The Skunks (ska band)
Encyclopedia
The Skunks were a third wave ska band formed in 1988 by a group of high school friends from suburban Maryland. They recorded three albums, performed extensively in the Washington, DC/Baltimore, Maryland area, and toured the United States
.
, encountered Joe Hottel and Erick Morgan at a skateboarding
hangout in Riverdale Park, Maryland
.
campus in College Park, Maryland
, and in September, by a performance at the 9:30 Club
. These were the first of their many appearances at these venues.
Soon, the increasing popularity of the Skunks led them to recruit Tony Albano, Andy Hayleck, Reggie Romain, Dave Rudolph, Dave Smallwood and Scott Treude. To enhance their appeal to commercial venues, the Skunks created a cassette, which was copyrighted on September 29, 1990, but never released. However, James Joyce, an archivist of underground music, singled out this tape as one of his "most prized recordings".
to perform with them. This was the first of many occasions when the two bands played together. They also shared a record label.
. During the summer of 1992, The Skunks performed with Hingley's band, as well as several other ska acts, at the Masquerade
in Atlanta, Georgia
, Augusta, Georgia
, Wilmington, North Carolina
, Madison, Wisconsin
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and Chicago, Illinois. The tour culminated, on February 27, 1993, with Moon Ska's Skalapalooza at the The Ritz in New York City, where The Skunks appeared with The Toasters, Bad Manners
, The Skatalites
, The Scofflaws
, and Ruder Than You
. After the tour, the Skunks signed with Moon Ska and shortly thereafter, Chaos in Skaville appeared in Moon's catalog, where it was listed as MR034.
, in the SkaOiAndPunk festival at the Masquerade
. That summer, during their "Nuts on the Beach" tour, they performed at Dick's Clam and Cow in Virginia Beach, Virginia
, as well as at several other locations in the Tidewater region of Virginia
.
During breaks, the Skunks recorded tracks for a new album, Mixed Nuts. When it was almost ready, Joe Hottel decided to move to Atlanta. Consequently, on the final version, he was replaced by new vocalist, Steve Orders. However, lyrics on all tracks but one were written by Hottel.
At the Black Cat, the release of Mixed Nuts was celebrated on August 18, 1994, and in June 1995, it appeared in the Moon Ska catalog as MR040. Even before Moon's official release of Mixed Nuts, one of its tracks, "Big Haired Girls", appeared in the compilation Skarmageddon (Moon Ska 1994). Two more tracks are included in compilations: "Odd Couple" is on Cover to Cover [Ska] (Bob Media 1996), and "YMCA" is on Skandalous: I've Gotcha Covered, Vol. 2 (Shanachie Records
1997).
In 1994 and 1995, The Skunks continued to perform and tour. During a nationwide tour to California and back, they performed with Mustard Plug
in Lawrence, Kansas
, and St. Louis, Missouri
.
. On August 24, 1996, the album No Apologies was released as Moon Ska MR079. One of its tracks, "Dubz 57 Sauce", was included on the Moon Ska produced soundtrack to the 1997 independent film
, Bang
.
With three albums to their credit, the Skunks became very busy. One example of their activity in 1996 was a Halloween
show at the Capitol Ballroom, with the Pietasters and Spring Heeled Jack. This hectic pace continued into 1997, but during the summer of that year, the band broke up. In his review of No Apologies, Brian Ellis expressed his appreciation of The Skunks.
, Tim Karns played with the Checkered Cabs.
Joe Hottell lives in the Atlanta suburb Decatur, Georgia
, where he performs occasionally and plays soccer with the Oakhurst Rovers.
Steve Orders taught English at Earle B. Wood Middle School and Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School
in Rockville, Maryland
.
Scott Treude has played with several bands, including Fireworks Go Up!, while pursuing parallel careers as an environmental physicist and web programmer.
Dave Rudolph, Mike Kim and Ely Rodriguez now live in California
.
Matt Earl, who left The Skunks to go to graduate school, is Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore
, where he is director of the dosimetry
training program. He works in the Tate Cancer Center at Baltimore Washington Medical Center
.
