Pet Engine was an alternative/power-pop band that formed in
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
, in the early 1990s under the name "Blackfish" until a Florida-based "Blackfish" achieved success and forced a name change. Although they never achieved widespread commercial success, Pet Engine did release three albums and one EP on its label, Don't Records. The singles "Place to Breathe", "Reinventing the Wheel" and "Popular Teenage Disease" achieved a moderate amount of radio play in several American radio markets. The band was included on the Aware Records compilation volume 8 which also featured up-and-coming artists John Mayer and Howie Day. During their career, P.E. served as support for Oasis, Lemonheads, Goo Goo Dolls, Violent Femmes, Blind Melon, Verve Pipe and Mason Jennings among others. Their last official performance before a series of reunions came at Summerfest playing with Fountains of Wayne and Wilco. The band achieved a cult following in the Milwaukee music scene, often playing with popular Milwaukee bands like
Citizen King
Citizen King was an American music group from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose style was a mix of hip-hop, soul, and punk. They are best known for their top 40 hit "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)", which peaked at on the ''Billboard'' Hot ...
and
The Gufs
The Gufs are an American pop and rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band's latest album ''A Different Sea'' was released on October 17, 2006. Their first single from the album was "Beautiful Disaster", which was the #2 unsigned artist downl ...
, and were a regular act at Milwaukee's
Summerfest for several years. Although Pet Engine broke up in early 2003, they were briefly reunited when they played at Summerfest 2006.
Discography
*''Hearts And Bones And Voices'' (1994)
*''Musicalbum'' EP (1995)
*''Feeling Like a Hundred Bucks'' (Don't Records, 1997)
Album review
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
*''Megahurtz'' (Don't Records, 2000)
Compilations
*Uncharted - 1991 (as "Blackfish")
*Son of Uncharted - 1993 (as "Blackfish")
*Made In Wisconsin - 1997
*Gag Me With A Spoon - 1994
* Aware Records The Compilation Vol. 8- 2000
Members
*Steve Ziel - Vocals/Guitar
*Clem Blanding - Bass
*Al Hildebrand - Guitar
*Micah Havertape - Drums
Past members
Dan Andera - Drums (1993-1996)
Matt Schroeder - Guitar (1990-1994)
Dan Schroeder - Drums (1990 - 1992)
References
{{Authority control
Alternative rock groups from Wisconsin
Musical groups from Wisconsin