby in a Bar about his neighborhood being taken over by family.

His once cool and hip neighborhood now being taken over by babies and families.

Here is that song now.

Rob Paravonian (performing)

This song is dedicated to the Brooklyn that has evolved since I moved here because I've seen, I see lots of babies in bars now.

I don't think there are any here tonight, but I hope not.

But yeah, I see a lot of babies in bars and I used to get upset, but then I realized I can't get mad at the baby.

It's not their fault that they're at

Peachwaba (host)

the bar.

And

Rob Paravonian (performing)

then I started to wonder, what's the baby thinking?

So I wrote this song from the baby's point of view.

Everything is so big Daddy's drinking a beer He won't give me a sweat This is a great place for me With all this vodka and glass Every surface is wet I know that I'll bust my ass But don't blame my daddy

But don't blame my dad.

He's not an alcoholic.

We've been stuck in the house.

I got the collar because my tummy hurts because my sphincters don't sphinct.

I've been screaming for days.

And daddy needs him a drink.

And I think the bartender's not happy with me because I don't know how to tip it.

I don't have ID.

And all the guys here hate me because I'm blocking their jocks by tripping all the ladies by a logical clock.

I'm a baby in a bar.

I'm a baby in a bar This place used to be cool But now while I'm sitting here In a puddle of drool And I think I annoy The bartender tonight When she shakes up a drink

I just shriek with delight Cause it's shiny and it makes funny noises I'm getting dirty looks and I guess I deserve it But maybe they're all jealous of my bottle service But I think it's cause I'm ruining their sense of mystique This neighborhood used to be edgy Now it's Sesame Street But it's not my fault So spare me to scorn I didn't choose this place I was dragged here in a fjorn So before you take it out on me Stop and think You all are here to get laid Where do you think that would lead?

to a baby in a barn.

You guys sound amazing.

Peachwaba (host)

Are you ready for an awesome show?

Oh, that's fun.

Great stuff, Rob.

Thank you.

Just love it.

Hey, this has been fun.

Let's do it again when we don't have a tech issue.

We just got to have you back on more often.

And since you're a musical

Rob Paravonian (guest)

guy,

Peachwaba (host)

we'll

Rob Paravonian (guest)

come through Green Bay next time through.

Peachwaba (host)

Oh, come on, man.

You got to come through here, Rob.

We got great audiences here.

I want

Rob Paravonian (guest)

to.

It's been too long.

I haven't been to Wisconsin in a minute.

Peachwaba (host)

All right.

Let me see.

I'll reach out to some people.

I get no respect around here.

People don't even like me, but I'm going to go to bat for you, buddy.

I would love to have you here in the studio live.

So let's see if we can make it happen.

Rob Paravonian (guest)

Thanks for having me,

Peachwaba (host)

man.

Take care.

You got it.

That's Rob Paribony.

And check out his work.

Check out his special.

Just go to the YouTube.

That's what the kids call it, right, Conrad?

The YouTube.

The YT?

The YT.

Oh, excuse me.

Peachwaba on the Civic Media radio network.

Pete Schwab (host)

Great to have you with me.

This is Pete Schwabba in Night Light, and our question of the night in honor of National Hamburger Day.

This is not a regional thing, folks.

What are your favorite hamburger toppings?

Let us know.

You can still get in on the fun.

We'll catch up on text in just a couple minutes here.

Tomorrow night on Night Light, Mary Pacorni-Donald, a producer...

TV producer will make the popcorn pick of the week at 6.35.

Norm Kepesky from Appleton Cigar will be here to make one more push for Smoke on the Fox, which happens June 2nd.

And then author Laura Enright will be here to talk about her vampire book.

How fun does that sound?

And I know they're vampires, but we're still gonna light it up.

Let's see what I did there, Conrad.

Not too bad.

We have a few more minutes with our guest who I'm very excited to have here.

Dennis Graham is the founder of Rock Conson.

This is a contest for garage bands, grades seven through 12.

It's a great program.

And we're just about to jump into what's happening right here on the horizon with your pretty spectacular event, Dennis.

And I applaud you.

I love what you're saying about music teachers and the arts are kind of under attack or they think they're not necessary, whatever.

It's all nonsense.

But I love what you're saying about music teachers and the importance in instilling this in kids at a young age.

