There are a lot of reasons ska is cool again. Sure, Fourth Wave new comers are grabbing the headlines, but it’s the bands that held the line when ska was in shadows that are truly the caped crusaders of the genre. Chime in Mustard Plug and Big D and the Kids Table; and royalty is coming to The Garden Amp.
Garden Grove, California
October 13, 2023
In one corner are the Monsters of the Midwest, Mustard Plug. From Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mustard Plug has been playing their brand of music since 1991.
Led by their charismatic lead singer, Dave Kirchgessner, this band is the gold standard for being a professional band and they can teach a class on entertaining a crowd.
Being no strangers to the Orange County stage, Mustard Plug has their supporters among the local ska community. Being the launching pad for Third Wave ska, Orange County has a very distinct place in music history, being harsh critics and incredible supporters of bands that provide a legit sound, OC is a place where bands like Mustard Plug thrive.
With hits like “Summertime,” “Mr. Smiley,” “Beer,” “You,” “Everything Girl,” “Hit Me! Hit Me!,” and “Over the Edge,” Mustard Plug have created an orbit of skalacious fun with boombastic grooves.
In the other corner comes industry heavyweight, Big D and the Kids Table. This Third Wave ska-punk juggernaut provides a sonic punch that will electrify you and dare you to skank the night away. There are many, many bands that have been embraced by the locals, but this band has a legit worldwide following.
Big D really has done it all. They have performed on just about every stage you can imagine, played alongside the biggest names in the biz, and they have earned the respect of fellow musicians and industry-media columnist – they are simply lightning in a bottle on stage.
With David McWane behind the mic, their high energy show has been money for the genre and has been an anchor that made it possible for so many bands to be doing what they do today.
The list of great tunes is something to watch as their fans lose their proverbial minds at each and every show. They skank, rattle and roll to “L.A.X.,” “Shining On,” “Noise Complaint,” “Too Much,” “Oy DJ,” and of course, fan favorite ode to the Specials, “Little Bitch.” With a dynamic horn section, and beyond brilliant guitarists, Big D is by far one of the most entertaining bands you will see on any stage.
Joining these legends onstage will be another skankin’ band that has been embraced by just about everyone who has seen them; from Montebello, California – meet Matamoska!
This band has a serious sonic vision that incorporates a little bit of everything for everyone. They are entertaining as well onstage. Their sound has a very cool mix of two-tone, Third and Fourth Wave influences with a ska-core undertone. If Voodoo and the Bosstones ever had baby, we hope it would sound like Matamoska!
It will be a true night of great music, so dust off your dancing shoes so you can skank the night away with the classiest bands in the music industry.
You can catch them October 12th at The Knitting Factory in NoHo, then they come to Orange County to play at Garden Amp on October 13th.
