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CONTENTS
SCENE STAFF
Publisher James Moran • 920.418.1777
jmoran@scenenewspaper.com
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mcasper@scenenewspaper.com
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22
14
ENTERTAINMENT
6 WAPL’s Home Brewed
Highlights Local Music
8 Molly Ringwald Sings
Jazz at the Gerold
14 Kyle Megna, Mile of
Music have Grown
16 Concert Watch: Toto
Headlines Waterfest
20 Celebrate Fair Trade
Month
22 Riverfront Jazz Festival:
Labor Day Weekend
24 Fox Jazz Festival
30 CD Review: Erin Krebs
32 Postcard from Milwaukee
34 Spanish Inquisition
BUSINESS
10 Fond du Lac Eye Doctor
Provides Solutions for
Vision Problems
FOOD & DRINK
8 The Source Restaurant
12 Theo’s 24
Michael Casper
George Halas
Blaine Schultz
Jane Spietz
Taylor Hale
CONTRIBUTORS
SCENE
Winfield Homes
Kurki Mach Funeral
6. 6 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // WAPL’S HOME BREWED
BY GEORGE HALAS
There is increasing focus on and grow-
ing interest in local original music in the
Fox Cities. One of the engines driving the
growth is the Home Brewed radio show
hosted by Len Nelson on WAPL Saturday
mornings at 9 a.m.
The show is a growing labor of love.
“I’ve always played local bands on the
Rick and Len Show which I co-host every
morning on WAPL, but John Jordan,
WAPL Home Brewed producer and Road
Show host, and I wanted a dedicated time
and place where fans of Wisconsin music
could go for more of it,” Nelson said.
“With the Fox Valley music scene in the
pretty healthy place it’s in right now, it just
seemed like a good time to revisit a concept
we hadn’t done since many years ago when
I hosted a show we called WAPL Home
Grown. Since both John and I are avid fans
of local music and supporters of the people
who make it, we also had a selfish interest
in providing some exposure for them to a
wider audience.”
There’s been a heavy influx in recent years
of amazing local music talent in the area.
“Len and I thought it would be a great
idea to bring that concept back to WAPL,”
Jordan said. “It wasn’t hard to pitch the
concept of Home Brewed, but getting
and soliciting artists for their music and
the initial rollout took many, many hours
to facilitate. The objective is simple. Get
the music of these talented musicians in
the ears of as many people as possible and
getting a community excited about how
special the live music scene we have in the
community. If it’s good and it has ties to
Wisconsin, we might play it. We’ll bend
genres, too. The music on the show doesn’t
necessarily have to fit the exact style we
play on WAPL the rest of the day.”
They did have a place to start….
“I already had stacks of local albums on
my very messy desk because for years I’ve
encouraged artists to make sure that we get
a copy when they make a record,” Nelson
said. “Some of the local studio guys, espe-
cially Marc Golde and Tony Anders, have
also helped by making sure we know about
who’s recording, but mostly we hoped word
of mouth would pick up, and musicians
would make getting their music to Home
Brewed part of their to-do lists. Social
media helps to foster that culture, too.”
“We went out and bought a lot of
CD’s from bands at live shows and the
good people at the Exclusive Company
in Appleton, particularly Mark Steven
Hillstrom, who’s a musician himself,
contributed to the cause,” Jordan said. “By
the way, having Len Nelson as the voice of
Home Brewed is such a tremendous asset
for the show. His personal relationships to
the musicians and knowledge of the his-
tory of the area has been absolutely invalu-
able to the success, and I need to mention
Marc Golde, without whom I’m not sure
there would be a music scene here, he’s an
incredible advocate and spiritual advisor
of everything music in the area and we’re
so blessed to have a relationship with him.
Honestly, rarely a week goes by where we
don’t play a song that he hasn’t played on
or produced at Rock Garden Studio.”
Station support was critical.
“Well, the cool thing is that the bosses
here at WAPL were pretty enthusiastic from
the get-go. The challenge for John and I
really was to make sure we put together a
quality program which would treat our
local artists the same way we treat national
artists,” Nelson said. “I think we’ve suc-
ceeded. It’s important to us to include gig
information when the bands we play are
performing locally, too. We don’t just want
people to hear these artists on the radio, but
also to go out and see them.”
The backing was a consensus.
“I was given full support from WAPL/
Woodward Radio management to create
Home Brewed,” Jordan said. “That’s the
benefit of working for an independent/
employee-owned radio station. We can
do original programming and not have to
run it by a corporate board for approval.
Having only an hour to work with is both a
blessing and a curse - a ton of artists/music
to choose from and only time to feature 12
artists on every show. And, yes, there have
been talks on expanding the show to two
hours.”
The show’s ratings doubled almost
immediately and the feedback from listen-
ers was….
“Very positive,” Jordan emphasized.
“I’m always so proud when someone goes
out of their way to tell me that they listen
to Home Brewed every Saturday and really
enjoy it. Another benefit from that is the
listeners are my ears at times and love to
tell me about bands they saw recently that I
should put on the show. I love that.”
The musicians have been very enthusi-
astic.
“Nothing but love, man,” Nelson said.
“Lots of players tell me they’re tuning in
or listening to the podcasts of it at wapl.
com. I also love it when I see bands posting
about their own appearances on the show
in Facebook and Twitter. Face it, I don’t
care who you are, it’s the coolest thing to
hear your music on the radio for the first
time...or every time!”
And yet they insist, it’s not about ratings.
“We aren’t doing the show for ratings.
We’re doing it because we value the local
musical and arts community we’re part of,”
Nelson said. “If that translates into some
good ratings, we’re not going to complain
about it. Plus, playing good local bands
gives WAPL a bit of a cool factor, too. Who
doesn’t want to be cool?”
“I’m personally not a ‘ratings guy’ but
I’m all about tying ourselves to the local
music scene and community by promot-
ing original music made here,” Jordan
added. “In my mind, that’s one of the main
purposes of radio, to be very community-
oriented and, by promoting the local music
scene, it’s a win-win for everyone. Pride in
your community takes many forms and
music is certainly one of those.”
Nelson and Jordan believe the show has
a lot of potential.
“We hope to attract a little more
statewide attention, both from bands and
people who might listen to Home Brewed
online at wapl.com,” Nelson said. “State-
wide syndication is a possibility. We may
also feature some specialty programming
on the stream like a radio version of a
new local music TV show in development
from Marc Golde called “Live from Rock
Garden Studio.” Stay tuned!”
You can listen to the show online at:
WAPLHomeBrewed.com; you can “LIKE”
the WAPL Home Brewed page on Face
Book and, if you are a musician or band,
you can submit your CD for consideration
to: WAPL Home Brewed c/o John Jordan
2800 E. College Ave. Appleton, WI 54911.
WAPL’S HOME BREWED
Highlights Local Music
8. 8 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // MOLLY RINGWALD
Molly Ringwald is getting back to her
roots. Ringwald started performing with
her pianist father’s jazz band when she
was three. Molly Ringwald, star of Pretty
in Pink and The Breakfast Club and other
eighties movies, some of them deservedly
cult favorites, is back to singing again and
touring the country with her world class
jazz trio. On October 8th, Molly will be
gracing the stage at the Gerold Opera
House in Weyauwega.
“I had quite the musical repertoire,”
she recalls with a laugh. “It was pretty
much traditional jazz, but there was some
Bessie Smith and Helen Kane, the original
Betty Boop.”
Talk with Ringwald for even a short
amount of time and it’s clear her grasp of
jazz and its history comes from a lifelong
study of the form and the great singers
who inspired her, including Smith, Ella
Fitzgerald, Blossom Dearie and Susannah
McCorkle.
“Blossom Dearie was the only one I
got to see live,” Ringwald said. “Susannah’s
recordings have really influenced me. I
think she was really special in her gifts of
interpretation and how much humanity
she brought to the songs.”
However, the time wasn’t right until
now. Paul Mazursky cast the then 13-year
old in “Tempest,” and for the next few
decades, her public focus was on acting, as
she starred in such films as “Fresh Horses,”
“Betsy’s Wedding,” “King Lear,” “The Pick-
Up Artist,” and, of course, her trio of films
with John Hughes, “Sixteen Candles,”
“The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty In Pink.”
“Once I started to act I felt like I had to
make that decision,” she said. “Plus, during
the ‘80s, I didn’t think there was a place
for the music that I was interested in, there
was no Madeline Peyroux, Diana Krall,
Norah Jones…I didn’t feel like anybody
was going to listen to the kind of music
that I wanted to sing. I thought, I’ll just
keep singing with my dad and focus on my
acting.”
Famed director John Hughes was often
at the rudder of the ‘Brat Pack’ films,
and he and Molly worked together well,
according to some of her stories about
the career she triumphed in. She still acts.
Her focus now, though, is her life as a jazz
singer. She’s cut a CD, ‘Except Sometimes.’
Kathy Fehl, of the Weyauwega Arts
Organization, was listening to the radio in
her car when the song, ‘I Get Along With-
out You Very Well’ …except sometimes…
came on the radio. Kathy was struck by the
singer and then surprised to learn that it
was, in fact, Molly Ringwald.
