Mischief Brew

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Mischief Brew
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres	Anarcho-punk, folk punk
Years active	2000-Present
Labels	Fistolo Records, Gunner Records, Art Of The Underground
Associated acts	The Orphans, Kettle Rebellion, Meisce, Red Devil, Guignol, Mohawktown
Website	www.mischiefbrew.com

Members	Erik Petersen Shawn St. Clair Chris "Doc" Kulp Christopher Petersen Tom Swafford

Past members	Sean Yantz Julian Tomas Buchanan Gregory Taylor Franz Nicolay Peter Hess Kevin Holland

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,^[1] "the idea that rebellion in music didn't originate in punk rock" (Profane Existence No. 54, 2007), and anti-establishment artists like Woody Guthrie and Crass.^[1] 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.^[2] In support of these records, Mischief Brew has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe.^[3] 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.

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 guitar 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Mischief Brew have played shows in support of Food Not Bombs, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and ABC No Rio.^[7] In October 2011, Erik Petersen played an acoustic set at Occupy Philadelphia.^[8]

Discography

Studio albums

Bellingham & Philadelphia (split with Robert Blake) - 2003, Art of the Underground (as Erik Petersen)
Smash The Windows - 2005, Fistolo, Gunner
Songs from Under the Sink - 2006, Fistolo
Photographs From The Shoebox (split with Joe Jack Talcum) - 2008, Fistolo
Fight Dirty (collaboration with Guignol) - 2009, Fistolo
The Stone Operation - 2011, Fistolo

EPs/7"s

Bakenal EP - 2003, Fistolo
Oh Sweet Misery 7" - 2005, Art of the Underground
Two Boxcars 7" (split with David Dondero) - 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 No. 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 Jihad) - 2009, Pirates Press
Rhapsody For Knives 7" EP - 2012, Fistolo
Free Radical Radio Fever 7" - 2013, Gunner
Under The Table 7" (split with Franz Nicolay) - 2013, Silver Sprocket Bicycle Club (originally part of Suburban Home Records' Under The Influence series)

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 Blake) - 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 Radio 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 No. 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)"
Too Punk To Folk - Dying Scene (song: "Catch Fire")
A Tribute To Rudimentary Peni - Pumpkin Records (song: "Drinking Song From The Tomb")
WKDU Live!!!! Volume One: Resurrect Music On Planet Earth - WKDU (song: "Liberty Unmasked (radio performance)")

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 Pogues, Doom, Culture Shock, and Chumbawamba)
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)

References

External links

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