I had a last minute opportunity from a good buddy to join him and a couple of friends for a road trip to Milwaukee. The mission? Check out a band called Boy Named Banjo in The Back Room at Colectivo. This is a funky coffee place tied to the Pabst Theater group. As a die-hard live music fan who's always up for discovering new artists, I jumped at the chance.

We needed some food and hit a place called Hooligans to grab a bite about a block from the venue. The grub was decent, but the real highlight was when the band members strolled down the street. They autographed a Boys Named Banjo t-shirt for one of the ladies in our group. She was thrilled, to say the least, and the guys from the band were very cool and friendly.

After chowing down, we headed over to The Back Room, a coffee shop with a large back area that felt like a chill warehouse. The vibe was relaxed and welcoming. First up was Anna Vaus, and I must admit, I was thoroughly impressed. Her voice was simply amazing and you could tell she had poured her heart and soul into every song. She's a real talent and connects with the audience. I could have listened to her all night. But I was psyched to hear a Boy Named Banjo

They hit the stage and boy did they deliver! These guys are super talented and bring insane energy to the stage. They had the crowd up and moving with their catchy tunes, which were surprisingly familiar even though I'd never heard them before. You will find yourself singing along quickly. It was a terrific show, and both bands are on my must-see list.

This experience was reminiscent of my time in Nashville, just raw, fresh music that came straight from the heart. All in all, a top-notch night that I won't forget anytime soon.

I apologize for the quality of the video and photos.  I tried to get a press pass to get the camera in but didn't get a response. So these are from the phone camera. 

See all the photos in the Wiparty Photo Gallery.