Stephen Brookfield is a professor in St. Thomas’ School of Education, teaches an online class and is a John Ireland Endowed Chair, but there is more to Brookfield than academics.

For seven years, Brookfield has been a vocalist and guitarist for the band The 99ers, which describes itself as “your local punk/rockabilly/surf combo” on its Facebook page. The 99ers plan to release their fifth album this spring, and the band is preparing for its next show Jan. 3 at the Hat Trick Lounge in St. Paul.

Brookfield said he has been playing music since he was 13 and has been in other bands, but this is the only one that has a record deal. He said he began playing in the band to share his love of music.

“I just said that if I could play the same kinds of things that gave me such a kick, I’d be hearing the kind of things I wanted to hear,” Brookfield said. “I would hopefully be providing some kind of pleasure for the audience.”

The 99ers played their first show in 2006 and since then have performed in local clubs and had songs played as far away as Argentina. The group has two guitarists and two vocalists who switch off during shows.

Brookfield said he chose to play punk music because it fits his musical talents.

“I don’t think I’m very technically accomplished, and the genre of punk rock is that you don’t need to be technically accomplished,” Brookfield said. “It’s very simple. It doesn’t have long solos, so it was really suited to my own musical levels.”

Jacqueline Grossklaus, the administrative assistant for St. Thomas’ leadership, policy and administration department, said she would talk to Brookfield when he was teaching a course. When she discovered he played in a band, she decided to go to a show.

“I guess I was surprised as I had this image of a professor up in front of the classroom all serious and just couldn’t visualize him being in a band,” Grossklaus said.

Brookfield said surprise is a common reaction from students.

“They’re usually surprised because they see me in my scholarly identity, and being an endowed chair is a really prestigious position,” he said. “The idea that that same person plays punk-rock doesn’t compute for them.”

Brookfield said after students find out he is a musician, they sometimes come to see his shows, as Grossklaus did.

“I was really impressed when I went to hear him play,” Grossklaus said. “They were a good band and fun to listen to.”

Brookfield said the contrast between his academic persona and his performance is part of the appeal.

“When you’re playing in a punk band the focus is on emotion and feeling and aggression, so it’s a great contrast to my day job,” Brookfield said.

Brookfield said The 99ers hope to play more gigs and get more radio play in the future.

“We’d like to play for more people and maybe when big touring bands come through the Twin Cities, open for them so we can get out music out to a bigger audience,” Brookfield said.

Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@sttthomas.edu.