It's a problem that most bands have, even the world's most famous. How do you make sure people keep you in mind, even between projects? For Random Maxx, one of Milwaukee's most popular local original bands, the answer is the "Bonus CD."
The bonus discs, of which there are now two, are EPs of material unavailable elsewhere and they serve the dual purpose of keeping fans interested between albums and of attracting interested folks in signing up for the band's mailing list. Only fans on the band's list are eligible to get copies.
"The basic purpose of the Bonus CD's in general is more or less a 'fan appreciation' type of thing," says guitarist Mark Redlich. "We feel our fans deserve the chance to get more music than one CD every couple of years, so we give away these bonus discs for free in between larger and more expensive CD projects. They are generally down and dirty recording sessions -- just get 'em down and move on. We don't spend more than two days on the recording. As a result, they are a very good approximation of our true live sound, and we can afford to give them away for free."
The first bonus disc had some studio outtakes.
The second installment, "Quilts, Lids and Tarps," which follows the band's "Rock Star Parking" CD, recorded with producer Mike Hoffmann and released last year, has recordings of some of the band's favorite cover songs. The five-song, low-budget disc opens with a frighteningly spot-on cover of Duran Duran's "Rio."
There are also versions of David Bowie's "Space Oddity," "She's Got Me Where It Hurts" by Madison's The Other Kids, Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" and "Under Pressure" by Queen and Bowie.
"The disc was just meant to give our loyal following a chance to hear some of their favorite cover songs from our repertoire," Redlich says. "We have been getting lots of appreciative e-mails and posts on our message board from people who love the disc."
Random Maxx is planning to return to the studio to work on a new disc later this year. In the meantime you'll have to be content to enjoy the covers and see the band live. Random Maxx performs Sat., March 15 at Conways with Union Pulse. They also appear Sat., April 12 at Points East Pub.
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.
