Okay, Milwaukee rockers, put on your best sequined jumpsuit, prep the flashpots and smoke machines, and turn your amps to 11, because it's time to do battle.
The annual Break into the Big Gig battle of the bands is currently accepting press kits. Four winners advance to Summerfest gigs and nab other prizes.
The 12-band preliminary events take place at Club Garibaldi, Up and Under Pub, BBC and Kelly's Bleachers II and the audiences on hand pick the evening's winners.
The deadline for entering is March 12, but get in early and get noticed. E-mail your press kits or questions to Roy Henning at Roy@mofoco.com.
Here are the details on the events:
Club Garibaldi -- Thursdays, original -- rock/rockabilly/funk/punk/metal/blues. Preliminaries: March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15; semifinals: April 22, April 29; finals: May 13.
Up and Under Pub -- Fridays, original -- rock/rockabilly/funk/punk/metal/blues. Preliminaries: March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16; semifinals: April 23, April 30; finals: May 14.
Kelly's Bleachers II -- Fridays, original/covers -- country/country rock/outlaw rock/folk. Preliminaries: April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23; semifinals: April 30, May 7; finals: May 14.
BBC -- Saturdays, original/covers/tributes -- rock/rockabilly/funk/punk/metal/blues. Preliminaries: March 27, April 3, April 10, April 1; semifinals: April 24, May 1; finals: May 15.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
