What Made Milwaukee Famous
Encyclopedia
What Made Milwaukee Famous (WMMF) is an indie rock
band from Austin, Texas
.
In 2005, WMMF performed for Austin City Limits
with Franz Ferdinand
, making them one of the only unsigned bands to play for the show in its -year history. In 2006, the band signed with Barsuk Records
, which re-released their 2004 debut album, Trying to Never Catch Up. Their second album, What Doesn't Kill Us, was released on March 4, 2008.
Since forming, the band has played at the South by Southwest music festival
, the Austin City Limits Festival, and Lollapalooza
. They have opened for The Smashing Pumpkins
, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys
, and Snow Patrol
. WMMF has been featured on spots in Billboard
and Rolling Stone
bands-to-watch lists.
's "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)
".
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
In 2005, WMMF performed for Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
with Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, making them one of the only unsigned bands to play for the show in its -year history. In 2006, the band signed with Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington, started and still managed by the members of the band This Busy Monster, Christopher Possanza and Josh Rosenfeld, who created the label in 1994 to release their band's material. Its logo is a drawing of a dog holding a...
, which re-released their 2004 debut album, Trying to Never Catch Up. Their second album, What Doesn't Kill Us, was released on March 4, 2008.
Since forming, the band has played at the South by Southwest music festival
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, the Austin City Limits Festival, and Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
. They have opened for The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
, and Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
. WMMF has been featured on spots in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
and Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
bands-to-watch lists.
Name origin
The band's name comes from Jerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
's "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)
What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)
"What's Made Milwaukee Famous " is the title of a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song's title is a reference to Schlitz beer's slogan.In 1968, Jerry Lee Lewis released his version as a single...
".
Discography
- Trying to Never Catch UpTrying to Never Catch UpTrying to Never Catch Up is the first album by the Indie band What Made Milwaukee Famous, originally recorded in 2004 and re-recorded in 2006 with a changeup in the track list and a few new tunes for release on Barsuk Records.-Track listing:...
- Barsuk Records (2006) - The Sugarhill Sessions EP - Barsuk Records (2008)
- What Doesn't Kill Us - Barsuk Records (2008)
Reviews
- kMNR CD Review of Trying to Never Catch Up by Chris Andrade on September 20, 2006
- CD Review of Trying to Never Catch Up (mistakenly referred to as Trying Not to Catch Up) by MC Beastie for Soundsect.com
- What Doesn't Kill Us Review on IGN by Chad Grischow on March 7, 2008
- http://www.reaxmusic.com/article51001-What-Doesnt-Kill-Us CD Review of 'What Doesn't Kill Us' by Ashley Marie Sansotta on Mon Mar 17th, 2008