And you're carrying the torch with your really cool event here, Rock Hansen.

So tell us a little more about it.

I know it's at Summerfest.

You have 10 finalists.

Is that how this

Dennis Graham (guest)

is working?

OK.

And to answer your earlier question, raw onions and mustard on my hand.

Okay, bro.

I love it.

Yes.

This is the only program of its kind in the nation, a statewide garage band competition, 7th to 12th grade bands of any musical genre.

And it is free in every band.

And I do have to give a shout out to the Nicholas Family Foundation.

They've been supporting this program, our main benefactor, basically, that have been supporting this program for 21 years.

And also Summerfest, the relationship we have there, SureMikes, every band that makes it to the state finals gets two SureMikes.

And this is a free program.

Wow,

Pete Schwab (host)

nice.

Dennis Graham (guest)

And so I had sent out to you, they get one vocal, one instrument mic, the winner will actually get an additional sure wireless vocal microphone.

And it's pretty cool, plus the winner and runner up.

will receive a recording time at Blastel Studios in Madison 12 hours and 8 hours for the winter 12, 8 for the runner up.

And the winter and runner up will also win a second 45 minute set on their warp pavilion stage at Summerfest on July 3rd.

Now, you bet.

I want folks to go check out our socials at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, at Rock Onsen.

Check out our website at Rock Onsen.

Or you can run off a pollster We have just posted up flip video on those socials that I sent you today of ten bands five performing on

on June 26th on the World Preventing Stage, 20 minute showcase sets each, and five more on June 27th, 20 minute showcase each.

So you can see the pictures of the bands, the dates, the times that they're playing.

So yeah, it's a blast.

It's a lot of fun.

And you know, I've been a coach, football, baseball, basketball, and all that.

I gotta tell you, man, the first thing that gets cut when they need new shoulder pads

is music and arts programs.

My wife Jane is an art teacher for 35 years.

Kids cried when she left.

They only went to school because of the arts.

So I, you know, I love sports.

I love the Packers, man.

I love, you know, but I also love the arts and the arts get short shrift.

all the

Pete Schwab (host)

time.

I am totally with you and I love sports too but I feel if anything is lacking kids need more access to this stuff and I used to tell kids when I would work in my daughter's school and volunteer and that kind of stuff you can learn an instrument here for free and we had great music teachers you can and if you're

You know, if you choose the tube or something or something, no one's playing, you can get a scholarship to UW.

So

Dennis Graham (guest)

I'm with

Pete Schwab (host)

you.

I think if anything, we need to pump more money into the arts and get kids involved in stuff like this, because it's something they can do their whole life too.

I mean, just not that many kids are going to the pros and sports.

And I know there's more to it than that.

You play to participate and be part of a team.

You get those same lessons, being in a play or a band or whatever and working together.

I cannot applaud you enough, Dennis, for what you're

Dennis Graham (guest)

saying.

point out.

Yeah, Nicholas, who's a huge supporter of Badger basketball.

And of course, the UW Badger basketball courts, they have Nicholas court with a signature on it.

And he was a great guy.

God bless him.

Is the thing he liked about it, Pete, just like sports.

They got to get together with the band.

They have to have discipline.

They have to practice.

They have to stay on task.

That's what Ab really liked about the program.

Pete Schwab (host)

That's great.

Well, you're in your 21st year.

Tell us a little bit about the progression here.

So they send in an audition tape.

Do you choose

Dennis Graham (guest)

the

Pete Schwab (host)

10 finalists that will perform at Summerfest out of those audition tapes?

Or is there like a preliminary round somehow?

How does that work?

Dennis Graham (guest)

What it is is from March 1 to April 30th every year, you send in one video cover original does not matter.

It does not matter what genre of music if it is actually since in 2022 sacrament from Waterford High School, the first metal band ever went in since they came in and did so well.

We're getting more metal bands, which is, you know, I'm a wee bit of a metal guy there too in Iraq.

But yes, they sent in one song cover original.

We have three judges.

that have 30 plus years experience in the industry.

They score them out using a rubric.

of everything from synergy, to mastering the musical instrument, to vocal blend and so forth.

And then my worst day every year is when we announced the top 10 on May 15th, because the scores are very close.

But I know people get disappointed, but then there's the 10 bands that are gonna go June 26th, June 27th, the Summerfists on the Royal Pavilion stage.

