Reel Big Fish: "S.R."

Reel Big Fish is a cornerstone in the ska music scene, helping to bring about an American ska revival in the 1990s. But as they prove with this song, they can also do so much more.

Reel Big Fish has been continually active since its founding in 1992, releasing seven studio albums and touring pretty much constantly. Lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Aaron Barrett is the only remaining original member of the band (though trombonist Dan Regan has been around since 1994). Lead backing vocalist/trumpet/other stuff player Scott Klopfenstein joined in 1995 and is the other face of the band, often leading the small talk/riffing with Aaron in between songs at live shows. Sadly he resigned in January to focus on raising a family (he and the wife just had their first kid).

Reel Big Fish is a great live band: They're totally pro, polished -- but still just boys having fun and playing music. The aimless, wandering conversation in between songs was a hallmark of Barrett and Klopfenstein's stage presence; I'll be curious to see how they do without Klopfenstein, both during and in between songs. (He's a killer with harmony.)

This song, which is short for "Suburban Rhythm," is not their best song, they admit -- so they attempt to improve it by recasting it in different genres. Here they go through a handful, but on the live album version they attempt no fewer than eight variations, from death metal to disco. (That's a great live album to own, by the way.)

It's a clever recognition that music can be packaged any which way and probably be wildly successful or...not so much...depending on that packaging. (It's that idea that provides Andy Rehfeldt with a very amusing hobby, re-dubbing recognizable songs in new genres.)

Hopefully this is not your introduction to Reel Big Fish (I'm sure you heard "Sell Out" at some point in the 90s), but if it is then I'm honored to introduce you to such an institutional group of live musicians. Enjoy.

"S.R.," performed by Reel Big Fish.
Original on Reel Big Fish's "Everything Sucks" (1995).

Wow, the paragraph-ending parentheticals got a little out of hand in this post. Sorry about that. (But it's just so easy!) (And it mollifies my multiple personality disorder.)