One thing led to another, and now
Molly Ringwald and her three piece band
will be appearing at the Gerold Opera
House on October 8th.
The Gerold Opera House, home to
the Weyauwega Arts Organization (Wega
Arts, as it’s usually referred to), was built
in 1915. It has really great acoustics, and
hearing a singer there is a treat…seating
up to two hundred and fifty, or three
twenty-five with the balcony, the cabaret
arrangement makes an intimate house even
more so. The Gerold also has a full bar and
features Central Waters beer on tap.
After the concert Molly will sign
CDs. ‘Except Sometimes,’ included the
three musicians she will have with her at
the Gerold Opera House: Peter Smith on
piano, Clayton Cameron on drums, and
Trevor Ware on bass. Each of these are
world class jazz musicians.
Ian Teal is Executive Director of Wega
Arts.
“We’re thrilled to bring this great caba-
ret talent to Weyauwega,” Teal said. “We’re
about to be celebrating our tenth year here.
We’re here to develop original material
in theater, film and music, and to bring
entertainment to the community. Bringing
Molly Ringwald, actress and singer, here is
a wonderful step in our story.”
Wega Art’s most recent project is the
film ‘Heroes Rising.’ Seventeen kids
learning camera, sound, shot design, make
up as well as acting took part (very hands
on) in the making of the film, a narrative
short in which kids morph into super
heroes to combat the heroin epidemic.
Wega Arts also produced a documentary
with kids (‘Getting to the Bottom of Lake
Weyauwega’), three new musicals, twenty
new one act plays, and this November will
see their sixth annual Weyauwega Interna-
tional Film Festival.
Wega Arts owns and operates the
Gerold Opera House, and has done and
continues to do extensive restoration.
Other concerts at the Gerold have
included Annie Hughes of Waupaca
(recently at Carnegie Hall with the Cole
Porter 125th Birthday celebration), and
William Severin Thompson with the
Swingtime Big Band. On December 17th,
2016, Steve March Torme will be perform-
ing.
Tickets for the Molly Ringwald event
can be found on the Wega Arts website,
wegaarts.org. The Gerold Opera House is
at 136 East Main Street in Weyauwega.
The house will open at 7 p.m., and the
show will start at 8 p.m. Seating is reserved!
Get your tickets soon to see and hear
the charismatic and gifted MOLLY RING-
WALD!
Contact Wega Arts by email: info@
wegaarts.org, phone: 920-867-4888.
Molly Ringwald Sings Jazz at the Gerold
Committed to serving fresh, natural
and locally-sourced food, The Source
Public House will celebrated its 2nd anni-
versary this past July 24.
Having opened in 2014, The Source
Public House was one of the first farm-to-
table restaurants in the area, supporting
local farms and food suppliers with 86
percent of its vendors located within 100
miles of the restaurant. The Source’s 154
Wisconsin vendors include 101 food
providers, 40 craft breweries and 13 other
beverage providers.
Serving as a local music and art venue
as well, The Source has hosted more than
170 bands including local favorites Dead
Horses, Sly Joe and the Smooth Operators,
and The Dave Olsen Band, and is also
home to 58 paintings and photographs
created and shot by 16 local artists.
In addition to hosting live music sev-
eral times a week, The Source also hosts
a variety of events throughout the year
from live artist showcases of their works,
to sustainably-sourced five-course dinners,
and The Source is the home of one of the
only dog-friendly patios in the area.
According to long-time entrepreneur,
businessman and Source owner Dennis
Long, The Source offers a unique, locally-
sourced menu without having to leave the
Fox Valley.
“We are committed to providing the
community with fresh, natural food from
vendors right here in the Valley,” Dennis
said. “We want to reconnect people to
the land by serving food that is primarily
grown right here in our backyards.”
At The Source you’ll experience a
comfortable, casual dining experience with
sustainability at its core.
“We are ‘green’ wherever practical,”
Long said. “That means cloth napkins—
not paper—and as little plastic as possible.
We even use glass outside on our patio beer
garden.”
THE SOURCE RESTAURANT
Celebrates Two Years of Farm-to-Table Success
FOOD & DRINK // THE SOURCE RESTAURANT
10. BUSINESS // FOND DU LAC EYE DOCTOR
Few industries have seen as much
change and innovation as has the eye care
industry. Dr. Stephen Dudley, of OptiVi-
sion Eye Care located on Pioneer Drive in
Fond du Lac, continues to offer new and
innovative services while continuing to
provide the best in quality eye care to his
patients.
NEW AND IMPROVED CATARACT
SURGERY
MULTIFOCAL IMPLANTS
Until recently, cataract patients
received monofocal lens implants that
had only a single power. This meant you
had a choice of correction for either far or
near vision. If you suffer from presbyopia,
like many people over age 50, this would
mean that you still need glasses for either
reading or for distance vision. Dr. Dudley
offers several multifocal lens implants that
can increase your chances for a life free of
dependence on glasses or contacts after
cataract surgery for near, far and interme-
diate vision. If you’ve worn glasses for a
long time, this is your opportunity to live a
lens-free lifestyle!
NO DROP CATARACT SURGERY
In an effort to make surgery safer and
more convenient for patients, Dr.
Dudley uses an
intra-
ocular medication delivery system placed
inside the eye at the time of surgery. “The
advantage of delivering medication during
surgery is that your postoperative course
will be simplified and you won’t have to
deal with the inconvenience and expense
of obtaining and placing drops in your
eyes,” says Dr. Dudley.
BLADE-FREE/LASER-ASSISTED
Traditional cataract surgery has always
involved a blade to create several small
incisions during surgery. These incisions
can now be made with a laser. This custom,
blade-free cataract removal is more precise
by using the same proven laser technology
that’s been used in LASIK procedures for
over a decade. OptiVision patients are for-
tunate to have the option of upgrading to
this advanced technology with our on-site
femtosecond cataract laser which can also
reduce astigmatism at the same time.
TIRED OF WEARING READING
GLASSES?
Dr. Dudley has a safe, effective, long-
term solution for patients with presbyopia.
The KAMRA™ corneal inlay allows the eye
to see near and intermediate objects more
clearly while maintaining distance vision.
It’s designed to revive reading vision by
allowing only focused light to enter the
eye.
Everyone will experience loss of read-
ing vision and blurriness as they age.
Presbyopia may seem to occur
suddenly, but the actual loss
of flexibility takes place
over a number of years,
usually becoming
noticeable in the
early to mid-
40s. Presby-
opia is not
a dis-
e a s e
a n d
i t
cannot be pre-
vented.
The KAMRA™
c o r n e a l i n l a y
is an ultra-thin
opaque ring that is
implanted into the
patient’s non-domi-
nant eye. The device
utilizes the principle
of the pinhole effect,
to extend depth-of-
focus for patients
suffering from age-
related near vision
loss while maintain-
ing binocularity for
distance.
Patients who
have undergone the
KAMRA procedure
are once again
performing daily
tasks like reading
text messages, checking the time on their
watch, reading store shelf prices, working
on a computer and driving without glasses.
WITH LASIK INCREASING IN POP-
ULARITY AND FLUCTUATING IN
PRICE, IT PAYS TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THE MAN BEHIND THE MACHINE.
With so many laser centers in the area,
it pays to research the surgeon behind
the laser. Dr. Stephen Dudley takes pride
in his honesty and forthright approach
to refractive surgery. “We offer a variety
of refractive procedures and strive to fit
each patient with the procedure that best
suits their individual needs”, explains Dr.
Dudley.
As the first eye surgeon to perform
laser vision correction in the state of
Wisconsin in 1990, Dr. Dudley offers
the latest in technology and treatment to
correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and
astigmatism. He has performed thousands
of laser vision procedures. From teaching
and training surgeons throughout the
country, to educating and treating patients
nationwide, Dr. Dudley offers patients
“visual freedom” from glasses and contact
lenses.
By using world class VISX technology,
he delivers a personalized approach to
laser vision correction by offering a more
“custom-eyes” treatment plan to further
improve the accuracy of his results. A
patient’s vision is as unique as their finger-
print and no one should be satisfied with
an “assembly-line” laser vision experience
when they can choose a custom procedure.
Dudley consistently provides superior
visual outcomes. In 1998, Dr. Dudley
had the LASIK procedure himself and has
enjoyed a glasses-free lifestyle ever since.
Dudley says, “A complimentary consulta-
tion is the best way to determine your
candidacy for refractive surgery.”
To schedule an eye exam, a cataract
evaluation or a complimentary screening
to find out more about LASIK call 1-800-
204-2779.
Fond du Lac office: 920-923-0000
Oshkosh office: 920-236-3540 Neenah
office: 920-729-6600
Fond du Lac Eye Doctor
Provides Solutions for Vision Problems
10 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
12. 12 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
FOOD & DRINK // THEO’S 24
BY MICHAEL CASPER
Long before Guy Fieri got his first dye
job, Anthony Bourdain bought his own set
of knives, and Rachel Ray explained to us
the idiosyncrasies of the cheese sandwich,
Ted Buetow was earning his stripes, and
getting his chops in various kitchens in a
myriad of restaurants while living in Mil-
waukee.
