Read THE SCENE's Exclusive Interview with BUCK-O-NINE's Jon Pebsworth

CLICK HERE!
BUCK-O-NINE
By D. A. Muse

On Thursday, August 5, 1999 the ska band Buck-O-nine played one of Hollywood’s Rock and Roll institutions, The Troubadour. It’s always a treat to see them, especially in one of The Scene’s favorite Hollywood hangs. As one of the bands responsible for the Ska resurgence of the 1990’s, Buck-O-Nine can draw a crowd. They brought the kids out in force to skank, mosh and get a bit roudy. Buck’s fans are loyal, but why wouldn’t they be, when their music makes you feel so good. Before the show I meet a girl named Jennifer, she sums up the quintessential Buck-O-Nine fan. This girl was amped, you could practically feel the energy radiate from her. She was stoked because it was her birthday and she was about to see her favorite band. She also got a little birthday bonus thanks to her friends, an introduction and autograph (on a Buck), from lead singer Jon Pebsworth. She wasn’t the only one giving off the vibe of excitement. It was in the air coming off the fans there to see one of the best ska bands in the business.

There were two bands who opened for Buck-O-Nine; a punk band called Fall Out and a ska band The Adjustments. Both bands were fun and got everyone moving, but the crowd was there for the band de jour. On a side note, The Adjustments are worth checking out. After The Adjustments finished their set it seemed near eternity before Buck-O-Nine took the stage. All the while the kids were getting restless. Finally, they filed onto the stage in an almost lazy fashion, guitarist Jonas (sans his dread locks), the power horn trio Dan, Craig, and Anthony, the current drummer Jeff, Jon the singer and the new bass player, also named John. The wait was worth it as they took the stage and played 19 songs without pause. The fans got more than what was promised by the $7 admission price.

With a burst of high energy, they went into the first song ‘Round Kid’ from the album "Twenty - Eight Teeth." This song gets you moving with it’s hyper-paced, punched up start. Jon Pebsworth and his band mates took hold of their audience and did not let up until it was over. With out even really speaking much between songs, the band pounded out one song after another, They kept the momentum high and fast paced, except for slipping in a cool and sexy Caribbean influenced song from the new album called ‘Swimming in Sand’. They played about eight song off of the new album "Libido," and a few from the previous album "Twenty - Eight Teeth". Buck-O-Nine was a band on fire, and the crowd responded with matching enthusiasm . Their pace equaled by the mosh pit in the middle of the Troubadours small room. Again and again Buck-O-Nine gave the kids what they came out for, playing all the songs the crowd was expecting to hear, ‘I’m the Man’, ‘Jennifer’s Cold’, and ‘Pass the Dutchie’. They even pulled out a couple of tunes from 1994’s album "Song in the Key of Bree", ‘Barfly’ and a song I always expect Buck-O-Nine to play ‘Irish Drinking Song’. Saving the best for last, when you thought this was just about all the fun you could stand, they pulled out the hit song from the last album ‘My Town’ and invite the entire room to come on stage with them.