Thursday will be an evening of introductions at Mad Planet. Migo will unveil its debut album, Napkin Back. Not only will the show also be an album release show for Meat Greeter, it will serve as the young project’s inaugural live performance. On top of that, Lousy Trouts will be screening their new video for the first time. However, on a night that’s celebrating the birth of two albums, one band, and even the birthday of Meat Greeter’s Alex Heaton, it will also signal the end of Jordan Maye’s time on stage in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future. The Meat Greeter member—who also plays with Lousy Trouts and Myles Coyne & The Rusty Nickel Band—will be playing her farewell show before she moves to Los Angeles at the end of this month. Before her new band’s debut, release, and farewell show, Milwaukee Record asked Maye about her upcoming move, her new band, and what she’ll miss most about her four years in Milwaukee’s music scene.
Milwaukee Record: With every member of Meat Greeter being involved in more than one band already, why did you feel the need to start Meat Greeter? What do you get from it that you don’t from other projects?
Jordan Maye: We were all on tour over the summer as Lousy Trouts and Ugly Brothers, and at some point we were like, “Hey, we’re not in enough bands already, when we get home let’s start another.” Then we kind of joked about it the rest of the tour. A couple of months later we actually did it. I finally get to play guitar which I’ve wanted to do for a while. I’ve been playing mandolin with a lot of people the past couple of years but I really consider myself a guitarist. There’s no point to Meat Greeter, I just wanted to play music with some of my best friends and break away from the folk-y stuff we usually play.
MR: What are Alex [Heaton], Jay [Joslyn] and Alex [Shah] like to play with? And with exactly no shows under your belt, what’s the band and the new record like?
JM: It’s really fun. We’re all a bunch of weirdos and are all down for experimenting. Everyone’s personalities come through the instruments really well. Each track has a totally different vibe, from surfer punk rock to 1930s bee-jazz doo wop. That’s probably not accurate. We basically just said, “Here’s a song. Everyone play your instrument however you want to.” I think we switch instruments every song. We’re all able to listen to constructive criticism really well, which I think is our secret ingredient.
MR: This show is doubling as Meat Greeter’s release show and your farewell show. Where and why are you moving, and how does your relocation impact Meat Greeter? Will the band go on without you?
JM: They better not. I’m moving to Los Angeles, California at the end of the month but I don’t plan on staying there forever. I’ll come back to visit, play shows, and record with all of my best buds because I love them. I could totally see myself touring with them for years to come. We basically made the record with no purpose or goal and it’s still that way. It could turn into anything, who knows.
MR: What does the Milwaukee music scene and your long list of collaborators mean to you? Does giving them up make it harder to leave?
JM: It’s really hard. They’re my family and I love them so much. I’m not giving them up, I’m just going on an adventure for a while. I’ll be back as frequently as I can, and I’ll probably just book my friends’ shows in California and force them to tour with me anyways.
MR: When you look back on your time on stage here, are there any specific moments that stick out, or maybe a specific memory that comes to mind?
JM: Alex Shah coming on stage to yell during Lousy Trouts’ set is probably my favorite thing ever. We had just gotten back from a summer tour and we were playing at Linneman’s. Jack always draws out this certain part of the song, and I just, like, looked at Alex Shah and told him to come on stage. He lets out a roar and kicks the song back into gear. It was just awesome.
Realistically there’s tons of wonderful memories, but the show [Thursday] will probably be my fondest. It just hasn’t happened yet. I’ll probably wreck it by sobbing the whole time, we’ll see.
MR: Why is it important to have a farewell show? And were the other bands specifically chosen for a reason?
JM: It’s also a dual birthday party for both of the Alexes and a Lousy Trout music video release for a video we filmed a few months ago. I envision an awesome party. I just want to see all of my friends before I go. That’s the only reason for a farewell, right?
MR: Will it be hard playing double duty Thursday between the Trouts and Meat Greeter?
JM: I think it’ll be really fun, I get to play four instruments in one night, so that’s sweet: guitar, bass, mandolin, and djembe. I’m comfortable playing instruments. The hardest part will be me trying to hold it together and not cry on stage. I think I can do it.
MR: Anything else you’d like to add about your time with either band, your time in Milwaukee, or any other parting words?
JM: I love this city and the people in it, and I’ve never been happier in my life. I just want to see redwoods and shit.
Maye’s Lousy Trouts and Meat Greeter open and play third respectively at Mad Planet Thursday on a show that also features headliner Migo (album release) and Airo Kwil.