Thursday September 26, 2002

18 reasons to love Reel Big Fish! A tune-by-tune shakedown on the set list.

The evenings fun as told by Lina Reyes

Photos by Caren Spitler

When I heard the band was playing a show in Hollywood, I made sure to get my butt out there to check it out. Part big band, mix of ska tones, some metal, reggae spice, tiny slivers of pop… and all good times! Six members and one real-big-fat sound the Fish are vocalist/guitarist Aaron Barrett, drummer Carlos De La Garza, trumpeteer Tyler Jones, horn player/vocalist Scott Klopfenstein, trombone player Dan Regan, and bassist Matt Wong. When this band plays you better get ready to have a blast.

The party atmosphere was on its way as soon as they hit the stage and went in to "the Set Up". The energy of this band is so contagious that there was crowd surfing and moshing right from the second tune, proving "Everything Sucks"… but Reel Big Fish don't. Playing a song called "Ban the Tube Top" from the latest album was enough to spell FUN. They sang the words about hot girls who sport the fashion DON'T. People were singing every world already as they blazed in to "Down in Flames". Bombastic horns, upbeat melodies, and words that don't take themselves too seriously are the corner stone to this bands party philosophy. The more the night went on the more I was sure "Somebody Loved Me" up there. The place was packed tightly with some pretty loyal fans and the band seemed to feed of the crowd's enthusiasm. They didn't need to force the kids in this audience to "Cheer Up". Many were surfing and moshing and mixing it up "In the Pit". That's not the place you'd ever see me, "mosher" is something "I'll Never Be". They make some darn catchy tunes that dare you not to sing along. With a booty shaking good tune from the new album the Big Fish played a tribute to a chick named "Valerie", and I got a feeling that because of it "She's Famous Now", but not in a good way.

Hearing this band it always a "Good Thing". They are such a good time I wish they'd come and play their song "Beer" in my living room. This is a band that can take the word energetic to a whole new level, watching them is a work out (except for bassist Wong who is always cooler than the proverbial cucumber). The funky fly Afro twins on the horns (Dan & Carlos) make you want to be their new best friend. The next song on the list was completely SUBLIME, they did their version of "Boss DJ", and it rocked tight. Towards the end of the set I was having a feeling that "Somebody Hates Me", but it was only another sweat drenched body trying to squeeze past me as they made their way from surfing to the front of the stage. The Band did a little ditty about girls who love girls with their lament "She Has a Girlfriend Now" That old news now, "Where Have You Been?". They did one more before the last "Take on Me", The second of two cover songs in the bands set. They have a way of making the songs their own. And to a fitting end the band said its goodbye with the hit "SELL OUT!" Flexing a contemporary sound still well peppered with love of ska, Reel Big Fish prove they are anything but sell-outs.

These are 18 things that made this show a REEL BIG Reason to CHEER UP! Go now and check-out the new album by Reel Big Fish, Cheer Up. To find out more about this band check them out at their cyber home reel-big-fish.com.