“I worked with a lot of different chefs,”
Ted said “learning everything from the
right way to prepare and present a salad, to
creating a five course meal. I worked my
way up through the school of hard knocks
in the restaurant industry beginning when
I was in my early twenties.”
In 1994 Ted’s parents, Noel and Ken
Buetow wanted to open a restaurant that
revolved around prime cuts of meat,
and fresh fish, focused on quality, what’s
referred to ‘the center of the plate.’
“The approach always was to buy the
best food, and let that speak for itself,” Ted
said.
The original Theo’s closed, not because
they had to, but rather through a business
proposition. A few years ago Ted was run-
ning Theo’s, and was asked by Louie Lange
Jr. to join the team at The Trinity, which
was struggling at the time.
“He and I became partners,” Ted said
“I was the tenant of the building in a sense.
But it wasn’t long after that we realized I
couldn’t run both places at the same time,
so I decided to focus on Trinity, which was
a bigger operation with the potential to
make more money, but with it came the
risk of quickly losing money too.”
It ended in the latter scenario as Trinity
closed in December of 2014.
“I immediately wanted to reopen
Theo’s,” Ted said. “We’d had it for sale, it
never sold, so I started the process, and
that’s when Randy Cunzenheim came into
the picture.”
Randy Cunzenheim retired from the
Fond du Lac Fire Department after a 24
year career, having risen to the rank of
Assistant Chief of Training and Safety, then
decided to get into the restaurant business.
“It didn’t happen that quickly (laugh),”
Randy said “but almost. My wife Ruth and
I are Godparents to Teddy’s children. Our
father’s knew one another from way back,
our families have always gotten together
over the holidays, we were all involved in
hockey. We’re like family. After I retired,
Teddy was telling me he was thinking
about reopening Theo’s, but knew the res-
taurant needed a lot of interior work. I’m
kind of handy, so I suggested I give him a
hand with it.”
They put a business plan together, one
thing led to another, and the next thing he
and Ted knew, they were both putting in
more than 50-hour work weeks, along with
Randy’s dad Ron Cunzenheim, demolish-
ing and rehabbing the old Theo’s. Ron was
a civil engineer for the city of Fond du Lac,
who after a 27-year career retired, only to
go to work for another decade at Excel
Engineering before retiring again, and who
then started and operated his own business
for yet another 10 years or more.
Smith Brothers Construction put the
new face on the outside of Theo’s.
“We did all the inside work ourselves,”
Ted said. “Admittedly, I’m not really handy,
but Randy, his dad, and another friend
Randy Brezinski helped completely change
the look of the bar and dining room. We
tore the old flooring out, exposing the 100
year-old Terrazzo floor, and brought that
back to life. The whole rehab took about a
year to complete.”
The wood they used for the bar back,
and bar table tops has a unique history.
“Jason Guelig stopped in one day while
we were tearing things apart,” Randy said
“and told us about how he’d found some
wood from an old Flannigan’s Sauerkraut
vat that he was contracted to demolish.
The vat had been used for more than
100 years, and after looking into it Jason
realized this wood was ‘original growth’
California Redwood. Now, having been
used as a sauerkraut vat, these 4-inch thick
beveled planks were in pretty rough shape,
but after we planed them down, what we
found was absolutely gorgeous. And we
didn’t stain them at all, we just applied a
sealcoat to them.”
If you count the rings, they number
more than 175 years of growth in a 5-inch
width.
“My dad’s quite the woodworker,”
Randy said “and knowing that we had to
rip out all the old cabinetry, and coolers
that were near 60 years old, we started the
project. And shortly thereafter we decided
we’d just rebuild everything ourselves.”
Patron’s tastes have changed over the
years for both food and beverage.
“What has also changed are the expec-
tations of the customer,” Ted said “twenty
years ago when I’d serve Ahi Tuna, people
would have no idea what that was, and
would very seldom order it. Now, they
expect it. Today we always have Ahi, and
Atlantic Salmon, and Chilean Sea Bass on
our menu, all of our fish is fresh, never
frozen, on top of that we try to have at least
one or two other fresh fish choices on spe-
cial, and of course we still buy the prime
cuts of meat. Craft beers have grown in
popularity, we don’t sell as much bottled
beer as we once did, and we sell more wine
than craft beer, believe it or not. Wine has
taken off, as has high end alcohol, nobody
orders off the rail anymore. Primo vodkas,
and bourbons are hot, where twenty years
ago you had Jim Beam, and that was it!
(laugh)”
The gluten-free foods have crept into
our vocabularies and across our palates.
New Look and New Life for Theo’s 24
13. August/September 2016 | SceneNewspaper.com | 13
FOOD & DRINK // THEO’S 24
“It wasn’t an issue before, but now it
is,” Ted said “so we will customize meals to
your liking.”
“Teddy is a phenomenal chef,” Randy
said “he’s the reason people come to Theo’s,
the food and the menu are sensational.
We’re always striving to make our service
better, we believe with the new design,
Theo’s is basically a brand new place. We
have the great venue with having updated
everything from the electrical, to heating
and air conditioning, the kitchen was
totally gutted and remodeled. We tried
to take advantage of the art deco skeleton
that it had wanting to accentuate with finer
details.”
And if Ted’s
not in the kitchen,
Theo’s doesn’t open.
“It’s not that I
don’t trust anybody
else in my kitchen,”
Ted said “it’s just
that I want to
touch every plate
that leaves, it’s that
important to me.
And we’re small
enough right now,
we’re only serving
one meal, we’re
closed Sundays and
Mondays with a
plan to someday soon open Sundays offer-
ing an a la carte brunch, be open for Packer
games, and serve an early dinner.”
The restaurant business is more com-
petitive than ever.
“You’re not only competing with other
restaurants, but also with the customers
themselves,” Ted said “and by that I mean,
more often than before folks like to cook at
home. With the popularity of food chan-
nels on TV, and just about everybody has
a recipe or a cookbook, people like to stay
home and try things themselves. Twenty-
five years ago when my brother Todd
owned Dillinger’s, on a Sunday during a
Packer game, you couldn’t get in the bar.
Nowadays, people have their own high-def
big screens, and grocery stores will have
a deli special where you can entertain 15
people for a fraction of the price for what
you and your wife would spend going out.”
Because the customer has become more
savvy, knowing exactly what it is they want
from a wine to rye whiskey, or hummus
and flatbread to seasoned pork tenderloin
medallions. In turn, the bar and waitstaff
needs to be educated and on their game for
a restaurant to remain competitive, much
less stay open.
“I have friends in the business, and
know of at least three restaurants that have
simply closed their doors,” Ted said “some
out of frustration. The customer expects
more than they once did. People work
hard for their money, and they want to be
treated right when they go out and spend
their money.”
And since the beginning of time, good
help is hard to find.
“You have to want to learn, and be
willing to work,” Ted
said “and I’ll tell you, it’s
hard to find good help.
I have one kid here who
gets it, his name is Drew
Christiansen, and he
is exceptional. Three
quarters of the people
who walk through
Theo’s front door,
request Drew, he’s just
that good...because he
gets it. He understands
customer service. How
do you explain it with-
out offending the other
servers, but the template
for how to do it, and do
it right, is right in front of them. Work
ethic these days is lacking, and never more
than today is the customer never wrong.
You have to cater to the customer, or you
don’t have any customers. What’s gotten
lost is the, ‘how can I make this right for
you,’ but we’re trying to turn the ship
around here at Theo’s.”
“When Ted and his family had run
Theo’s for twenty years previous,” Randy
said “it was always a comfortable place to
come to, and we want to continue that.
It’s a place where when you walk in, you’ll
always know somebody, a nice place for a
drink after work, have some appetizers, and
also enjoy an incredible dinner.”
“Gordon Ramsey and I share the same
thought process and concept,” Ted said
“which is you focus on and buy the good
center of the plate, meaning you buy the
best filet, the best sea bass, the best tuna,
and you revolve around that, and let that
speak for itself. You can’t take a lower grade
cut of meat, a ‘no role,’ meaning it’s not
stamped, and dress it up enough to fool the
customer into thinking it’s prime. When
you get right down to it, Theo’s is a bargain,
truly. If you were in school it would be
‘Restaurant 101.’ With most restaurants
their food costs are 30% of their outlay...
our is 65%. Think of 65-cents of every
dollar going just to the product. When
you see our filet on the menu for $35,
that would be a $48 steak a la carte. All of
our entrees come with soup or salad, and
side. If you go to Carnevor Steakhouse in
Milwaukee, and order the same steak, the
same meal...because they have the same
steak, you’ll pay $48, and you might get a
salad with it.”
With Randy is the front of the house,
and Ted in the kitchen, Theo’s 24 is ‘a must’
dining experience in casual fine dining,
located at 24 North Main Street in Fond
du Lac.