Now there will be three different judges.

that will be using that same band application, Rubrik, to score out the bands at the Rock-Onson State Finals at Summerfest, the big gig, the world's largest music festival.

I mean, I know bands that can't get in there, they're making $5,000 to $10,000 a night.

They beg to get in there and they can't get in there.

So then they will, what we actually do too, those same three band application judges have 30 plus years experience each.

And then what we do between the Quick Change Overs, because we have a community drum kit, is that it is from 12.15 to 2.45, well, June 26 and June 27.

Again, if you go to our socials at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, you'll see the dates and times of each band.

Well, then they'll go in and give a quick 10 minute critique, positive critique of the band.

If you know, maybe working a little on this or hey, that was pretty good.

And then again, the winner and runner up,

Well, not only get recording time at Madison's Blass House Studios, but then they get that second gig on July 3rd for 45 minutes each.

Again, there were a pavilion stage, just a great stage.

One, two, it's covered, man.

I

Pete Schwab (host)

love that.

Wait, how do these kids, seventh grade to 12, to 12th grade, do they have sets that long?

45 minutes, that's a.

That's a long

Dennis Graham (guest)

Yeah, it is.

It's really amazing.

It's impressive.

Yeah.

Sometimes these bands come together literally during the band application period.

But yes, they do.

They have those sets.

And also, I'll choose one band for the Walkshare Rotary Blues Fest that have every year won a band to kick off that two day at Nega Walkie Park in Della Field.

And that'll be August 8th this year.

So they'll kick it out.

It's a pig gig.

Anybody that wants these young bands after Rock Onsen.

It's a, it's a paid gig.

There's other ones, Midwest Firefest in Cambridge, other festivals that are now coming to, to Rock-onson because they are very talented.

It's really quite amazing.

I've seen thousands of bands and I'm amazed at the talent.

of these young musicians.

Pete Schwab (host)

That's so cool.

My guest is Dennis Graham, folks.

He is the founder and producer of Rock Hudson, a really great program for kids, or musicians grade seven through 12 in who our garage is.

Dennis, you say all genres are welcome.

Are there a lot of opera singers working out of their garages?

Dennis Graham (guest)

I would imagine

Pete Schwab (host)

most of the contestants you get are rock and roll.

Dennis Graham (guest)

Right.

Most of rock and roll.

I'm looking at the list here.

We've got from your backyard, you know, we have up there crusher from Campbell's Port High School.

Well, that's not a cool spot, but, you know, you have, what am I looking at?

Like mania from Depeer, a wound pool from Plymouth.

You know, we've got a crusher who's coming out of Campbell's Port.

They're a metal band.

Okay.

greater than human.

Another metal band from Tiny Tony, Wisconsin with a high school of 88.

I think 88 did attend a very tiny school.

So, you know, we get bands from, you know, all over the state, Eau Claire, Walsall, Rhinelander, Green Bay, Fox Valley, Milwaukee, we're seeing Kenosha Madison, La Crosse, all over the state over the years.

And during this last 21 years, over 700 bands.

They've come through this only state-wide garage band competition

Pete Schwab (host)

in the country.

We talked about our pal Terry Barr, who does this segment every week called Bar Band Friday Night.

She introduced us to the music of No Limit last week.

We heard a song from them, and they were great.

And I can't even imagine.

And especially if you're saying like the scores are so close, it hurts

Dennis Graham (guest)

to

Pete Schwab (host)

turn people away.

But kids like that age should not get discouraged.

Keep jamming and keep getting at it.

perfect your craft, right?

Dennis Graham (guest)

Right.

And I always tell them, geez, don't let one competition or one program or one forum turn you off or you love a performing music and getting in the spotlight.

That's what it's all about.

You know, people ask, why do I do this?

I do it really for encouragement and promotion.

Pete Schwab (host)

Yeah.

Dennis Graham (guest)

And again, I'm a big art supporter.

I'm a huge music guy, man.

I mean, I can go and see the Rolling Stones brother for $10.

And that was opening for them was the Eagles with Joe Walsh walking out.

So I am aging myself.

When I saw Joe Walsh with James gang, I saw it was $3.50 in Madison with the original Paul Butterfield blues band opening for them the first integrated

band in the United States.

They wouldn't even go down south because Paul Butterfield said, you know, if I can let my brothers like Sam Lee, the drummer, you know, stay at the same hotel.