Andy Hayleck has created "sound films", and other experimental music, which he has performed with the group Trockeneis. He serves on the faculty of Maryland Institute College of Art
in Baltimore.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
In August 1988, Matt Earl and James McDonald, who had been members of Boy Scout Troop 214 in University Park, MarylandUniversity Park, Maryland
University Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.-Geography:University Park is located at ....
, encountered Joe Hottel and Erick Morgan at a skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
hangout in Riverdale Park, Maryland
Riverdale Park, Maryland
Riverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
.
Founding
From this association, came the idea of starting The Skunks. Soon, the newly formed band, augmented by Anthony Foronda, Jake Hughes and Brent Washburn, began to play at events and parties in suburban Maryland. In December 1988, the Skunks performed their first paid show at DC Space in Washington. This was followed, in April 1989, by a show on the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
campus in College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, and in September, by a performance at the 9:30 Club
9:30 Club
Foo Fighters Promise to come back to D.C. and play the 9:30 ClubNightclub 9:30 is a nightclub and concert venue in Washington, D.C. Originally located at 930 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C., in the 1970s it was called the "Atlantis Club", and hosted primarily rock, New Wave, and punk bands...
. These were the first of their many appearances at these venues.
Soon, the increasing popularity of the Skunks led them to recruit Tony Albano, Andy Hayleck, Reggie Romain, Dave Rudolph, Dave Smallwood and Scott Treude. To enhance their appeal to commercial venues, the Skunks created a cassette, which was copyrighted on September 29, 1990, but never released. However, James Joyce, an archivist of underground music, singled out this tape as one of his "most prized recordings".
Chaos In Skaville
The demo tape was followed by a cassette, Chaos in Skaville. It was copyrighted on May 5, 1991, and released by PU Records, which was a company created by the Skunks. It also released a 7 inch vinyl single, "Piñata", in 1992. After these releases, the band's schedule became more active, with many shows in local venues and occasional performances on the road. In 1992, during an appearance at Hennessey's bar in Georgetown, the Skunks invited The PietastersThe Pietasters
The Pietasters are a seven-piece ska/soul band hailing from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia.- History :In 1990, a group of friends were attending college at Virginia Tech in the mountains of Virginia...
to perform with them. This was the first of many occasions when the two bands played together. They also shared a record label.
Moon Ska Records
Even before Chaos in Skaville, the Skunks had attracted the attention of Robert "Bucket" Hingley, who was recruiting for his label Moon Ska Records. To confirm his interest, Hingley invited them to go on tour with his band The ToastersThe Toasters
The Toasters was one of the first American bands in the third wave of ska, and is one of the longest active third wave ska bands.They have released nine studio albums, most of them on Moon Ska Records. The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the...
. During the summer of 1992, The Skunks performed with Hingley's band, as well as several other ska acts, at the Masquerade
DuPre Excelsior Mill
The Masquerade is a mid-sized concert venue located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The venue has both indoor and outdoor concert space, and the live music mostly consists of alternative music styles, such as Indie rock, Metal, Punk Rock, Rockabilly, and Electronic.-History:The building was...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and Chicago, Illinois. The tour culminated, on February 27, 1993, with Moon Ska's Skalapalooza at the The Ritz in New York City, where The Skunks appeared with The Toasters, Bad Manners
Bad Manners
Bad Manners are an English 2 Tone ska band. They quickly became the novelty favourites of the UK pop scene through their bald outsized frontman's on-stage antics, earning early exposure through their Top of The Pops exploits and an appearance in the live film documentary, Dance Craze.They were at...
, The Skatalites
The Skatalites
The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
, The Scofflaws
The Scofflaws
The Scofflaws are a Huntington, Long Island, New York-based third wave ska band that debuted in 1988. Known for their rambunctious live shows, technically proficient horn solos and tight arrangements, The Scofflaws were one of the top third wave ska acts of the '90s and one of the most beloved...
