CORE

Joey's Song Founder Mike Gomoll

Andy sits down in the WCZR studio with Mike Gomoll, the founder of Joey's Song — a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that has raised over $1 million to support families affected by epilepsy and fund research toward a cure.Mike shares the deeply personal story behind the organization: how he lost his son Joseph just days before his fifth birthday to Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that left Joey nonverbal — but with an unmistakable love for music. Joey would grab everyone's finger in the room and make sure they were up and dancing with him. That spirit became the heartbeat of everything Joey's Song does.In this interview, you'll hear about:- How Mike went from a $500 fundraising goal to over $1 million raised for epilepsy research and family support- The origin story of the annual Freezing Man Festival in Madison, WI — and how it evolved from a sports bar CD release party into what feels like a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony every January- The legendary musicians who have performed for free, including Butch Vig (Garbage/Nirvana producer), John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, Tracy Bonham, Portugal. The Man, Vicky Peterson of The Bangles, Soul Asylum, and many more- Why Mike's son Sam performs at the event every year — and how his first-ever full band performance was backed by Paul McCartney's guitarist Brian Ray with Butch Vig on drums- The behind-the-scenes "beautiful chaos" that makes every Joey's Song show unrepeatable and unforgettable- New limited-edition artist merchandise available now at joeysong.org, designed by artists like Kurt Smith, Vicky Peterson, and Charlie Berens- Mike's dream wish list of future performers (hint: Dave Grohl, Eddie Vedder, and Jason Isbell are on it)If you've never been to a Joey's Song event, people who have will tell you: you cannot understand it until you're there.Learn more, donate, or get on the mailing list: joeysong.orgFollow Joey's Song on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube: @joeysong

Quokka

What happens when a pandemic hobby like birdwatching crashes into the DIY indie-rock scene of Madison, Wisconsin? You get Lifer—the bird-themed album you didn’t know you needed. In this live Interview on Fox Cities Core, we talk with the members of Quokka to peel back the layers of their unique sound and history. From the technical hurdles of recording vocals in a thin-walled apartment to the "human part" of nervous pre-show rituals (yes, that includes a specific grilled cheese), the band shares the grit and humor behind their creative process. Inside the Interview: The "Lifer" Concept: How ten Wisconsin birds inspired a full album, complete with field recordings and a watercolor stained-glass cover. The Madison Music Scene: Why the "Isthmus" is one of the most accessible places for local bands to find their footing and a dedicated following. Gear Talk: Discover why the band uses a Squire J Mascis Jazzmaster and how Fountains of Wayne influenced their choice of amps. The Creative "Chopped" Method: Why setting strict limits and "chopped creativity" helps produce the most interesting music. Pre-Show Secrets: From "nervous vomiting" to essential white Chuck Taylors, find out what happens before the first chord is struck. You can find out more about Quokka on their Instagram page:instagram.com/quokkaband

ABF Monthly - Mark Mader - March 2026

In this latest monthly update from the Appleton Beer Factory, Mark Mader joins the show to recap a wild month of weather and music in the Fox Cities. The conversation kicks off with a look at how the area handled the recent 27.5-inch snowstorm before diving into a successful St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring the Third Class Minstrels. Mark shares details on several upcoming performances at the brewery, including Hollyy and the Lunar Ticks this Friday and the five-part harmony Weird Al tribute, Weird Pals, on Saturday. The episode also highlights the highly anticipated return of LOLO next week, which includes a special early show and meet-and-greet package, as well as an upcoming performance from the world-class progressive rock trio The Stickmen featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto.Beyond the immediate schedule, this interview features several major summer announcements. Mark reveals that tickets go on sale this Friday for River Shook on July 1st and the return of The Heavy Heavy on July 5th following their tour with the Black Keys. Other highlights include a heavy June bill with Bronson Arm and Vile B’s, plus a massive Labor Day weekend show at Tanner’s in Kimberly featuring Little Stranger, Tropadelic, and Jarv. Finally, the show announces the return of the British-American Celtic rock band Raines, with tickets available starting this Friday. Whether you are interested in the new Tuesday night open mic comedy series or looking to rent one of the three unique event spaces at the brewery, there is plenty to catch up on in this update.appletonbeerfactory.com0:00 Intro & Welcome0:35 Scheduling Changes & March Snowstorm2:04 St. Patrick's Day at Appleton Beer Factory3:35 Green Beer Policy4:11 St. Patrick's Day with Fox Cities Live5:25 Pump Action & The Retrograde Show Recap6:38 Surprise Visit from Garrett of the Band Feel7:22 Knowing Bands & Building Relationships8:06 Upcoming Lolo Show & Meet and Greet10:50 Are Concerts Becoming Experiences?13:24 Comedy Open Mic Night Reboot16:21 Weird Pals (Weird Al Tribute) – This Saturday18:57 Holly & the Lunatics – Friday Show20:16 Manic Mondays Recap & Upcoming Show22:25 Stickman ft. Tony Levin – Next Month26:39 Table Rentals: How It Works27:57 Break + Teaser for Big Announcements28:24 Elán Johnansen Show Reflection31:38 Announcement: River Shuck – July 1st32:43 Announcement: The Heavy Heavy – July 5th36:01 Teaser: Big Fall Show Coming36:43 Three-Band Bill at Tanner's – Labor Day Weekend38:06 Bronson Arms – June 6th39:15 Private Event Rentals at ABF40:28 Ticket Giveaway: Weird Pals41:10 Thoughts on Tribute Artists44:18 Closing & Final Announcements

