Morgan Konopelski is... KONO NATION!

From real estate to real life and everything in between the Brad Wiseman show and now your host , brad Wiseman . All right , all right , we are back in the studio and , gosh , I just loved doing this show . It's so fun . We had a lot of different guests on , but we have never had this guest on . This is not a repeat .

I'm so excited .

I'm glad you're excited . You can tell she's a performer right , you can tell . She actually is not excited , but she's acting like it .

That's what it is . I'm here , I'm ready .

Yeah .

I've never done a podcast before .

Neither have I . It's my first time . Oh my God , yeah cool .

We'll get through it together .

Yeah , we'll do this together . That's right . So no , I . What's funny about how I know you is I know your father for many , many years , Pat , yeah , I mean I'm also . I mean he is guys too . He's got a great sense of humor .

He does , yes , I . I want to say I got my humor from him . I'm not that funny .

No , you're kind of a smart ass , but I can see it , yeah , but he is like the man .

Everyone loves my dad Like he's just the best .

He's fun . Yeah , he's fun .

That is the best way to describe it .

He's fun and your mom's cool too .

My mom is so cool , yes , people will go out and they'll be like well , where are your parents ?

I'm like , oh , I'm not , you don't .

And they're like no , no , like where's Pat and Lisa ?

I'm like okay well , I'm not the fun one . Is that what that means ? I'm not the fun one ?

No , oh , my goodness , they're always at a show and everyone's like no , your parents didn't come Like , why not Like they love ?

And you're like , I'm here to entertain , I know , like I was , like I'm here for me to do something , but they no , they're the best . Yeah . So speaking of entertainment , I hear that's what you do .

I do . I do it a lot .

You do a lot .

Full time . It's my thing .

Cononation .

Cononation .

So tell me about Cononation Now . You've been singing since you're nine .

from what I've heard , yes , so not like I mean pretty young a long time , but not as why .

There was there a moment that you were like that's what I want to do . There was .

Awesome . Okay , so there wasn't a moment that I was like this is what I'm going to do , but there was a moment where I was like I'm really bad at everything else , so there has to be something that I'm good at like soccer gymnastics not so good at those things , all the things swimming . I was like no , no this is All right .

I would think you'd be good at swimming .

Bolly ball basketball . Didn't work , nothing , it was it was brutal , so we bailed on that and then I remember central Catholic was doing a musical , because I went to St Catherine's and then I switched over to public school , but for their music program . So audition for Joseph and the amazing technical .

Oh my God , I love that . I was in that show . It at Redding Civic Theater . I was in that show .

Like wait , I think we were in .

We had the same time , we might have been there . Yes .

Tyler Bell was the . Was the young , oh my god .

Yes , I think you're right . Okay , so , brad , we were in a show together . We were probably in a show together . Yeah , it was running some big theater . It was a great show . I love that show .

And I , and even that I was like well , I already did this one , so I'm like I'm ready yeah . But , but no , that was my first ever audition and I was like all right , I like it . I can do it , and then at 12, . So I started doing community theater . And then 12 we were doing there were auditions for the whiz .

Oh , another good show .

It was back then it was called Alpha Omega and I got . Dorothy and I remember like talking about my dad . He came to every single show . Both of my parents did .

They're very supportive , but so supportive yes .

And we can talk about that too . But they I remember after the show , my dad's like okay , I think she can sing , like this is something we should work with Yep . So how ?

old were you then , was that ?

I was 12? .

You were 12 . Okay .

Seventh grade .

Yeah , and that's when he was like , yeah , there's something here .

Okay , I think we should try and like pursue this a little more , like get her some lessons , really like hone in on it . So at that time I was like all about it . I was theater girl . I did a lot of you know , chorus choir . I did band in high school Like I just what instrument . The alto saxophone alto saxophone .

Can you still play ? No , I couldn't really play it back then , so it was kind of like basketball .

It was like that yeah , I was like I'm doing it for the , for everything about it yeah , exactly yeah . But but no , it was great . So theater really took a , took a place in my life and from that I went to . I was like , okay , I want to pursue this professionally .

The only reason I said that because I know where this ended .

Yes , yes , so that was a brief moment .

So you just tried it . I tried it . It was a DeSales trial period . Yes , it was .

