Milwaukee, WI

Musician Joe Wong on how playing Milwaukee basement shows launched his career

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2024

Musician Joe Wong on how playing Milwaukee basement shows launched his career

If you’re someone who watches the credits on TV and films, you’ve likely seen drummer Joe Wong’s name scroll past on numerous occasions.

In addition to recording two solo albums – the latest of which is the brand new “Mere Survival” – and performing in bands and as a sideman, the Milwaukee-born Wong has scored many movies and TV shows, including “Russian Doll” and ABC’s “Will Trent,” among others.

Wong, who is now based in Los Angeles, also has recorded nearly 400 episodes of his popular, drummer-focused podcast, The Trap Set.

Catching up with Wong seemed long overdue and so I took the opportunity to ask him about all this while he was out promoting “Mere Survival.”

Most interesting of all is that he told me, “Every professional opportunity I’ve had is the circuitous byproduct of playing in basements in Milwaukee.”

Read more here…

OnMilwaukee: Let’s start with your Milwaukee credentials for folks who don’t know? Where did grow up, go to school, etc.?

Joe Wong: I was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Coincidentally, my mother worked there as a nurse in the ER at the time. I grew up in Wauwatosa and went to public schools there. I attended UWM for a year before transferring to music school on the East Coast.

That’s going way back! You were in a number of bands here, too, right?

I started playing in bands when I was 14. My first show was in the basement of a since-demolished “hourly motel” called The Camelot Inn on Bluemound Road. Several high school-aged bands rented the space and threw a show.

Soon after, we were playing at clubs like The Globe and The Unicorn. When I was 17, I co-founded a band called Akarso, which was the first band I toured with. At the time, there were a number of houses in Riverwest and on the East Side that hosted basement shows. We played in many of these spaces and met bands from around the country, some of whom later became famous.

When I was 18, I moved into The Bremen House; and we hosted shows up to four nights a week. The house was burgled three times during our tenure, and–years after we’d moved out–the house was featured on the first episode of Hoarders.

Later, I played with some great jazz musicians. I worked in a trio with Neil Davis and Billy Johnson. We played at clubs like The Estate and Caroline’s and hosted a weekly session at Jaimie’s Place on 25th and Capitol. Some of the folks that sat in with us include: Manty Ellis, Berkeley Fudge, Dan Nimmer, George Braith, Harvey Scales, Charles Davis and Jasmine Song. Concurrently, I had short tenures with De La Buena and Sindoola, which was a Senegalese fusion band.

So, of course everyone wants to know the secret to transitioning from drummer of the local music scene to scoring music for “Russian Doll,” having a successful podcast like “The Trap Set,” and making solo records with the likes of Jim Keltner and Money Mark. Walk us through that path a bit.

Every professional opportunity I’ve had is the circuitous byproduct of playing in basements in Milwaukee. In the ‘90s, there was a lot of crossover between the basement scene and the experimental film community at UWM. The first several films I scored were co-composed with Didier Leplae, who played in bands like Competitorr, whom I recorded when I was in high school).

The drummer of Competitorr, Sarah Price, was one of the filmmakers responsible for “American Movie.” Didier and I scored the subsequent few films by Sarah, Chris Smith and Dan Ollman (“The Yes Men,” “The Pool,” “Summercamp,” “Collapse”). Through the course of working on those films, we met Christy Karacas who hired us on a few of our first TV series (“Robotomy,” “Superjail!,” “Ballmasterz”).

“Ballmasterz” starred Natasha Lyonne, whom I’d also met through Fred Armisen. I first met Fred in the ‘90s when I was playing in Akarso and he was playing drums in a Chicago band called Trenchmouth. We reconnected in 2013 because Fred was a fan of Marnie Stern, with whom I was touring. Fred also became a fan of my podcast.

Because of the podcast, Fred asked me to help produce his Netflix special, “Standup for Drummers,” and during that time I got to know Natasha a bit. Soon after, she asked me to submit some music when she was looking for a composer for “Russian Doll.”

