This week’s guest is Chris Rosenau, whose impressive and inventive guitar work you might recognize from accomplished projects like Pele, Collections Of Colonies Of Bees, and Volcano Choir. Before he was playing to audiences all over the world, collaborating with Justin Vernon and members of The Promise Ring, and releasing influential albums that have stood the test of time, Rosenau was a kid teaching himself Metallica songs in his suburban Milwaukee home.

Prior to next weekend’s Seventh Stanine Festival at Cactus Club, Rosenau spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about new CoCoBees developments, his upcoming release with Nick Sanborn, a long-awaited Vermont vinyl release, and other modern day happenings. Eventually, the conversation found Rosenau discussing early projects like Orion Black and 21 Guns, playing club concerts with Smashing Pumpkins, starting a band with Jon Mueller (and then another), and some of the most memorable experiences from his decades of playing music.

My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. You can also listen to rebroadcasts of previous My First Band episodes on WMSE every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Collections Of Colonies Of Bees (“Harms”).