I was dipping my feet in the water Got you . And I really did still love the theater aspect of everything and I still love , but I was , and even when I left you had to have like a meeting with your mentor and they would like hey , why are you leaving ? What are you doing ? You know , et cetera .

It's the long career . That's not uncommon though for a Musician , for somebody that has , because you knew what you wanted to do . You know , so to try to Mold yourself into a situation . It wasn't gonna work .

Well , and I just don't think I knew what I was getting myself into yeah like my family , we don't . I think my parents didn't even know what they were getting themselves into you know nobody's musical .

No , no , I can't sing , mom can't sing .

We don't know what I want them to say . Don't want them to , don't want to say my mom's the same way . Do not want her to sing maybe a sweet Caroline , you know , oh yeah , but that's but that song . The night takes that turn .

Not one of my favorite songs . Oh , when somebody yells that out , it's like hearing free bird . You know how many times , oh , do you do free bird .

We know a part of it . Yeah , just to get to shut somebody up , yeah and we'll be like when he , when he like , what's it like ? Can I get some type of something ?

here yeah , yeah .

But , um , but you know free birds like the top request , like , do you even like it ?

I can't even . And it's long , right , it's long never .

We never do the full thing , or again , it's just like a little sniffing just to appease the person ? Yeah , and then they'll wait , you actually know it .

Yeah , and then they get happy and it's all about pleasing the crowd and then they're your customers if you look at that way .

We want them to have a good time , so it's always that . But so you ?

go from to sales and then you decide , okay , I'm gonna do this . And then did you start working on just your craft of of performing ?

Yeah , so I am again

school .

And that was my first gig , my first .

Add in here and how old them you think .

I want to say I was 19 , okay , I think yeah that's where it all gets cut . It's like I don't really know the years and the timing , because when you're out of school , then you're like well , how do I ?

everything .

Yeah , but then 2020 on is when I was like okay , I know this is yeah um , but yeah , so I I had Maybe like three weeks to kind of get it together . Wow and a show got my parent my dad called sweet water . I was like what do we need to get her ?

Oh , sweet Water's the best . That's where all this stuff from . I love sweet water , holy grail right . Yes , yes for musicians .

And yeah , I did it , I swear .

I talked to your dad during these things because there was times where I would see him at the Lobster thing that he used to do and and and .

I was started .

I started young , very yeah , started 13 or 14 Um started singing out when I was 15 .

Yeah , and you don't know , Like , what to do you don't know . I feel like it's uh sorry .

Um , I'm getting tangled here , you know but my question's gonna , it's gonna all wrapped up Italian hands , I'm like um , but no , you just don't know what to do , and so we started doing .

You know the solo shows in around town . And then , um , um , eric koala of the uptown band I know he was looking for a sub and my dad same thing kind of took part in that new him and was like , hey , my daughter , do you want to see where things go ? So after that I was hired full time , I was with Eric and I learned so much .

Oh , yeah , he's , he's , he's a master . Yeah , yeah , I'm related to him actually . Yeah , he's uh , second cousin , second or third cousin , second cousin , okay , yeah , yeah , absolutely yeah , we're . They didn't yep , we're cousins , oh my gosh Distance .

Yeah , oh , absolutely I see . Yeah , yeah , I see him .

From time to time we don't see him that much , but yeah , he's very . He is very good at the systems that it takes , he's good at the bookings , he's good at all that stuff and he's , he's he's done a great job , yeah .

I learned so much from him about the wedding scene the private party is how to entertain people you know , and even the music we played . I learned a lot of that classic stuff that people you know because I was 1920 at the time . So you're looking at it like , okay , 20 year old singing , I will survive or something You're like .

So it taught me a lot . What gives you passion for that type of music ?

Yeah , and then after that , I joined Joe Bachman . Yeah , another , you know .

Yeah , is that another like a bigger band type thing ?

Yeah , so Joe Bachman in the party . He um because again the cover scene . We didn't like Tony Mancuso , he was in Burnsiana .

Okay , oh , yeah , yeah , I knew .

Burnsiana absolutely . And , uh , my dad very close to him as well .

Wasn't Jeff Eberton at Burnsiana ? Yeah , I think at one point , at one point .

