Mischief Brew
Mischief Brew was an American folk punk band from Philadelphia consisting of vocalist and guitarist Erik Petersen, bassist Shawn St. Clair, and drummers Christopher Petersen and Christopher Kulp. The band played DIY folk punk and anarcho-punk music; it incorporated styles including American folk, Celtic folk, Gypsy-punk, and swing with lyrics influenced by the labour movement, protest music, and punk culture.
Mischief Brew started by Erik Petersen as a solo project, but eventually grew into a band. Petersen drew inspiration from the protest movements of the 1960s, "the idea that rebellion in music didn't originate in punk rock", 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 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 toured extensively throughout the United States as well as Europe. When playing live, they 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. The Orphans were a punk band formed in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1995 consisting of Erik Petersen on vocals and guitar, Andrew Petersen on vocals and bass, Tom Johnson on guitar, and Andrew Baxter on drums. The group would go on to perform reunion shows in 2004 and 2008.At first, Mischief Brew consisted of only Petersen on an acoustic guitar or mandolin, playing songs off of the Mirth demo. In 2003, Petersen 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 on drums and Sean "Shantz" Yantz on bass. In 2005, Petersen 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 album 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, who played 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-inch 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. 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.
Leading up to and following the release of This Is Not For Children, Mischief Brew released three music videos for their songs "O, Pennsyltucky!", "City of Black Fridays", and "Squatter Envy", all three of which appeared on the album.
Mischief Brew played shows in support of Food Not Bombs, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and ABC No Rio. In October 2011, Petersen played an acoustic set at Occupy Philadelphia.
Founding member and vocalist Erik Petersen died on July 14, 2016. Three days later, a tribute to Petersen was held on WXPN radio’s The Folk Show.
Band members
;Mischief Brew membersAt the time of Erik Petersen's death in 2016, Mischief Brew consisted of three members—brothers Erik and Chris Petersen and Shawn St. Clair.
- Erik Petersen – vocals, guitar, mandolin
- Shawn St. Clair – bass
- Christopher Petersen – drums, percussion
- Christopher "Doc" Kulp – drums, percussion, guitar
- Sean Yantz – bass
;Kettle Rebellion members
Kettle Rebellion was the first "full-band" group that later became Mischief Brew. The group was formed in 2001 following the Mirth demo, and they recorded eight songs in 2002, which were later discovered and released on an eponymous EP in 2014.
- Erik Petersen – vocals, guitar, mandolin
- Jon Foy – bass, backing vocals
- Christopher "Doc" Kulp – drums, percussion, backing vocals, bugle
Timeline
;Mischief Brew and Kettle RebellionDiscography
Studio albums
Bellingham & Philadelphia – split with Robert Blake; as Erik PetersenSmash The Windows Songs From Under The Sink – reissued 2016Photographs From The Shoebox – split with Joe Jack Talcum; reissued 2014Fight Dirty – collaboration with GuignolThe Stone Operation This Is Not For Children- ''Bacchanal 'N' Philadelphia''
Extended plays and 7-inches
Mischief Brew regularly released extended plays and 7-inches throughout their time as a band, many of which were split with other bands. The Under The Table 7-inch was originally part of Suburban Home Records' Under The Influence series. The Kettle Rebellion EP was a long-lost EP with studio songs from Mirth; the master tape was stolen from Petersen's house and leaked online with incorrect song titles, but the EP was properly released.Bakenal EP Oh Sweet Misery 7-inch Two Boxcars 7-inch – split with David DonderoLoved, But Unrespected 7-inch – split with Bread and RosesJobs in Steeltown 7-inch Partners In Crime No. 2 7-inch – split with Guitar Bomb, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, Endless Mike and the Beagle ClubPunx Win! 8" – split with AJJRhapsody For Knives 7-inch EP Free Radical Radio Fever 7-inch Under The Table 7-inch – split with Franz NicolayKettle Rebellion EPDemos/cassettes
Mirth, or Certain Verses Composed and Fitted to Tunes, for the Delight and Recreation of All- Live on WKDU 91.7 FM Live in Ray's Basement – split with Robert BlakeDon't Spoil Yer Supper! Boiling Breakfast Early – a collection of early demosFight Dirty – collaboration with GuignolThanks, Bastards! – collection of unreleased demos, Bandcamp onlyO, Pennsyltucky! – cassette single, later released on ''This is Not For Children''
Compilation appearances
Where the Wild Things Rock - Philly Punk Comp. This is War! - Comp. & Double Zine Artists Fight the System - Pacifica Radio Double Disc Art of the Underground Sampler CD - Art of the Underground Beyond the Ballot Up the Stairs and Through the Hall - Sherman Arts Comp. Rising Tide - Riotfolk A Wrench in the Works: Radical Library Benefit CD - Never Forgotten, Never Forgiven - Profane Existence Records 0 to 60 in 59 Bands - No!No Records Profane Existence No. 54 - Sampler and interview with Mischief Brew The State I'm In - Crafty Records Mancubbers - Mancub Tribute compilation Still Kicking - Kebele Benefit Comp. And You Call This Civilization? - Pumpkin Records A Benefit For Anthony Poynter - Get Better Records Too Punk To Folk - Dying Scene A Tribute To Rudimentary Peni - Pumpkin Records WKDU Live!!!! Volume One: Resurrect Music On Planet Earth - WKDU The Songs Of Neutral Milk Hotel: A Tribute - Fringe Sound/Swamp Cabbage Records My Org Cassette Mixtape - Punknews Punks Vs. Pigs - LATFO RecordsSoundtrack/film appearances
Con Artist - 2009 Deadpool 2 The Farmer And The Horse - 2010Bootlegs/unofficial releases
Live At Punx Picnic Baltimore Live At Coyle Street Collective Apartment- ''Live At The Bike Barn''