Over the course of his extensive and impressive career, Steve Wynn has released more than 30 albums that are spread between his numerous projects. Along the way, he's performed to audiences of all sizes all over the world, toured with the likes of U2 and R.E.M., composed scores for television and film, and spent time on a major record label. He's seen all sides of the music industry in his decades on stage, and he wouldn't change a thing. Before he was releasing influential and timeless albums with The Dream Syndicate, having a successful solo career, and writing super-specific sports songs with The Baseball Project, Wynn was a kid — like, an actual child! — playing in short-lived adolescent outfits like The Light Bulbs and Sudden Death Overtime.
With more than 50 years of musical experience to his credit, Wynn has a ton of amazing stories to tell. Thankfully, he was willing to share some of them with My First Band host Tyler Maas prior to setting out on a U.S. tour next month. During their discussion, Wynn talked about his upcoming run of intimate solo shows (including one at URSA in Milwaukee on Saturday, Sept. 11) and his excitement to perform live again after a pandemic-prompted pause. Of course, the conversation eventually turned to Wynn's Los Angeles upbringing among other young artists, his formative creative years at UC Davis, the origin and immediate rise of The Dream Syndicate, The Baseball Project's upcoming album, highlights from his lengthy career, and his appreciation for every step along the way.
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 The Dream Syndicate ("Tell Me When It's Over").