Um , but yeah , Tony was like no , this is a thing , you can make money . Oh , absolutely Perform for people Like it's a , it's a .

It's a business . It's a business , it is actually a business .

Yeah , so I was like all right cool . Um so I joined another band , party band , and then after and I had really cool experiences with that .

And now you're doing your own thing .

And now , finally , I um . After a year with Joe in 2019 , I took over the band .

Okay .

And then our like coming out year in season was 2020 .

Oh great , what a great time to go public . What a time Everybody loved being near each other . It was great you could sing through a mask .

Cars were going crazy with their , you know , high tops and and soles .

Oh my God , remember how we have distance . You could sit in this table , but you can't sit in this table . Oh , or , if you're sitting , you can take the mask off . If you stand up , you're going to COVID .

You're done .

You're done , and you felt almost so bad for the people for people watching you because you're like the entertainment business really hurt from that .

Oh , a hundred percent .

That was terrible .

It was like what do you ?

what do you do ? How do you ?

how do you do that ? You know and coming out and being like , oh hey , like I have a band now , please hire me , let me .

So did you do a gig before the March thing that ?

happened . Yes , so actually . So it's secrets oh my gosh , you're talking about secrets a little bit .

Yeah , it's never busy there . That is , that's what you call a super spreader atmosphere .

It's , it's crazy , and I love it there . It's the best . It's one of my definitely favorite .

It's one of my favorite places to do it . Yes , how do you ?

how do you it's ? I mean , if you've never been to Jamaica USA .

I mean , come on , this is a commercial Jamaica USA , that's the place to go . Yes , Exactly .

So the whole day baby drinking and tonight's it's the best , yeah , um . But no , I love it there and you have to . You know , you have to kind of audition there , but you , you just go and you do a set , yeah , um , so they can see you , which honestly makes sense . Sure , because you know big music . Yeah absolutely . And um .

Oh my gosh .

So I was honestly so thankful , cause I'm like , well , great secret solace .

But then I'm like oh my God , the world is shutting down . It's shutting down , yeah .

So at that moment you're kind of like , well , it doesn't really matter at that point , but now our , our audition was right before everything closed down .

Amazing .

And um when did ?

you start up again . Do you remember when you started up again ? Was it yes ?

And it's 2020 , 2021 . I mean it was actually the summer of 2020 , because Dewey Beach You're not going to keep that place shut down ? Yeah , I mean the people won't let you yeah .

And they drink so much . No virus can live there . It's . There's no way a virus is living in Dewey , do I just said ? I just called it what I call it . Yeah , dewey Beach instead of Dewey Beach . That's what we used to call it .

Hey , I you know um , if you've never been to Dewey Beach , go it is a hidden , absolutely . Like small town , but it's the best it is . It's great vibe and um , I grew up going there , so it's very close to my heart .

Very near and dear yeah and um they .

They did everything in their power to keep musicians working .

Good for them . They keep open .

Good for them , and you know , cork jams looked a little different .

Yeah .

I remember my first cork jam was again high tops .

Yeah .

People are sitting and they're like what is this Meanwhile , I'm just excited to play there .

Because I've never been there before .

So I'm like oh my gosh . And I remember the one band they were like I'm so sorry . I was like why are you sorry ?

Like .

I don't like this is great , like I'm performing , I'm working , you know , and they just said it was very different . And then , lo and behold , after the pandemic was over .

Things were back to normal . Now you're busy .

I did a first cork jam and I was like holy .

I saw pictures . I think of that . Yeah , that looks crazy .

It's crazy . It's one of the I have to .

honestly , I have to the cork jam is at the place called Bottle and Cork right . Bottle and Cork yes , and it's a big , and that's a big con , like a concert , little concert venue .

National acts will come in . Yeah , national acts come in there , and everything , yeah , and it's so cool , so you're a national .

You played in Key West , you played in California before , or something like that right .

Yeah , we do a lot of traveling . Yeah , we're shipping up to Boston . We do that at least twice a year . Two bars there just again really great spot . I hate that they're so far , but you know Boston it makes it worth . Have you been there ?

I've never been to Boston and as a musician I've heard it's like a great place to go .

It really it's great Like minus the drive .

It's yeah , otherwise it's a great city .

But it really is a lot of fun .

