Scatterbrain If there’s one thing you can say about the four-decade career of ska band Big D and the Kids Table, it’s that they have been a model of consistency. Consistently touring, putting out record after record to keep their fans happy and engaged, and honing in on their songwriting craft to make confident material. The band’s latest LP, The Good Ole American Saturday Night continues down the path of this “working man” approach by taking a look back at how far they’ve come as a band, while still accelerating their development as a unit by creating some truly great songs. Big D and the Kids Table continue to fine-tune their dynamic and punchy ska sound on this confident record that is sure to keep their adoring fans coming to the shows and singing back every word.
After a mostly spoken word introductory song of “Allston Storm” that lets the backing band set most of the atmosphere for the band’s new LP, “Right Now” gets the good vibes going early. One of the first songs to be released from the record, the second verse of, “Don’t you know how much we love ya / Put down that gun, you fucker / This world has unneeded pressure / It’s hard us living in – a world of dilemma” connects to the band’s fans by letting them know that they’ll always have their back. Frontman Dave McWane confidently swoons, “You gotta love your self right now!” to give the reggae-tinged ska song some extra oomph to it.
”More Fun” is filled with plenty of club-ready chants of “oy oy oy” to keep the band’s faithful fans engaged in the live settings that they have always made an inviting space for all. “Rockers Way” is happy to take a mid-tempo approach to the band’s horn heavy sound, and the rich musical backing allows for McWane to sing about the good ol’ days of when rock was king. The title track gets back to the speedy, comfortable ska sound that Big D and the Kids Table have cut their teeth to over the years, and the band does a nice job of storytelling on this key moment on the album.
”Little Talks” finds McWane explaining the problems with fractured communication with rhythmic, almost-rapped verses before bleeding into a sing along chorus. The key single of “Scatterbrain” is about McWane’s struggles with ADD and how he relates to the short attention spans of today’s youth. In the chorus of, “Scatterbrain / Can’t get your head in their game / They call you Blah, blah, blah and so ’n’ so / You’ve heard the nicknames / They call us Scatterbrain / Can’t get your head in their game /They’re all lame / The same, crave fame / But you’re branded,” McWane weaves an anthem for the misunderstood youth of America. Other songs like “Opportunity” get into a comfortable, laid back Reggae sound fit for the summer season that is breathing down our necks.
”Slop” is a speedy, almost punk rock-esque song that accelerates to the finish line backed with a punchy horn section. “King Margaret” begins with some steady riffing, before getting back to he band’s bread n’ butter of ska chords. The single of “Whiplash” opens with a sprawling piano intro that bleeds away into some vibrant horns and speedy guitars that is accentuated by the pre-chorus of, “But the rage fills me, as I understand / And I will let this go, it will not be un-damned / My eyes have fire inside, that fire consumes me / I stare at you both, you both have betrayed me,” that finds McWane fuming.
The record wraps up with “Positive Extension/Negative Reaction” that sounds similar to producer Matt Appleton’s work with Reel Big Fish, and the co-producer of Joe Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty BossTones) makes sure that each musician has their standout moments on each track. “Where You Wanna Be” has a starry-eyed vision for better days ahead as McWane gives advice for people who are “stuck” somewhere that isn’t good for their mental health. The album closer of “One Like You” does a solid job of encapsulating all of the sounds that Big D and the Kids Table went for on this record, and it makes for a memorable lasting statement.
Fans of Big D and the Kids Table will find plenty to love and enjoy on The Good Ole American Saturday Night that puts forth the good vibes, keeps them coming, and also has some substance in the lyrics to allow for some guidance and deeper dives through the words being sung. The consistently great material that Big D and the Kids Table have put forth in their career only further speaks to the band’s commitment to their fans and wanting to put on the best shows possible for them. For now, that’s worth celebrating.