Nick “Tweek” Ferguson, has been performing music since childhood. At age three he wore out the family’s copy of Van Halen 1984, while practicing air guitar. Early on he was formally trained on the saxophone by the outstanding music program in the Monroe public school system. Tweek decided to pursue guitar at the age of 12 after watching a VH1 Legends detailing the life of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Through out high school he performed in many bands.
After five years of performing with Suburban Outcast while also working on a degree at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Nick decided to take break from performance to work on his degree and a to solo projects. During this time he also pursued a career in the sound production industry After graduating college in 2005 with a degree in electronic media, Tweek as served as a free lance front of house engineer for many local Milwaukee bands, including Johnny3note and Old Mil. Most recently served a tour of duty as the “sound guy” 76 Juliet. In 2008, longing to perform again, he was added to the 76 Juliet line up on rhythm guitar.
Tweek would like to remind you all…
“There are three things in Life… in hale’n … ex hale’n … and Van Halen”
Tank started his musical career in 5th grade during a school talent show. He and some of his schoolmates performed The Reflex by Duran Duran. From their wood cut out guitars and cardboard drums they hit it big with the 6th grade girls. Meanwhile pissing off the 6th grade boys. After that there wasn't much more, kind of a one hit wonder. After a couple of sold out concerts at friends houses in Junior High Tank decided to actually take up playing a "real bass".
After stealing a guitar and amp he quickly set up lessons at a local music store where he starting learning scales and Poison covers. After about 6 months he quit to move to the basement to play Metallica covers (or one) with some friends. After awhile that got old and called it quits and joined the High School Orchestra.
A couple of years out of High School Tank joined up with his old friends to form a new band. The question was, "is this going to work or are we just getting together to drink?" Well, it was both. It was the beginning of Single Barrel, no not a gun or a part on a car, but a brand of Jack Daniel's. (Do you get it now?) It was a heavy hitting rock band that toured from Northern Illinois to Green Bay. Tank had a lot of fun with those guys, but saw the end with a job transfer insight and a lead guitarist looking for something new.
With an offer from a new band Tank spent days driving from the North side to the Southside on 76th street looking for the girl they called Juliet. Finally, after calling back to get an exact location Tank was told, "that is the name of the band". Being dropped at birth this happens a lot with Tank. So, long story short, the band told him it was going to be a "good time" but he took that the wrong way. Now touring with 76 Juliet (the band) we will see what the future holds.
Hi, my name is Kelly, I'm 28 years old, I like long walks on the beach and am fluent in almost no language.
I'm a Catholic girl. My mom is the organist at my Church so that's where I got my upbringing. I learned to sing before I could talk...or that's what my mom likes to say! I was singing the hymns from mass by the age of 2 1/2. Throughout grade school and high school, I was in the choirs and several of the musicals, and by college I was hitting the karaoke bars. By December 2007, I was auditioning for 76 Juliet, and these crazy guys decided to take me in. How silly of them!!
Seriously, though, it's been a blast, they're awesome guys, and I hope to stay for a long time...if you will have me.
Hummmmm let’s see. So you want to know a little about me huh? I hope you can all sleep tonight after reading this. J First of all, I am not from the wonderful State of Wisconsin. I am originally from the beautiful State of South Carolina. I know I know, my IQ just dropped by about 20 points. That’s okay; I have been dealing with that for most of my life.
I was born in Greenville, South Carolina many, many years ago. Guess you could say I have been a fan of music even before being born. My Mom would tell me stories of how she would play a radio before I even popped out just to get me to calm down. After being born she was have to play the radio just to get me to sleep. So if you ever come to a show and I fall asleep on stage you now know why.
The funny part about my musical career is I started singing in church around the age of 5…and hated it! I love my mother to death but she would try to get me to sing every Sunday. I would get so nervous before hitting the stage that I would almost get sick to my stomach. It wasn’t until the 5th grade that my love and desire to perform came back. In school they asked who wanted to join the school band. I asked both Mom and Dad if I could join and they both gave me a strong NO. What to do? What to do? I know! I will sneak around and join the band anyway. So that is what I did. Finally the folks gave in and purchased me a trumpet. It turned out to be a good choice because it helped me get into college.
After spending a couple of years at a small music school in South Carolina I decided to leave to pursue other options…like BEER! Decided to serve my country by joining the Navy and wound up here in Wisconsin some time around 1998. That’s when I decided to give this music thing a one more try. Joined a few bands throughout the years and I am now with what I feel is the greatest band the Milwaukee music world has seen.
The rest will be history!
Well, I was born under a bad sign with blues in my heart and an ache in my soul and an insatiable desire for chicks. Ok, that just reeks of cheese & cliché....Lets try this again....
Lemme see, as far back as I can remember music has been a part of my life and upbringing. From toy guitars when I was 4 to my first Acoustic guitar at age 16 (thanks Grandma & Gramps) the guitar has always seemed to be there to corrupt me. Well, with the exception of the sixth grade. I want to forget about that, but I just can't seem to do that.
In sixth grade, I decided it would be cool to join the symphonic band. And, as a bonus, I picked the coolest instrument there was: The Baritone Horn. Yes, I chose the ultimate chick-magnet brass horn. From that day on, I knew life as I had come to know it would never be the same. I lugged that 80 pound horn back and forth from school and practiced at home. I practiced hard. It was a good thing I didn't practice by the ocean shore because my practice sessions ended up sounding like I was recreating the mating sounds of the great hump-back whale and would have had to fend off the advances of many amorous whales.
