Sayreville, NJ – 19 Aug 2023
I almost forgot that It Means Everything
That third wave of ska in the mid 90s really was a pretty wild time, huh? An all-too-brief era when the scene just felt fun. Then something happened, it just stopped being fun, stopped being cool. The music didn’t change, the bands didn’t change. Some gatekeepers somewhere started to tell us it was just silly and stupid and we were young enough and dumb enough to believe them. That’s why tonight was my first time seeing Save Ferris in nearly 25 years.
I loved It Means Everything, I think part of why I was so willing to give 10 Things I Hate About You a chance was because I knew SF and Letters To Cleo were going to be in it (the crushes my 17-year-old self had on Monique Powell and Kay Hanley may have had a bit to do with it too). I never soured on the film but I definitely gave up on a large portion of the third-wave scene thanks to the poorly doled out and completely unsolicited advice of assholes at a computer who think we want their opinions on what is and isn’t good music (umm… unironic lack of self-awareness? check!)
Things are different now, or maybe the Bad Times Records roster just makes ska cool again, but whatever it is, I warmed up my shoulders for a good skanking and headed off to Sayreville NJ to see Save Ferris with local acts Backyard Superheroes and Joker’s Republic and man, I just can’t contain my smile. Each band was a pick-it-up, er I mean pick-me-up, where my evening felt like some silly meme about 13-year-olds and extra mozzarella sticks.
Backyard Superheroes were up first and quick to prove they lived up the expectations of their name with a house party backyard level of super energy as the 8 members on stage bounces, two-stepped and sprinted across all space on the stage (even space simultaneously occupied by one of the other 7).
The saxophonist pinballed to and fro, up and down, even taking a ride on the shoulders of someone in the crowd, frenetically capturing the eyes and smiles of the entire crowd. The band owned every second of their set with perfectly original covers (“99 Luftballoons” and the obligatory cover of “Knowledge”) and singalong ready originals. Find this band, grab your board and surf their killer wave.
Next up was Ska-Punk International’s Joker’s Republic. The Essex County ska-punk trio maximized the upbeat and kept energy high thanks to three-part harmonies and their own participation in the circle pit. With powerful, relatable lyrics, Joker’s Republic created dog piles and gang vocal sing-alongs throughout the venue.
The band has energy in spades as the bassist joined a circle pit after spending half the set dancing and jumping from pillar to post across the stage. I needed a nap just watching, but these “kids” didn’t fade an ounce as they grabbed the crowd by the shirt and held them in their palms, start to finish. It’s easy to see how the band gained the stamp of approval from Less Than Jake‘s Buddy Schaub and Roger Lima (the latter producing the 3-piece’s latest record Necessary Evil).
A better than the original cover of Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” made the crowd swoon but closing a Jersey set with Streetlight Manifesto‘s “We Will Fall Together” was a risky move, especially without the benefit of a brass section but Joker’s Republic were inspiring in the performance. A “Fuck You Denny’s” chant as the band exited the stage guaranteed Joker’s Republic won us all over (IYKYK). If this is the future of Jersey music, The Garden State is in great hands, I can not wait for my next chance to see these guys or for the vinyl of Necessary Evil to hit my turntable.
Finally, the staggered arrival of Save Ferris proved that no matter how much has changed, some things never will. The room weighed heavy, thick with anticipation for a band some of us have stayed in touch with for 25 years and some of us were finally over ourselves enough to embrace again. I was part of the latter camp, and was immediately reminded why I fell in love with SF so many years ago.
Cruising through the set the band touched on tracks from It Means Everything, relying heavily on the debut record with tracks like “Superspy” and “Under 21.” When the band opened the set with “Turn It Up” or played any other tracks from Modified, they changed the sound, made them more ska-ish and upbeat making the setlist an absolute bop.
The first of multiple costume changes occurred right before the band sauntered into the bluesy, smoky and sultry “Goodbye,” before Monique started the crowd work the band is known for, turning the crowd into friends. Frontperson Monique Powell has maintained that same level of effervescent charisma that led to many a young man and woman’s crushes in the late 90s. Her killer pipes are outmatched only by the positivity and connections she shares from the stage.
They performed their first of three covers with their rousing rendition of “She Has A Girlfriend Now.” I don’t know what the issue is between Monique and Reel Big Fish and honestly, I don’t care. She originally sang the track and she absolutely killed it tonight. The set closed out with the prom song from 10 Things I Hate About You, “I Know” after reminding the crowd how nearly every ska band in the late 90s performed the prom song in a teen comedy, but as Powell pointed out, and I have to agree, both the movie and the song have stood the test of time. Just like Save Ferris.
Following a brief intermission (and another wardrobe change), the band returned to the stage to close out for an encore performance. This return saw the band bust out crowd favorites “Spam” and their most popular track, a cover of “Come On Eileen.” by Dexys Midnight Runners. The crowd shouted along and voices went hoarse as everyone tried to keep up with the amazing vocal abilities on display by Powell.
As the show ended and Powell promised a speedy return while thanking the fans, there wasn’t a smile-less face. We all piled out of the venue with visions of summery happiness ricocheting inside our brains. There’s a reason Save Ferris have been around this long, and a reason Backyard Superheroes and Joker’s Republic will remain for years to come; fun. So much fucking fun.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