We're not coming.

So, you know, it's just really interesting.

I mean, I saw, you know, Bob Seeger for three bucks.

Oh, man, with UW Whitewater in the cafeteria.

I have all my same tickets.

I was number 144.

I don't think there were 200 people in there.

And at that time,

Glenn Fry was playing for him.

He was an 18-year-old going to school in the Detroit area, but his mom made him leave the band.

After he graduated, then, of course, he went out to L.A.

and Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles and all that.

But she made him quit the Bob Seeger band because she found out they were smoking pot.

So that was it with Bob Seeger and Glenn Fry.

But I mean, interesting,

That's what it used to be.

I used to see cheap trick all around southern Wisconsin.

They used to be all around the state.

You can see him for two bucks.

They were playing.

There's a book.

There's a great book by the way out there called this band has no past just came out on cheap trick and they were just playing as many hundred dollar gigs as they could at the tiniest little places around Wisconsin northern Illinois and they just kept pounding it just like is the result of

spending so much time with Les Paul and all that.

Then I got to know his, when I brought him off of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Music, then along came his godson.

Who's that?

Stevie Gittar Miller.

So I got to know Steve Miller really well.

And he just said, you know, Dennis,

Less taught me just to keep pounding pounding pounding finally I got a few hit songs with you know Jane and I spent a weekend in his pad with he and Kim on Sun Valley But he's a guy that can't stand the digital music age just like Neil Young

He's an analog guy.

Pete Schwab (host)

Yeah.

Dennis Graham (guest)

And he, he don't ask him about Steve Jobs and Apple music, man.

Pete Schwab (host)

We'll have a couple more minutes when we come back after a very short break.

Don't leave folks.

This is fun stuff.

Dennis Graham is here.

I'm Pete Schwab.

This is nightlight.

We're coming right back.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Welcome back to Nightlight.

This is Pete Schwabba, your ever-loving host for this evening's broadcast.

On the stream, we got a few comments we'll get to.

Cliff Wall says, fried onions.

And we've had just a few people that don't like fried onions.

It's weird.

People are very polarized on the onion.

I was not anticipating that being

Dennis Graham

an onion.

I'll take them fried.

Yeah,

Pete Schwabba (host)

I could do either, to be honest with you, Dennis.

Dennis Graham is

Dennis Graham

my

Pete Schwabba (host)

guest.

He is the founder and producer of Rock Hansen.

the 10 finalists of this really cool contest for grades 7 through 12 garage bands.

That's the age range garage bands.

They've made it to the finals.

You can see them perform June 26th and 27th from 1245 to 245 at the Aurora Pavilion at Summerfest.

A big thrill for these kids.

Dennis, we were talking about Bob Seeger, who I...

kind of forgot about for a few years there and I've rediscovered his music a couple years ago.

I am on the biggest Bob Seeger kick.

I found, but Springsteen is my all-time favorite.

I found a photo of these two guys outside of Music Studio in LA in like the 70s.

And I think it's a pretty rare photo, but they were helping each other and they both learned so much from each other about guitar, counter melodies and all that.

It was just such a great article to read.

I'll have to try to find it, but it was, it's really fun.

So I'm glad you mentioned Bob Seeger.

What kind of music do you like?

What are your favorite bands?

Dennis Graham

Well, you know, I'm kind of an old school guy, man.

I'm a big Stones guy.

I'm big into Pink Floyd.

I like a lot of reggae.

I go to reggae festivals in Jamaica.

I saw Bob Marley a number of times, so just like 10 feet away from them.

The

best reggae singer out there, if you guys are interested, is Horace.

Andy, wonderful voice.

He's, I mean, even one of the best voices I've ever heard.

So yeah, I mean, I'm a rock, I love all music.

I love

classical music as well.

But I just, you know, I lean towards probably these older, later 60s and 70s.

I'm reading a book right now by Bill Wyman who left the Stones

in

like 1992 called Stone Alone.

That is very interesting.

Those guys just pounded till they made it and they lived like they were poor.

They were starving.

But that's what you really have to do.

That's what a lot of these guys have said.

Yeah, if you want to do it, I want to give a shout out.

First of all, I want to thank you again in civic media.

you know, for this opportunity, Pete and Conrad to talk to your audience, but I do want to give a shout out to last year's winner.

