Mischief Brew
Encyclopedia
Mischief Brew is a band from Philadelphia which plays DIY anarcho-punk
music, also incorporating a variety of styles including American folk
, swing, Gypsy-punk
and country
. It was started by Erik Petersen as a solo project, but eventually grew into a band. Petersen draws inspiration from the protest movements of the 1960s, "the idea that rebellion
in music didn't originate in punk rock
" (Profane Existence
#54, 2007), and anti-establishment
artists like Woody Guthrie
and Crass
. Petersen's lyrics often pay homage to American labor radicalism of the early 20th century. Mischief Brew has released albums and EPs on many different labels, notably Art of the Underground, Gunner Records, and Fistolo Records. In support of these records, Mischief Brew has toured extensively throughout the United States
and Europe
. When playing live, they have performed with four to five people, incorporating such instruments as junk/found percussion, trumpet, accordion, violin, mandolin
, and vibraphone
into their set.
or mandolin
, playing songs off of the Mirth demo. In 2003, Erik released the Bellingham & Philadelphia split with Robert Blake
, and the Bakenal CDEP. After extensive acoustic touring in support of the first two releases, Petersen assembled the first full-band incarnation of Mischief Brew, featuring Chris "Doc" Kulp (of Red Devil
) on drums and Sean "Shantz" Yantz (of Evil Robot Us' and Abusing the Word) on bass. In 2005, he released his first full-length, Smash The Windows
, featuring guest spots by artists from Leftöver Crack
, World/Inferno Friendship Society, and Guignol
. This release saw him experiment more musically, with styles ranging from gypsy-folk to swing.
The second full-length was Songs From Under the Sink, a collection of songs written between 1997 and 2002 which stresses his anarchist beliefs and is complemented by his clever guitar melodies. Yantz left the band shortly after Songs from Under the Sink was released, and was replaced for a few shows by Kevin Holland and later by Shawn St. Clair (of Endless Nightmare, Lost Cause, Stations, the Bad Dudes and Wrought With Sickness), who currently plays bass.
Mischief Brew's released Photographs from the Shoebox in 2008, a split LP/CD with Joe Jack Talcum
of The Dead Milkmen.
In 2009, two versions of the song "Punx Win!" appeared on a split with Andrew Jackson Jihad
. Rather than a traditional 7" single, Pirates Press Records released the record as an 8" with parallel grooves, therefore able to play either version of the track depending on where the needle is dropped.
Erik Petersen and Guignol collaborated in 2009 on Fight Dirty. Mischief Brew released The Stone Operation in May 2011. The previous year, on October 18, 2010, an unmastered track from the album, "Dallas In Romania," was previewed by Y-Rock on WXPN
.
Mischief Brew have played shows in support of Food Not Bombs
, Iraq Veterans Against the War
, and ABC No Rio
. In October 2011, Erik Petersen played an acoustic set at Occupy Philadelphia
.
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
music, also incorporating a variety of styles including American folk
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
, swing, Gypsy-punk
Gypsy punk
Gypsy punk is the term used to describe a hybrid musical genre that crosses traditional Romani music with punk rock. The origin of the term is unknown, but bands playing Gypsy punk have existed at least since the 1990s. One of the first rock groups to incorporate elements of punk and Eastern...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. It was started by Erik Petersen as a solo project, but eventually grew into a band. Petersen draws inspiration from the protest movements of the 1960s, "the idea that rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
in music didn't originate in punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
" (Profane Existence
Profane Existence
The Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
#54, 2007), and anti-establishment
Anti-establishment
An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958, by the British magazine New Statesman to refer to its political and social agenda...
artists like Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
and Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
. Petersen's lyrics often pay homage to American labor radicalism of the early 20th century. Mischief Brew has released albums and EPs on many different labels, notably Art of the Underground, Gunner Records, and Fistolo Records. In support of these records, Mischief Brew has toured extensively throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. When playing live, they have performed with four to five people, incorporating such instruments as junk/found percussion, trumpet, accordion, violin, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, and vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
into their set.
History
Mischief Brew started after Erik Petersen's previous band, The Orphans, broke up in 2000. At first, the band consisted of only Erik on an acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
or mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, playing songs off of the Mirth demo. In 2003, Erik released the Bellingham & Philadelphia split with Robert Blake
Robert Blake (folk singer)
Robert Sarazin Blake, now more commonly known by his middle name and surname, Sarazin Blake, is an American singer-songwriter hailing from Bellingham, WA. Blake is generally considered a folk musician, though his music incorporates elements of traditional Celtic songwriters, modern punk rock,...
, and the Bakenal CDEP. After extensive acoustic touring in support of the first two releases, Petersen assembled the first full-band incarnation of Mischief Brew, featuring Chris "Doc" Kulp (of Red Devil
Red Devil (punk band)
Red Devil was an American progressive punk rock band, based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fond of odd time signatures and compositional elements, the band played a somewhat unique brand of punk rock incorporating both Heavy metal and pop punk...