The podcast served as my bridge between working as a supporting player – as a drummer and film composer – and releasing my own work. I met Jim (Keltner) and Joey (Waronker) through the podcast, and Joey became my neighbor and one of my closest friends. We hung out in my backyard many nights during Covid.

After I released my first album, Jim Keltner emailed me to tell me how much he liked listening to the album in his car. So, when I was writing “Mere Survival” I wrote two of the songs with Jim in mind. Everyone loves playing with Jim, so it was easy to enlist Nate Mendel and Money Mark – both of whom I’d met years earlier when we recorded a Bill Dolan album together – along with Drew Erickson. Joey was at my house the night before the session and offered to come play percussion, mostly so that he could hang out with Jim.

That session was at the tail end of the pandemic, after the vaccine became available; and it was life affirming to get to play music in a room with other human beings!

As a drummer I have to ask, were you surprised that a drummer-focused podcast has been as popular as The Trap Set has been? After all, the repertoire of drummer jokes is pretty long and even guys like Ringo have been dismissed by those who think drummers don’t really contribute.

To be honest, I’m not surprised at all. The fact that drummers are often overlooked meant that they were an incredible, untapped source of wisdom. Although most of the guests are drummers, the podcast tends to focus on non-drumming topics, like how folks move through life as artists.

I was a big fan of Marc Maron, who at the time interviewed other comics exclusively; I was struck by the fact that – even if he didn’t know his guest – they had an immediate intimacy, given their shared vocation.

I was going through a bit of an existential crisis when I started recording the show, and the opportunity to engage with other people who had successfully navigated through the challenges I faced was a gift. My hope was always that, by focusing on a small subset of people but talking about universal human themes, the podcast would resonate with anyone interested in living an artistic life.

It’s hugely rewarding when I hear from non-musicians who feel like the conversations on the show can be applied to their own lives.

Your new solo record is out and has contributions from Jim, Joey and Money Mark but also Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron. It’s a really interesting and lush-sounding record. Tell us a bit about making it? Is it something you sort of did piece by piece over time or did you have a very specific vision and make it kind of all in one go?

From a logistical perspective, I’ve learned to treat my own records just like my scoring projects; I’ve found it really helpful to work with a deadline and to have someone else in the room. In the case of my first two records, I collaborated with co-producer Mary Timony – I was her drummer over 20 years ago – Dave Fridmann and arranger Paul Cartwright.

Since I was busy with other projects, I scheduled non-negotiable periods during which I wrote and recorded the album. If, for example, I knew I was going to Seattle to record a song with Matt, I would write a song with him in mind. Even though I have my own studio, I’ve also found it helpful to record my own music elsewhere. I feels more deliberate and focused.

Do you get back home much?

I get back to Milwaukee a couple times a year.

What do you miss most about Milwaukee?

I miss my friends and family most, and the general Midwestern kindness. I miss summer by the lake. I also miss restaurants like Apollo Cafe, Zaffiro’s Pizza, Barbiere’s, Royal India, African Hut (RIP), La Merenda, Beans and Barley and East Garden.

You always have great projects in the works, it seems. What’s next for you?

I’m working on “Krapopolis,” which was created by Milwaukee native Dan Harmon, as well as “Will Trent” on ABC. I’m working on some new projects with the folks that created “The Midnight Gospel.” I co-produced an album for Mary Timony, and I’m producing a couple other albums for some other artists. My band has some shows coming up this summer. And, of course, I’m starting album No. 3.

Thanks Joe!

Thanks so much for having me!

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Milwaukee, WI

Things to do in the Milwaukee area this weekend, including Sports Show

Published

9 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Things to do in the Milwaukee area this weekend, including Sports Show

Travel to Ireland, learn how to catch a fish, visit wildlife at the zoo, and see costumed characters this weekend in Milwaukee.

