Celebrating and rewarding local music

WAMI awards offer a unique and humbling experience for musicians

By JODY L. MAYERS and TRACY L. WECKWERTH
TimeOut Staff

    Chrissy Dzioba , lead singer and songwriter for local band Blond on Blond, said she could read music before she could read words.
   "It's always difficult to explain to my friends and family who are not musicians, why I have the constant drive to write and perform," said Dzioba, who also plays guitar, mandolin and keyboard. "It is not a hobby; it's more of a lifestyle."
   Because of her talent, Dzioba was nominated for a Wisconsin Area Music Industry award. The 28th annual WAMI Awards Show will be held Monday at the Turner Hall Ballroom, 1042 N. Fourth St. , in downtown Milwaukee .
   "The WAMI awards raise awareness among the media, club owners and music fans in Wisconsin with regards to the talents of the hard-working musicians in the area," she said. "WAMI creates a community of artists, and the awards give recognition and respect to those who are nominated."
   Chris Steelman, bass player for the Milwaukee cover band Rabid Aardvarks, was also nominated for a WAMI award. He said music chose him, not the other way around.
   "When I see someone who loves a song or is enjoying the show, I enjoy that with them because I know that I'm giving them something that an MP3 at home can't," he said. "The most rewarding part of being a musician is being able to connect with people and have a great time together."
   Steelman and bandmate Kevin Machan, both graduates of Waukesha South High School , grew up around music. In fact Machan's father was a former choir director at the school when it was known as Waukesha High School .
   Steelman has been a performer for 20 years. The WAMI nomination is special because the group that makes up WAMI is people who not only care about the industry, but who also help others in the group make it better for everyone, he said.
   "To be a part of this organization is something that I do take a great deal of pride in," he said. "The nomination and the awards are recognition by your peers, your fellow musicians and agents and producers, all who have chosen you as part of a select group of people that they believe are the very best in the state."
   Dzioba said Blond on Blond is most noted for its tight harmonies, with guitars, keyboard and mandolin to mix originals and covers. The band has been around since 2004.
   "With the enormous amount of talent in Milwaukee , just to be nominated and categorized as one of the best female vocalists, is an extraordinary honor," Dzioba said. "If I were to win, this would finally validate all of my hard work over the years, as well as hopefully being a launching pad to market myself in the music industry on a larger level."
   Ryan McIntyre, a signer and songwriter from Waukesha , is a seven-time WAMI award winner who is up for another nomination this year.
   "It's an entertaining event celebrating all of the different genres of the Wisconsin music scene," he said. "The show is filled with a variety of live performances, so no matter what type of music you like, you're going to enjoy the awards show. It's nice for me to have all of my musician friends in the same venue on the same night."
   McIntyre is the former lead signer/songwriter of the pop/rock band Exit and has sold more than 30,000 albums throughout the world. McIntyre said his influences include The Beatles, James Taylor, The Beach Boys and the Counting Crows.
   "I've met a lot of great people in and around this music scene," he said. "I've got a job where people clap for me every 3 1/2 minutes. That is very rewarding. I'm a lucky guy – and I'm having an absolute blast."
   Rounding out a group of talented artists are Something To Do, a ska/horn-driven rock band that formed six years ago after the demise of the bands Vitamin King and SECW.
   Influenced by the likes of Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Less Than Jake, the group offers a balance of reggae beats fused with punk rock.
   Kenny Maciejewski, guitarist and vocalist for the band, said "Our shows will take you back and forth from the islands to the mosh pit. Something To Do is very high evergy. The band rarely stands still on stage."
   Something To Do includes Nate Tredinnick, bass and vocals; Mike Batzler, drums; Marc Kuntz, trombone and backing vocals; and Mike Barse, trumpet.
   "We understand that our jobs as musicians (are) to entertain our audience," Maciejewski said. "We want to put on a real rock and roll show for them, interact with them and have them leave with a sweaty shirt saying, 'I just had an awesome time at that show.'"
   Something To Do has garnered attention from independent record labels and has produced Fest, part of the Skappleton Music Festival on May 3 in Appleton which supports survivors of breast cancer. The band is no stranger to the WAMI awards. This year the group received its fifth nomination. None of the members, who have received up to 10 nominations in the past, have won, but Maciejewski said the group understands the board puts a lot of time into making WAMI work. "Keeping hope alive is key. We just appreciate all WAMI does for local music."
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Want more information on these local bands? Check out these Web sites:
www.chrissydzioba.com/index. html www.rabidaardvarks.com www.ryanmcintyremusic.com www.somethingtodo.ws