By The guitar sounded. With a few tickles of the bass, Save the Swim Team’s Richard Martin (vocals) stood firm and tall, ready to lead the way.
“This is a new song,” he said. “And by that, I mean an old one.”
Suddenly, a pause, and then, on cue, came a burst as the band exploded through the mellow introduction, into chaotic overdrive of rock and roll. The performance had begun, and the crowd was more than welcoming as they mobbed into a giant circle and danced the night away.
Just a few months after their last gig, the seven members of the Orange County ska elite Save the Swim Team amped up the stage at diPiazzas as the last performance last night. Despite the chaos of finals week, the band managed to attract more than 50 fans into the small venue. As the performance began, the crowd pushed up front, forming a large circle, and mobbing in and out while moving to the sounds of the music. As the tunes picked up, becoming more hyperactive with each song, so did the audience as they weaved in and out, energetically shoving and singing along to the lyrics.
The music itself was unique and unlike most contemporary ska bands quietly causing a scene in the Long Beach area. With a blend of hardcore punk, screamo, a quick-paced rhythm and the combination of multiple back-up vocals, Save the Swim Team brought an energy to the stage that resembled a child in desperate need of Ritalin. As they moved from one song to the next, they bounced about, running into each other on stage, while interacting with their equally energetic fans.
In between songs, the band kept their lively audience entertained as they made jokes with their fans below. As several members of the crowd yelled, “Show me your tits,” and “Get naked,” in a boisterous fashion, Martin joked that their tiny trumpet player up front had gained ten pounds since working at CVS, and was too self-conscious to remove his clothing. “He’s now 90 pounds, ladies and gentlemen,” he joked as the crowd bursted into hysterics.
As the night reached its end, Martin reminded his fans to pick up their newly-released demo and check out the group’s most recent songs.
“Since the release of our 10 inch, we’ve only sold probably about four,” he said. “So if you could buy one, that would be rad.”
Before gearing up for their last song of the night, Martin reminded the crowd that, “The night’s not a success until I fall on my ass. So when I fall on my ass, start laughing.” A comedian of sorts, Martin wasn’t the only one having all the fun, as bassist Max Klasky cracked a few jokes of his own. Ultimately, the group proved that overly political anthems that reek of love, anguish and misery could be pleasurable, if combined with the right amount of skill, theatrics and hearty humor.
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