Mischief Brew

live in Baltimore (2016)

John Gentile

Ten years on from the release of their seminal debut LP, Smash the Windows Mischief Brew appear to be reflecting on what it is to be “Mischief Brew.” To coincide with that, the band has just released a compilation of their earliest material, Bacchanal ‘n’ Philadelphia as well as a new version of Smash. So, the open question at their March 18 Baltimore gig was, “how would they spin the old material and further, how would they position themselves?” Reflection is nice, but one must always fear becoming the sort of band that plays “the hits” so much that they cease to be “the hits…”

One of the interesting thing about Mischief Brew is that frequently they will comment on how they are “working out the kinks” at their first few shows or will say how they just happened to throw a set or show together. If you ask me, that’s all a ruse. The theme of devils and tricksters plays a heavy thread in the band’s body of work and I imagine its due to a certain camaraderie. You see, no matter the shambolic or “Whoa-what-is-going-on” image the band projects, despite all the fluster, the actual hand they play seems to be placed with great, Luciferian care.

The band opened the show with a few tunes from Bacchanal, but didn’t comment on how they were older tunes or even make mention of the older records. Instead, the band played those songs like all Mischief Brew compositions were written in some timeless ether and simply plucked for the gig itself. There was no nostalgia or remember-this-jam sentiment, but rather, a dedication to the evolution of the songs themselves.

It’s worth pointing out that the current lineup of Mischief Brew features only frontman Erik Petersen carried on from the band’s earliest days. After the release of Smash bassist Sean St. Clair and drummer Chris Petersen (Erik’s brother) joined the group and their influence is palpable. Both of that pair have a certain d-beat or harder punk background and the old tunes are invigorated by a certain dedication to slamming punk rock vibes.

Interestingly, without a word, the band slipped in some new tunes without commenting that the new tunes were new tunes. The title track of 2015’s excellent This is Not For Children was played with the band’s modern energetic force, but interesting, was given a little bit of more sing from the older days as compared to the studio version. “A Lawless World” off The Stone Operation can only be played one way- balls out anarcho smashing- and the band did just that.

A highlight of the band’s sly re-working was a version of “Devil of Time.” The 1920s prohibition-façade of that song was extended and given a harder edge, almost to the point of where the swing-dance became a mosh-melody and then the band really kicked the second half into a smasher, but masterfully, as they always do, kept the sort of tunefulness rhythm under the chaos.

After the show, Petersen commented that the band was getting the latest set “Sorted out.” Hooey. He didn’t mention how the band had reworked the older material in a way that the tunes were exciting and fresh while still remaining true to the spirit of old. He didn’t mention that the band blended the newest jams into the old in order to keep the show unpredictable. He didn’t mention how the band itself seems to be moving forward into a new hybrid of their previous incarnations. No, he say the band was getting the new set “Sorted out.” Never trust an aww-shucks! kind of guy.

The fact is, Mischief Brew, like a few other precious bands, has found a way to continually change and break new ground, a way to stay interesting and fresh, without stating a break from their past. But, even more importantly, they’re not relying on “yesterday” to carry today. Yet slyly, almost no one seems to realize this is exactly what they are doing.

I am reminded of the pied-piper who has made several appearances in Mischief Brew’s work. That flautist didn’t rob an entire town of their children through bold declaration or demands. He simply showed up, hopped through the town, played a diddy and acted as though he was just wandering somewhere but didn’t know where. He knew exactly where he was going and he had the whole plan mapped out, but everyone else just thought he some yokel that knew how to play a pretty good song. He showed them.