Milwaukee is known for its rich brewing history, its abundance of bars, the nationally recognized drinking prowess of its populace, and a variety of other alcohol-related aspects that help the city earn its “Brew City” moniker. Similarly, musicians do most of their work in venues with well-stocked liquor cabinets. They tend to have a reputation for drunken debauchery on the road, and many are quick to reference the inspiration and experience the bottle brings to them. The combination of the two—the Milwaukee musician—could be a pairing that’s problematic for some. Two Milwaukee musicians who have succumbed to the hardships brought on by earning a living in a profession that romanticizes alcohol and residing in a region that champions consumption are Field Report bandleader Christopher Porterfield and Good Land Records co-owner Jon Phillip (whose past and current drumming credentials include projects like Trapper Schoepp & The Shades, The Benjamins, Limbeck, The Obsoletes, and many more).
Porterfield and Phillip were generous enough to join host Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record HQ and speak candidly about their past experiences with alcohol, their crushing lows, their individual paths to sobriety, and the ongoing daily journey to make sure they stay that way. Maas also discusses his own internal struggles with alcohol, and all three dissect Milwaukee’s “Brew City” reputation. The conversation even ventures to music for a while! Music in this episode includes—in chronological order—Field Report (“Decision Day”) and Limbeck (“Already Gone”). Subscribe to On The Record via iTunes or Stitcher (for free!).