Erik started making music at a young age, but it wasn’t until age 16 that he started playing shows with his punk band, The Orphans. Influenced by “Fresh Fruit”-era Dead Kennedys and “Worlds Apart”-era Subhumans, the band had released a 7” (“Anthems for Doomed Youth,” 1996) before half of them were even old enough to drive. They officially disbanded in 2000 and Erik continued to make music…digging into the past for a more traditional sound to mix with punk ideals. The result was “Mirth,” a demo of acoustic punk influenced by medieval danses and raucous Romany dust-raising ditties (2000). The tape was rough and scratchy - yet it was clear that there were solid anthems buried under that hiss, which was evident by the scope of the tape, spanning city and state. Logically, a live show was expected – and despite the drums and extra instrumentation on the tape (all layered on a four-track recorder), there was no band. Over the years, seeing “Mischief Brew” on a flyer meant you were just seeing Erik Petersen with an acoustic guitar or mandolin. There was no PA in the beginning, just a roomful of West Philly’s finest rabble-rousers singing along to the “Mirth” songs. And for quite some time, this is how things stayed until it was necessary to deliver a proper recording.
“Bellingham & Philadelphia” (2003) is a split LP/CD with Washington state’s roving songcrafter Robert Blake. Meanwhile, Fistolo Records (the label Erik co-founded and runs with his wife Denise) released the “Bakenal” CDep. It was hard to believe that all the songs were recorded in the same session and split between two releases, as they were completely different experiences soundwise. “Bellingham” was more Phil Ochs/Bob Dylan-style political folk, while “Bakenal” delivered gypsy-punk swing, Poguesy drinking songs, and even a drunken tango. Two years of touring followed, from punk bars to basement shows. Meanwhile, Erik visited the studio here and there to record a few acoustic tracks for the Orphans discography (“Raise the Youth,” 2004), and the Mischief Brew “Oh Sweet Misery b/w All About the Class War” single (2005).
For an official full-length, Mischief Brew needed a non-traditional studio (by punk standards), since the songs required a more varied instrumentation to bring forth the gypsy melodies and circus beats. Impressed by the work of Israeli producer Tamir Muskat (Balkan Beat Box, Firewater, Big Lazy…), Erik visited the Brooklyn studio that he runs. Vibromonk has produced records by such festive acts as Gogol Bordello, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Firewater and more…the kind of place that knows how to mic a marimba. For this record, a backing band was assembled consisting of bass, drums, accordion, clarinet, and junk percussion. Guest appearances by Sturgeon (Leftover Crack), Peter Hess (Guignol), and Franz Nicolay (World/Inferno, The Hold Steady) bring the album even more character. “Smash the Windows” (2005) includes the folk-punk anthems “Nomads Revolt” and “Roll Me Through the Gates of Hell” – but also the epic tale “The Gypsy, The Punk, and The Fool” and the klez/ska rendition of “A Liquor Never Brewed.” The album closes with “Departure Arrival,” a sweet folk lament about leaving the comforts of home for uncharted cities and towns. “Departure” was also featured on “Up the Stairs and Through the Hall,” a 2xCD compilation of independent artists and bands from Philadelphia.
But wait, there’s more! Meanwhile, Mischief Brew released a split 7” with David Dondero (an influence on Bright Eyes) and another with -Bread & Roses (Boston-based labor folk at its best). The newest recording, “Songs from Under the Sink,” is a batch of anarcho-folk songs written between 1997-2002…finally put on LP and CD once and for all. If it had to all fit under one banner, it would read, "Carnivalesque!"
From the Rooftops
Mischief Brew Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scrape the sky and pass the moon
I toss a brick and hit a bottle
I used to have such a fire-y soul
Now it's full of cigarette holes
But scars tell better stories
You just cup her under water (?)
Till you mix truth and purity
What a hell of a hangover
You won't find me underground
Oh on the rooftops I'll be found
Well I'll spit on your fuse
Twist you out under my shoe
You go ahead and knock it down child
It's nothing new
I'll just watch the buildings burn
So wake me up when you feed the earth
You say I sold my values, yeah but you paid for the view
It's just copper under water
Your hope is just a dream
Till you mix truth and purity
What a hell of a hangover
You won't find me underground
Oh on the rooftops I'll be found
I see the city from my roof
Like a foreign land from a family room
Oh how I once detested
Its abuse now
The lights all look like stars
And there's solace from afar
I toss the smoke and watch it tumble
Into the whisper of passing cars
Well on the rooftops I'll be found
WELL ON THE ROOFTOPS I'LL BE FOUND (X2)
Well on the rooftops looking down
Mischief Brew's song "From the Rooftops" is a powerful message about standing up against societal norms and expressing oneself freely. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer looking out over the city from the rooftop - a place of solitude and freedom from the chaos below. The imagery of the skyline scraping the sky and the tossing of a brick and hitting a bottle convey a sense of rebellion and defiance against the constraints of society. The singer is disillusioned with the world around them and feels as though their soul has been worn down by the complacency and monotony of everyday life. However, it is the scars on their body that tell a better story, one of overcoming struggles and obstacles.
