The dream for musicians is supposed to be making it big. To reach the point where all the years of hard work and dedication to your craft starts to pay off. You quit your day job and make a go of living off music, fortune, fame and the all the other trappings of stardom.
Someone forgot to tell that to Milwaukee’s own Dr. Chow’s Love Medicine.
"I wouldn’t ever want to do music for a living," says guitarist Paul "Fly" Lawson. "Then it would become a job."
Indeed, the band’s first full-length album, "Chow Time," doesn’t sound like something from a group that looks at music as work. The album is a country / blues inspired ode to some of the simple joys in life.
The band, made up of Lawson, lead vocalist Frank Chandek, drummer Dan Glaser and bass player Andy Kaiser, isn’t looking to leave the 9-to-5 world soon. Lawson, who works at Auto Brake Clutch & Gear, says he enjoys doing music on his own terms.
"We just want to keep having fun with music. We’re not out to make any kind of statement or anything," he says.
Dr. Chow’s Love Medicine (the unmistakable name is itself a mystery; Lawson won’t say where it came from) can be seen around Milwaukee at places like Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Stonefly Brewery and other local joints. But, in keeping with the "just for fun" attitude, Dr. Chow doesn’t play just anywhere.
"We don’t want to play any place that we wouldn’t like to hang out at," Lawson says. "We aren’t going to play somewhere where we don’t feel comfortable."
So how does a band with minimal interest in making music a career and an aversion to playing certain venues do for themselves? As it turns out, fairly well. They’ve built a loyal fan base in Riverwest and other pockets of the city. Lawson says the following is growing in part because of the music and partially due to the band’s attitude on stage.
"We can play a little bit of everything: blues, country, R&B, you name it," he said. "And I think people just want to go somewhere, listen to music and relax, and that’s something we offer."
That musical hodgepodge blends well with the carefree attitude of the band. Songs like "Nina Hartley" and "Somebody Else" are relaxed, tongue-in-cheek songs made for kicking back and enjoying a frosty beverage. Lawson says the band enjoys where it is now, but is always working on new songs.
"You never want to limit yourself. We enjoy proving to each other what we can do as a band," he says
For now, though, the band’s going to music as a way to enjoy themselves and have some fun when they’re not working. They hope fans will join them.
Dr. Chow will promote "Chow Time" with gigs at Nov. 11 at Bar Lulu (2261 S. Howell Ave.) and Dec. 1 at Circle A (932 E. Chambers).
Someone forgot to tell that to Milwaukee’s own Dr. Chow’s Love Medicine.
"I wouldn’t ever want to do music for a living," says guitarist Paul "Fly" Lawson. "Then it would become a job."
Indeed, the band’s first full-length album, "Chow Time," doesn’t sound like something from a group that looks at music as work. The album is a country / blues inspired ode to some of the simple joys in life.
The band, made up of Lawson, lead vocalist Frank Chandek, drummer Dan Glaser and bass player Andy Kaiser, isn’t looking to leave the 9-to-5 world soon. Lawson, who works at Auto Brake Clutch & Gear, says he enjoys doing music on his own terms.
"We just want to keep having fun with music. We’re not out to make any kind of statement or anything," he says.
Dr. Chow’s Love Medicine (the unmistakable name is itself a mystery; Lawson won’t say where it came from) can be seen around Milwaukee at places like Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Stonefly Brewery and other local joints. But, in keeping with the "just for fun" attitude, Dr. Chow doesn’t play just anywhere.
"We don’t want to play any place that we wouldn’t like to hang out at," Lawson says. "We aren’t going to play somewhere where we don’t feel comfortable."
So how does a band with minimal interest in making music a career and an aversion to playing certain venues do for themselves? As it turns out, fairly well. They’ve built a loyal fan base in Riverwest and other pockets of the city. Lawson says the following is growing in part because of the music and partially due to the band’s attitude on stage.
"We can play a little bit of everything: blues, country, R&B, you name it," he said. "And I think people just want to go somewhere, listen to music and relax, and that’s something we offer."
That musical hodgepodge blends well with the carefree attitude of the band. Songs like "Nina Hartley" and "Somebody Else" are relaxed, tongue-in-cheek songs made for kicking back and enjoying a frosty beverage. Lawson says the band enjoys where it is now, but is always working on new songs.
"You never want to limit yourself. We enjoy proving to each other what we can do as a band," he says
For now, though, the band’s going to music as a way to enjoy themselves and have some fun when they’re not working. They hope fans will join them.
Dr. Chow will promote "Chow Time" with gigs at Nov. 11 at Bar Lulu (2261 S. Howell Ave.) and Dec. 1 at Circle A (932 E. Chambers).
Tyler Casey was born and raised in the Twin Cities, but hes lived in Milwaukee for the last four years working and going to school. A senior at UWM with one semester left before he gets his print journalism degree, Tylers grown incredibly fond of his new city and hopes to stay here for good. Hes been with OnMilwaukee.com since June 2006.
Despite retaining certain customs of his fatherland (Tyler bleeds purple and gold), he considers Milwaukee his home. Spending most of his time on the East Side, Riverwest and Downtown (as well as wherever the nearest bus line can take him), Tylers always looking to experience what the city has to offer.
