The DJ Takeover sponsored by Level Up is a program for listeners to discover their favorite artist's favorite artists, working to foster connection to the music and makers inside and outside our city. For the entire hour, we go down the rabbit hole of stories from their past, experiences of the present and goals for the future.
Constantly finding the flowers after life's inevitable storms, four Milwaukee rockers found each other to make sense of it all through music
For this DJ Takeover, Rainbow Cobra’s Oli Smith, Tommy Curtis, Nikki Abel and Preston Carr brought their musical influences to the studio — artists ranging from contemporary indie to neo-classics with picks from Hop Along, Pavement and David Berman (of Silver Jews and Purple Mountains fame).
Smith, who started behind the drum kit before a creative-writing class moved them to try lead vocals, pointed to Berman as a particular inspiration. Smith noted that musicians like Berman don’t have traditionally “pretty” voices. Rather, it's the imperfections that so successfully complete the ragged edges of production and prose structuring his songs.
The mentality of finding purpose in imperfections carried over to the band’s name. Smith gave creative liberties to a tattooer friend with the simple direction of “I want a cobra” followed by the fateful statement: “Do whatever you want, man.” Smith was left with ink of a “bright, garish and intense” rainbow cobra — one they initially hated.
As the colorful wound healed, so did their relationship with the body art. As Smith explained, “It came to symbolize spontaneity, and embracing rock and roll.”
Carr, Rainbow Cobra’s newest member, bonded with Smith through a love of Bob Dylan and shared journeys in sobriety. Abel found belonging with the group after growing up in rural Arkansas with folks who did not appreciate Hop Along. And Curtis proved to be a consistent light and throughline among all band members In the hour we shared — a sort of guitar-wizard guide.
Their camaraderie was palpable, and I have to believe their shared joy is indicative of the feelings their listeners experience when the group brings their sonic creations to the stage. Fortunately, you don’t need to wait long to find out for yourself.
Next Thursday, Aug. 28, Rainbow Cobra will bring the spirit of Milwaukee rock ‘n’ roll to our Walker’s Point Studios — along with Bowvee and 5pm to Nowhere — for a very special Live From Radio Milwaukee organized entirely by our intrepid band of summer interns. It’s free, it’s open to the public, and it starts at 6 p.m. See you there.
DJ Takeover: Rainbow Cobra playlist
- Rainbow Cobra, “Flowers in a Storm”
- Pavement, “Grounded”
- Hop Along, “Get Disowned”
- Purple Mountains, “Darkness and Cold”
- Wipers, “Window Shop for Love”
- Bob Dylan, “Shooting Star (Live)”
- Gil Scott-Heron, “Lady Day and John Coltrane”
- Tobin Sprout, “Beast of Souls”
- Brindled, “Yard”
