Mischief Brew was an anarchist folk-punk band. A wicked concoction by Erik … Read Full Bio ↴Mischief Brew was an anarchist folk-punk band. A wicked concoction by Erik Petersen – a musical feast falling somewhere between the categories of pirate punk, Celtic folk, gypsy swing, devilish jazz, American olde-tyme and country. It’s good music to stomp, kick, pogo, jitterbug, waltz, drink, twist and shout to – whether the performance is solo acoustic or with a backing band of accordion, drums, and mandolin.
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!"
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!"
The Midnight Special 2002
Mischief Brew Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Mischief Brew:
A Lawless World Your daddy used to drive 95 on 95 Said he did…
A Liquor Never Brewed There was a knockin' at my door It's the dreaded…
A Rebel's Romance Goodnight, my dear Lay aside songs of spite and fear We lo…
All Our Comrades All across every land Every soul every hand From the clerk…
Anti-Lullaby Hehuh, waste away waste away. We are b…
Banks of Marble I've traveled 'round this country From shore to shining shor…
Boycott Me! Listen to the fife and snare marching through the square St…
Bury Me In Analog So I got a stack of tapes, Got a name and…
Busker's Wages I got beans, tea, and pennies to dollars, Canadian, Euros, a…
Citizens Drive No one knows my politics like the postman, he brings…
Coffee God And Cigarettes I used to worship whiskey, now I only drink the…
Dallas In Romania Romanian Dallas, our Jesus and Elvis for coffee and oil. The…
Departure Arrival You know I never could fall asleep on a train All…
Devil Of A Time Didn't we have a devil of a time? Didn't we have…
Dirty Pennies In a small town where all knew all, wondered a…
Free Radical Radio Fever Come sit down Your name is on the table Between the graves…
From the Rooftops I see the city from my roof, Scrape the sky and…
Gimme Coffee Or Death It could have been just like any other day. If not…
Gratitude And Thanks I asked a student of higher schooling He said he didn't…
How Did I Get Out Alive? How Did I Get Out Alive? Down where the dullers roll,…
Labor Day Massacre Brother, you know we're all in this alone, Take what you…
Liberty Unmasked come see pioneers starving on trout meet the drunkards of s…
Lightning Knock the Power Out Peasant pick a prophet A dozen dimes a downfall The marble…
Love And Rage Love, love and rage Soon be the day They sang as they…
No Candlesticks Where do I begin? Chamber, take a spin Snake eyes coming dow…
no followers I am a leader but you will not follow me I…
Nomads Revolt We go down to throw rocks at the river, curses…
Olde Tyme Mem'ry When Father bought the farm, we sold the farm Mistook his…
On The Sly Gather up ye pots and cans, Gonna have to share the…
Paris Warlike Paris 1933. It says here, "Army marches streets. A thousand …
Pompous Ass Manifesto I an't not a'scared of nuthin'. Nuthin' gonna keep me down. …
Rambler's Ghost She's off to anywhere Every town grows stale soon enough S…
Roll Me Through the Gates of Hell I am a leader but you will not follow me. I…
Save A City... Beware, the tide's a'rising In the city of brotherly love.…
Slow Death Hymn 2000 was fired out from a canon The neighbors shot up…
Squatter Envy (CHORUS): You’ve got squatter envy As the hours drag on like…
Tell Me A Story Tell me a story, settle the cards. Give me a…
Ten Thousand Fleas I'm the mouse, You're the house Snipe a bite of some eats…
Thanks Bastards! Thanks Bastards! Thank you Mr. Officer, great, for all th…
The Drunk Of Three Nights All that's between us and the sky Fire glass and dusty…
The Lowly Carpenter Come neighbor, get ready to dance for your bread My son,…
The Reinvention Of The Printing Press Machinery mill us forever will rule us Until we find out…
Three-Chord Circus All my friends are freaks. The only way to be. I…
Watching Scotty Die I've got a kid His name is Scott He's goin' blind And his…
We Are The Ground Are you tortured by that dial? Talkin′ radios at 5 Wishin' y…
weapons There′s a hole in the wall There's a light down the…
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