So yeah , it's a lot of traveling . What about original music , you know , is that I know there was a song out , was it a couple of years ago ? Yes it was .

Right .

What was it called ?

Someone knew .

Yes , yes , yes , good song . I remember listening to it several times . I remember also it was on the radio it was . Was it on X Serious , xm or something or one of those things , because I remember it coming on .

We did kind of like a release of it radio and I have a video of me like sitting in my car listening .

Yes , and I saw that too .

So it was really cool . How ?

does that feel ?

It was such a surreal moment because you do the cover band , you perform and I would say my favorite part of what I do is the performing aspect . Absolutely absolutely , which you can relate to Absolutely . You know it's great .

Studio's fine , but performing it's where it's at . You have energy in front of people .

It's crazy , so the fact that I was trying to see what's next what else ? Is there . The original music thing kind of came into play and a very talented musician , writer , producer , JJ Rupp , who he was in the music scene as well .

Okay .

Very again . Jj Rupp , go check him out . Do we beat ?

Little plug , little plug .

But no , he's great , and we just thought we're like , hey , let's work together , let's do a song . And we did and I love it . It's been a minute , but we do actually have another song coming out . Yes .

I'm very excited about it . Wow , that's awesome and that'll be out in 2024? .

Yes , I'm hoping it's out , or by the time this airs it should be off by then .

Yes , awesome perfect .

Yes , I'm really excited , that's really cool .

You'll have to get that to us right away so we can share and get that out there . I love listening to new music . So let's , you were talking about a little bit about the support from your parents . You know you , probably it reminds me of my parents when I was going through the music scene .

Yeah , it's the best , they're the best .

Did they still follow you ? Did they still ?

Yeah , we're , you know , new Year's Eve there with me . This Saturday we're in AC and they're like all right , what's the plan ?

I'm coming with and I'm like , yeah , like , please call .

You know , but they're great I saw you in Atlantic City .

You were at the the what's it called Hard Rock Hard Rock . But I was right at that bar when you first come in the Lobby Bar , which I

Who knows what I'm singing at the time , right , but I'm like You're very good though , by the way .

I didn't even say that . Yet , hugo , she has a very good voice , thank you , you have a really good voice .

I tried to . And again with the passive , Eric , and then Joe Bachman and even my original stuff . You know , I like being versatile If we're singing , man , I feel like a woman , or if we're singing it took me all night long you know it's people want to hear a little bit of everything , and that's what we try to do , so thank you .

So let's go back to the originals again real quick , cause that , to me , is it's really important , because obviously , if you want to , if you want to , you can do the cover stuff the rest of your life . You can make a good living . It's a lot of fun , you know it's not , there's nothing wrong with that .

I do , I definitely do , I . You know you get to a point where the band can all . There's always improvement , there's always growth there and for that we want to get into more like the clubs . That's that's working . We definitely want to get into more private events weddings we've done weddings and I really like those as well .

Well , scotty and I were talking about that . You did . You heard that podcast . We talked about that where you know , is it easier or is it harder ? You know what I mean . Like you can get yourself out there easier because you're not spending a ton of money to get it out there , but then again you have a lot more competition .

So many people .

That's doing the same thing you're doing . Yeah , so it's tough . I mean it's not an easy business to get into it really is not I don't care what you . You know it's really not easy , but you know , I think you should just keep trying , do it .

If you can do both at the same time . And again , it's you know , talking to other people who have done it in the past , you know they say like you have to do it for you or it's not gonna work , you know it has to come from a special place or something relatable , because if not , then you're just gonna be , it's just not gonna work .

Yeah , you gotta write for purpose .

Yeah , and you have to really be . It is your baby .

Yeah , it's your baby . You're like I care about this , I wanna pursue it , I wanna push it so . Very , very cool . So where do you see yourself in five years ?

Oh my gosh , I get this question a lot and I still feel like I need to work on the answer . Well then , how about ?

four and a half years , is that better ?

so that way you can say you can get it Okay , a little bit . Four and a half years , a lot easier , very high fee .

That takes us six months .

Yeah , I still want music to be in my life , in whatever capacity that is , whether it's a full-time wedding band or still doing the cover scene or definitely original music . I think that looking long-term for me is so hard because of family , children .

Oh , absolutely , yeah , there's plenty of time .

