Reel Big Fish, The Killingtons & Square

Me: [still in bed, in groggy hoarse voice] Huh?

What day is it?

When was it due?

I sense that you’re not pleased about something.

I reviewed the fuck out of that show, dude. I’m writing it right now. It’s like a cross between Robert Frost and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Yeah, and its turning out pretty good.

Sure. Remember? You saw me at the U Bar.

Well, that’s the funny thing, see, I was watching the first band, Square, do their thing and I wasn’t feeling there whole surfy-jazz-organ combo although I think all the females had their hearts set on rubbing up against the vocalist. His bleached pompadour was giving me a headache so I went downstairs to hit the Hour of Power.

And then I made it back upstairs to see the Killingtons, who had this Sunny Day Real Estate vibe going. It was like that slow rock heavy stuff that reminded me of Hum mixed with Deftones, although they didn’t have that energy. They just stood there, but the kids were into them a bit more than Square, and the place filled up a little more, too. Come to think of it, I remember thinking it was weird that they had two bands on the bill that weren’t anything close to the ska-groove thing that Reel Big Fish does. Turns out ska still gets the people skankin’.

Wait, dude, don’t you want to hear about Reel Big Fish?

Because they rocked so hard…get it? Like their album…Why Do They Rock So Hard?

Never mind. You’d have dug it though, they had their trademark full horn section and they did an A-Ha cover — "Take On Me." And the crowd went crazy during "Everything Sucks" and, of course "Sell Out." Those guys in Reel Big Fish still got what it takes. You’d have wet your pants. Their sound was tight, and the vocalist, Aaron (who bears a striking resemblance to Rob Schneider by the way), can sing and play not unlike some kind of punk guitar savant. Then his sidekick, back-up vocalist/trumpet player, Scott, would ramble on and introduce the songs adding a bit more flare to the proceedings. What I’d say was cool about the ska thing is that it’s the up-stoke reggae feel that still powers through, making the groove work. It makes you want to move because the beat gets right into you. It’s a positive vibe, and I know ska’s not your bag, but even you’d have been shakin’ your thing. It was the best show I’ve seen at the Brick in a long time…since that time I missed Blood of Abraham and Del. You know? Wicked awesome — the whole thing.

Okay.

What?

What?