Meet the Wristbands:
Mark Joyner
Mark grew up in a very musical household, his dad can play just about any musical instrument, and some of his earliest memories are of sitting with him in their living room as they talked and he strummed a guitar. Mark was lucky enough to live in an area that had a high school radio station, and his older brother joined WLTL and eventually was on radio management, giving him early exposure to getting on air. Mark thoroughly enjoyed his years on the radio and radio management eventually filling the role as Program Director, and always enjoyed the opportunity to get downtown to see shows. During his junior year, he had a music awakening when he saw Hot Water Music and The Honor System play at The Fireside in Chicago. It was so visceral, so raw, so no-frills, he was immediately hooked on The Fireside, and local music. He started going to shows in the city any time he could and started listening to a lot of Chicago indie and punk bands. Fast forward 20 years (how is that possible!?) and he is still a true believer in Chicago music, the local scene, and local venues. Live music is one of his favorite things, and any chance he gets, he’s am at the show, if he’s lucky, I'm running into Bruce there! He’s been to too many shows to count on all ends of the spectrum (stadium to someone's basement), but has always leaned into the little guy, the smaller venue, the local band on their way up. So, he wants to share that passion with all you listeners out there!
Tom “Papa” Novak
Tom’s love of music really started during college in Champaign, Illinois - seeing Talking Heads and the Ramones at the Auditorium and Iggy Pop and Gang of Four at Mabel’s was a revelation. Moving back to the Chicago area in the early ’80’s, he got a chance to see bands like The Clash and U2 at the Aragon Ballroom and The Replacements and Husker Du at the Cubby Bear (back when the Cubby Bear was a cool shit hole). Helping his brother Bruce and his wife Debbie with local fanzine non•stop Banter, they got a chance to watch a great local Chicago scene featuring bands like Naked Raygun, Big Black, Material Issue, Green, 11th Dream Day and many more. He’s looking forward to working with Mark on the No Wristbands! We Drink For Free podcast and sharing some stories with their friends.
Bruce Novak
Like others of his generation, some of Bruce’s earliest pop music experiences were from tuning in for the weekly hijinks of The Monkees and Partridge Family. To this day, he remains an active listener and participant; eagerly awaiting the arrival of new bands and releases, and pining for the next explosive concert experience. From 1985 - 1988, he was one of the principal forces behind the non•stop Banter fanzine, which covered the independent music scene during the burgeoning DIY movement. He’s pleased to be writing and interacting again with the music community through this site's Dig ‘in blog, and hopes to impart some of the joy and wonder that this art form has provided him onto a new audience.
Wade Iverson
Wade first met Bruce Novak—we think—on September 24, 1982 in Champaign, IL at a show for a new cool indie band called REM playing at Huff Gym, with locals the B-Lovers opening. Wade’s musical passion, and mind, was blown that night… Over the past 30+ years Wade has been a committed DIY artist, musician, and Dj, playing in cow punk band Recreational Bones from Charleston, IL (1984-86), and forming rock band Throw in Chicago (1991-97) who, had the privilege, and utterly forgotten distinction, of opening Wilco’s first show in Chicago at Lounge Ax. Along the way Bruce invited Wade to contribute photos and reviews for non•stop Banter, and later he wrote for YOUR FLESH. After a long break from music, Wade has returned to recording with a new organic electronics based project, and album, under the name Dj Baby Chocolate. These and other recordings can be found at eartrumpetrecordings.bandcamp.com
Rick Reger
Rick Reger is a musician and music writer in the Chicago area. He has written extensively about the local and national music scenes for a number of publications, including the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Tribune. As a musician he has played in several local Chicago bands, and from 2012-2015, he was a member of The Margots, which included Ken Vandermark (reeds) and Tim Daisy (drums). The band made two records, Pescado and Sople′ on Okka Disk records. Rick’s original instrumental music is available at regermusic.com.
Wade Novak
Wade shares a last name and a love of music with a few other members of the No Wristbands! crew. As a kid he used to fall asleep to the sounds of Tom and Bruce jamming away in the basement. Eventually he found his way behind the drum kit and formed his own bands, playing around the Chicago scene for over 10 years in various bands (Empty Bottle is his favorite venue he’s played). He still believes one night at a venue can change your life.
Mike Moran
Mike realized his disdain for wristbands at an early age, after it took him weeks to remove one from a Sugar Ray concert he attended in the 6th grade. Growing up in the suburbs, he frequently ventured into the Chicago city limits to hear live music at the multitude of venues, dive bars, and street fests the city has to offer. Since attending college, he has made a hobbyist's run at playing guitar and drums in a variety of bands, while continuing his lifelong pursuit of engineering the silky-smooth sound that all podcasters dream of.