After forming in 2002, Milwaukee band The Saltshakers found itself on the verge of a shake up at the end of last year with an imminent lineup change that threatened to derail the band.
"Our old bass player just wasn't 'feeling it' anymore, and decided to leave. We all saw it coming and we were all okay with it, it just wasn't working anymore," says singer/guitarist Chad Curtis. "It was a peaceful parting of ways and everyone in the band seems to be really happy with our new lineup."
The line-up, besides Curtis, includes Jon Strelecki on drums, Tim Peck on guitar and vocals and newest member of the band, Cory Rawson on bass.
Curtis says that the band found Rawson through the "magic of the Internet" and that his arrival has kept the band on track.
"It took a little while to find him, and I think everyone was a little worried we were going to be out of action for a really long time, but luckily we were only gone for a couple months," he says. "We played our first show back in Chicago to a really great crowd -- and I personally was feeling euphoric about being in a band again. I really missed it and I'm so happy to have a band again that I love playing with."
One thing that hasn't changed with the semi-reinvented band is its name, which Curtis says he's not really a fan of anymore. However, he doesn't want to change it. He does have advice for other up and coming bands.
"Never name your band after an inside joke. It will not stay funny or clever for long."
Curtis describes the band's sound as "pop music with guts" which is captured on an EP.
"'A Beautiful Mess' is our first real studio recording, we recorded it about a year and a half ago in Green Bay ... on a pretty low budget. I think it turned out pretty well," Curtis says.
Earlier this week, The Saltshakers played live on WMSE 91.7.
"I thought it would be a good way to get some promotion for our May 6 BBC show -- which is kind of a big deal to us because it's our first show in our hometown since December," Curtis says. "Until recently, we'd played Milwaukee on a regular basis for years."
Curtis says that there's plenty to look forward to in the Saltshakers' gig at the BBC, 2022 E. North Ave. 9 p.m. Friday with Milwaukee's Heathrow and the Minneapolis' Wisely.
"I think we have a fun upbeat sound that is very compatible with going out and having some adult beverages. We also like to put our all into our performances -- so expect more onstage energy than the average rock band," Curtis says.
"So I hope that people will have some beers and enjoy some rock 'n' roll with us that night. We love Milwaukee and we love playing at the bars around here. We always have a great time and hopefully the people that come to the show will have at least half as good of a time as we are."
The show is 21-and-over.
The band's Web site is thesaltshakers.com.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
