San Diego has had many micro-scenes within its music community over the decades, but it’s likely that none was quite as explosive as the ska revival of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Shows would draw hundreds of fans, all ready to skank the night away, with a corresponding increase in bands to meet the demand. Top dog during this era was seven-piece combo Buck-O-Nine.
Founded in 1991, the band released its first album, “Songs in the Key of Bree,” in 1994. By that point the band could sell out the 1,000-capacity venue SOMA with ease.
Large indie labels soon became interested in the group. They released their next record on Taang Records before moving on to TVT. Their peak was the 1997 album, “28 Teeth,” which included their biggest hit, “My Town.” The album would go on to sell over 200,000 copies.
“You would be hard pressed to find a more energetic or hard working band,” said Al Guerra, host of 91X’s local music show “Loudspeaker.” “They worked hard to achieve some significant things and are a great live act. But their real strength is in their material. They just turn out catchy, up-beat songs like there’s no tomorrow.”
To date Buck-O-Nine has released eight CDs, most recently 2001’s, “On a Mission.” On August 7, Asian Man Records will issue a brand new Buck-O-Nine disc, “Sustain,” with a CD release show at The Casbah on Aug. 18. Admission to the show includes a copy of the disc.
Although the band never split up, they’ve maintained a low profile in recent years.
“We have all been working and having families,” front man Jon Pebsworth explained. “Now things are starting to settle in a bit and we felt like playing a little more often. That led to us wanting to have some new material for our shows and eventually recording our new album, ‘Sustain.'”
Pebsworth puts down the delay in releasing a new album to timing.
“I guess it took that long for it to feel right again to record. It took a lot for us to all get on the same page,” he said.
He also admits, “a couple line-up changes really helped us move forward.”
The album was actually recorded twice, once in demo form and the finished product. While there is little significant difference in the songs in either version, Pebsworth considers the process important.
“We have always liked doing demos of the songs before actually recording them,” he said. “For me, it helps the final performance. I can drive around and practice to the demo and decide what I’m going to do and how I’m going to approach each song when I go in to sing the final version.”
Though fans, particularly in Europe and Japan, would certainly like more tours and music, Pebsworth prefers the less hectic life the band is currently enjoying.
“I think we’ll continue at this pace,” he said. “It feels good, its fun all the time, it’s easy and we play better and write better songs when we’re not on the road 300 nights a year.”
After 16 years in one of San Diego’s most popular groups, he considers his favorite aspect of life as a rock musician to be the camaraderie.
“I really like the brotherhood,” Pebsworth stated. “I’ve always loved how Buck-O-Nine feels like a family. We have always been that way.”
It’s clear that bond is important to him.
“It makes all the stuff you do as a band more satisfying. I feel like we are making this happen together and that means a lot,” he said.
Buck-O-Nine performs at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. $10 admission includes CD.
The show is open to ages 21 and up.
For more information visit www.casbahmusic.com.