On-Deck Ostholff Resort
14. 14 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // SERIOUSLY FUNNY
BY GEORGE HALAS
Appleton native Kyle Megna is in a
unique position to reflect on the growth of
Mile of Music.
The singer-songwriter-guitarist and
leader of Kyle Megna and The Monsoons
played at the first MOM. Since then, the
band has grown in size and stature, and has
released several CD’s of original music that
have earned critical acclaim and a growing
legion of fans who flock to the band’s live
shows.
Megna had just moved back from
Nashville when MOM debuted.
“Well, we just started playing out in
the Fox Cities. We were playing our own
tunes and finding our sound as a band,”
Megna recalls. “This musical festival was
going to happen, and no one knew what
to expect. We signed up online I believe.
Thinking back to the first year I was pleas-
antly surprised...I don’t think anyone really
knew what was going to happen. It could
have been a flop, or a success. It was orga-
nized well enough, and clearly people were
curious about what it was. I think people
wanted something different. They got
something fresh, new, and exciting. Hear-
ing bands from all parts of the country
in Appleton, Wisconsin in one four-day
stretch was and is a breath of fresh air.”
Many artists from the area were already
performing.
“And creating and selling their own
music and it gave them a platform to
showcase their talents,” he added. “I think
it was eye-opening to the community that
they could catch original music almost any
day of the week, year-round right here in
the Fox Cities. We have so much talent
here.”
Megna is grateful for the opportunities.
“MOM has given the members of the
Monsoons, past and present, as well as
myself a platform to play music in this area
and beyond,” he said. “I’ve been perform-
ing, writing and recording music for the
past 11 years. Only in the last two years
has it gotten to a place where I feel I’ve
‘found myself’ as a musician and under-
stand my strengths and weaknesses while
always growing. Definitely having that
platform once a year helps push the music
created. I try my best to have new material
every year.”
Right on cue, Megna and The Mon-
soons released a new EP, “Always Been
This Way” on July 26th, which not only
showcases the growth and evolution of
the band, but the growth and evolution of
Megna’s songwriting as well.
Since January of this year the band has
a new lineup, a veritable Fox Cities all-star
team. The current members are: Fred
Velpel, bass; Mike Underwood, drums;
Noah Harmon, keys; Kurt Shipe, trumpet;
Aaron Zepplin, lead guitar; and Ross Cat-
terton, sax, as well as Megna on guitar and
vocals.
“Past and present lineups with the band
always affect the writing,” Megna said.
“This lineup, as it is now can still lay down
funky grooves, but has a very intricate and
dynamic aspect about it. Half the guys in
the band now are professionally-trained
musicians with degrees in music to prove
just that. Yes, these guys are beasts of
musicians. I’m very grateful to be play-
ing and creating music with them. I feel
everyone plays to the songs and knows
their role to fulfill in the band. They’re
smart and talented guys. I don’t need
to talk ‘direction and vision’ with
them. There is a lot to making a band
work. The one thing I know is that we all
respect the music and put music first.”
Megna jokes with the guys a lot about
how many technical things he doesn’t
know about music.
“I’m a simple song writer, and I love
playing with melodies,” he said. “I have
a different take on music, and this group
of talented musicians brings it to life. I
don’t tell them really what to play. They
make their own parts around my simple
songs. The combination of that makes it
different and exciting to listen to.”
He describes the EP as an organic piece
of work.
“I don’t tell the new lineup what to
play,” he said “and this EP truly represents
what we are now and what we are capable
of.”
Different and exciting to listen to, are
clearly evident with the opening notes
of the EP’s first track, “Find The One
Thing,” as Shipe’s trumpet announces that
Underwood and Velpel have found a deep,
classic Monsoon groove that creates the
right ambience for Megna’s urgent vocal.
Zepplin contributes his usual stellar guitar
work and trades musical punches with
Shipe.
It’s Harmon’s turn to set the stage for
“Hollow” to develop around Catterton’s
tenor sax. Megna brings the volume down
midway as Catterton returns the favor and
provides the right flourishes to augment a
Harmon solo. The song builds back up to
full-tilt boogie as Underwood and Zepplin
take over big time. Megna’s maturing song
craft creates room for everyone.
Evolving songwriter Megna places
ear-catching acoustic guitar chords at the
beginning of “Always Been This Way,” a
ballad that showcases Catterton’s tenor,
and the sonically pleasing mix that results
when this lineup plays all together. Megna’s
heartfelt lyrics are ideally suited to his
voice.
The groove, and Megna’s vocal will
seem familiar to Monsoon fans on “Deep
Down,” but Catterton and Underwood
underscore once again that the music is
growing in a very good direction.
“Don’t Let Me Go,” is a second, equally
compelling acoustic guitar-tenor sax fla-
vored ballad that frames some of Megna’s
best, ever-evolving lyrics, and once again,
makes a listener glad that Catteron is in the
band.
One gets the impression that Megna
and the band are having a good time.
“The chemistry of the band has gotten
to a top level,” Megna said. “It’s always
been good, but now everyone in the band
knows what the other member is thinking
and it’s a smooth, well-oiled machine. If
you see us live now, you see everyone
in the band smiling and moving to the
music. That’s a good sign. The guys in
the band are all good hangs, too...getting
to know everyone on a more personal level
has been a blast. It feels like family. So
many laughs and experiences with these
guys, especially when we did our South-
East tour.”
Check kylemegna.com for the dates,
times and venues for Megna’s various per-
formances. The EP will be for sale as long
as supplies last…
KYLE MEGNA, Mile of Music
have Grown Together
16. 16 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // CONCERT WATCH
BY JANE SPIETZ
The music of Grammy award-winning
rock band Toto blends touches of rock,
progressive rock, jazz, pop, R & B, and
funk. Having grown up together in
Southern California, members of Toto
maintain a close relationship even today.
The band’s philosophy is one of a total
team effort, in which individual musical
contributions from all are both encouraged
and appreciated.
Toto has seen numerous personnel
changes since its formation in 1977,
including the passing of brothers Jeff and
Mike Porcaro, but the exceptional quality
of the music has remained consistent.
Through the years, individual members
of Toto have been in high demand for
their outstanding musicianship and
have performed on an astounding 5000
different albums of various artists. Toto has
toured extensively all over the world and
is currently playing dates throughout the
United States. The band maintains a huge
international fan base.
Toto is best known for hit singles
“Rosanna,” “Hold the Line,” “Africa,”
“I’ll Be Over You,” “Pamela,” “99,” and
“I Won’t Hold You Back.” Toto IV (1982)
received critical acclaim and earned Toto
the distinction of being the first group to
earn six Grammys for one album. Toto
XIV (2015) was the band’s first studio
recording in 10 years. It has been described
as a genuine return to the early musical
stylings of Toto combined with modern
elements. This September the band will
release a special concert film, Toto: Live at
Montreux 1991, which features Toto at the
Montreux Jazz Festival after being invited
to perform there by iconic producer
Quincy Jones.
For laughs, be sure to check out
the video of Jimmy Fallon and Justin
Timberlake performing “Africa” during one
of their hilarious Camp Winnipesaukee
summer camp sketches on the Tonight
Show.
Members of Toto include Steve
“Luke” Lukather (Guitar/Vocals), David
Paich (Keyboards/Vocals), Steve Porcaro
(Keyboards/Vocals), Joe Williams (Lead
Vocals), along with the addition of touring
members Shannon Forrest (Drums) and
Leland Sklar (Bass).
I phoned Williams recently at his home
in California.
Jane Spietz: Toto has a whole new
generation of devoted fans following the
band.
Joe Williams: It’s extremely gratifying
just to be a part of something that has
endured as this band has. Especially
with all of its incarnations and members
passing away. It’s a bizarre, typical kind of
family story. It’s incredibly exciting. Who
wouldn’t be completely honored to be in a
long-lasting thing like this?
JS: What is the story behind the name
of the band?
JW: (Laughs) It’s so funny. Some of the
guys who’ve been around the whole time
have their joke answers, and then they have
their convoluted answers. It’s hysterical.
When Lukather’s not in a great mood,
and we’re all little bit tired and somebody
asks that question in the audience, we just
say ‘oh, it’s the dog in the Wizard of Oz.’
Which I suppose it is. But the true story is
when Toto was recording their first songs
in the studio for the first album back then
they used these huge, two inch 24 track
tapes which lived in these enormous boxes.
They had to have vaults filled with these
things for all the artists that were working
on their music. Somebody complained that
the tape boxes of the total recordings were
not labeled. So Jeff Porcaro, the drummer
at the time, went into
the vault and just
wrote ‘toto’ on all the
boxes. From what I
understand, that is the
real story of how the
band got the name.
(Laughs)
JS: How did Toto’s
distinct sound evolve?
