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Reel Big Fish (USA)
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January 15, 20:00
GlavClub 
Based in Huntington Beach, CA, Reel Big Fish was originally a trio comprised of vocalist/guitarist Aaron Barrett, bassist Matt Wong, and drummer Andrew Gonzales. At that stage, the group was a conventional rock band with pop-metal leanings that covered both classic rock and Top 40 songs - essentially, it was music designed for frat parties. After several months, the band discovered ska and decided to bolster its lineup with the addition of horn players. Reel Big Fish had a difficult time maintaining a stable horn section, and it took several years before their final lineup - featuring Tavis Werts (trumpet), Scott Klopfenstein (trumpet, vocals), Grant Barry (trombone), and Dan Regan (trombone) - fell into place. This definitive incarnation of Reel Big Fish recorded its self-released debut album "Everything Sucks" in 1995. "Everything Sucks" became a word-of-mouth underground hit in ska-punk and college circles, which gave the band enough leverage to sign with the indie label Mojo Records. The label's president, Jay Rifkin, and former Oingo Boingo bassist John Avila co-produced "Turn the Radio Off", which marked Reel Big Fish's first album for Mojo. "Turn the Radio Off" was unleashed in August 1996, and over the next year, the group continually toured in support of the album's release, expanding their fan base all the while.
In spring 1997, the single "Sell Out" began receiving heavy airplay from several influential modern rock stations in the U.S., which soon translated into MTV support for the song's quirky video. By summer, the song had become a moderate modern rock hit, and the album had charted in the Top 100. In July 1997, Reel Big Fish released the "Keep Your Receipt" EP, which contained "Sell Out" and several outtakes, new songs, and live cuts. "Why Do They Rock So Hard" followed a year later, and in early 2000 the band returned with a reissued version of "Everything Sucks".
The guys wound up on Jive Records in fall 2001 when their current label, Mojo, was bought by Jive's parent label, Zomba. Reel Big Fish's first release for Jive, a rock-oriented record entitled "Cheer Up!", appeared in mid-2002. Years of touring followed, during which the band shared stages with the likes of Sum 41, Catch 22, Lucky Boys Confusion, the Matches, and Zebrahead. The band's next album, the cynical yet catchy "We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy" was issued in April 2005. By this time, the group's lineup had shifted to include Barrett, Regan, Klopfenstein, Wong, new trumpeter John Christianson, and drummer Justin Ferreira (who was later replaced by Ryland Steen).
Touring continued for the rest of the year, and Reel Big Fish happily parted ways with Jive in January 2006, having wished to be dropped from the label since Cheer Up!'s release. In August, the group self-released a double-disc live CD titled "Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album". A few months later Jive issued its own Reel Big Fish album, a best-of compilation entitled "Greatest Hit...and More". Reel Big Fish received no money from the album's sales, as Jive Records now owned the rights to the bulk of their songs. Nevertheless, the band returned with some new material in February 2007, splitting an EP (Duet All Night Long) with their friends in Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer.
"Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free" followed several months later, marking Reel Big Fish's first full-length studio release since leaving Jive's roster, and 2009's Fame, Fortune and Fornication found the band covering songs by the likes of Poison, Slade, and Tom Petty.
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