Do you remember the days back in middle school when ska ruled the radio? When everyone was knocking on wood (oh, Mighty Mighty Bosstones) and selling out? Well, so does Reel Big Fish, which recently split ways with Jive Records and self-released its live album, Our Live Album is Better than Your Live Album, through online music store CD Baby and a partnership with distributor Rykodisc.
Now Reel Big Fish is back and in the middle of a tour with fellow ska acts Streetlight Manifesto, Suburban Legends and Westbound Train, who will hit the 9:30 Club on Sunday. The Diamondback spoke with trumpeter John Christianson to discuss the band’s newly independent status, the future of ska and Christianson’s favorite touring experiences.
The Diamondback: You guys recently released your live album. What was it like releasing an album without a label?
John Christianson: This is the first time that it has taken under two years to release an album for us. It’s an amazing process; when you have to go through a record label, you have to do demos, you have to get pre-approval for the songs and then you have to go in and spend $100,000 recording the record. With this live record, we did it all ourselves, we recorded it ourselves, we paid for it ourselves, and we were able to get it out in about four months. It was absolutely amazing.
DBK: So you guys are happy to be off (major label) Jive Records?
Christianson: We are very happy to be off Jive Records. From the time that [our first album] Turn the Radio Off came out, the record company just started doing less and less for the band in terms of promotion [and] in terms of support, so we kinda picked up all the slack there. We had to do all of our own promotion; we had to do all our tour support independently of the record company. Now it is great to actually profit from not being on a record label.
DBK: What has been the most difficult thing about not having a label?
Christianson: All the organization of it. Fortunately, we didn’t have quite the learning curve that other people might have. The most difficult part is the organization and the communication between management and the band while the band is out on the road. We send e-mails back and forth everyday, so that’s usually the way we communicate, and it’s challenging.
DBK: So do you think you’re going to keep doing it yourself or find a new label?
Christianson: Continuing to do it ourselves is really amazing; we’ve had a good relationship with CD Baby and Rykodisc, [who have] helped put the album out, so I would like to continue doing it this way.
DBK: You guys play a lot of covers on your albums and in concert. What’s your favorite cover to play, and any hints about songs you might cover in the future?
Christianson: All the covers I really enjoy playing; there’s not a song in Reel Big Fish that I don’t enjoy playing. But one of my favorites is Lita Ford’s “Kiss Me Deadly.” It’s always a fun tune to play. We’re always looking for a good song. … It just happens to be one song will grab [lead singer] Aaron [Barrett] and [he will] go, “Oh man, this would make a great ska or reggae song.” That’s just the way it goes for him. There’s always covers in the future.
DBK: I read that you guys want to do a split album with Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. Is that still happening?
Christianson: That is still in the works. We finished all our parts and all of our tunes; it’s done and now it’s just time for [Zolof] to finish up doing what they were doing. So hopefully that will be out in the next couple months.
DBK: How many songs did you record for that?
Christianson: We recorded three, and Zolof recorded three. So it should turn out interesting; I can’t wait to hear it.
DBK: You guys make a lot of music videos for your songs. Which is your favorite?
Christianson: My favorite is the “Don’t Start a Band” video. We just had a great time with the director, Jonathan London, and I think he really got the humor that Reel Big Fish has. … We are a silly bunch of guys that really like to have a good time. I think you can see all of our senses of humor in that video.
DBK: Do you guys see ska getting popular again in the near future, like it was when “Sellout” was released?
Christianson: Fortunately, music is fickle, so there have always been these waves in ska music, and I think you will see it popular again. You hear it more than you think you do – you hear it every time that you turn on the TV. There’s ska music in the commercials, there’s ska music in the movies, and it’s just getting bigger and bigger again, and I think there is another wave that is coming.
DBK: Do you know what the status is on [Reel Big Fish side project] The Forces of Evil? Or is that band done?
Christianson: Yes, I was in that band too. Since Reel Big Fish is very active now, we haven’t had time to go back and do anything with Forces of Evil. I hope it will happen again – I always keep my hopes up because I love that band dearly, and the music was a whole lot of fun, so I can see that band playing shows in the future. It’s kinda up in the air though. I’m still holdin’ on, man.
DBK: What has been your most satisfying experience as a musician?
Christianson: Any time that somebody comes up to me and says, “Oh man, I started playing trumpet because of you,” or, “Now I practice because of you.” That’s a huge thing because something like that happened to me when I was a kid. I saw Arturo Sandoval for the first time, and I stood there with my jaw dropped the entire show. Having that kind of impact on somebody to pick up an instrument is a really great feeling for me.
DBK: What about your most fun experience?
Christianson: We had a time in Belgium where the whole audience rushed the stage; that was amazing. There’s some bands that will try to get the audience to come up on stage and kind of goad them on to get them on, but these guys all just did it on their own. It was overwhelming because we were trying to play “Take On Me,” and all these people are like bumping into you – it was crazy. It’s one of those instances of inadequate security, but it was fun.
DBK: What’s up next for your band after this tour and after the split with Rock & Roll Destroyer?
Christianson: Right now we’re pushing up the live album, Our Live Album is Better than Your Live Album, and after that there’s going to be more recording. The cool thing about being off a label is we can move very quickly, and we can get out music very fast to all the people that want the music. … So I am very excited about putting out a new record, and about how quick we can do it.
DBK: So why should anyone see Reel Big Fish live?
Christianson: For the people that haven’t seen us, it’s always an experience, and you come to dance and to laugh and to have a great time. We encourage people that come to the shows to come up to us and say hi if you see us on the street. The 9:30 club shows are always great. The D.C. crowd is always amazing.
Reel Big Fish performs Sunday at the 9:30 Club in Washington. Doors are at 4:30 p.m. and tickets are $20.
Contact reporter Jason Koebler at diversions@dbk.umd.edu.