JW: It was really David Paich and
Jeff Porcaro. Their affiliation and their
work together from the time there were
kids playing in high school bands. They
developed it together. They developed this
really interesting combination of sounds. It
was mostly R&B. If you go back and listen
to Boz Scaggs’ first album and a lot of
Steely Dan stuff, we’re talking about those
guys. They played on all those records. So
there was this real R&B feel which you
even hear in songs like “Hold the Line” and
“Rosanna.” A few of the other members
came in and added some texture. As a
guitar player, Lukather’s influences were
a little bit more rock and perhaps fusion
oriented, but then again he also has a great
ballad side to him. So David Paich and Jeff
Porcaro were responsible for the sound you
know as Toto.
JS: The four current members of Toto
all take turns at singing lead vocals, writing
songs, and everybody plays an instrument.
Bonding and teamwork where everyone
contributes to the music.
JW: It is remarkable. It’s the best
working situation. Making the latest
album was very difficult. We’ve been close
for so many years, but again everybody
came in and brought something to the
table. Brought either something musical
or vocally or lyrically or production wise.
It’s extremely balanced in terms of the
collaborative process, at least with the
four of us. We seem to have a really good
method.
JS: I was interested to learn that
members of Toto’s management created
a tree, so to speak, of all the artists that
various members of Toto have worked with
over the years and have contributed to
many of their recordings.
JW: Everybody in the group is a stellar
musician, and started their career here
in Southern California doing sessions,
myself included. I thought when I came
out of high school was that I was going to
get go to college and get a basic degree so
that I could go into the Air Force, believe
it or not. They started to get jobs singing
commercials. That was the beginning for
me. As for the other guys in the band,
their reputation for being these incredible
musicians got around so everyone was
interested in having them come work on
their records. Michael Jackson, Quincy
Jones. All these people would come seeking
out David Paich and Steve Lukather just
for their incredible musicianship and talent
in coming up with great new ideas.
JS: I must ask you about one of my
favorite Toto songs – “Africa.” It is so
beautiful and so inspiring. How did the
idea for Africa come about?
JW: “Africa” is a masterpiece written
by David Paich. The interesting story with
that song that I heard was that nobody in
the band wanted to have it on the record.
They just weren’t hearing it as something
that lived up to the other songs on the
album, and of course it became a number
one hit. It’s quite simply just one of those
David Paich grooves. Real simplistic
melody and his words are visual and his
lyrics are very poetic. He loves to speak
about locales and the feeling you get when
you’re there. It just struck a nerve. Great,
great song.
JS: Talk about Toto XIV, Toto’s latest
release.
JW: It came about as a result of the
contract the band had with the record
company. An album was owed. Discussion
was had about whether to fight it or just
make an album. So we just decided, you
know, come on let’s do what we do and just
go in the studio and make a record. It was
Toto Headlines Waterfest 2016 Finale!
WHAT:Toto
WHERE: Waterfest Concert Series, Oshkosh WI
WHEN:Thursday, September 1, 2016 Gates open at 5:30 PM
COST: Reserved VIP $40, General Admission $20,Admission
before 6 PM $15
INFO: www.waterfest.org/
www.totoofficial.com/
Continue on Page 18
18. 18 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // CONCERT WATCH
basically the four men that are now standing
as the band Toto. It was just us. Everybody
brought something to the table. Everybody’s
influences came along with it. Obviously,
we had David Paich, original writer and
member of the group, so everybody’s
hanging on his ideas. We were interested in
doing some pieces that were similar to the
band Yes - a little more progressive kind of
thing. And then, of course, coming back to
the soulful David Paich’s R&B stuff. There
is a great song called “Chinatown” on that
record that was actually written during
the period of the first Toto album. We
brought that back out and recut it. There is
a nostalgic feel to the new album. It harkens
back to the things that we loved back in the
late ‘70s, while at the same time trying to
bring something new and inventive to the
process. I’m proud of it. It’s a really nice, fun
collection of songs. Some of them are great
to play live.
JS: I would like you to share a favorite
memory.
JW: I guess the one that just stands
out for some obvious reasons was on my
first tour with Toto. I was quite excited
and absorbing every second of it. I have
some very clear and vivid memories just
because it was so fun and new for me at
that time. We were in Puerto Rico and lost
power in the middle of the show. I felt a
responsibility to entertain the crowd with
no mic, no nothing. I brought my video
camera out and started to do a striptease.
At one point, I just turned around to see
where the other guys in the band were, and
they had all left the stage. So I’m standing
there acting like a buffoon! (Laughs)
JS: What is on the horizon for Toto?
JW: We have a lot of great stuff planned.
Beginning of next year, we’re going to be
working on new material that is going to be
released as part of a new best of album for
the 40th anniversary which will be in 2018.
Which will be supported with a tour that
has much bigger production values. We’ve
been banking a bunch of money so we
can invest in our own production for the
40th anniversary. I’m looking forward to
that. We are going to remaster every single
Toto album that was ever made, which will
be great. And there will be new material,
which is always good news for me because
I’m such a huge fan, especially of Dave’s
writing. And I love working with him
and writing with him. It looks like 2018
is going to be the ginormous touring year.
Next year will sort of be a prep year. We’ll
work on the production stuff and the new
material. And of course we will do some
touring, usually in the summer. But, 2018
is going to be the big year, knock on wood.
And we’ll see what happens after that.
JS: Toto will perform at the 2016
Waterfest finale in Oshkosh on Thursday,
September 1.
JW: We will be in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
on my birthday, 9/1! Fans are going to
hear all of their favorite hits, obviously.
They’re going to hear some cool deep cuts
that they may not have expected. They’re
going to hear some new material from the
new album. They’re going to enjoy some of
Steve Lukather’s unique humor. (Laughs)
And they’re going to watch some absolutely
astounding musicians. They can expect
everything they want from this band and
more. I am happy that you were interested
in taking the time to talk. It was absolutely
my pleasure and honor. I can’t wait to be
out there. It seems to me that every year for
the last five years I’m always on tour during
my birthday, so I’m used to it now!
Jazz Fest
Continued from Page 16
20. 20 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // FAIR TRADE MONTH
Fond du Lac Fair Trade Town is plan-
ning a “round about” way to celebrate Fair
Trade Month in Fond du Lac. A short and
affordable Fair Trade Journey is offered as
you are out and about this October, to ten
locally owned shops and cafés who carry
some Fair Trade products. They each are
highlighting a featured product for you to
learn more about Fair Trade around Fond
du Lac.
Participating local businesses are the
Blue Goose Coffee House at Horicon
Bank, Common Grounds Coffee Shop
at Marian University, Gallery and Frame
Shop, Just B Still Massage Studio and
Green Café, Just Fare Market, Living Light
Studio, Moraine Park Technical College
Bookstore, ReachOut & Solid Grounds
Coffee, Urban Fuel and Village Market
Specialty Foods. You are invited to visit 5
or more of the 10 retailers.
The Fair Trade Journey theme is “Know
Your Producer; Know Your Product.” This
theme encourages people to think about
where the products come from and the
human beings who make them. Although
fair trade networks focus mainly on
fighting poverty in developing countries
the organizers of the event recognize the
importance of treating all workers with
fairness, including those in the United
States.
Journey participants may start at any
of the participating businesses, where
they will receive a “Fair Trade Passport.”
At each stop, participants will be encour-
aged to look for that venue’s “featured
product” and record the product’s name
in their passport. Shoppers who find the
featured products at five or more shops are
invited to leave the completed passport at
one of the stores to be entered in a draw-
ing for a gift certificate or prize package.
The passports should be completed on or
before October 31 and left at one of the
participating retailers.
The Fair Trade Journey will begin on
October 1 with passports available in the
participating stores. The official kick-off
will take place at a half day event on the
morning of October 8, at Moraine Park
Technical College - Fond du Lac Campus.
This event is free and open to the public.
“How to Make Fond du Lac a Traffic Free
Zone,” will focus on how Fair Trade and
local agencies and groups are helping to
fight the crime of labor and sex traffick-
ing which enslaves women, children and
men globally as well as in the US and even
Wisconsin. For more information check
the FDL Fair Trade Town website: www.
fonddulacfairtradetown.wordpress.com
Celebrate Fair Trade Month in
October 1-31, 2016
22. 22 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // RIVERFRONT JAZZ FESTIVAL
BY TAYLOR HALE
The undulating timbres of jazz will
be flowing through the streets of Stevens
Point this Labor Day weekend at the
Riverfront Jazz Festival, held at Pfiffner
Pioneer Park. The festival has been running
for over a decade and brings in some of the
biggest names in modern jazz. This year’s
featured artist will be Benny Golson and
his quartet. Golson is a world renown jazz
musician from Philadelphia, PA.
Jennifer Bellmer, Riverfront Jazz Fes-
tival Event Manager, has helped the event
grow progressively since its inception,
helping bring in bigger names each year
to perform for the public. She feels that
the event helps preserve the history and
heritage of jazz, something that matters
deeply to her.
“I think preserving jazz music is impor-
tant. It’s America’s invention. It’s a part of
our history. Music that we hear today, even
rap and hip-hop, all still have elements of
jazz in it,” Bellmer said. “New musicians of
today can thank our ancestors for coming
up with things that we still borrow. Because
our festival is free and we can reach a lot
of people, I think it helps to make people
aware of jazz, which helps preserve it.”
