Written by: El Nova
Venue: HOB
Location: Anaheim, CA
Show Date: December 28, 2009

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NIGHT IN PICTURES

“Oi Oi Oi!” Growing up in Southern California in 90’s made that a common phrase to the freaks of the underground. Then again, slowly but surely the slang also made its to the SoCal Alt Mainstream. While Ska seems like Alternative’s Side Show theme music, there was one big reason it had and still has it’s following; “It’s just fun!” No color lines, no exact style, and no gender bias.

Last week, Reel Big Fish, one of the Kings of Scene, played a Sold-Out hometown show at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Walking through the doors the first thing one saw was, Diversity. There were audience members who came to relive the Good Ol’ Days (Myself included). The mandatory 2-Tone revivalist, Alterna-Bros, Frat Boys, South OC Moms, Punks, American Apparel-Legions, Rock-A-Billies and just about every other genre and fad represented under the sun. Again, Ska just had and still has a way to bring Unity and Good Times!

Starting off the night was local band, Starpool, but not too many local bands have former members of some of the 3rd Wave’s biggest bands, No Doubt, Save Ferris and Freakdaddy. Lead singer, Alan Meade, still has a stage presence that got the crowd and pit whirling. While they had many friends in the crowd, their Funky Ska jams had everyone moving. In my opinion, they should have gone on second.

Chase Long Beach, a band I had never scene nor heard of before, went on next. The first reaction of many others around me was, “Hello Save Ferris Cover Band.” Not that they were a bad band, they kept the dancing going, but there were just too many times I felt I was watching a cover band. It was the last show for their songstress, Karen Roberts. When they introduced new lead Alaina, the band then had a similar resemblance to the band Mealticket. Don’t take this as a diss, but more of an ol’ Head, admiring the fact that the local greats style continues. So far, the night was feeling great and good vibes were everywhere.

After a short break between bands, one thing I miss with so many of today’s small time Rock Stars, out came the nights feature, Reel Big Fish. In classic fashion and maybe as an ode to the current underground fads, the first words out of singer Aaron Barrett’s mouth were, “Everybody’s Doing The Fish.’ Then the audience replied, “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” Trendy was just one of the bands many favorites they played all night. RBF’s stage style and presence was great sign of all things Ska, 1st, 2nd , 3rd Wave and beyond with on-stage dancing and/or skanking, the crowd following the bands lead and of course the sounds of simple, friendly lyrics being sung all around like a late night Karaoke bar.

The not so surprising song of the night was when Chase LB’s now former lead came on stage to join Aaron in singing She Has A Girlfriend Now, a song that made all guys think his girl would take it literally. Ha! Mr. Barrett made praises of Karen and made sure we all remembered she left her band to make the big bucks with RBF on the road for this Nightly jam that always needs a feminine touch!

This night was a rare reminder for this writer that sometimes all that’s need for a musically insane night and show are the simple things: Friends, Tunes that don’t make your brain overload and some calorie burning FUN! For the most part smiles and good vibes were exiting onto Downtown Disney’s pavement in the end. Isn’t that what we all go out for? To escape for a brief period and “To Be Entertained!” Thanks guys and gals for a night well done. Until next time, Stay Classy Webdom!

-Nova

For all of you who need a throwback here’s a lo-fi Reel Big Fish jam from the the now defunct Dill Records Misfits of Ska comp.

Reel Big Fish – Skatanic (From Misfits of Ska)

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