The Milwaukee band Midnight Reruns had the chance to play on the campus of UW-Milwaukee last night. The band played at the Zelazo Center and was the main act of an event that was sponsored by UWM’s Peck School of the Arts and WMSE F.M. 91.7.
I had the chance to catch up with the band quick, and ask them a few questions.
EC: How would you describe your music?
MR: We’re a rock band full of dudes that grew up on punk and somewhere down the line got more interested in our parent’s music. We try and straddle our focus between songwriting, fun guitar, and drum tricks. Since tonight’s show is a more stripped-down affair, you’ll definitely hear more of the lyrical side.
EC: How long have all of you lived in Milwaukee?
MR: We’ve all lived in the area most of our lives except our bass player Brady, who moved here from Madison to go to UWM some years back.
EC: What is your favorite thing about the city?
MR: We would all have different answers to this question but right now I’ve been feeling WMSE, Antiques on Pierce, and the Raccoon named Larry that hangs out in the dumpster behind my work.
EC: Where are some of your favorite places to eat at or drink coffee at around the city?
MR: Me and our drummer Sam have been on a corn beef kick lately so Benji’s, Mcbob’s and Jake’s have been scratching that itch. We’re all service industry rats so we have to shoutout the places that provide us with enough financial stability to actually make this band work. Vanguard, Cactus Club, Hello Falafel and Thai-namite. These spots are good!
EC: How many other campuses have you played at, or is this the first one?
MR: We’ve played at a couple others. We used to go to Steven’s Point all the time. We made so many friends there, then they all graduated and moved down here so we don’t visit much anymore.
EC: What have been some of your favorite artists/ musicians to come out of Milwaukee?
MR: Tenement is one of my favorite bands. They’re from Appleton but their drummer lives here. All the New Age Narcissism folks are always up to something cool. Our guitar player Karl’s roommate Zach just started an awesome punk band called Sex Scenes. Chances are if you’re in Riverwest, they’re playing somewhere within walking distance.
EC: What have been some of your favorite shows you’ve played around the city?
MR: Opening for the Replacements at the Eagles Ballroom last year was crazy surreal and definitely one of the coolest things to ever happen to me.
EC: What’s in the future for you guys?
MR: We’ve got a new record coming out early next year. Our friends in Space Raft (also from Milwaukee) are playing in Europe right now and we’re all jealous. Making that happen eventually is a priority.
You can find Midnight Reruns on Facebook, or bandcamp.