So that's what they tell me .

Actually you do , because there's people that I mean look at Chris Stapleton , look at some of the people that are now coming out . I mean , if you write good songs , it doesn't matter how old you are . If you write good songs and also if you're in a cover band , it doesn't matter how old you are .

Well , it does take time , but I definitely regret not putting more . Like you said , it's been a minute and it really has . So , from someone new to now , I look back and I'm like what was I doing ? Like why wasn't I putting more effort into it ? Or why wasn't I writing more or trying to ? It takes .

I'm sure a bunch where everyone would be doing it , or it could be . You just write one and it's amazing .

Yeah , you never know .

It's like anything , it's you don't know , and it's kind of has to come through you and it will be what it's gonna be .

So I hope for that I hope for whatever it is , it's good stuff and I have a good time .

Well , that's good . So where are you playing ? Let me just put it this way what was your most favorite gig ?

Oh , I do get this question and I love it . My God can .

I not answer no , no , no . What do you like with your pizza ? What do you like on your ?

pizza , never from a hog like Brad Wyzenau . So this is what makes it extra special . Well , also , I feel like I have so many different answers for what time like where I was at in my life .

Well , you don't wanna piss anybody off too ?

Cause they'll be like .

I thought my gig was the favorite .

Yeah , like , don't ask me what my favorite venue is . Yeah , oh , geez , yeah . See , that's what I'm gonna ask next . I will plead the favor . I can't , no , no .

So favorite gig , like just everything was just going and that doesn't mean anything . It could be what was going on in your world .

Oh yeah .

Because I you know , as a performer , you can't bring your A-game every single night . There's times where you're sick , there's times where you're pissed off at something and not that you're gonna be grumpy on stage but there's nights and I just remember this that it just clicks and you're like this is what I love .

Yeah , well , there are definitely venues that have that . So , like talking venues aside , but a really cool experience and gig that we got to do was when I was with Joe Bachman in the party and we went to . We were doing like Bristol Tennessee .

Ooh , just fun state .

Yeah , it was crazy , but the whole experience of it was just crazy . Like you got a little like a trailer and you were singing on a stage and it was for everyone who was at the . Like Bristol , Tennessee . Like NASCAR race .

Oh my God , yeah , bristol , yeah , that's a big one , that's a big one . It was many moons ago , so yeah , but it was NASCAR .

Yeah , so we sang at that . And it was crazy , like I was just like , oh my God , I've never seen so many people in my life and you felt , you just felt like a superstar , like it was such a cool thing .

That's cool .

That I was like wow , I'm probably never gonna do this again , so I'll take it all in .

But that's awesome , that's really cool . So what do you like to do when you're time off ? I know it's another question everybody else asks .

You know what ? People don't ask me this .

See , look , I found one , found one , found one .

They don't ask me this because they're like do you have another ? Like , do you have a life ?

And I'm like not really .

But no friends , family , boyfriend , I just take whatever time I have off to you like to go somewhere warm ?

I ?

want Florida .

Yeah , I figure I'm a big Florida , I can tell . Yeah , I was just like I'm gonna go back Key West . I love Key West .

Key West . I'm dying to go to Mexico .

Oh , mexico's great , Like I'm , like I'm on a beach somewhere , yep , yep , anywhere . Warm blue water , palm trees , those are all just good things , right ?

Yeah , you're never sad . You're never sad with a pina colada or a margarita , like you just never are .

Well , you're gonna have to let us know when this new song comes out , and then you're gonna let us share it on all the socials and things like that . And wow , what a great , great

I have a lot to say .

Hugo , you didn't have any of the questions I hope , no , no , just inspire mesmerize .

Mesmerize , she's got a lot of energy , A lot of energy .

Yeah , that's good , that's good , awesome . Thanks for being here . Thank you so much for having me and you're very welcome . Thank you All . Right , there you have it . Morgan Kanapalski , you know . And then I can understand now why they went to Conno Nation , because the name Kanapalski is a little difficult to say .

It's too much . Yeah , a little bit , it doesn't fit . My dad always said he's like your name has to be in it , but it's gotta be small , it's gotta be too long , we gotta try that .

There you go . All right , come see us every Thursday 7 pm on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and everywhere else . All right , that's about it , See ya .

Thank you .