A brilliant fusion of the Beatles, Squeeze, Guided By Voices, and some less obvious influences, Austin-based power poppers Cotton Mather are one of those rare power pop groups who transcend their inspirations to create powerful and original music of their own.

Formed in Austin in 1991, the original Cotton Mather (named of course... [+] Read More

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Richmond, VA-based ska outfit Fighting Gravity comprised vocalist Schiavone McGee, guitarist David "Tree" Triano, bassist Dave Peterson, keyboardist Eric Lawson, trombonist Chris Leitch, saxophonist Karl von Klein and drummer Mike Boyd. Formed while its members were attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute during the mid-'80s, the group --... [+] Read More

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Johnny Socko was founded by Dylan Wissing in Bloomington, Indiana in 1990. Influenced by genre-hoppers like Fishbone and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the more traditional funk and soul of James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic, Socko also had an affinity for the party rhythms of hip-hop, ska and reggae. But after almost ten years of being... [+] Read More

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The pop/rock group Letters to Cleo formed in 1990 in Boston, where many young bands begin to grow a fan base by taking advantage of airplay on local college radio stations. Guitarists Greg McKenna actually started Letters to Cleo as another group. When he went in search of a background singer for his lineup, he found vocalist Kay Hanley. The... [+] Read More

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Santa Barbara's softcore ska-punkers Mad Caddies have been rollicking as a solid seven-piece since late summer 1995, but their musical origin dates back to the mid-'80s. Chuck (vocals), Big John (bass), Boz (drums), Ed (trombone), Sascha (guitar), Carter (guitar), and Keith (trumpet) were named the Ivy League early on, but grew tired of the... [+] Read More

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Taking their name from the 60's B-film of Satan's Sadists, the line up of Dave Pilgrim (guitar/ keyboards) Bobby Pilgrim (guitar), John Pilgrim (bass), Scott Pilgrim (guitar) and Ted Pilgrim (drums) got together in 1992 under the moniker of Satan's Pilgrams. With their matching vampire capes and nostalgia of lo-fi 60's surf, Empty Records... [+] Read More

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A zany eight-piece (or more) ska unit from the bleached-out California coast, Aquabats earned respect for an energized new wave of ska punk from figures ranging from Courtney Love to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Squirrel Nut Zippers. Apparently led by vocalist Christian Jacobs ("The Bat Commander"), the group -- which impersonated a different... [+] Read More

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