Offend Your Friends

Andy McNamara is joined by Kev, Luke, Caleb, and Devin of the Wisconsin-based band Offend Your Friends. After two decades, the band is celebrating a major milestone with the release of a full-length album, aptly titled Almost Didn’t Make It. In this deep dive, the members share the fascinating story of their 20-year journey, from their early days as a skateboard crew in Fond du Lac to their latest recording sessions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this interview, we discuss:- The Band’s Origins: How a neighborhood skateboard crew and a "party band" with a pink Mohawk evolved into Offend Your Friends.- The "Stock Wars": The legendary story of being blacklisted from their high school’s "Goodstock" festival and starting their own massive counter-event, "Badstock," which drew over 500 people.- The Lost Album: The heartbreaking (and slightly hilarious) story of how their recorded tracks were stolen from a driveway in Milwaukee, leading to a "year-long depression" before they eventually re-recorded everything.- New Music & Sound: Transitioning from their early ska influences to a heavier, high-energy sound filled with gang vocals and "Fake Work Friday" anthems.- Friendship & Brotherhood: Why the band never truly broke up, despite multiple "air quote" breakups and members moving across the country.Support the Band:Website: offendyourfriends.comBandcamp: offendyourfriends.bandcamp.com0:00 Introduction – Fox Cities Core Radio0:27 Welcoming Offend Your Friends to the Studio1:08 How Does It Feel to Finally Release an Album?1:45 Band Origin Story – Fond du Lac, Wisconsin2:21 How the Members All Met3:19 The Party Van & Luke's Iconic First Impression4:11 How Wes Accidentally Became the Drummer5:07 Caleb Joins & the Saxophone Decision5:29 The Fond du Lac Scene in the Early 2000s6:41 Renting Banquet Halls & Building a Local Scene7:33 What Got Kevin Into Music8:40 Kevin's Singing Origins9:16 The Loot – Their Short-Lived Hip Hop Project9:50 Adding the Saxophone & Finding Their Sound10:57 Early Recordings & First EPs11:02 The "Indecisive" EP Era26:23 Recording "Almost Didn't Make It" – The Vision27:03 Gang Vocals & Recording the Album Twice27:35 Kevin Records Vocals in Oakland During Covid28:28 The Stolen Laptop Disaster29:14 Year-Long Depression & Regrouping29:57 Re-Recording Vocals in Tulsa at Gene Pump Studios30:37 Two New Songs Written After the Laptop Was Stolen31:22 Adding "Olive Branch" as the 12th Song31:50 Total Recording Timeline – How Many Years?32:21 Why They Tracked Drums Last33:04 Mixing with Colton Jin33:50 Mastering with Justin Perkins35:17 Any Regrets? Listening Back to the Album36:00 Hidden Layers – Acoustic Guitar, Horn, Double Bass36:50 The Censored Swear Words on the CD51:08 Plans to Keep Going After the Album Release51:43 Bigger Shows & Festival Ambitions (Summerfest, The Fest)52:00 Easter Eggs on the Album Cover & Hometown References53:05 Shoutout to Jinxed and the Fond du Lac Roots53:21 Upcoming Radio Appearances & Promotion54:24 The Falsetto in "Killer Acid" – Where It Came From55:21 Favorite Songs on the Album57:24 How Danny Wolf Joined as Drummer (via Cock Tutor on Myspace)57:32 Favorite Songs – Final Round59:01 Where to Find Offend Your Friends1:00:00 Thank You & Show Info – Passenger Lounge March 28th

Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill

Rock legends Vicki Peterson of The Bangles and John Cowsill of The Cowsills took some time to talk about a wide-ranging series of topics prior to their performance at Round Lake Farms in Brillion.The two talk about their collaborative album Long After the Fire — a heartfelt tribute to the songwriting of Barry and Bill Cowsill — and share the full story of how they met as teenagers at the Sweetwater Cafe in Redondo Beach, California back in 1978. From the early days of the Paisley Underground to sold-out Beach Boys tours, from recording in an 8x18-foot home studio with aging ProTools to working with legendary photographer Henry Diltz (and Pamela Springsteen!) on the album artwork. John opens up about the pressures of stepping into the spotlight as a front man after decades behind the drum kit, his years touring with the Beach Boys and his current work with The Smithereens, and what it's like being married to your bandmate. Vicki reflects on the Bangles' punk roots, the Paisley Underground scene, the surprise success of Walk Like an Egyptian, and why she'd fight the synthesizers all over again. They also dive into their beloved annual performance at Joey's Song — the epilepsy fundraiser in Madison — share memories of Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark, and much more.Long After the Fire is available now wherever you stream or buy music. WCZR Code Zero Radio is an Independent streaming rock, live from Appleton, Wisconsin.