, and Ruder Than You
Ruder Than You
Ruder Than You is an American ska band that was founded in 1989 at Penn State University and, in 1991, the group relocated to Philadelphia. While ska and reggae stylings have always provided the common musical thread, over the past 15 plus years Ruder Than You has been mixing in dancehall, hip hop,...
. After the tour, the Skunks signed with Moon Ska and shortly thereafter, Chaos in Skaville appeared in Moon's catalog, where it was listed as MR034.
Mixed Nuts
During 1993, the Skunks, joined by new members George Beronio, Tim Karns and Mike Kim, continued to perform at home and on tour. In April, they participated, with The PietastersThe Pietasters
The Pietasters are a seven-piece ska/soul band hailing from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia.- History :In 1990, a group of friends were attending college at Virginia Tech in the mountains of Virginia...
, in the SkaOiAndPunk festival at the Masquerade
DuPre Excelsior Mill
The Masquerade is a mid-sized concert venue located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The venue has both indoor and outdoor concert space, and the live music mostly consists of alternative music styles, such as Indie rock, Metal, Punk Rock, Rockabilly, and Electronic.-History:The building was...
. That summer, during their "Nuts on the Beach" tour, they performed at Dick's Clam and Cow in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
, as well as at several other locations in the Tidewater region of Virginia
Tidewater region of Virginia
The Tidewater region of Virginia is the eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia formally known as Hampton Roads. The term tidewater may be correctly applied to all portions of any area, including Virginia, where the water level is affected by the tides...
.
During breaks, the Skunks recorded tracks for a new album, Mixed Nuts. When it was almost ready, Joe Hottel decided to move to Atlanta. Consequently, on the final version, he was replaced by new vocalist, Steve Orders. However, lyrics on all tracks but one were written by Hottel.
At the Black Cat, the release of Mixed Nuts was celebrated on August 18, 1994, and in June 1995, it appeared in the Moon Ska catalog as MR040. Even before Moon's official release of Mixed Nuts, one of its tracks, "Big Haired Girls", appeared in the compilation Skarmageddon (Moon Ska 1994). Two more tracks are included in compilations: "Odd Couple" is on Cover to Cover [Ska] (Bob Media 1996), and "YMCA" is on Skandalous: I've Gotcha Covered, Vol. 2 (Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
1997).
In 1994 and 1995, The Skunks continued to perform and tour. During a nationwide tour to California and back, they performed with Mustard Plug
Mustard Plug
Mustard Plug is a ska punk band from Grand Rapids, Michigan.Formed in 1991, the band's original members were Dave Kirchgessner, Mike McKendrick, Colin Clive, and Anthony Vilchez. Currently the band consists of Dave , Brandon Jenison , Jim Hofer , Nate Cohn , Colin Clive , and Rick Johnson...
in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, and St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
No Apologies
In 1995, after Mixed Nuts was released, James McDonald left The Skunks to found a new band, Eastern Standard Time. As the Skunks began work on another album, Larry Schugam took over drums, Dave Reinstein replaced Dave Rudolph on trombone, and Rico Renzi took bass. During the summer of 1996, in anticipation of the new release, the Skunks toured Quebec and five U.S. states. This tour ended in New York City, where they appeared with Spring Heeled JackSpring Heeled Jack U.S.A.
Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. was a third wave ska band based out of New Haven, Connecticut. The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Ron Ragona and drummer Dave Karcich in 1991. After a short breakup, Ragona and Karcich reformed the band with a new lineup. This lineup went on to record two albums...
. On August 24, 1996, the album No Apologies was released as Moon Ska MR079. One of its tracks, "Dubz 57 Sauce", was included on the Moon Ska produced soundtrack to the 1997 independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
, Bang
Bang (film)
Bang is a 1997 independent film directed by Ash.-Plot:Bang is a story about an unnamed young woman living in Los Angeles, played by Darling Narita...
.
With three albums to their credit, the Skunks became very busy. One example of their activity in 1996 was a Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
show at the Capitol Ballroom, with the Pietasters and Spring Heeled Jack. This hectic pace continued into 1997, but during the summer of that year, the band broke up. In his review of No Apologies, Brian Ellis expressed his appreciation of The Skunks.
