Mischief Brew
Punk Band from United States formed in 2000
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.
It was 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" (Profane Existence No. 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 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 (Drew) 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 (of Red Devil) on drums and Sean "Shantz" Yantz (of Evil Robot Us' and Abusing the Word) 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 (of Endless Nightmare, Lost Cause, Stations, the Bad Dudes and Wrought With Sickness), 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!" (Fistolo, 2014), "City of Black Fridays" (Shibby Pictures, 2015), and "Squatter Envy" (Shibby Pictures, 2016), all three of which appeared on the album.
Mischief Brew have 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 took his own life 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 (2000–2016; deceased)
Shawn St. Clair – bass (2006–2016)
Christopher Petersen – drums, percussion (?–2016)
Christopher "Doc" Kulp – drums, percussion, guitar (2003–?)
Sean Yantz – bass (2003–2006)Original bassist Sean Yantz was briefly replaced by Kevin Holland (for a few shows) and later Shawn St. Clair, who remained with the band until its end. As well, original drummer Christopher "Doc" Kulp, who had played with Erik since Kettle Rebellion and was replaced by Erik's brother Chris, continued to make guest appearances with the band following his departure. Along with these members, the band regularly featured other musicians such as Franz Nicolay and Tom Swafford, as well as other guests and early members.
Kettle Rebellion membersKettle 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 (2000-2016) and Kettle Rebellion (2001-2002)
It was 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" (Profane Existence No. 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 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 (Drew) 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 (of Red Devil) on drums and Sean "Shantz" Yantz (of Evil Robot Us' and Abusing the Word) 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 (of Endless Nightmare, Lost Cause, Stations, the Bad Dudes and Wrought With Sickness), 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!" (Fistolo, 2014), "City of Black Fridays" (Shibby Pictures, 2015), and "Squatter Envy" (Shibby Pictures, 2016), all three of which appeared on the album.
Mischief Brew have 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 took his own life 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 (2000–2016; deceased)
Shawn St. Clair – bass (2006–2016)
Christopher Petersen – drums, percussion (?–2016)
Christopher "Doc" Kulp – drums, percussion, guitar (2003–?)
Sean Yantz – bass (2003–2006)Original bassist Sean Yantz was briefly replaced by Kevin Holland (for a few shows) and later Shawn St. Clair, who remained with the band until its end. As well, original drummer Christopher "Doc" Kulp, who had played with Erik since Kettle Rebellion and was replaced by Erik's brother Chris, continued to make guest appearances with the band following his departure. Along with these members, the band regularly featured other musicians such as Franz Nicolay and Tom Swafford, as well as other guests and early members.
Kettle Rebellion membersKettle 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 (2000-2016) and Kettle Rebellion (2001-2002)
View full biography
- Biography -
24 albums
Folkadelphia Session 12/20/2015
2016 - United StatesPunk, Acoustic, Folk Rock
Digital MP3 ⎯ 6 Tracks
Folkadelphia
Bacchanal 'N' Philadelphia
2015 - United StatesPunk
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 11 Tracks
Fistolo Records
This Is Not For Children
2015 - United StatesFolk Rock
CD Album ⎯ 10 Tracks
Alternative Tentacles
Thanks, Bastards! (Early Demos, Roughs, Outtakes...)
2014 - United StatesPunk
Digital MP3 ⎯ 16 Tracks
O, Pennsyltucky!
2014 - United StatesFolk Rock
Cassette Single ⎯ 3 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Under The Table EP
2013 - United StatesFolk Rock
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Silver Sprocket Bicycle Club
Free Radical Radio Fever
2013 - United StatesPunk, Acoustic
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Gunner Records
The Stone Operation
2011 - United StatesPunk, Folk Rock
Vinyl LP ⎯ 12 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Boiling Breakfast Early
2009 - United StatesCassette Album Compilation ⎯ 16 Tracks
Dead Format
Mischief Brew / Andrew Jackson Jihad
2009 - United StatesPunk, Folk Rock, Acoustic
Vinyl 8" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Pirates Press Records
Jobs In Steeltown
2008 - United StatesPunk, Folk Rock
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Photographs From The Shoebox
2008 - United StatesPunk, Folk
CD Album ⎯ 15 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Songs From Under The Sink
2006 - United StatesPunk, Folk Rock
Vinyl LP ⎯ 14 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Art Of The Underground Single Series Volume 2
2005 - United StatesPunk, Folk Rock
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Art Of The Underground
Smash The Windows
2005 - United StatesPunk, Folk Rock
CD Album ⎯ 13 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Don't Spoil Yer Supper
2003 - United StatesPunk, Folk
Cassette Album ⎯ 8 Tracks
Fistolo Records
Bacchanal 'n' Philadelphia
- United StatesPunk
Vinyl LP ⎯ 11 Tracks
Square Of Opposition Records
Bacchanal 'n' Philadelphia Ltd Red
- United StatesPunk
Vinyl LP ⎯ 11 Tracks
Square Of Opposition Records
- Videos Mischief Brew -
38 Videos
Mischief Brew
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Last Update : 01 Mai 2024
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