Jazz’s diversification in the sonic realm
has helped it spread its roots across the
modern soundscape. Bellmer feels that jazz
is a type of music that takes many auditory
profiles, but has a form that everyone can
enjoy.
“There are so many genres in jazz that
there is something for everyone, no matter
how complex or simple,” Bellmer said.
The alcohol-free and family-friendly
event will also have food from local ven-
dors. Everything from gyros to shaved ice
will be available for patrons to enjoy, but
the great food, music, and atmosphere
aren’t the only things guests will enjoy. The
event is right on the Wisconsin River, lend-
ing the festival the perfect backdrop for all
in attendance to appreciate.
Performers and guests alike are sure to
savor the natural beauty of the American
music and landscape at the Riverfront
Jazz Festival. It is an assemblage of people
who care about American culture, history,
and art. Bellmer is devoted to giving the
audience a good show, and she is not alone.
Another committee member, Mathew
Buchman, Artistic Director, is dedicated to
bringing in renowned musicians to play for
guests of all ages.
“I think the crowd continues to grow
as the festival does thanks to Mathew who
always puts together a great and varied
line-up,” Bellmer said.
Building a larger audience has been a
mission of the committee’s from the start.
The first festival, in 2004, saw approxi-
mately 2,000 guests, and this year’s event
is expected to draw around 5,000 patrons.
Bellmer and the other committee members
have more than doubled the size of the
crowd since the festival’s initial start date,
and she is thankful that it is still growing.
The entertainment has also grown along
with the crowd.
“This year’s fest is going to be great,”
Bellmer said. “We have some local acts
which are always a crowd favorite, and
then we have a huge jazz legend, Benny
Golson, coming to our stage. I think he’ll
even draw in more people from other areas
because he’s such a respected musician. I
really cannot wait to hear what he brings
us. We keep outdoing ourselves each year
with who we bring in to perform. So, I’m
sure 2017 will be very special too.”
Bellmer knows that this year’s festival
will be a crowd-pleasing mixture of good
food, great music, and a relaxed and fun
atmosphere - and she knows next year’s
event will be even bigger. But, regardless of
size, Bellmer’s main goal is to put together
an event that people will enjoy.
“My favorite part of the event is hear-
ing and seeing the community enjoy
themselves. I have never seen anyone there
who is disappointed. Unless it’s weather
related,” Bellmer joked.
Riverfront Jazz Festival:
Labor Day Weekend in Stevens Point
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2016
3:00-4:30 UWSP Faculty Sextet
5:00-6:30 Patty and the Buttons
7:00-8:30 Sara Gazarek Quartet
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016
3:00-4:30 Joe Policastro Trio
5:00-6:30 Greg Duncan
(Flamenco project)
7:00-8:30 Benny Golson Quartet
Lola’s Ostholff Resort
For more info about this event visit riverfrontjazzfestival.org
24. 24 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // FOX JAZZ FESTIVAL
FOX JAZZ FESTIVAL
at Jefferson Park Labor Day Weekend
BY GEORGE HALAS
It has become a Fox Cities summer
tradition…and a fine one at that.
The 23rd annual Fox Jazz Festival
returns to Menasha’s idyllic lakeside Jef-
ferson Park on Saturday, September 3rd
and Sunday, September 4th. One of the
unique and most enjoyable features of the
festival, the Fox Jazz Fest Jam, which often
includes players from the festival as well as
the best local musicians, also returns to The
Riverwalk Inn in Neenah Saturday night.
Perhaps the best part of the tradition is
that admission is free.
Fox Jazz Festival artistic director John
Harmon has assembled yet another strong
lineup of talent to fit this year’s theme,
“Oh How My Heart Sings.”
“I’m pretty thrilled,” Harmon said.
“We’ve never focused on vocals like this
but it seems like time we did. We have two
headliners, Sara Gazarek and Allan Harris,
who are world-class singers. The people
who attend will be very pleased.”
Gazarek, the Sunday headliner, is a
Los Angeles-based jazz vocalist and leads
the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble as
a member of the University of Southern
California faculty. With three highly
acclaimed CD’s under her belt at the young
age of 30, Sara has been hailed by the LA
Times as “the next important jazz singer,”
and “impeccable,” by the Winnipeg Free
Press.
Gazarek will be joined by her stellar
Los Angeles-based group featuring pia-
nist Josh Nelson, bassist Hamilton Price
and Grammy-winning drummer Zach
Harmon, a USC graduate and John Har-
mon’s son.
“Zach introduced me to Sara,” Harmon
said. “He has worked with her for 8-9 years
since he got out of the Monk Institute. She
is fantastic.”
Harris, a Brooklyn native, is an award-
winning jazz vocalist, guitarist and song-
writer who has performed at Jazz at Lincoln
Center in New York, Washington D.C.’s
Kennedy Center and at the 2012 Summer
Olympics in London. He is a three-time
winner of the New York Nightlife Award
for “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist,” won the
Backstage Bistro Award for “Ongoing
Achievement in Jazz,” the Jazz Museum of
Harlem Award and the P.A.C.E Award for
Jazz Excellence.
The Miami Herald described him as an
artist blessed with, “the warmth of Tony
Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of
Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat ‘King’
Cole.” Harris’ new album, “Black Bar
Jukebox,” produced by Grammy® Award-
winning producer Brian Bacchus (Norah
Jones, Gregory Porter), is his most compel-
ling and comprehensive recording to date.
“I was not familiar with Allan Harris,”
Harmon said. “I listened to some of his
stuff and he is fantastic. He is definitely a
real star and a wonderful jazz singer.”
Vocalist Janet Planet, the Fox Cities’
own international jazz star, will join
Harmon on the FJF stage at 2:45 p.m.
Saturday. They often perform locally as a
duo and have played together in Russia
and Japan.
“When I hired Janet for this year’s
festival, I told her she could bring anyone
she wanted in terms of her band,” Harmon
said. “She said ‘I want it to be just you
and me.’ I was shocked, but thrilled and
honored as well.”
Another top-tier vocalist, Chris
Salerno, will sing and play keyboards as she
fronts Ziji, who will play in the 1 p.m. slot
on Sunday.
Harmon considers Kim Richmond
Quintet featuring trumpeter Clay Jenkins
(2:15 p.m. Sunday) and The Amina Figa-
rova Sextet (4 p.m. Saturday) as worthy
of being headliners. Figarova’s ensemble
was the surprise hit of the 2011 Fox Jazz
Festival.
“I was very impressed by her 2011 per-
formance and she will be a great set-up for
Allan
Harris,” Harmon said. “I like the band’s
precision and their European perspective.
They are an extremely gifted and well-
educated group of musicians. We are really
getting another headliner.”
Figarova herself has fond memories of
the 2011 festival.
“I remember well that audience was
very much into it,” she said. “After the
performance I spoke with few people and
it was obvious how well they listened to the
music and to my stories. It’s a true pleasure
to play for such an audience. We are look-
ing forward to that very much!!!”
Her latest album, “Blue Whisper,”
was released in 2015 to worldwide critical
acclaim.
“Indeed, response is overwhelming and
beautiful,” she said. “Making an album is
such intimate, deep and reflecting process,
and, once you’re done, it goes to the world,
to listeners, and it always has and is a very
special moment - the first response. This
album was pretty special because some of
the songs were inspired on a very different
way. One of the songs that I think deserves
special attention is ‘Hear My Voice.’ The
THE FULL
SCHEDULE:
SEPT. 3
Noon: Webster Stanley Middle
School Jazz Band
12:30 p.m.: Neenah High School
Jazz Band
1 p.m.: Mike Kubicki Group
(tribute to Bud Powell)
2:15 p.m.: High School improv
winners playing with the
Noah Harmon Trio
2:45 p.m.: Janet Planet and
John Harmon
4 p.m.: Amina Figarova Sextet
5:15 p.m.: Allan Harris Quintet
9 p.m.: Jam session at Riverwalk
Inn in Neenah
SEPT. 4
10 a.m.: Free Clinic at Jazz Fest
grounds with Sara Gazarek Quartet
Noon: St. Mary’s High School
Jazz Band
12:30 p.m.: Notre Dame
High School Band
1 p.m.: Ziji
2:15 p.m.: Kim Richmond Quintet
featuring Clay Jenkins
3:30 p.m.: Salsa Manzana
5 p.m.: Sara Gazarek Quartet
Continue on Page 26
25. August/September 2016 | SceneNewspaper.com | 25
Thrasher Opera House
2016-17
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OPENING NIGHT
September 28, 2016 • 7:30 p.m.
Special guest
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Co-presented with
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March 18, 2017 • 7:30 p.m.
Eileen Ivers
February 4, 2017 • 7:30 p.m.
Claire Huangci
November 19, 2016 • 7:30 p.m.
Edgar Meyer
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26. 26 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // FOX JAZZ FESTIVAL
inspiration to write it was very unusual. I
HAD to write it, it was like a message.”
“On a January night during the Kwanza
celebration I met beautiful eight year-old
girl, Saliah,” she continued. “She is smart,
funny, girl, but suddenly she started to
speak like an older, wise person, she was
questioning, very philosophically – ‘Why
all this violence, why people kill each other?
