Chrystal Gales is five Milwaukee musicians with way too many side projects and just enough free evenings to make something happen. Stephen Ziel (vocals, guitar) co-founded the legendary Pet Engine, and Steve Vorass (drums) has kept time for Newski, I’m Not A Pilot, Mixtape, and more. Together they anchor the songwriting and production—power-pop hooks with an indie-rock edge.
Rounding out the lineup: Matt Smith holds down the bass and doubles as the band’s recording engineer—when he’s not teaching audio at MATC or composing music you’ve definitely heard but would never guess is his. Mike “Bleezy” Bliesner founded ’90s alt-pop band Spanglemaker, then turned his focus to producing and mixing for the Gufs, Kyle Feerick, and CG’s—along with performing live on guitar with the Gufs and Pet Engine. And Chris Guse, professor by day at UW-Milwaukee, rounds things out on keys—you might also catch him playing with Mixtape or Rocket Cat.
Five guys, a couple decades of Milwaukee music cred, and a shared belief that the best songs sound like they were recorded by people who are having a great time. Check out “Nobody Gets What They Deserve.”
The Dirty Sweet began in the summer of 2023, when bassist John Daniels and lead singer/guitarist Mike de Vogel approached fellow Milwaukee musician and lead guitarist/backing vocalist Chris Tishler with the idea of forming an original rock band based on Daniels’ hook-filled songs.
Daniels and de Vogel played together in various bands since high school, making their mark with their signature style of songwriting in the bands Wobble Test, Soda, Maki, and Knit Delicate. Tishler played in various popular punk and rock bands in the same era, fronting Johnny and the Losers, Mothers Room, Wheelie, and CHIEF. Knowing each other for decades and playing on the same bills in various clubs, the three realized their mutual tastes in pop and rock music would gel quite well together as a unit. They needed a drummer to round out the project, and de Vogel said, “I know a guy…”.
A Minneapolis native, drummer Jeff Jara honed his craft in its 80s and 90s music scene, playing in the Willie Wisely Trio and later for MCA/Universal recording artists Shatterproof. Jara also plays in Alex Ballard & Sugarfoot, and he and de Vogel met while playing in Alex’s short-lived Gram Parsons tribute project. The four got together, and a few songs into the first rehearsal they knew they had something special. They’ve continued to build upwards ever since.
The Dirty Sweet’s infectious blend of hard rock, Americana, and power pop recalls the raucous spirit of the Replacements and hook-laden anthems of Cheap Trick. Their 2025 double-A side single reflects their ability to infuse the past with present to create their own unique sound. “Sweet Baby Sweet” and “Marianne Unfaithful” were recorded by Lodewijk Broekhuizen at Jeff Hamilton’s Hamtone Studios and mixed by Al Weatherhead (Sparklehorse, Bicentennial Drug Lord) at Sound of Music Studios. Both songs make a bold statement, particularly in a debut recording: establishing a singular sound with great melodies, beefy guitar riffs, and wondrous harmonies…all draped in Daniels’ impassioned lyrical tales of faded evenings turned into late nights, bar kids falling in and out of love, and summers filled with the sounds of rock and roll.
The Dirty Sweet debuted in 2024 to positive reviews from crowds. The summer of 2025 proved to be fruitful, with the band performing at major regional summer festivals. The band returned to the recording studio to continue tracking songs from their current cache in fall 2025 and early 2026, to complete what will be their debut EP, to be released in the summer.
Doors at 6:00pm, Music at 7:00pm, $10