The Mistreaters “Grab Them Cakes” 2000. Big Neck Records.The first release from local Milwaukee power-grunge-punk-rock band. Very local: the guys still live in my neighborhood (hi Kevin and David!). Sooooo good and absolutely blistering live performances: we saw them play often at the Cactus Club – sadly I missed the show when the Mistreaters appeared with the White Stripes.

I interviewed the band for The Shepherd Express in 2000 when they told me the story behind recording this album. In order to capture the raw intensity of their live performances, they recorded “Grab Them Cakes” during a couple of afternoons in a friend’s living room (with the help of several cases of beer.)

The Mistreaters went on to release “Playa Hated to the Fullest” in 2003 on Estrus Records and a self-titled album in 2012 on Dusty Medical Records (guitarist Kevin Meyer’s label) after playing their last show at the Cactus Club in December 2011.