People are angry and upset because of this
violence, we must stop this! Kids have to
stay kids.’”
“I came home and wrote ‘Hear My
Voice,’ and later Saliah added voice over. In
the world today, were violence surrounds
us. This is the most important message,
and we as musicians have to be the peace
diplomats. The world has to be about love
and music - and that’s the main theme of
“Blue Whisper”
Neenah’s Mike Kubicki has performed
with trumpeter-composer Marlin McKay
at two of the last three Fox Jazz Fests; this
year, he will be fronting his own trio that
will include two of Wisconsin’s best, bassist
John Gibson and drummer Mike Malone.
They will perform a tribute to bebop legend
Bud Powell.
“He’s obviously earned frontman
status,” Harmon said. “I admire what he
does and he plays that style so well. We
don’t have a lot of his level of talent in the
area and we’re very lucky he’s around.”
Another band overflowing with local,
top-tier talent is Salsa Manzana, who will
play at 3:00 p.m. Sunday.
“They are so much fun. I love the festi-
val atmosphere they bring,” Harmon said.
“It should be a blast.”
Salsa Manzana is comprised of some the
very best musicians in the area including:
Noah Harmon, piano; Andy Mertens, bass;
John Daniel and Matt Granatella, trum-
pets; Tom Vanden Avond, trombone; Mark
Te Tai bari Sax, alto sax, flute; Julio Reyes,
tenor sax, vocals; Mike Malone, conga;
Vicky Daniel, timbales; Marisol Encarna-
cion, vocals; Carlos Mendez, lead vocal,
maracas, guiro; and band director Jose
Encarnacion, bongo and percussion.
“This is truly an honor and a privilege
to play in the premier jazz festival in the
state of Wisconsin, a dream come true,”
Mendez said. “We look forward to bring-
ing our salsa music to The Fox Jazz Fest. It
is special because we have many members
that are experienced jazz musicians, so for
many of them this is a homecoming of
sorts.”
“We are looking forward to beautiful
weather, a festive sound and many dancers
as well as a very receptive audience having
fun listening and dancing to our music,”
he added. “We will be introducing a new
song called ‘El Jibaro y la Naturaleza’ which
has a beautiful intro with agogo bells being
followed by bari sax and the entire horn
section. It has a Brazilian and Caribbean
feel to it from the get-go.”
Wink Chiro
Continued form Page 24
30. 30 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // CD REVIEW: ERIN KREBS
BY GEORGE HALAS
The long awaited debut album from
vocalist and songwriter Erin Krebs has
finally been released, and it’s easy to under-
stand why her fans are glad about it.
“Love Always Wins” features 11
original Krebs tunes with some
of the best musicians in northeast
Wisconsin.
“I had wanted to do an album
for a while, but it was always on the
back burner because between being
a school music teacher, a private
lessons teacher, and performing
I just didn’t have any time to put
into it,” Krebs said. “In 2014 I
made the decision to “lighten the
load”- I stopped teaching in schools
so I could focus more on practic-
ing, performing, and songwriting.
I decided that since I had more
than enough originals for an album
I would do an album of original
music. Since it is my first album-
my introduction to the world out-
side of where I perform, I thought
it should represent both the jazz and
blues sides of me.”
Krebs often performs in a duo
with guitarist Jeff Johnston as well
as being a frequent guest with The
Jazz Orgy. The JO’s Mark Martin-
Kriha co-wrote one of the tunes and
contributes stellar keyboards, playing on
several tracks.
The other players on the album include
drummers Mike Underwood, James Lefe-
vre and Mike Malone, bass players Andy
Mertens, Justin Zopel and Drew Hicks,
saxophonist Steve Cooper and keyboardist
Brian Gruselle.
“Whenever I have thought about doing
an album, even before I knew when I would
record, I knew I wanted to do as much as
possible live in the studio,” she said. “One
reason is because of the type of music we
do. We work together and feed off each
other, especially when improvising, and
I just feel like it sounds more authentic
when it’s in the moment. Another reason
I wanted to do it live with the musicians
is because that’s how so much of my
favorite music ever was
recorded. It was an easy
decision to make, given
the level of talent of the
musicians and how well
we all work together. It
was so much fun!”
Wasting no time,
Krebs jumps on the gas
and is off to the races on
the opening cut, “Love Ride.” The
Jazz Orgy (Martin-Kriha, Under-
wood, Mertens) provides a tight,
uptempo foundation for Krebs
precise vocals that support her
contention that “I’m feeling so
good I can’t stand it.” Martin-
Kriha’s rhythmic arpeggios
set up Krebs for one of her
strengths, scatting, and Coo-
per’s very jazzy sax solo.
“Let’s get cozy and see what we can
find” is a suggestion that Krebs and her
understated vocal make in “Fall Song,”
a ballad that reveals a sensual side to her
voice. Martin-Kriha’s piano solo adds
just the right flavoring.
Malone starts “It’s You, My Love”
with a catchy samba beat that finds
Krebs’ voice an ideal match for the lyrics,
and in one of the album’s highlights, she
adds a melodic and engaging flute solo.
She gives Malone, Mertens and Mar-
tin-Kriha room to stretch out on “I See
You” and they respond with brief, but
memorable playing that complements
the music and Krebs’ stylish scatting.
Lefevre and Zopel join Martin-Kriha
and Krebs on “My Favorite Day.” Her
vocal is subtle and nuanced as she puts
the song first and provides another pleas-
ing go-round on the flute.
Johnston’s tasteful and understated
guitar is all Krebs needs to make “One
Summer Day” a lesson in less is more.
She allows Johnston to frame her clear,
easy vocal in a style that recalls a relaxing
summer evening and makes it easy to
believe that “every moment I’m with you is
like that one summer day.”
“Nothing can make you smile like your
favorite song” and Krebs insists that ‘you
can always’ “Count On The Blues” ‘when
you’re down and out and you don’t know
what life’s about.” Johnston, Mertens and
Malone supply a swing groove and Martin-
Kriha’s piano drives the melody.
Martin-Kriha gets a co-writing credit
on “When Love Comes To Play,” that fea-
tures some of Cooper’s best playing and an
inspired
bass line from Zopel.
Gruselle, Hicks and Malone often
join Krebs and Johnston to perform as
The Swingin’ Johnsons. Co-written by
Johnston, “Ahead of The Game” cranks the
volume and showcases Gruselle’s world-
class B3 playing.
Krebs keeps that lineup together, adds
Cooper and takes the tempo up for “The
Man I Want.” When she sings “the way you
play that guitar is a work of art,” she seems
to be referring to Johnston’s playing that
is an excellent complement to Gruselle’s
R&B style. Gruselle rocks another B3 solo,
then Cooper rolls out a solo that both fits
the groove and does not miss a high note.
A listener will definitely want to hear this
one live.
Johnston is Krebs co-writer on the title
tune, “Love Always Wins” and he provides
himself an opportunity to remind us that
he is one of the better blues players around.
Gruselle, Hicks and Malone set a classic
blues tempo as Johnston accepts the spot-
light and responds with a solo that is both
inventive and an exercise in virtuosity that
is right on the money. Krebs is a versatile
vocalist with command of many styles;
blues tunes give her a platform to cut loose
and showcase her range and power.
If you would like a copy of the CD,
you can pick one up at a show or order
online. It is also available on her website or
on iTunes and Amazon, and for streaming
on Apple Music and Spotify. Krebs’ sched-
ule and links are on her website: www.
erinkrebs.com.”
ERIN KREBS CD REVIEW
“Love Always Wins” is a Winner
Photo By: Sofia Imagery
32. 32 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // POSTCARD FROM MILWAUKEE
BY BLAINE SCHULTZ
In the 1980s, a Florida college professor
(Robert Ray) and some of his students
formed a band. One of the students (Dale
Lawrence) moved back to his home state
of Indiana where he formed a working
version of the band. The pair continued
to collaborate, exchanging cassettes via the
mail.
In 1985 co-founder Walter Salas-
Humara left the Boatmen to form the
Silos, to critical and popular acclaim.
In July the Vulgar Boatmen and Walter
Salas-Humara played shows in Chicago
and Indianapolis.
Last November TimeChange Records
marked the 25th anniversary of the
Boatmen’s You and Your Sister album,
remastered and adding bonus tracks.
Produced by Salas-Humara, Lawrence
and Ray’s songs recall the vocals of the
Everly Brothers and blend keen lyrical
observations that paint short stories
into songs. The acoustic-based music
has a driving feel that builds in hypnotic
momentum.
“With a hat on her head tilted over
her eye,” Lawrence sings in Margaret Says,
placing the listener as an eves-dropper in
an intimate conversation, as the band
builds into a vamp that turns the song into
a small movie about taking a drive and
thinking about decisions that will affect
the rest of his life. Drive Somewhere is the
pastoral Midwest cousin to the Feelies,
with the inherent lightness of being that
separates a train song form a car song.
