Their debut album, "Everything Sucks" (1995), was an underground hit and led to a deal with Mojo Records (see also Mojo), an indie label. "Turn the Radio Off" (1996) established the band in the underground music scene, and they began touring throughout the USA. After the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the album made an appearance on the charts. The ska revival was short-lived, however, and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" (1998) did not lead the group to the mainstream.
Reel Big Fish released "Cheer Up" (2002) which began a movement into harder rock and pop sounds, with much less ska than the previous albums. The song "Where Have You Been?" was aimed at a wider audience, trying to drop the less popular ska sound, but was met with little mainstream success, despite the video. Their second most recent studio album was "We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy" (2005).
They recently released "Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album" (2006) which includes 2 discs worth or their own tunes and a few covers of popular songs along with a DVD. They have worked on the soundtrack to BASEketball, which included a cover of A-Ha's Take On Me.
In 2006, they split from Jive records, who produced a "Best of" album against the will of the band, who could not prevent the release. The band has made a campaign to try and stop people buying the album.
Their 7th album "Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimps For Free" (2007) includes some songs that were previously recorded and released on other albums. It was also the first album with the band's new label, Rock Ridge Records.
In 2009, they released "Fame, Fortune, and Fornication" an album composed of covers of older songs, including "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, and "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison.
In 2012, Reel Big Fish released "Candy Coated Fury", which is their second album on Rock Ridge Records. This album was met with heavy amounts of criticism from fans and reviewers alike. PunkNews.org gave the album a 2/10.
in 2014, they released "Happy Skalidays", a holiday themed EP.
Their current release is 2018's "Life Sucks... Let's Dance!", which gained generally positive reviews from fans and critics.
Current members:
Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–present)
John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
Ryland Steen - drums (2005–present)
Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
Past members:
Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2001)
Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
Tyler Jones - trumpet (2001–2004)
Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
Scott Klopfenstein - trumpet, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2011)
Scott
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love her and she loves everyone,
She said she likes my band but I don't even like my band,
I love her and she loves everyone,
I saw her kiss him last night,I'm sick now,
(but it's just a little cold)
Scott's a dork,
She loves me and I love everyone,
I was kissin' her but she was wishin' it was him,
She loves me and I love everyone,
They told her,about you and me, she's mad now
(But she'll get over it)
Scott's a dork,
You'd think that after all this time, she'd change but, she didn't.
(No no no)
The first verse of Reel Big Fish's "Scott" describes an unrequited love triangle. The singer likes a girl who doesn't eat the crust of her pizza, but she loves everyone, including the guy who the singer saw her kiss last night. Despite feeling sick ("but it's just a little cold"), the singer continues to love this girl. He also mentions that while the girl says she likes his band, he doesn't even like his own band.
The second verse continues with the same theme of unrequited love. The singer describes himself and the girl both loving everyone, but he was kissing her while she was wishing she was with the other guy. The girl finds out about the singer and the other guy and becomes angry. The chorus repeats the sentiment that "Scott" is a dork and that the singer will keep trying, despite the girl's continued uninterest.
On the surface, "Scott" appears to simply be a lighthearted, upbeat song about a love triangle. However, upon closer inspection, the lyrics reveal a somewhat darker tone. The repeated line "she loves everyone" could be seen as a commentary on the fickleness of teenage love, or even a reference to the girl's promiscuity. Additionally, the line "when I say 'I give up' it just means I am gonna try again" indicates a sense of hopelessness and desperation on the part of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
We like pizza but she doesn't eat the crust,
We have a similar interest in pizza, but she is more particular and choosy about it.
I love her and she loves everyone,
I have strong feelings of affection for her, and she has a friendly and sociable nature towards everyone.
She said she likes my band but I don't even like my band,
She complimented my band, but I myself have reservations about its qualities and performance.
I saw her kiss him last night,I'm sick now,
I observed her kissing another person, which made me feel unwell and disgusted.
(but it's just a little cold)
(But my sickness is not a major or serious illness.)
Scott's a dork,
Scott is an odd, foolish, or socially awkward person.
When I say "I give up" it just means I am gonna try again,
When I express a sense of defeat or resignation, it actually conveys my persistent attitude to keep on trying.
She loves me and I love everyone,
She has strong romantic feelings for me, while I have friendly or compassionate feelings for everyone.
I was kissin' her but she was wishin' it was him,
While I was physically intimate with her, she had someone else in her thoughts or desires.
They told her,about you and me, she's mad now
They disclosed some information about our relationship to her, and it made her feel angry or resentful.
(But she'll get over it)
(But she'll recover from her negative emotions or reactions over time.)
You'd think that after all this time, she'd change but, she didn't.
Considering how much time has passed, one might have expected her to modify her behavior or attitude, but she remained the same.
(No no no)
(An interjection that emphasizes the negation or refusal of the previous statement.)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AARON BARRETT, DAN REGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Frost
"Drunk Again," to this day is my fucking shower song. Full on karaoke at the top of my lungs.
Treevors 3.0
Me to and I suck so bad at singing but in my head I sound just like them I think thats call tone deff
jo hn
Always wanted to hear that song live in some form or another.
Treevors 3.0
I would die happy hearing this live I wish I had the money to get them to play in my basement....wondering how much that would cost 🤔
Treevors 3.0
From being a past alcoholic I can listen to Reel Big Fish without drinking or wanting to drink but watching them live it is so hard not to want to drink especially the beer song one night I saw them I mean I've seen them so many times I'm the guy you choked Aaron Barrett chokes me yes that's true I have pictures of it I have proof he abuses me over the years from 21 to 30 LMAO anyways so I heard the beer song like they did Suburban Rhythm I heard it four times in one night it was fucking Epic
Josh Gregovich
Thank you for posting this, Scott was the best.
daltysmilth
Aaron looks so gleeful to have Scott on with them.
Keim Minter
Awh man, I was at their show in Atlanta, I wish I had been there to see Scott. I'm envious as hell.
Robert Frost
The "Final Warped Tour" is rolling through my area this week and RBF is the only band that would have convinced me to go. I haven't seen them since Scott left and just looked up the lineup. It's a cover band compared to the band/lineups I knew. Aaron is the only one left.
blinkers -182
We miss Scott!