My obsession with RBF came with the release of their first single "Sell Out". This came off their first major album - Turn The Radio Off. The other songs on this CD are pretty sweet, too. One of my all time favorite songs is "Trendy". "S.R." and "Alternative, Baby" are damn good. And, if you've ever seen the movie BASEketball, you've heard RBF. They're the "house band" in that movie...and the song "Beer" was the main gig in there.
So, Turn The Radio Off was RBF's first major album...which may lead you to ask "What was their actual first album, Danielle, and how can I get it?" (OK, maybe you're not thinking *that*, but I've got to be close. Right? RIGHT?) Everything Sucks is (as far as I know) RBF's really truly first album. The only place I've seen it is at their shows. It's a pretty good disc. RBF is a little less "ska" sounding to me in this one, but it's still good. It seems like it is based on their "college party playing" days - the sound is a little less refined, a little more rock/alt.
The period after the release of Turn The Radio Off was a long, hard wait for RBF fans. So, the guys put out Keep Your Receipt. I'm not really sure what to say about this one. It's good, but just different. Most of the stuff on there can be found on their other albums. Some of it was put on just this disc and can't be found anywhere else. I don't know - just check it out.
AND FINALLY, we get to the now...Why Do They Rock So Hard? was the long awaited and much overdue follow up to Turn The Radio Off. This is where my love for RBF hit me right in the face. The whole album is amazing...very much ska, a little punk, extreme energy. I absolutely love this one. When you get a chance, be sure to check out "She's Famous Now" (I think it could be a dedication to ex-boyfriends...*L*), "Scott's A Dork", and "The Kids Don't Like It". Just trust me on these. Also - let the CD run out!!!! There's some GREAT outtakes after all the listed stuff is done. This is where the guys show you just how not serious they are. You'll like it. Really, you will.
OK, now the part you've all been waiting for...
YES, I have gone to Reel Big Shows. And, I must say, they are very very hard to beat! Especially since my friends and I were right up against the stage for both shows at the Barrymore. That was, well....WOW. The first show was the 1998 Jingle Ball presented by 92.1 WMAD. The acts were New Radicals (they put on an excellent show!), The Flys, RBF, and Love And Rockets. I think what made this show so great was the fact that I got to go backstage. The bassist of The Flys, James Brooks, had one of the roadies come get me after RBF was on (James saw how hard I was rockin' out to RBF!), and he told me to go around the back of the Barrymore. I did, and some guy let me in. Then, James came out and we just chilled for awhile backstage. It was cool - James is a pretty laid back guy. We were talking about his jump from 4-amps-high up in the air. He was telling me about all he could think of was "I'd better be able to save the guitar!" Of course he did. Anyway, we were talking backstage, and a few of the guys from RBF were walking around. I got to hug Grant! Aaron and Tavis signed the shirt I was wearing that night, and later we met Andrew. The guys were all really cool. I loved it!
The second Reel Big show I went to was February 12, 1999. This show was supposed to be Reel Big with Zebrahead opening for them. Well, Pushover also opened, so we got more than we expected. Pushover is a pretty chill little ska band, and their trombonist really gets into things! So, Pushover played, then Zebrahead (amazing! And their CD, Waste of Mind is all good, every single minute of it.) came on. They got the crowd ready to roll! They were VERY high energy. So, when they were going offstage, I was thinking (well, A. That my ribs hurt from being pushed into the stage) that there was no way people could get anymore pumped after this. Well, I was VERY wrong. RBF came out, and it was just like this huge frenzy. Anyway...long story a tiny bit shorter, this show was awesome because I got a bottle of water from RBF's roadie - one that I think either Tavis or Aaron was drinking from (and yes, I still have it). (I also managed to talk the Zebrahead stage hand into getting me a big bottle of water after they were done. He did. Thanks! - whoever you are!), and it was really really close to my best friend's birthday. So, I told a *little, teeny* lie, and told Tavis that it was Kaia's birthday that night. Do you want to know what he did? I'll tell you anyway. He played "Happy Birthday" to Kaia on his trumpet, and within a few bars, Dan joined in, and then started singing it! We were like "YEAH!"
I love Reel Big Fish
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