WMSE’s 30th Anniversary week: Jonathan Burks and Trapper Schoepp & The Shades

It’s immensely difficult—and not entirely pleasant—to imagine the Milwaukee music scene without 91.7 WMSE. This week, the non-profit, listener-supported radio station celebrates its 30th anniversary. Unlike most 30-year-olds, however, it’s doubtful WMSE will settle down and start watching its cholesterol—judging from the ridiculously great local shows the station is sponsoring this week (many of them free), it’s just as young and vital as ever.

In honor of WMSE’s big 3-0, The A.V. Club talked to a few of the musicians playing shows this week, and asked them what the station means to them. Today, we hear from the always-reliable, always-heavy-drinking Jonathan Burks.

“I’m probably one of the only people in Milwaukee not wearing sweatpants and talking to myself on the bus who still rocks a radio Walkman. When people see it, they ask me what it is, thinking I have some new super-sweet mp3000 they haven’t heard of yet. When I tell them it’s a radio, they look at me like I’m wearing sweatpants and talking to myself on the bus. It’s cool, I’ll be that guy. Let the haters hate. As long as WMSE keeps my playlist stacked, I’m good to go.”

Jonathan Burks and Trapper Schoepp & The Shades play a free show tonight at Linneman’s.