The 2024 Rock-Onsen winner was New Normal on a Nesita Queen of the Holy Rose III and Wisconsin Dells High School, and then No Limit, as you referenced,

was

the runner up for, and they're back in it again this year from Columbus and Minota Grove High School, so.

But we have seen bands.

Now it takes a lot.

A lot of kids when they're done, you know, mom and dad are saying go to college or go to Texas or whatever it may be.

But we've seen a number of bands over there.

One I'll throw out right now that you'll be hearing more and more of that was 10 years ago going through this program.

Slow pulp, P-U-L-P, slow pulp.

They're great.

They were band that came through.

They were Modern Mod out of Madison East High School and Sleeping in the Stereo.

I love these names out of Madison West.

They came together.

The lead singer of Modern Mod, Emily Macy, came together with the guys from Stereo.

And last fall, they were touring Europe.

playing the Royal Albert Hall and all these major venues, you know, opening for Death Cab for Cutie.

We've got guys like Gabe Burdoulos who picked up his guitar and went down to Nashville at 18 and now as a producer, singer-songwriter down there with so many folks.

And there's a great band that reminds me of like a cheap trick that is just pounding it that came through about four years ago out of the Stevens Point area, scorched.

waves, scorched waves, very talented.

You know, they have a love.

And this is their, their passion.

And they want to go out and, you know, take a hard shot at

it.

And some of them, you know, make it.

It's a, as you know, I mean, as Miller told me, keep me up to four o'clock in the morning, is that, you know, there's a thousand bands out there that are good, but who gets behind them and really pushes them.

You do.

Pete Schwabba (host)

You do, my friend.

And please keep up the good work.

This was so much fun.

Thank you for being on the show, Dennis.

And please come back when you get some results.

We'd love to keep talking about this.

Thanks so much,

Dennis Graham

buddy.

Appreciate it very much.

Thanks so

Pete Schwabba (host)

much.

All right.

That's Dennis Graham.

Check out Rock Hansen and...

Go to the Aurora Pavilion stage at Summerfest.

Great stuff.

Steady Eddie Tex, he says, Pete, in 1963, I was 9 or 10 and I was having lunch at my friend's house.

When in a moment of creativity and inspiration, I put a couple of potato chips on my burger.

It was deliciously crunchy and juicy.

And I believe a true American culinary breakthrough.

But my friend's mother gave me a strange look and mumbled something under her breath like, what a maroon.

I love that he said maroon and not moron.

Uh, undeterred to this day, if I'm feeling wild and crazy, I will put a potato chip or two on my hamburger.

Try it.

You'll like it.

Steady Eddie.

Great stuff, Steady Eddie.

I'll go for that.

Dennis Graham

You know,

Pete Schwabba (host)

peanut butter.

Dennis Graham

This actually reminds me, um, my, my uncle would put fries, like, you know, McDonald's fries on his burger.

On

Pete Schwabba (host)

the burger.

Yeah.

I've heard of that.

Nothing wrong with that.

Tony the trucker from the 608 says, he's up late.

He says, almost must be a good bakery bun.

Also, I'm sorry, must be a good bakery bun, nicely toasted.

People love that too.

Craig on the stream says, Pete on almost all the food channel shows where they go to places that specialize in burgers.

The burger isn't finished until they throw a fried egg on top.

I'd like to try that someday if egg prices go down.

Well done Craig PJ says you will definitely have to try peanut butter on a burger.

I can't promise you that PJ, but Craig's thing I don't get the egg either.

Like

Dennis Graham

I'll eat eggs, I'll

Pete Schwabba (host)

eat burgers.

I don't know why people need an egg on their

Dennis Graham

burger.

It's so good.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Why?

Dennis Graham

It's so good.

It's it's you know, it's mainly on a thing called a hangover burger.

Pete Schwabba (host)

Yeah, I know

Dennis Graham

and the

Pete Schwabba (host)

protein's good

Dennis Graham

there.

I love an egg on a burger.

Pete Schwabba (host)

I'll try that.

I'll try the potato chips.

I don't know that I'm gonna do the peanut butter.

But I like Melissa Kay so much, maybe I will, who knows.

On behalf of the lovable producer Conrad, I'm Pete Schwabba saying goodnight

Dennis Graham

Wisconsin.

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