Reviews – Big Daddy Multitude
Photo 1993
ALTERNATIVE PRESS
The gremlins that live inside my computer gobbled Mustard Plug off my Essential Ska list a few months back, a slight this band certainly didn’t deserve. From Grand Rapids, the group’s been wowing Midwestern crowds for nearly three years with their Two Tone-based high-energy music. This is their debut CD, and it’s quite the corker.From the ska-abilly “Murder In Tulip City” to the poppy-anthemic “Summertime,” Mustard Plug deliver the goods. With tongue firmly in cheek, Big Daddy Multitude includes a ska rewrite of “Casey at the Bat” (“Ball Park Skank”), bimbo girlfriends (“Too Stoopid”), and even intergalactic relations (“I Made Love to a Martian”). Their backgrounds may be punk, but Mustard Plug’s true talent lies in pop tunes with a syncopated beat.
BUZZ
by Noah Wildman
Mustard Plug is a superior ska band from Grand Rapids, MI, whose 2 Tone-based sound is kept fresh by some cool songwriting, powerful horns, clean production and that thing that just clicks when you hear something good. Somewhere between vintage N.Y. Citizens and Madness, the ska rhythm is kept up front, and while there are some punk and funk flavors thrown in, it is in good balance – ska fans won’t be alienated, non-ska fans won’t get bored by the sound. From the opening self-explanatory “Skank By Numbers” (We don’t want to see you slammin’ in the pit/We don’t want to see our girlfriends hit) to the mock story-song in “Murder In Tulip City,” the ska is served up hot and tasty.THE HOOLIGAN
by B.B.
All right, so I heard about these guys from their ad in A.P., so what… they still rip hard! These kids are from Grand Rapids, MI, but are destined to conquer the multitudes with their way sticky-goo-like ska sound. These sharp dressed cats kick a more traditional ska flavor in the newer 1990’s sense ala Bosstones meet the Scofflaws. Dig? A tight seven piece band that includes the “Three Hornmen of the Skapocalypse.” My favorite jig on this album is a tie between “Mr. Smiley” which is a tune about a guy (Mr. Smiley) who goes on a killing spree and wipes out his entire family, and the other is “Gum” which is… well I’ll quote, “I didn’t know that it would be so much fun spending my life chewing gum.” Fucking beautiful! This album is destined to be a classic, one that you’ll pull out 10 years from now and still skank around the coffee table to. Check out the Hawaii Five-O sample on “Murder in Tulip City.” Other notables are “Thigh High Nylons” and quirky ska on “I Made Love to a Martian” and sunny sun fun on “Summertime.” Highly recommended, and one of the years ten best.PAPERBACK JUKEBOX
by Josh Lund
This is my first exposure to Mustard Plug and within three cuts I found myself involuntarily trying to sing along – out of key, slurrin’, tappin’, bouncin’, yellin’. Had I not been driving at the time, I would’ve been skankin’! Needless to say (but all needless things always get said), I was immediately engaged by this album. Big Daddy Multitude is consistent high-energy ska from start to finish. Yet, not so fast to all of you who are saying, “You hear one ska album, you’ve heard them all. How long can they keep you hopping around to the same damn beat?!” These guys definitely mix it up throughout. Their basic sound draws heavily from the traditional Oscar Meyer yellow, Skatalite ska and then sauces on plenty of their own extra tangy Grand Rapids Grey Poupon. A long-time Fishbone and Mighty Mighty Bosstones fan, I never once thought “wannabe” while listening to this album. They carry a bit of the ska-core edge of the Mighty Mighties as well as include the butt-funkin’ bassy groove of Fishbone. Yet, it is the combination of their vocal duo (Dave Kirchgessner and Colin Clive) and their power horn section (The Three Hornmen of the Skapocalypse) that give them their unique sound. Overall, the vocals reminded me of Ian from Minor Threat (in a good mood), while the horns do the screaming for these guys.If you are any bit into ska you’ll want to check this one out. This album is also available in a handy squeeze bottle.
