A Dirty Dozen with JOE MIZZI from THE MIZZERABLES – AUGUST 2024

According to a recent press release: “Chicago-based punk rock lifer Joe Mizzi has had a transformative few years, marked by significant personal and professional milestones. Known through his early stint in Common Rider (with Op Ivy’s Jesse Michaels) and his current projects, the beloved Chicago punk outfit The Bollweevils, punk trio The Mizzerables and punk supergroup The Iron Spiders (which features members of 88 Fingers Louie, Rise Against etc), Mizzi has now emerged stronger than ever in the music scene. The Mizzerables are a punk rock band from Chicago, IL, led by Joe Mizzi, who also plays bass for The Bollweevils and was formerly with Common Rider, alongside Dave Vazzano on drums and Korey on bass.” We get Joe to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Smiley leans more into what we are good at: punk rock. Everyone should listen to Korey’s bass lines. The lines on “Whatever… This Sucks” were terrific, and Smiley is another evolution. The same goes for Dave’s drumming. I’ve tried to stay out of their way as much as I can as a songwriter, and it makes things a lot better when I do.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My Dad plays guitar, and one was always in the house, but I first learned violin in the public school music program in grade school. I love playing the violin and I was hooked the first time I picked one up. My parents didn’t want me to play an electric guitar and get into bands even though my Dad played. That didn’t work out for them, haha.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

1994 was a big year. After hearing all those records in or around 1994, I started attending local shows with bands like Suicide Machines, Mustard Plug, and all my friend’s bands. So many of my friends are in great bands that I would see back then, like P.T.’s Revenge, Few and Far Between, Suburban Delinquents, and so many more.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I regularly call my friend Kevin Sierzega to collaborate. You’ll hear him on Smiley. Kevin was the lead singer of Teen Idols for a bit; he’s sung for Squirtgun and is the lead singer of P.T.’s Revenge. He has a crazy good sense of melody and vocal harmony. He’s also a ridiculously charismatic front person.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I love spending time with my wife, cooking, and eating.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Punk rock, plain and simple. I don’t think I’ve ever cringed at a comparison. I like it when people hear something weird in us since folks often perceive punk rock as limited.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

When we hang out, we mostly spend time poking fun at each other. Nobody pulls any punches. We spent time together in Northern Michigan recording Smiley, and the guns were out. If anyone is going to pull out an acoustic guitar, it will be Dave.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I’ll give you two since they just did a music video together (which you should check out). I met them separately: Deanna Belos of Sincere Engineer and Laura Jane Grace. I briefly met Laura Jane Grace while helping a friend carry away a mixer he bought from her. I don’t think I said a single word to her and didn’t know what to say. I promise she will not remember me at all. Deanna came to the studio to do backing vocals on the new The Bollweevils track “DNR” on the Red Scare Industries 20th Anniversary comp. I see her around town at shows from time to time, but I don’t know her personally. I choked when she introduced herself to me at the studio. I did say hi in response, but I imagine I came off as weird. The two of them are my favorite songwriters currently. Whenever I hear something they write, I get excited and jealous because they are so good.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part is getting to work with others on creative endeavors. If I couldn’t be a musician, I’d be a cook.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I want someone to ask me what my favorite Billy Joel song is. I would probably spend a few hours trying to answer, so I won’t answer. I don’t particularly appreciate when someone asks what “the best” of something is. Asking about “the best” is usually confrontational and unhealthy. It’s okay to ask what my favorite thing of something is.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Too much alcohol and not doing something about it sooner. It’s everywhere in this scene, and it’s very easy to fall into a trap if you don’t have control over it. I didn’t have control over it and fell into the trap. I’m going on eight months without a drink. The worst is knowing there were moments when I wasn’t giving it my all (even if I thought I was at the time). Whether on stage or just talking to folks. I like being fully present and giving all of myself in every situation. I don’t feel you can really do that if you are three sheets to the wind.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would want to be there for a Rancid recording. Tim is an excellent and unique vocalist; everyone in that band is unique, and it comes through. I want to see how they have the conversations that keep that all in the records even today when too many records sound the same because we have become so inclined to overuse the machine, stripping out all the unique things that make us human. There are ways to use the machine gracefully, and I think Rancid records are great examples.

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Category: Interviews