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discography
American Anthems
Volume 1
The latest and greatest!
City Desk Records 2007
COMING 9.4.07
This is a Stickup
Dark and brooding. An underground phenomenon in Europe.
Boss Tuneage (UK) / Does Everyone Stare (US & CAN) 2003
The Bland Comfort of Life with Lloyd Justin
A blistering 6-song EP
Does Everyone Stare (CAN) 2001, Boss Tuneage (UK & JP) 2003
Missile Command
The Milwaukees’ radio-friendly beginning.
Childlike/Forest (US) 2000, Boss Tuneage (UK & JP) 2003
MISC. RELEASES
Angel with a Knife Maxi-Single (UK)
Boss Tuneage 2004
Mico/Milwaukees Split 7 inch
Does Everyone Stare (CAN) 2002
Sunset & Sunrise
Forest Records 1999
The Milwaukees are an American rock and roll outfit hailing from Jersey City, NJ. They have been complimented as “charmingly arrogant” by some, and “hard-working showmen” by others. They make music for the masses: engaging, raw and instantly approachable. From their commitment to the craft of songwriting, to their purist approach to the music industry, the Milwaukees draw inspiration from the unwavering rock and roll spirit of American rock acts like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. Influences from the Faces and Elvis Costello to the Who and the Clash permeate, but don’t dominate, each unique and raucous performance.
The Milwaukees began their career in 2000 with the release of the critically acclaimed LP, Missile Command, which Time Out New York called “Good stuff…. Charging forward with energy and nice melodies and harmonies.” Wasting no time, The Milwaukees countered this independent masterpiece by releasing The Bland Comfort of Life with Lloyd Justin EP in Canada.
During tours of the US and Canada their full-throttle, take-no-prisoners rock shows earned them a reputation as one of the most exciting live bands around. Their shows became the blueprint for 2003’s This Is A Stickup, which was produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Son Volt, and the Hold Steady) and was released in Europe, Canada and Japan. “It’s the first great album of the decade,” blurbed Friction Ezine. The boys would ride this buzz to two European tours in 2003 and 2004, headlining packed houses in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, and hosting epic parties afterwards.
The Milwaukees’ latest release, American Anthems vol. 1 (City Desk Records), displays the maturity of a band comfortably immersed in a thrilling new level of confidence. The album is something of a stylistic departure for the Jersey boys. It reflects a band that is no longer encumbered by the trendy tendencies of youthful inexperience. The songs are snapshots of American life, experienced by a band that has criss-crossed the U.S. enough times to kill four vans. The band has been propositioned to “make out” with Mormons in Utah, honored with an Illinois college after-party marked by a fan streaking naked past a police officer, and have been “banned for life” from Canada.
“We were born and raised in the country that gave birth to rock and roll and we are celebrating that tradition and chasing the dream,” says frontman and resident ringleader Dylan St. Clark (Guitar/Vox), whose supporting cast in The Milwaukees is Jeff Nordstedt (Guitar), Patrick “the Mayor” Fusco (Backbeat) and Donovan Cain (Low End). “The album is both proud and critical. Our goal was not get on a soapbox and preach. We’ll paint the pictures and tell the stories and let the listeners decide.”
The album has already been touted by All Music Guide as “a rock masterpiece for a new generation.” It lead the “DIY Top 12 Picks” in the November issue of Performing Songwriter, which praised the album for being “as imposing as its title suggests.” Vintage Guitar raved, “crunchy guitars, great hooks, and an obvious level of confidence make this a fine record.”
The Milwaukees are becoming increasingly empowered by the opportunities that the rapidly evolving music industry is affording independent artists. The band was recently featured in the New York Times as one of the few suburban bands leading the race to achieve rock greatness without going through traditional New York industry channels. They are reaping fast rewards from their promotional creativity. A feature on the Marvel Comics website exposed the band to thousands of new fans via their “Captain America’s iMix,” which placed their music alongside some of the greatest American rock acts. They have also been included on an iMix which will be distributed to nearly eight million listeners by TuneCore and Guitar Center.
In conjunction with their traditional touring dates, The Milwaukees have created The Living Room Tour, an innovative new twist on the House Concert movement, tailored to younger audiences. By offering free private performances in the homes of any fan willing to host, the band is building grass roots anticipation for more full-fledged touring in 2008.
The Milwaukees are engaging, raw, instantly approachable, and timeless-like a great American rock ‘n’ roll band should be.