) on drums and Sean "Shantz" Yantz (of Evil Robot Us' and Abusing the Word) on bass. In 2005, he released his first full-length, Smash The Windows
Smash The Windows
Smash The Windows is the first full-length album from the DIY folk punk band Mischief Brew. The album was released in 2005 by Fistolo Records , and in 2006 by Gunner Records . It was recorded in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY at Vibromonk Studios by Tamir Muskat and Danny Shatzky, December...
, featuring guest spots by artists from Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
, World/Inferno Friendship Society, and Guignol
Guignol
Guignol is the main character in a French puppet show which has come to bear his name.Although often thought of as children's entertainment, Guignol's sharp wit and linguistic verve have always been appreciated by adults as well, as shown by the motto of a prominent Lyon troupe: "Guignol amuses...
. This release saw him experiment more musically, with styles ranging from gypsy-folk to swing.
The second full-length was Songs From Under the Sink, a collection of songs written between 1997 and 2002 which stresses his anarchist beliefs and is complemented by his clever guitar melodies. Yantz left the band shortly after Songs from Under the Sink was released, and was replaced for a few shows by Kevin Holland and later by Shawn St. Clair (of Endless Nightmare, Lost Cause, Stations, the Bad Dudes and Wrought With Sickness), who currently plays bass.
Mischief Brew's released Photographs from the Shoebox in 2008, a split LP/CD with Joe Jack Talcum
Joe Jack Talcum
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Genaro is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist for the punk rock group The Dead Milkmen. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Genaro has performed with a number of punk and indie rock groups, most recently including The Low...
of The Dead Milkmen.
In 2009, two versions of the song "Punx Win!" appeared on a split with Andrew Jackson Jihad
Andrew Jackson Jihad
Andrew Jackson Jihad is an American folk punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2004.-History:Andrew Jackson Jihad was formed after its original drummer, Justin James White, approached Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty, who had just left Rodan and The Sub-Standards...
. Rather than a traditional 7" single, Pirates Press Records released the record as an 8" with parallel grooves, therefore able to play either version of the track depending on where the needle is dropped.
Erik Petersen and Guignol collaborated in 2009 on Fight Dirty. Mischief Brew released The Stone Operation in May 2011. The previous year, on October 18, 2010, an unmastered track from the album, "Dallas In Romania," was previewed by Y-Rock on WXPN
Y-Rock On XPN
WXPN-HD2 is an alternative rock radio station carried on the secondary HD radio channel of WXPN FM in Philadelphia. It had been the latest incarnation of the Y100 brand until June 2010 that originally aired on 100.3 FM, which was the city's alternative rock station from the 1990s until...
.
Mischief Brew have played shows in support of Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs is a loose-knit group of independent collectives, serving free vegan and vegetarian food to others. Food Not Bombs' ideology is that myriad corporate and government priorities are skewed to allow hunger to persist in the midst of abundance...
, Iraq Veterans Against the War
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Iraq Veterans Against the War is an advocacy group of active-duty United States military personnel, Iraq War veterans, Afghanistan War veterans, and other veterans who have served since the September 11, 2001 attacks who are opposed to the U.S. occupation of Iraq...
, and ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio is a social center located at 156 Rivington Street on New York City's Lower East Side that was founded in 1980. It features a gallery space, a zine library, a darkroom, a silkscreening studio, and public computer lab...
. In October 2011, Erik Petersen played an acoustic set at Occupy Philadelphia
Occupy Philadelphia
Occupy Philadelphia is a non-violent demonstration with an aim to overcome economic inequality, corporate greed and the influence of corporations and lobbyists on government...
.
Studio albums
- Smash The WindowsSmash The WindowsSmash The Windows is the first full-length album from the DIY folk punk band Mischief Brew. The album was released in 2005 by Fistolo Records , and in 2006 by Gunner Records . It was recorded in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY at Vibromonk Studios by Tamir Muskat and Danny Shatzky, December...
- 2005, Fistolo - Songs from Under the Sink - 2006, Fistolo
- Photographs From The Shoebox (a split album with Joe Jack Talcum) - 2008, Fistolo
- Fight Dirty (collaboration with Guignol) - 2009, Fistolo
- The Stone Operation - 2011, Fistolo
LPs
- Bellingham & Philadelphia LP (split with Robert BlakeRobert Blake (folk singer)Robert Sarazin Blake, now more commonly known by his middle name and surname, Sarazin Blake, is an American singer-songwriter hailing from Bellingham, WA. Blake is generally considered a folk musician, though his music incorporates elements of traditional Celtic songwriters, modern punk rock,...
) - 2003, Art of the Underground - Songs from Under the Sink LP - 2006, Fistolo Records
- Smash the Windows LP - 2006, Gunner Records (German pressing)
- Photographs from the Shoebox LP (split with Joe Jack TalcumJoe Jack TalcumAnthony Joseph "Joe" Genaro is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist for the punk rock group The Dead Milkmen. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Genaro has performed with a number of punk and indie rock groups, most recently including The Low...
