OCONOMOWOC - From the idea of two high school teachers who wanted to spend their free time writing, recording and performing live music came Crazy Man's Basement. Today, the four-piece, acoustic pop/rock band plays regularly for festivals, clubs and private events throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
Crazy Man's Basement will be the featured band at the city's Saturday night concert series, performing from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the band shell at City Beach. The band includes Tom Klubertanz of Oconomowoc, Andy Zietlow of Hartland, Bob Hedgcock of Oconomowoc and Mark Kindler of Brookfield.
FORMING THE BAND
"Real. Roots. Rock." was born in the form of an acoustic guitar and vocal duo. From Klubertanz came the lead voice and stage talents, while Zietlow provided the guitar rhythms and vocal harmonies. Together, the high school teachers began playing small, acoustic-style venues in and around Milwaukee. Before long, the duo began crafting its own songs, which were then included in sets filled with covers of Dave Matthews, U2, Barenaked Ladies and others.
In the summer of 2002, Klubertanz convinced Kindler, a local drummer and longtime friend from their days at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to join the group and help take the band to a larger stage. Kindler called on Hedgcock, his childhood friend and bass player, to round out the foursome and the new lineup of Crazy Man's Basement was formed. Klubertanz booked the band's first gig at the Milwaukee Ale House. Two weeks after its first practice together, CMB played its first full band set at the Ale House, sandwiched between two acoustic sets by Klubertanz and Zietlow.
Since then, the band has developed an extensive play list, including songs originally done acoustically by KIubertanz and Zietlow. While CMB now showcases the talents of all four members of the band when they perform, they usually make time at most shows to remind their fans how it all began, by treating the crowd to a few acoustic tunes, featuring just Klubertanz and Zietlow.
THE PLAYERS
Klubertanz, who sings lead vocals, recently moved to Oconomowoc with his wife, Jaimy, who, in December, opened Magnolia Floral & Gift Shoppe in downtown Oconomowoc with her sister and mother. He teaches theater and speech at Wauwatosa West High School and was named Wisconsin Teacher of the Year in 2001. He directs the school's theatrical productions and has been seen throughout southeastern Wisconsin as a theater performer himself.
Zietlow, who handles guitars and backing vocals, grew up and currently lives in Hartland with his wife, Kristin, and two daughters. Kristin Zietlow is also a co-owner of the Magnolia Floral & Gift Shoppe with her sister, Jaimy, and mother; Sue. In addition to the band, Zietlow also teaches History, designs the sound and lighting for KIubertanz's theater productions and is an assistant basketball coach, all at Wauwatosa West High School.
Hedgcock has been living in and remodeling a house on Silver Lake in Oconomowoc with his wife, Julie, for the last several years. Bob grew up and went to high school in Waukesha with Kindler, and the two began their rock and roll careers together at an eighth-grade pops concert. Hedgcock is vice president of product management at Wauwatosa's PointOne Systems.
Kindler and his wife, Kathy live in Brookfield with their two sons. Kindler and Klubertanz met at UW-Madison where they both performed with the nationally renowned, Wisconsin Singers. Kindler is a senior vice president of investments at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee.
On the Net: www.crazymansbasement.com
Band Founded on "Real Roots of Rock"
