Soon after, a mutual friend, Tal Bayer moved in. He was very much into ska and reggae and suggested that the band play some of the catchy songs that they loved to drink to. It proved to be the direction they needed, as well as an easier style to cover. Soon, The Slugs were skipping classes and practicing for hours to learn songs by Madness, The Specials, Bad Manners, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Skatalites, The Business, and others. Unfortunately, the name The Slugs was already taken and the band needed a new name. Some British neighbors used to refer to the heftier guys in the band as Pietasters, which is British slang for "fat guys". The name stuck and The Pietasters were born.
A few months later, a similar band from the DC area, The Skunks asked The Pietasters to play a local ska night at a bar in Georgetown. The Pietasters were still rough around the edges, but when you’re in college, quality stage performances take second place to getting free beer. Soon, The Pietasters were playing every dive bar in DC. The manager of one such bar befriended the band and helped them record their first record, The Pietasters, more commonly known as Piestomp.
In the summer of 1993, The Pietasters set out on their first national tour in a used school bus they'd bought for $900. The tour was haphazard with stops in Ohio, Oregon, Kansas and even many stops in Canada. By the end of the tour, almost all of the original members quit the band. To this day, only trumpeter, Carlos Linares, and lead singer, Steve Jackson, remain as original members.
The Pietasters auditioned many players and decided on Jeremy Roberts, Toby Hansen and Alan Makranczy as their horn players, Rob Steward (Covington) on drums, and Paul Ackerman on keys. Tom Goodin remained on guitar. The new line-up continued to tour whenever possible, and soon attracted the attention of Bucket Hingley, front man of The Toasters and owner of Moon Ska Records. He asked if The Pietasters wanted to be a part of a tour package called, "Skavoovie 94". The Pietasters accepted and were soon touring with The Toasters and The Scofflaws. The tour was much more organized than their last outing and proved to be very educational. By the end of the tour, The Pietasters were scheduled to record "Oolooloo" on Moon Ska with Victor Rice producing.
Oolooloo came out in the summer of 1995. The Pietasters continued to tour the country, and even managed to record "Strapped Live" between stops in Raleigh, NC and the Black Cat Club in Washington, DC. "Strapped Live" was released in 1996 and quickly became a fan favorite and the closest thing to a live Pietasters show. Throughout this period, The Pietasters had been recording new songs, re-recording older ones, and recording some covers. The results ended up as "Comply", and the song selection foreshadowed their next release.
While touring with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the band made a stop in Los Angeles. Backstage at the show, Tim Armstrong from the band, Rancid, approached the band and asked if they'd like to be a part of a new label he was putting together. The Slackers, Hepcat and Dropkick Murphys were already committed and he wanted The Pietasters on board.
After clearing such a move with Moon Ska, The Pietasters signed with Epitaph Records and their next album, Willis was recorded and released in 1997. A tour of the US soon followed as well as their first ever tour of Europe. The Pietasters also made appearances on the Warped Tour and opened for such acts as The Reverend Horton Heat, Cherry Poppin Daddies, and Ozomatli.
By 1999, The Pietasters were in the studio again to record Awesome Mix Tape #6 for Epitaph's Hellcat Records. They finished the album and hit the road again touring Europe with the Warped Tour, then the US again with the Pilfers and Spring Heeled Jack, and closing out 1999 with an opening stint for the legendary Joe Strummer. Years of touring finally took it's toll on Paul Ackerman and Tom Goodin, who amicably left the band. Bassist Todd Eckhardt also left the band and was replaced by Jorge Pezzimenti of The Decpticonz. Erick Morgan, formerly of The Skunks, took over keys, and Toby Hansen replaced Tom Goodin on guitar.
In late 2001, The Pietasters were well into recording their next album when they learned that former bassist, Todd Eckhardt, had died in his sleep. The news was extremely hard on The Pietasters and their fans. The Pietasters soldiered on and released a new album Turbo, a nickname of Todd's, in 2002. The new album's blend of Jamaican riddims and Northern Soul won praise from fans and critics alike. It even caught the attention of James Brown who asked The Pietasters to be his backing band at a sold-out concert in Washington DC in 2003. The following year, The Pietasters released their first ever DVD, Live at The 9:30 Club. In 2006, The Pietasters played the International Ska Circus in Las Vegas.
On August 21, 2007, seventeen years after their inception, The Pietasters released a new studio album entitled, "All Day".