Where are they now?
As they got older and the band wound down, several members moved on to other bands. Erick Morgan, Dave Reinstein, Ely Rodriguez and Matt Simms joined Eastern Standard Time. Later, Morgan moved on to Lickity Split and then to the Pietasters. Similarly, before joining The ToastersThe Toasters
The Toasters was one of the first American bands in the third wave of ska, and is one of the longest active third wave ska bands.They have released nine studio albums, most of them on Moon Ska Records. The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the...
, Tim Karns played with the Checkered Cabs.
Joe Hottell lives in the Atlanta suburb Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, where he performs occasionally and plays soccer with the Oakhurst Rovers.
Steve Orders taught English at Earle B. Wood Middle School and Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School
Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School
Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School or Wootton High School is a high school in Rockville, Maryland. Its namesake is Thomas Sprigg Wootton, a former member of the Maryland Constitutional Convention and the founder of Montgomery County. The school was founded in 1970 and is part of the Montgomery...
in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
.
Scott Treude has played with several bands, including Fireworks Go Up!, while pursuing parallel careers as an environmental physicist and web programmer.
Dave Rudolph, Mike Kim and Ely Rodriguez now live in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Matt Earl, who left The Skunks to go to graduate school, is Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
, where he is director of the dosimetry
Dosimetry
Radiation dosimetry is the measurement and calculation of the absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the exposure to indirect and direct ionizing radiation...
training program. He works in the Tate Cancer Center at Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Baltimore Washington Medical Center is a hospital in Glen Burnie, Maryland that is part of the University of Maryland Medical System . The hospital opened as North Arundel Hospital in 1965 with three floors and limited acute care services...
.
Andy Hayleck has created "sound films", and other experimental music, which he has performed with the group Trockeneis. He serves on the faculty of Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the first and oldest art colleges in the United States. In 2008, MICA was ranked #2 in the nation...
in Baltimore.
Personnel
| Name | Instrument | Dates | Chaos in Skaville | Mixed Nuts | No Apologies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erick Morgan | Keyboards | Aug 1988 to Jun 1997 | X | X | X |
| Matt Earl | Tenor Saxophone | Aug 1988 to Aug 1995 | X | X | |
| James McDonald | Drums | Aug 1988 to Aug 1990 Sep 1991 to Nov 1995 |
X | X | X |
| Joe Hottel | Vocals | Aug 1988 to Aug 1993 | X | ||
| Brent Washburn | Clarinet | Sep 1988 to Jun 1997 | X | X | X |
| Anthony Foronda | Alto Saxophone | Sep 1988 to Jan 1990 | |||
| Jake Hughes | Bass | Sep 1988 to Aug 1989 | |||
| Andy Hayleck | Guitar | Feb 1989 to Oct 1989 Nov 1993 to Jun 1997 |
X | X | |
| Dave Rudolph | Trombone | Apr 1989 to Aug 1993 | X | X | X |
| Tony Albano | Trumpet | Jul 1989 to May 1991 | X | ||
| Scott Treude | Guitar | Sep 1989 to Feb 1992 | X | ||
| Dave Smallwood | Bass | Sep 1989 to Nov 1991 | X | ||
| Reggie Romain | Drums | Sep 1990 to Dec 1991 | X | ||
| George Beronio | Trumpet | Jun 1991 to Nov 1993 | X | ||
| Tim Karns | Bass | Nov 1991 to Jan 1997 | X | X | |
| Mike Kim | Guitar | Feb 1992 to Nov 1993 | X | ||
| Ely Rodriguez | Trumpet | Nov 1993 to Jun 1997 | X | X | |
| Steve Orders | Vocals | Nov 1993 to Jun 1997 | X | X | |
| Rico Renzi | Bass, Vocals | Jul 1994 to Jun 1997 | X | ||
| Dave Reinstein | Trombone | Sep 1995 to Jun 1997 | X | ||
| Matt Simms | Saxophone | Sep 1995 to Jun 1997 | |||
| Larry Schugam | Drums | Nov 1995 to Jun 1997 | X |