Anime Milwaukee

The 2026 “Magical Academy” themed animation convention comes to the Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., and Hilton Milwaukee City Center March 6-8. The weekend features Japanese industry guests and cultural experts, artists and official merchandise, gaming, music, dance, manga, cosplay, anime and Asian fashion. New this year is the Nocturna Anime Bar with a lounge and specialty drinks, including nonalcoholic beverages. Exhibit hall hours are 1 to 8 p.m. March 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8. Full weekend access is $100; single day access is $50-$75. animemilwaukee.org

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show

The 85th year of the Sports Show is at State Fair Park’s Wisconsin Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, from noon to 7 p.m. March 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8. Along with outdoor exhibitors, see what’s swimming in the trout pond, watch the lumberjack show and the fastest retriever race, or catch the archery and air rifle tournaments. General admission tickets at the door are $15; youth tickets (ages 6-14) are $6. In honor of Women’s Day on March 8, all women receive $10 admission at the door. Check out the full schedule at jssportsshow.com.

Gardens & Gears: Steampunk Faire

Celebrate the industrial age at the Gardens & Gears art fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7 at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. The immersive garden event features creators, costumes and live entertainment, with gears, goggles and handcrafted mechanical curiosities on display in the gardens. Domes admission required. mitchellparkdomes.com

Milwaukee County Zoo Family Free Day

Everyone receives free admission at the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 7. See the red pandas in their outdoor habitat, lions, penguins and more. Parking and regular attraction fees still apply. milwaukeezoo.org

Irish Family Day

Travel to the Irish countryside during “Passport to Ireland” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 8 at the CelticMKE Center, 1532 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa. With Irish dance, arts, crafts and storytelling, each county will be featured with an activity that celebrates Irish culture, history and traditions. Buy one, get one free Irish Fest tickets will be available to purchase, with lunch, beverages and snacks served in the Celtic Café. Admission is $10 at the door. celticmke.com

What’s new in Milwaukee-area theaters this weekend

Marcus Theatres: See a marathon of the 2026 Best Picture nominees at select theater locations. Day one of the marathon is March 7 and features “Sentimental Value,” “F1: The Movie,” “The Secret Agent,” “Bugonia,” and “Sinners.” The marathon resumes March 14 with a new set of films. Visit marcustheatres.com.

Milwaukee Film: Women’s History Month programming features the action films of Michelle Yeoh. See her Oscar-winning performance in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” screening at 6 p.m. March 6 at the Oriental Theatre.

“Hoppers”: A robotic animal with a human mind helps real animals thwart a plot to destroy their habitat in this Disney and Pixar feature film. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Rosebud Cinema.

“The Bride!”: A lonely Frankenstein (Christian Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask a scientist (Annette Bening) to create a companion. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.

“Protector”: A veteran war hero (Milla Jovovich) must use the violent skills she thought she left behind to save her daughter. See it at Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.

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Milwaukee, WI

MPD officer accused of using Flock cameras to monitor dating partner resigns

Published

21 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

MPD officer accused of using Flock cameras to monitor dating partner resigns

Josue Ayala has resigned from the Milwaukee Police Department days after he was charged with a crime over his alleged misuse of license plate-reading Flock technology.

Ayala, 33, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted misconduct in public office during his initial court appearance on March 4.

The charge is a misdemeanor that carries a potential maximum penalty of nine months in jail and $10,000 fine.

Milwaukee is one in a growing number of communities nationally that have started using Flock cameras to help locate stolen vehicles, identify vehicles used in violent crimes, and track vehicles associated with missing persons. The technology is controversial and been criticized by civil rights and privacy advocates.

Conducting searches for personal reasons is a violation of department policies.

Prosecutors say Ayala used the Flock camera system while on duty more than 120 times to look up the license plate of someone he was dating. They believe Flock technology also was used on a second license plate, one belonging to that person’s ex, 55 times, according to a criminal complaint, filed Feb. 24 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Ayala joined the Milwaukee Police Department in 2017, and his total gross pay was about $120,000 in 2024, according to the most recent city salary data available.

Milwaukee police confirmed in a March 4 email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Ayala has resigned from the department.

Ayala and his attorney Michael J. Steinle, of Milwaukee, would not speak to reporters as they left the courtroom.

Prosecutors say the department became aware of the allegations against Ayala after a driver saw that they were the subject of searches through the website, www.haveibeenflocked.com, which collects and publishes “audit logs” of searches of the Flock system by police agencies.

