Reggae punk band Bumpin’ Uglies is headed to the OC, and they have already sold out their appearance at The Observatory’s Constellation Room. The Maryland band is zigzagging across the country on a six-week tour and bringing Kyle Smith along for the ride.
Bumpin’ Uglies released their seventh album, “Mid-Atlantic Dub,” in 2022, and it includes some incredible guests: Ballyhoo!, The Elovaters, Little Stranger, Jacob Hemphill of SOJA, Trevor Young, Wax and Tropidelic. The collabs worked, and with their active 2022 tour schedule, they earned tons of new fans across the country.
The band formed in 2008 and describes their sound as a blend of “ska, reggae, and punk.” Through their singles “Addictive Personality,” “Morning After,” “Buzz,” and “Suburbia,” you may be able to pick up sounds of Goldfinger, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, and Bad Religion.
Bumpin’ Uglies may also be familiar – especially to SoCal residents – for their participation on “The House That Bradley Built,” the charity disc supporting the late Bradley Nowell’s substance abuse organization for musicians. The band chose to cover Sublime’s “Same in the End.”
With Brandon Hardesty fronting on vocals and guitar, Dave “Wolfie” Wolf slappin’ the bass, T.J. Haslett pounding the drums, Ethan Lee Lichtenberger manning the keys, and Will Lopez taming the sax, they decided to keep the 2022 energy going by bringing opener Kyle Smith with them in 2023.
THE OBSERVATORY Constellation Room
Santa Ana, California
April 15, 2023
Ventura singer songwriter Kyle Smith has a catchy reggae style that reflects his Southern California upbringing. He dips into Cali-roots, reggae, dub, hip hop, and punk, which you can check out on his debut album, “Lost Cause.”
Several years ago, it was recommended that I book Smith as the opening band for a reggae event. I didn’t know who he was at the time, but wanted to give him a chance. Smith kicked off the show perfectly and sounded amazing; I remember thinking to myself that he was going to be big someday!
Come to The Observatory (Constellation Room) to see two of the hardest working reggae/punk bands out there. If you are not one of the lucky folks who snagged the April 15th Bumpin’ Uglies tickets before they sold out, you can catch them in San Diego on April 13th at Music Box.
