Reel big Fish.

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

I love them, but you know what annoys me? It really makes me more sorry for them than anything else. But it's the ska posers.

Reel Big fish has gotten this horrible disease where everyone likes them and the people who like them consider themselves ska kids even though they don't listen to anything else.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I go to shows and theres always a group of preteens "skaning" (although it looks more like running when they do it) with a T-shirt and sports coat, maybe a trilby hat, and a reel big fish shirt. And I ask them what their favorite band is and they say "Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake and Streetlight Manifesto." I ask them if there's anything else and they'll say something like "I like a lot, too many to say."

This really angers me because they're practically making a mocery of the scene.

Anyone else notice this?

[Skibz McCullock]

I...pretty much agree with everything you said, so I can't retort with a snappy quip this time.... :(

[Chris]

It's not often it happens on a message board. People completing a discussion through agreement.

[Kate Humphrey]

The question was rhetorical and meant to illustrate the utter futility of the discussion.
But sometimes simplicity can be just as confounding as even the most intricate of parables...
But you know what? You're right, a lot of people care. And it's hilarious.
Like you! You cared enough to respond to my tiny little comment!
And now I drop off akwardly with an elipses.esse.s......
So, how about that RBF?

[Danny C]

I didn't read the whole thread (as in, every page of the thread), so some of these things have probably been mentioned already. But here are my views on Reel Big Fish:

I used to like them a lot. I've seen them a couple times and I used to listen to them all the time every day (keep in mind, I do this for many bands, but still...). I was into third wave for about a year an a half/two years (however, I was VERY well aware of more traditional ska, and loved it as well). So anyways, during this time I pick up some older RBF albums, and stuff. Then I got "Duet All night Long" and I'm like "Well, this blows...". Now with their new album, I think they've completely sold out. I don't like them anymore, they came here and I didn't want to go see them. They have become just another crappy band. I still like most stuff before Duet, but they've lost it.

As far as the kids go, I don't know where to stand on it. Ok well I do, but it's interesting. See if you don't know me you would probably think I'm one of those kids. Except for the "what bands do you listen to" part. I just wear jeans and a T-shirt most of the time to shows. I mean, I own at RBF, LTJ, and a Streetlight shirt, but I am most definitely not limited to those. Really, third wave is my least favorite wave of ska. To be honest though, I don't personally know anyone more into all aspects of ska more than I am. So in my case looks can be deceiving (except for the fact that I'm always wearing a hoodie with loads of patches of punk and ska bands and buttons. To be fair though, that's my style, not *ska* style). But I have met many, many kids who are exactly what you are describing, and yeah it angers me. But what keeps me cool with it, is the hope that they will dig deeper than the crap bands and get into more ska stuff. Then they go from "poser", to rudie. But during that phase, it's super annoying.

[King Duncan]

Danny C said:

I didn't read the whole thread (as in, every page of the thread), so some of these things have probably been mentioned already. But here are my views on Reel Big Fish:

I used to like them a lot. I've seen them a couple times and I used to listen to them all the time every day (keep in mind, I do this for many bands, but still...). I was into third wave for about a year an a half/two years (however, I was VERY well aware of more traditional ska, and loved it as well). So anyways, during this time I pick up some older RBF albums, and stuff. Then I got "Duet All night Long" and I'm like "Well, this blows...". Now with their new album, I think they've completely sold out. I don't like them anymore, they came here and I didn't want to go see them. They have become just another crappy band. I still like most stuff before Duet, but they've lost it.

As far as the kids go, I don't know where to stand on it. Ok well I do, but it's interesting. See if you don't know me you would probably think I'm one of those kids. Except for the "what bands do you listen to" part. I just wear jeans and a T-shirt most of the time to shows. I mean, I own at RBF, LTJ, and a Streetlight shirt, but I am most definitely not limited to those. Really, third wave is my least favorite wave of ska. To be honest though, I don't personally know anyone more into all aspects of ska more than I am. So in my case looks can be deceiving (except for the fact that I'm always wearing a hoodie with loads of patches of punk and ska bands and buttons. To be fair though, that's my style, not *ska* style). But I have met many, many kids who are exactly what you are describing, and yeah it angers me. But what keeps me cool with it, is the hope that they will dig deeper than the crap bands and get into more ska stuff. Then they go from "poser", to rudie. But during that phase, it's super annoying.

Danny, I like what you have to say about this. I agree no one should judge a person based on looks alone. The extreme goes both ways, too. I know plenty of 'normal' looking people who like different ska styles. And I know plenty of scenesters who like really shitty music. Does any of it makes any sense? No. It's not supposed to and I don't think it's really for anyone to analyze.

Let me say something about the idea of the 'gateway drug'. In my opinion, any band who plays ska can be a gateway. For some it's Reel Big Fish. For some it's The Specials. For some, it may be Amy Winehouse. For me, and Skibz knows this from the Steve Bartek board, it was Oingo Boingo. All of the above have played some hybrid of Ska and Reggae and have had great success in doing so - depending on how you define success of course.

So why doesn't everyone who listens to any of aforementioned go apeshit when they start listening to other ska acts? I attribute it mostly to youth. Live shows appeal to people mainly under 25, with a large population being teenagers. Alot of younger people fall for only a band, for whatever reason. Or only one style. Or they carve out an easy place in a scene that isn't dominated by old fucks, like me. Kids like music fast and loud and few have developed an ear for anything. They like skank pits and dancing like retards. Which is fine. It's part of the process.