The driver saw that Ayala had searched the plate numerous times, which prompted the driver to file a complaint with the Milwaukee Police Department.

Detectives then audited Ayala’s searches in the Flock system from March 26, 2025, through May 26, 2025.

Ayala is at least the second Wisconsin officer to face criminal charges for misuse of the Flock system. A Menasha police officer was charged in January for tracking an ex-girlfriend’s car.

Milwaukee police began using Flock cameras in 2022. MPD has a $182,900 contract with Flock for the use of the technology. That contract is active through January 2027.

Court Commissioner Dewey B. Martin released Ayala on a $2,500 signature bond March 4.

Signature bonds, sometimes referred to as a personal recognizance bond, allow a defendant to leave custody without paying cash as long as they sign a promise to appear for their upcoming court dates.

Martin also ordered Ayala not to contact the two victims in the case.

Ayala also must report to the Milwaukee County Jail to be booked on March 9. If he doesn’t show up, a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest.

Ayala is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial conference on April 17.

David Clarey of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this story.

Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.

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Milwaukee, WI

Why are Milwaukee-area students protesting ICE actions?

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Why are Milwaukee-area students protesting ICE actions?

Ever since the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both by federal agents in Minneapolis in January, there have been numerous student protests by high school students across the country – including several in Wisconsin and the Milwaukee area.

Students at Milwaukee Public Schools’ high schools including Milwaukee King, Ronald Reagan, and others; Wauwatosa East High School, Shorewood High School, Menomonee Falls High School, Nicolet High School, Whitefish Bay High School – even one student at Marquette University High School – have all walked out of school to protest Immigrations and Customs’ Enforcement actions in Minneapolis and nationwide.

What is it about ICE’s actions that have students walking out? How are school districts handling it, and what do students and parents think?

UW-Madison political science professor shares thoughts on what’s behind student walkouts

Political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber of the University of Wisconsin-Madison said several factors play into why students are protesting.

One of those factors is that ICE raids have taken place near schools. In some school districts, teachers have been arrested and students have disappeared. In some areas of Minneapolis, schools have had to switch to remote learning because students feared ICE raids, Schweber said.

Second, Schweber said the walkouts tie in to past student protests over guns in schools; high school students are feeling unsafe in their schools.

“They’re feeling threatened by forces, you know, far beyond their control, and feeling like first, it was their government wouldn’t protect them. This time it’s their government that’s doing it to them. Of course I’m only speaking from the perspective of the students who are protesting. I don’t mean to suggest that all students feel this way, but the ones who are protesting, this is, I think, what is driving them,” he said.

“Unlike some other issues, I think this one – like the guns in schools issues – hits very close to home, and makes them feel personally involved and threatened by the situation,” he said.

Schweber also talked about where the First Amendment applies during these situations.

He said students, particularly high school students, do have First Amendment rights. He said that schools may not punish students for expressing one viewpoint as opposed to another, and that any policy must be neutral. However, he said, students who walk out, and especially students who engage in conduct that disrupts school activities, can be disciplined.

“The legal background to this is students have a right to express themselves, but while they’re in school or while they’re supposed to be in school, that right is quite curtailed,” he said. “I noticed that in Madison, for example, there were some protests that were held after school ended in order to avoid this problem, which is certainly one way to avoid the issue, but then it’s not a walkout.”

How school districts deal with the walkouts

When it comes to walkouts, school districts typically approach them from several perspectives: attendance, neutrality, recognizing freedom of speech and safety.

In general, school districts will mark students who participate in walkouts as absent and unexcused unless their parents call in to excuse them. Most districts surveyed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also stressed that walkouts are student-sponsored and not organized or sanctioned by the districts.

For example, Pewaukee High School principal Brian Sniff said in a letter to parents that a Feb. 4 walkout at that school was student-initiated and student-led. He said that while students planning the walkout consulted with administration for clarity on the school’s expectations and potential consequences so they could make an informed decision about their plans, the district did not endorse or encourage the activity.

