An indie rock quintet from Austin, Texas, What Made Milwaukee Famous took their name from a vintage Jerry Lee Lewis country ballad and their sound from generations of intelligent and independently minded rockers--from Elvis Costello to Guided By Voices to Death Cab For Cutie. Singer/guitarist Michael Kingcaid, guitarist Jason Davis, keyboardist Drew Patrizi, bassist John Farmer, and drummer Jeremy Bruch self-released their debut album, TRYING TO NEVER CATCH UP, in 2004. After the band signed to the Barsuk Records label, the debut was reissued in 2006, followed in 2008 by WHAT DOESN'T KILL US.