) - 2008, Fistolo Records
EPs/7"s
- Bakenal EP - 2003, Fistolo
- Oh Sweet Misery 7" - 2005, Art of the Underground
- Two Boxcars 7" (split with David DonderoDavid DonderoDavid Dondero is an American songwriter, guitarist, former lead singer of the band Sunbrain. In 2006, NPR's All Songs Considered named David one of the "best living songwriters" alongside Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Tom Waits...
) - 2005, Fistolo - Loved, But Unrespected 7" (split with Bread and Roses) - 2006, Fistolo
- Art of the Underground Single Series Year 1 7" Box Set - 2006, Art of the Underground
- Jobs in Steeltown 7" - 2008, Fistolo
- Partners In Crime #2 4-way split 7" (split with Guitar Bomb, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, and Endless Mike and the Beagle Club) - 2009, Fistolo/Crafty
- Punx Win! 8" (split with Andrew Jackson JihadAndrew Jackson JihadAndrew Jackson Jihad is an American folk punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2004.-History:Andrew Jackson Jihad was formed after its original drummer, Justin James White, approached Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty, who had just left Rodan and The Sub-Standards...
) - 2009, Pirates Press
Demos/cassettes
- Mirth, or Certain Verses Composed and Fitted to Tunes, for the Delight and Recreation of All - 2000, Fistolo
- Live in Ray's Basement (split with Robert BlakeRobert Blake (folk singer)Robert Sarazin Blake, now more commonly known by his middle name and surname, Sarazin Blake, is an American singer-songwriter hailing from Bellingham, WA. Blake is generally considered a folk musician, though his music incorporates elements of traditional Celtic songwriters, modern punk rock,...
) - 2002, Square of Opposition - Live on WKDU 91.7 FM - 2001, Fistolo
- Don't Spoil Yer Supper! - 2003, Fistolo
- Boiling Breakfast Early (collection of early demos) - 2008, Dead Format
- Fight Dirty (collaboration with Guignol) - 2009, The Cottage Records
Compilation appearances
- Where the Wild Things Rock - Philly Punk Comp. (song: "Weapons")
- This is War! - Comp. & Double Zine (song: "Liberty Unmasked (radio performance)")
- Artists Fight the System - Pacifica RadioPacifica RadioPacifica Radio is the oldest public radio network in the United States. It is a group of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations that is known for its progressive/liberal political orientation. It is also a program service supplying over 100 affiliated...
Double Disc (song: "Every Town Will Celebrate") - Art of the Underground Sampler CD - Art of the Underground (song: "Boycott Me!")
- Beyond the Ballot (song: "The Lowly Carpenter (radio performance)")
- Up the Stairs and Through the Hall - Sherman Arts Comp. (song: "Departure Arrival")
- Rising Tide - Riotfolk (song: "Save a City...")
- A Wrench in the Works: Radical Library Benefit CD - (song: "The Lowly Carpenter (radio performance)")
- Never Forgotten, Never Forgiven - Profane Existence Records (song: "A Liquor Never Brewed")
- 0 to 60 in 59 Bands - No!No Records (song: "Ode to a Safecracker")
- Profane Existence #54 - Sampler and interview with Mischief Brew (song: "Tell Me A Story")
- The State I'm In - Crafty Records (song: "A Peasant's Rebellion")
- Mancubbers - Mancub Tribute compilation (song: "An Open Letter to the North American Continent")
- Still Kicking - Kebele Benefit Comp. (song: "All About the Class War")
- And You Call This Civilization? - Pumpkin Records (song: "The Riverflow")
- A Benefit For Anthony Poynter - Get Better Records (song: "The Midnight Special 2002 (Country Mile Version)"
Soundtrack/film appearances
- Con Artist - 2009 (song: "Fight Dirty")
- The Farmer And The Horse - 2010 (song: "Olde Tyme Mem'ry")
Bootlegs/unofficial releases
- Kettle Rebellion (Unreleased, unmastered 8-song EP with studio songs from Mirth. The master tape was stolen from Petersen's house and leaked online, and given some incorrect song titles)
- Live At Punx Picnic Baltimore (Acoustic set recorded in 2004, mix of originals and covers by The PoguesThe PoguesThe Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
, DoomDoom (UK band)Doom are an English crust punk band from Birmingham, England, whose first, influential lineup were together from 1987 to 1990. Despite its short existence, the band is considered pivotal in the rise of crust punk, a style within the punk rock subgenre that fuses extreme metal with anarcho-punk...
, Culture ShockCulture Shock (band)Culture Shock was an anarcho-punk / ska punk band formed in Warminster, Wiltshire, England, in 1986 by Dick Lucas, previously of the Subhumans. Over their four year history the band played hundreds of gigs, including frequent appearances at free festivals, and released three studio albums on the...
, and ChumbawambaChumbawambaChumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
) - Live At Coyle Street Collective Apartment (Acoustic set recorded on April 24, 2005 in Portland, Maine)
- Live At The Bike Barn (Live set recorded on August 2, 2005 in Falmouth, Maine)