At the same time, some districts have acknowledged that students have free speech rights, as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

While reiterating that students who walk out are unexcused unless a parent excuses them, the Wauwatosa School District said in a letter to parents in advance of a Jan. 12 walkout that it values and encourages student self-expression and recognizes the “importance of civic engagement as part of a well-rounded education.”

“We view moments like this as opportunities for young people to explore their voices, deepen their understanding of social issues, and learn about the power of collective action in a safe and constructive way,” the letter said.

Safety is also another factor that districts consider.

South Milwaukee School District Superintendent Deidre Roemer, Shorewood High School principal Tim Kenney and Franklin High School principal Michael Vuolo said in their letters to parents before planned walkouts that staff would not supervise students who left school grounds.

Sniff said that if students walked out, administrators and security would monitor the situation, ensure they remained in designated safe areas on campus and prevent conflict. But he added that supervision means ensuring safety, and does not equal support.

Parent, student perspective

Jamie Esser, a parent of a child attending Pewaukee High School, said she supported the walkout there. She said teens getting involved with politics and social issues was “heartwarming” to her.

“I think our children, ever since lockdown, have been isolated and stuck in their cell phones and stuck on social media and not really interacting with each other or looking at the world at large. So I think – especially with all the controversy around ICE and around the treatment of their fellow Americans or even fellow human beings – I think it’s great that kids are taking up concerns, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s very promising for the future that today’s generation sees the injustice and just wants to be heard that they don’t agree with it,” Esser said.

Conversely, Joe Rivera, a parent and school board candidate for the Wisconsin Hudson School District in northwestern Wisconsin, said he was concerned about inconsistencies in how that district told parents it would handle a walkout v. what actually happened.

The walkout took place, even though the district told parents that students would not be allowed to leave campus and that classes would continue as scheduled, a Feb. 14 post on his campaign Facebook page said.

“Allowing a large, pre-planned demonstration during the school day – after communicating it would not be allowed – created confusion, undermined trust, and placed students in unnecessary danger, the post said. “We do not have to look far to see how similar situations, even nearby, have escalated quickly and turned tragic.”

“As a parent in this district, I find it unacceptable that families were told one thing and experienced another – especially when it involves student supervision and safety during the school day,” the post said.

Thomas Stilp, a Marquette University High School student, said he was among several students who were organizing a walkout at his school in February. Things looked ready to go until the night before the walkout. That’s when organizers heard concerns that the walkout might draw unwanted attention from ICE; those concerns led them to cancel the event.

Stilp said he thinks students fear that what’s happening in Minnesota will eventually happen in Milwaukee.

“What we really want is the whole country to be doing this, and if people are leaving schools and people are shutting down their offices and are not showing up to work, like businesses are closed; if you can’t get your coffee in the morning because of these ICE raids that are happening and businesses are calling for that to be stopped, that’s when you’re going to notice,” he said.

However, not all students support the walkouts.

One of those students is Turner Dittrich, a senior at Arrowhead High School and a founder, former president and current member of the school’s chapter of the conservative organization Turning Point. He is also the son of Terry Dittrich, the Waukesha County Republican Party chairman.

Turner Dittrich said that while people have the right to protest, they should not interfere with ICE, which is investigating criminal behavior.

“My whole take on it is, is why should undocumented illegal citizens get the same immunity as the ones who sacrifice to follow the law? We are America. We are a country of laws,” he said.

Dittrich said anti-ICE protests have been boosted by students who simply do not want to be in school. He also said he does not think it’s right for students to miss school for protests, out of respect for teachers.

“At Arrowhead especially, I’ve met some phenomenal teachers, some phenomenal individuals. They wake up tired and they’re really pouring out their energy into what they’re teaching students. For the ICE protests to not be done at 3:30 or 4 [after school] is just shocking to me because it’s like, what are these teachers possibly doing? Now, I understand freedom of speech. They can’t control kids necessarily, but at the end of the day, when teachers are getting paid to show up and work hard, it just unfortunately saddens me.

“It’s the same thing if there was a pro-ICE protest. I would think that during school hours, it’d be wrong, right? So I think on both sides of the aisle, the fact that we’re doing this during school hours, is wrong. It can’t be done that way,” Dittrich said.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.

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