Some will start to investigate deeper into what this is or that is. Some will not. Some will find other genre's they prefer. I'll tell you from my personal experience from the beginning of going to shows in 1991 to around 1994, I was burned out on 3rd Wave completely. 2 Tone started to lose it's luster, as well. I started seeing Hepcat, See Spot, Unsteady, Let's Go Bowling and I began getting an ear for what eventually would be the styles I preferred. And I started buying records. Lot's of fucking records. A lot of my friends during those days dropped out, moved on to roots type Reggae, or found other things they liked. Again, just part of the process. By the way, I wish I had the internet in 1991. It would have made life easier.

This is not to say I didn't enjoy 3rd Wave bands. Hell, I saw No Doubt and Sublime in their real hey-day when No Doubt had a real horn section and Brad was coherent. I saw Voodoo Glowskulls destroy The Palace in Hollywood. I saw Dance Hall Crashers... WITH A HORN SECTION. I saw some really great fucking acts. I just don't care for much of it now. I will say I never cared for The Aquabats or Reel Big Fish - they brought a silliness I could never really grasp. To each their own.

Here's where I think there's a breakdown between the cliques. It's hard to accept for die hards, probably most who are active on this board, other people don't necessarily can dig the things they do. On the other end of the spectrum, you have know-it-all teenaged shitheads who think The Specials invented this music by fusing Bob Marley and The Clash together and that now CATCH 22 is BRINGING IT TO THE MASSES. Both points of view are rather limited. Plus, we all hold biases towards whatever we are into at that moment. I'm just as guilty as anyone. I would much rather see The Aggrolites hit the big time versus Streetlight Manifesto. It's hard to detach yourself from your personal point of view and the see the bigger picture.

Most of what I've said has pretty well been stated by other people in this discussion. The following is where I differ. You've noticed a few people say, 'the best thing you can do is...' and then they hand you a punch list of catch all selling points. Fuck that. You know what I tell people? Fucking nothing. If they want to know, they'll ask you. It's not your job to be some sort of Ska reverend. If they get it they'll get it. If they don't, it's not your responsibility. Start a band, listen to records and CD's, do your thing, live well. It'll all shake out in the wash.

[Alex Hutson]

Dude, posers give off bad vibes. I'd do away with them entirely ifn I had the power

skanker said:

I say like who you listen to and listen to who you like.

Who cares about the rest. Stop worrying about other people!

[Alex Hutson]

RBF is awesome. Aaron Barret is one of my heroes. That said, I fucking hate posers who don't understand ska or skanking or the beautiful freedom it gives.

[oneboycircus]

I'll say this. I don't like them kinda... Basically, you can't see them and say that they aren't funny, so you'll have a good time, but I'd never buy their records.

I think it's thier live shows that get "not-ska" people into them. they're funny so these people show up to have fun but they "don't get it" so they annoy the ska kids. But seriously ska kids, who cares, if you lke them you like them, and if it bothers you that much that people "don't get it" go to thier shows, then don't go. easy peasy.

[Stephen Zavaleta]

This may not be the most appropriate thread, but it I am alternately annoyed and amused when people skank without, you know, the skank in the guitar. Of course, skanking is mostly just a default for people at shows. I even witnessed a lot of people skanking to straight up punk bands when the energy of the music didn't call for moshing.
I think Reel Big Fish is perfect for getting people into ska, being one of the bands I started out with. I don't like how it's getting harder and harder to hear the upstroke guitar in their sound. A lot of times, the music seems to call for straight eighths anyway.. Forcing the upstroke or not including it sort of bypasses the atmosphere ska creates.

[2-Tone Kid]

I sorta understand how you feel, but to me, ska is a very accepting genre. They have like 8 subgenres to ska, that means people love it, they just add it to there favorit genre. So let them call themselfs ska kids. That means they have respect for the scene, even though they might be making a mocery of it.

[Stephany Handgrenade]

it is kind of annoying, but up here, there is no ska scene, so the only bands that roll into town (which i have to drive to allentown to see) are streetlight, rbf, and the toasters, so I can see why everyone knows of reel big fish more.

But, there are no ska kids from where I am, and I'm basically the only person who listens to all three waves of ska. So, I have to drive three hours to see a band and I always get so annoyed when I see kids start a mosh pit. >.> It's really immature.

[AUGGIE / Skank-Out]

Just thought I'd share something. And Yes it's about reel big fish!

I saw my first REEL BIG FISH SHOW this summer. i was very uneasy on how I would react when I got there. See they were playing in San Diego with ENGLISH BEAT. I was all about the beat and thought who cares about the FISH because I'm over that phase and moved on to a bigger scape of SKA and its roots.

BUT what happened next is weird to me....I TOOK MY band, ska friends and non ska friends...WE ALL ENJOYED REEL BIG FISH and I felt like I was at an AGGRO show because I sang the whole time and danced the whole time. WOW that was great. (not comparing Aggrolites to reel big fish..just the energy and emotions of a show with both bands)

English Beat Came on..played two ska songs...SWEET!.... then went into their 80's set right after.....WTF. Play all the early shit guys...you're competing back to back with REEL BIG FISH. Show me the SKA two tone and and ....ahhhhh!

And on another note: I rather skank around with a bunch of Hawaiian shirt-pork pie hat wearin-checkered covered kids than the dumb shirtless beach drunks and punk moshing to every fuckin song they hear folk. I got slimmed like 3 times by nasty sweaty butt holes moshin around. STAY OUT MY BUBBLE ASS-MO! The Beeat does get a lotta COUGAR LADIES OUT THERE THOUGH! -80's sluts I guess.

Later!
Auggie