So, fast forward to two weeks later; I walk into the band room and unpacked my baritone 'o love. I set up the music and my instructor who shall remain nameless to protect his identity (MR. STEPHAN), came over and asked me to play what I had been working on. As I wiped the sweat from my brow (it was amazing how much a grossly overweight sixth-grader could sweat in the course of a day), I prepared to play the piece to the best of my ability. The perspiration was beading up on my upper lip as I assumed the correct ambershure, and I proceeded to honk that horn to the best of my ability.
15 painful seconds later, I released my lip lock on my baritone, and looked to Mr. Stephan for praise or words of encouragement or constructive criticism (and I don't remember for sure, but I'm pretty sure I must have been jonesin' for a jolly rancher by that time of the day....).....
He furled his brow, put one hand on his hip and the other cupped his chin. I smiled a half smile, and mustered up the confidence to ask,
"So, was that ok?"
Mr. Stephan let out an exasperated sigh, put his hand on my shoulder and exclaimed, and I will never, ever forget these words:
"You should find a different hobby, I'm afraid to say, Music just isn't going to be your thing."
I packed up my horn, turned it in, grabbed a guitar and never looked back. In high school, I played in several bands, mostly playing Metallica and Iron Maiden songs. I started out on a Lotus Les Paul copy until I traded that for a Yamaha electric (because the Yamaha ad had a picture of a guy in a gymnasium playing and two hot 80's chicks were standing there looking at him with lustful eyes - I thought for sure that guitar would get me chicks.) Alas, I was wrong, and traded that in on a Charvel Model 4 in cobalt blue, which I still have to this day. I love that guitar - even though that one didn't get me any chicks either.
And, I would be remiss to leave out the fact that I rocked a hella cool mullet. In addition I also had an acid washed jean jacket signed by the band Danger Danger that never got washed and could have walked away on its own.
I also cut my teeth for public performing by playing in church with my family - my cousins Curt and Jennifer - both fantastic vocalists (and now I carry on the tradition with Curt's extremely talented daughter Kendall Iris). I think we need to do that more often. Those experiences helped make me the musician I am today.
The next stop on my musical journey took me to UW-Milwaukee and The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music where I studied and practiced to earn my bachelor of fine-arts degree in Music Performance - Finger-style guitar. This is about the time I picked up my Taylor 510-Dreadnaught acoustic guitar. This was right after I snapped the neck off of my Seagull acoustic, accidentally. I studied jazz, finger-style, classical, whatever I could absorb. I took third semester theory - twice. I got an F the first time. Damn this tin ear of mine. :) Those six years (it took a little longer than I thought it would) were where I saw the most growth in my musicianship and guitar skills. 12 hour practice days will do that to ya. Well, that and sitting in the lounge 3 hours a day just playing with whoever stopped by.
Good times, good times.
1996 ended with me earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance – Finger-style Guitar (whoo, that’s a mouthful). I was tired of music, and decided to take a break.
One month turned into almost 4 years - time I spent doing creative things like trying to figure out how to have my cake and eat it too - literally. Mmmm.....cake is good.
Now, Fast Forward to the year (not the song) 1999....Can you remember back in the day when that song came out when we’d wonder what 1999 was going to be like? Hovercraft cars, and going to the moon, and music players that weren’t the size of a small suitcase….my shoulder still hurts from haulin’ that ghetto blaster around….but I digress….
It was 1999, I was spending most of my time unloading semi-trailers at my former place of employment….I had fallen out of love with my guitar – I wasn’t playing much if at all. My guitar gently weeped in the back of my closet sandwiched in-between some dirty socks and empty potato chip bags.
I can remember getting the call from my buddy Dave R. (the former singer/founder of 76 Juliet) wondering if I wanted to get together with a singer he knew and do some acoustic shows. We got together with Eddie Topple and it felt pretty great playing music again. Eddie knew a drummer (Dave Ehlert) and Dave knew a Bassist (who shall remain nameless – I fear getting shanked while I sleep), and there was the first full-version of 76 Juliet.
500 personnel changes later, we’re back better than ever, ready to kick ass and chew bubble-gum and we’re fresh out of bubble gum……we only have some Dentyne Ice…I hope that will suffice – I’ve become a bit of a pacifist these days (or maybe I just fear getting my own ass kicked – again.)
These days, thinking about what Mr. Stephan Said, I'm still wondering if music is my thing - especially when I finish a show, it’s 2:30 in the morning and I get my check for $23.50. I am just kidding about that, of course. At this point in my life, it's not about the money, or fame, or chicks - now for me, the fans - the people that have stuck by 76 Juliet in the last 8 years, and all the new faces we see at shows (new band members included) - you all are the coolest bunch of people I will ever have the privilege of meeting and knowing.
I want to thank everyone who has extended their friendship to the band and to me personally. That's what makes all of this so worthwhile - whether we play to a crowd of 6 or 600 - we get to play for you. Thanks for spending your time and hard-earned money on 76 Juliet.
Love & Stuff,
Tommy
ps - And for the record, through music I did find the chick of my dreams. :)