Ringing Endorsement Mark Waldoch of The Celebrated Workingman

This week, Mark Waldoch of Milwaukee indie-rock band The Celebrated Workingman offers his ringing endorsement of a hot spot for local musicians, Wade’s Guitar Shop. See Waldoch's band tonight at The Cactus Club.

I first moved to Milwaukee in 1992, 18 years old and living in the dorms. I didn’t play guitar that much; I had one in high school that I left at my friend’s house. I wanted to get a real electric guitar, and Wade’s was the closest place to get one. Ever since then, every guitar that’s ever meant anything to me, I got there. I was so impressed, because it was the first time I saw a place selling guitars that all the bands I liked played. Growing up in Racine, all of the guitar stores you went to sold all these shitty, metal shredder guitars. Wade’s had vintage guitars and great old amps. The people who worked there, they weren’t snobs but they weren’t kissing your ass, either. It was the real deal. Wade, the owner, I consider him a friend. I’ve known him for years. When you’re 18 or 19, you don’t really know shit about how to play guitar. Over the years I’ve bought and sold stuff there, and I don’t know how many times he’s given me advice. There are other places in town that do that sort of stuff, but Wade’s was the first for me. It feels like home.