The chorus details the singer's philosophy of mixing truth and purity to achieve their hopes and dreams. They believe that this combination is necessary for success and happiness, and that without it, life is just a dream. The phrase "copper under water" is a metaphor for unfulfilled desires or potential, and the idea of a hangover emphasizes the consequences of not taking action towards one's goals. The line "you won't find me underground" suggests that the singer will not succumb to the pressures of conformity, rather they choose to rebel against it and make their voice heard from the rooftops.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on their previous disdain for the city and its abuses, but now sees it from a different perspective. The lights of the city resemble stars, offering a sense of solace and hope from the vantage point of the rooftop. The act of tossing smoke and watching it tumble into the whisper of passing cars is a contemplative moment and a reminder of the power of individual expression. The repetition of "well on the rooftops I'll be found" emphasizes the singer's determination to resist societal norms and to always speak their truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the city from my roof,
Observing the city from a high vantage point
Scrape the sky and pass the moon
Viewing the city skyline from up high
I toss a brick and hit a bottle
Causing chaos and destruction
I used to have such a fire-y soul
Having a strong passion and drive
Now it's full of cigarette holes
Becoming jaded and losing enthusiasm
But scars tell better stories
Past experiences shape a person and make them who they are
You just cup her under water (?)
Unclear meaning or reference
Your hope is just a dream
Hoping for something that may not be realized
Till you mix truth and purity
Only by combining honesty and sincerity can there be progress
What a hell of a hangover
Experiencing negative consequences from actions
You won't find me underground
Not conforming to societal norms
Oh on the rooftops I'll be found
Preferring to live outside the box
Well I'll spit on your fuse
Showing disregard for authority
Twist you out under my shoe
Abusing power over others
You go ahead and knock it down child
Challenging others to defy authority
It's nothing new
Experiencing repetitive patterns of behavior
I'll just watch the buildings burn
Being indifferent to destruction and chaos
So wake me up when you feed the earth
Only being interested in natural cycles of life and death
You say I sold my values, yeah but you paid for the view
Being critical of consumerism and exploitation
Like a foreign land from a family room
Feeling disconnected from one's surroundings
Oh how I once detested
Previously having negative feelings towards the city
Its abuse now
Accepting and embracing the city's chaos
The lights all look like stars
Finding beauty in the artificial
And there's solace from afar
Finding peace in observing from a distance
I toss the smoke and watch it tumble
Being indifferent to the effects of one's actions
Into the whisper of passing cars
Absorbing oneself into the city's sounds and rhythms
WELL ON THE ROOFTOPS I'LL BE FOUND (X2)
Reiterating the desire to live outside the societal norm
Well on the rooftops looking down
Continuing to observe and live apart from society
Contributed by Owen O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrWiibetrollin
I see the city from my roof
Scrape the sky and pass the moon
I toss a brick and hit a bottle
I used to have such a fire-y soul
Now it's full of cigarette holes
But scars tell better stories
You just cup her under water (?)
Your hope is just a dream
Till you mix truth and purity
What a hell of a hangover
You won't find me underground
Oh on the rooftops I'll be found
Well I'll spit on your fuse
Twist you out under my shoe
You go ahead and knock it down child
It's nothing new
I'll just watch the buildings burn
So wake me up when you feed the earth
You say I sold my values, yeah but you paid for the view
It's just copper under water
Your hope is just a dream
Till you mix truth and purity
What a hell of a hangover
You won't find me underground
Oh on the rooftops I'll be found
I see the city from my roof
Like a foreign land from a family room
Oh how I once detested
Its abuse now
The lights all look like stars
And there's solace from afar
I toss the smoke and watch it tumble
Into the whisper of passing cars
Well on the rooftops I'll be found
WELL ON THE ROOFTOPS I'LL BE FOUND (X2)
Well on the rooftops looking down
@janp315
erik Petersen was not a copycat. his music was all written and created in his head and written in journals. He played the guitar from 13 years old, 4 to 6 hours a day.. the kid was a prodigy a creative genius, but I can't be very objective., I;m his mother. :)
@grantkishayinew6681
janp315 I thank you for his existence.
@psych380
janp315 Oh my God. Erik was a gift to the world. I've been saying for a while wholeheartedly and without a hint of hyperbole that he was and is the greatest punk musician to have ever lived. I've been covering his music live as a tribute to his memory. I'm a 19-year-old in Australia, just goes to show how many lives he managed to touch. Thank you so fucking much for bringing him into the world.
@Liam-rm3fk
Bless you for creating this prodigy
@PrettyRubbish
your son was like a hero to me. his music was a favorite of mine and a close friend of mine named alex who showed him to me. he passed away about two years ago now and erics music always brought back his presence to me. i have only met eric a few times, and shared little words, but when i found out about his passing, i felt like i had lost my best friend all over again, he was a wonderful person, they both where. i am so sorry for you loss, for the worlds loss.
@mortaldilemmas5636
I appreciate this. Erik left an eternal impression on me.
@cindy91365
your job is to turn as many people as possible on to this. I thank my 28 year old son for giving me this gift
@toastbusters3897
You can tell that Erik was much more than just another folk punk artist. He was a musical visionary.
@cuppyfox5608
goddamn, what an incredible musician. Mischief Brew has been such an inspiration and driving force for me these last few years. Thank fuck we were allowed to have even this much of his genius.
@VeniceBeachBum2
Erik Peterson is so much more than a legit musician that I can't even register the ignorant comments. This man has sparked so many fires inside of me, the embers will never go out. Hell, I still study his music and songwriting, I will for years to come. There's so much to learn.