Think of this as head music. Inner
dialogs, conversations that might never
reach fruition yet just happened to
get turned into lyrics and songs. The
Boatmen never really struck it big (see the
documentary Drive Somewhere: The Saga
of the Vulgar Boatmen) yet twenty five
years later You and Your Sister holds up as
a minor masterpiece, recorded on a budget.
Walter Salas-Humara is no stranger
to Wisconsin,
having played
countless gigs,
house concerts,
the Steel Bridge
Song Festival in
Sturgeon Bay,
produced the
Wo o l d r i d g e
Brothers album Uncovering the Sun and
jammed righteously with the Carolinas.
In 2016 he released
the solo lp Explodes and
Disappears. He has over
twenty solo, Silos and
other collaborations to his
credit, as well as a series of
paintings. Like the Boatmen,
Salas-Humara songs rely
wonderfully on detail. Diner
By the Train begins with Latin
flourishes and unfolds before
your ears.
If an artist works long
enough he creates a body of work that
allows the good listener to connect the
dots. Working the Waterfront glances back
to his earlier song Commodore Peter adding
touches of soul music to the nautical
theme. Salas-Humara’s catalog is populated
with a rich tapestry of characters. Perhaps
the album’s centerpiece, I will Remember
You utilizes Hammond organ to conjure a
chapter that might just be connected to his
masterpiece tune Susan Across the Ocean.
The Vulgar Boatmen and Walter Salas-Humara
Storewide event on now!
34. 34 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
ENTERTAINMENT // THE SPANISH INQUISITION
BY GEORGE HALAS
One of the most interesting ironies in
life is that, as a member of the audience,
the better the sound, the less you notice it.
Musicians, on the other hand, are
hyper-aware of sound quality and place
the highest value on a quality “sound guy”
because they are very rare.
For the last several years, perhaps unbe-
knownst to them, the attendees at The
Fox Jazz Festival have been treated to the
highest quality sound by Gary Bomber and
his company, Bomber Sound Productions.
“I initially met Gary at a couple of
concerts I was performing in and I thought
he did a great job,” said Fox Jazz Festival
artistic director and WAMI Hall of Fame
pianist-composer John Harmon. “He also
does the sound for the Jazz at The Trout
series and we get the full package with
Gary. In addition to his great work, he
is such an easy guy to get along with. He
is a very likable guy. As a musician, I’ve
learned to trust Gary implicitly.”
While the outdoor venue – and the
weather – pose unique challenges, the
Fox Jazz Festival has special meaning for
Bomber.
“It was and still is an honor to get the
call,” he said. “It’s the only time I wonder
if I’m qualified to work with musicians so
good. I make sure that I am doing work
comparable to the quality of the musicians.
I like working with great musicians and I
just like the sound of jazz, it’s a lot more
real to me. It has more of an acoustic sound
and there are more acoustic instruments,
things that sound good.”
Bomber is also an electronics techni-
cian for Rock Garden Studios in Appleton.
Owner Marc Golde is a big fan.
“I’ve known Gary since 2004,” Golde
said. “I had just purchased my first profes-
sional recording console. Unbeknownst to
me, I got the great deal on it because it was
a fixer-upper. I needed someone who could
restore it. Try finding that person. Carl
Garrow, who worked as a repair tech at
Henri’s Music, suggested Gary. He’s been
my restoration tech and a great friend ever
since. The unique thing about Gary is that
he’s not only an audiophile, but a degreed
electronics technician. He knows what’s
going on with sound from the inside out. I
don’t know any other sound guys who tune
their own speaker cabinets, for instance.
He not only knows when things sound
good or bad, but why they do.”
“Most of all, I like working with Gary
because he’s a fun guy to be around. Live
sound can be very stressful. You gotta’ have
a sense of humor,” he added. “I work with
Gary on the flip side of the live sound pro-
fession. Rock Garden Studio wouldn’t be
what it is if it wasn’t for him. I sometimes
wonder if I’d even be in business.”
Janet Planet has known and worked
with Bomber for over ten years.
“My nickname for Gary is ‘Gabe,”
Planet said. “There are many stories as
to why I call him Gabe, but in a nutshell
it’s inspired by Gabriel, the angel who
is best known as a messenger sent from
God. Gary delivers and goes beyond the
call of duty with an attitude of giving. In a
way, his demeanor of angelic proportions is
a message...to be good, kind and consider-
ate always, at work and beyond. He really
knows is stuff and maintains his focus
under pressure. There is no pressure like
the pressure of running sound at a major
event. Just think, the booth is typically
positioned out front in the audience, and
the person behind the controls can be sub-
jected to the mass attack of opinions in a
sea of spectators. But, Gary shows up early
to be sure that everything is hauled in and
all the lines are run. He’ll even precede the
gig a day or even a week earlier and work
out specific logistics so that when the musi-
cians arrive, everything is in place.”
Some sound companies expect the
artist or the artist’s management to do the
work.
“Outside of a stage plot I think the
specifics should be communicated by
the expert,” Planet said “There can be so
many variables that need that expert eye
and can get lost in translation if there are
too many channels of communication
negotiating. One of Gary’s most desirable
attributes is that fact that once he’s up and
running, he allows the musicians to create
their own dynamics. My husband, Tom
Washatka, and I often talk about this and
we’ve come to the conclusion that the best
sound people are the ones that don’t touch
the board except for some tweaks once the
music starts. The worst situations I’ve been
in are the ones where the sound tech feels
they need to ‘play the band’ by turning
knobs, adding effects, compressions, limit-
ers and eq’s during a performance. It’s very
hard to create your own musical dynamics
when you’re fighting a ‘knob turner.’”
A good sound person will also know
how to set monitors and ring out the
frequencies that feed back, Gary is also
known for his ability to repair gear.
“Many people don’t know this
about Gary. He was a portrait lighting
designer,” Planet revealed. “His ability to
run sound and make it LOOK GOOD
is unmatched. He understands back
lighting and how to create visual scenes
that enhance the music. Many sound
companies have a separate crew for both
lighting and sound but Gary does both.
He’s conscientious, he gives the musicians
and the venues exactly what they need, he’s
extremely talented and knows the literal
ins and outs of his craft as a sound and
lighting technician,” Planet said. He’s fair,
honest and giving. He’s ‘Gabe.’”
The Inquisition urges everyone to
attend FJF and not notice how good
Bomber truly is. It is a distinct pleasure.
Bomber Sound Makes the Jazz
Fest Sound the Best
StoneCellarBrewPub.com
Only the Best Beer
Served Here
Live Music Every Tuesday
Open Tuesday, Friday &
Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
1004 S. Olde Oneida St. • Appleton
36. 36 | SceneNewspaper.com | August/September 2016
The Wheelhouse Restaurant
E1209 County Road, Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-8289 | www.wheelhouserestaurant.com
Open: Mon-Fri - 4pm | Sat and Sun - 11am
Sat. September 24
Pig Roast
The annual tradition, we roast a whole
pig on a spit with all the trimmings.
WESTSIDE ANDY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
Overlooking the Beautiful Chain O’Lakes
Live Music Events
Don’t Forget Dessert!
Scoopers now open weekends.
Open at 11am. (715) 258-6061
SAVE THE DATE
MONDAY NIGHT- PIZZA BUFFET
WEDNESDAY NIGHT- RIB NIGHT
THURSDAY NIGHT- TRADITIONAL
WISCONSIN FISH FRY
FRIDAY NIGHT- FISH SPECIAL
PAN FRIED WALLEYE, BAKED HADDOCK, GRILLED
CAJUN CATFISH, PAN-FRIED CATFISH
SATURDAY- SLOW SMOKED BEEF
BRISKET SANDWICH
SUNDAY- PRIME RIB SPECIALS
Specials
THE WHEELHOUSE
PRESENTS, LIVE MUSIC:
“WEDNESDAY WITH WAGS”
Starting October 12 - Live Music by a featured artist
hosted by Tony Wagner & Friends - details coming soon
Find us on Facebook!
LEINIE’S FRIDAY FISH FRY!
Beer Battered Shrimp
(Thai Chili, Garlic Butter or Regular)
Lightly Hand-Breaded Baby Walleye
(Regular or Cajun)
Leinie’s Beer Battered Cod
Crispy Panko Breaded Cod
Hand-Breaded Haddock
(Regular or Cajun)
Hand-Breaded Butterflied Lake Perch
(Regular or Cajun)
Grilled 8 Oz. Ribeye
Surf N Turf Grilled 8 Oz. Ribeye with Beer
Battered Shrimp
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Fri., Sept. 2 - Dustin and Cole
Acoustic (Third Wheel) Band
Sun., Sept. 4 - Buffalo
Stomp Band
Sat., Sept. 10 - Taxi Band
Sun., Sept. 11 - Grayling Pingel
Where
GOOD TIMES
& GOOD FOOD
come together!
live Music • Food • Great atmosphere
Book Your Private
Parties with Us!
The Bridge Bar & Restaurant
101 W Main St. Fremont, Wisconsin 54940
(920) 446–3300
www.bridgebarfremont.com
