Blonde On Blonde
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Blonde On Blonde

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"Celebrating and Awarding Local Music 4/24/08"

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 t - Waukesha Freeman


Discography

Chrissy Dzioba solo releases:
In the Making - 1999
Far From Dreaming - 2001

Blonde On Blonde releases:
Folk N' Soul - 2008

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Bio

Honing their skills around the Milwaukee music scene, Blonde On Blonde’s music reaches out to listeners as a potpourri of folk, rock, pop, jazz, and country. Most noted for their tight harmonies, this acoustic duo brings guitar, keyboard and mandolin to a mix of originals and covers. Blonde On Blonde also performs with their Man Band for a fuller, more rockin’ sound.

Chrissy Dzioba (Joe-buh) began piano training and performance at the age of three, reading music before she could read words. As a music major in college, Chrissy focused on classical piano, but continued to write songs on guitar and mandolin. She soon began performing weekly as a solo artist around Wisconsin. She writes catchy melodies containing lyrics that are direct, yet introspective. With two albums under her name, In the Making (1999), and the nationally distributed Far From Dreaming (2001 – produced by Joe Puerta), she was ready to move on to the next level of playing and performance. In 2008, Chrissy was nominated for WAMI Female Vocalist of the Year (we'll know the results on April 28).

While teaching piano and guitar at a music store, Chrissy befriended the girl behind the counter, Jess Hrobar. Over the years, they had known of each other through their mutual jazz piano teacher, and it wasn’t until 2004 that they met face to face and a friendship immediately formed.

Jessica Hrobar began her career at age fourteen as a church organist. One year later she began hitting the local pubs playing blues and folk on saxophone in her father’s group, “The John and Rich Show.” While keeping up with church gigs and late night blues sessions, Jess began studying jazz piano with Carl Mussmann, an established player based in Bay View. Working with Mussmann changed Jess’ direction, musically speaking, and at age 18 she began to play jazz and lounge piano in restaurants and private parties. Her career began to evolve as she became involved in rock/jam bands, North Country Fever and Litmus Vinyl.

It only made sense to combine their talents into a two woman power folk duo – Blonde On Blonde.

Blonde On Blonde plays regularly at venues such as Paddy’s, The Mosaic, Seven Seas, Allegro, and other Milwaukee area bars and restaurants. Recently adding an electric, full band experience, they’ve been joined by Brandon Mathieus on guitar, Peter Carlson on bass, and Brandon Lorenz on drums. Blonde On Blonde and the Man Band play at Points East, BBC, Linneman’s, and the Up & Under. Covers include classic rock tunes such as Beatles and Led Zeppelin, top forty artists such as KT Tunstall, and the more eclectic artists such as Tori Amos and Dresden Dolls. With a slew of originals, Blonde On Blonde will release their first album, Folk N’ Soul in February of 2008.