Discography:
Studio albums:
The Pietasters - 1993 on Slug Tone Records
Oolooloo - 1995 on Moon Ska Records
Willis - 1997 on Epitaph Records
Awesome Mix Tape vol. 6 - 1999 on Hellcat Records
Turbo - 2002 on Fueled by Ramen
All Day - 2007 on Indication Records
Rare Albums, EP's, Singles, and Others:
The Ska-Rumptious 7 Inch"" - 1992 on Slug Tone Records
All You Can Eat (EP) - 1992 on Slug Tone Records
Soul Sammich - 1994 on Slug Tone Records
Ocean - 1996 on Moon Records
Strapped Live! (live album) - 1996 on Moon Records
Comply - 1996 on Moon Records
Out All Night (Promo) - 1997 on Hellcat Records
Out All Night (EP) - 1998 on HellCat Records
Yesterday's Over (Promo) - 1999 on Hellcat Records
The Pietasters 1992-1996 - 2003 on VMS Records
Live at the 9:30 Club (DVD) - 2005 on MVD
Band members:
Current lineup:
Stephen Jackson - vocals
Toby Hansen - guitar, trumpet
Jorge Pezzimenti - bass
Rob Steward - drums
Alan Makranczy - saxophone
Jeremy Roberts - trombone
Carlos Linares - trumpet
Jon Darby - keyboard
Past members:
Talmage Bayer - vocals
Tom Goodin - guitar
Pat Kelley - guitar
Todd Eckhardt - bass
Chris Watt - bass
Ben Gauslin - drums
Eric Raecke - tenor saxophone
Rob French - trombone
Caroline Boutwell - farfisa
Paul T. Ackerman - keyboards
Erick Morgan - keyboards
Jeb Crandall - keyboards
Freak Show
The Pietasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never know what's goin' on just happy to exist Drunk faces on the subway cars who're riding in their piss Oh where's the space, a waste of time, a waste of energy I'm locked inside the circus with a thousand casualties It's just a freak show
Sitting disco pumped and fueled with whores in skin-tight clothes Some even have a hymen tucked inside their pantyhose I love the lights, I love the fights and poverty grotesque Come join me in my big time life and waste into this mess It's just a freak show...
As I stumble to the home I've carved out of this mess I think about the foolish ones who dream of happiness To tell the truth I'm a happy man, and happier I'll be When I awake to the freak show that is put in front of me It's just a freak show...
The Pietasters's song Freak Show is a depiction of the darker side of urban life, where people are resigned to their existence and find solace in living in the moment, indulging in vices like drinking and partying to forget their troubles. The lyrics paint a picture of the singer, who is wandering aimlessly on the streets, broke and hungover from the previous night's indulgences. The flashing lights and commotion of a police presence ahead draw them towards a crowd, and they run to witness the spectacle of a hooker who has been victimized.
The singer then contemplates their own existence and the meaninglessness of it all, as they observe the debauchery around them in the form of intoxicated people in subway cars and disco clubs. They describe themselves as being locked inside the circus, surrounded by a thousand casualties, unable to escape the cycle of poverty and self-destruction. However, despite this bleak outlook, the singer finds contentment in living in the moment and embracing the chaos of their surroundings. They even invite others to join them in their big time life, acknowledging that it's all just a freak show.
Overall, the song offers a nihilistic commentary on the state of society, where people are trapped in a cycle of self-destruction and indulgence, finding temporary solace in the chaos around them. The catchy ska beat and energetic vocals of the Pietasters add to the frenetic energy of the song, making it a staple of their live shows.
Line by Line Meaning
Kicking time on filthy streets no money left to spend
Spending time on dirty streets with no money left to spend.
Still sickened by the night before my brain is on the mend
Still recovering from the previous night's activities.
Way up ahead I see a crowd and flashing blue red light
Seeing a gathering of people with police lights flashing in the distance.
I run to see the carnage of some hooker who's been nice
Excitedly rushing to see the aftermath of a prostitute's encounter.
It's just a freak show
Everything is just a spectacle and a show of abnormality.
Never know what's goin' on just happy to exist
Not understanding the chaos but content with simply being alive.
Drunk faces on the subway cars who're riding in their piss
Witnessing heavily intoxicated individuals on the train, urinating in public.
Oh where's the space, a waste of time, a waste of energy
Feeling trapped and drained of motivation and time.
I'm locked inside the circus with a thousand casualties
Feeling stuck in a place where countless others have also been negatively impacted.
Sitting disco pumped and fueled with whores in skin-tight clothes
Being in a club filled with scantily dressed prostitutes and lively music.
Some even have a hymen tucked inside their pantyhose
Some of these prostitutes have gone to extreme lengths for the sake of their occupation.
I love the lights, I love the fights and poverty grotesque
Enjoying the flashy and violent aspects of this impoverished environment.
Come join me in my big time life and waste into this mess
Inviting others to join in the chaotic and destructive lifestyle.
As I stumble to the home I've carved out of this mess
Returning to the dwelling that has been created in this environment.
I think about the foolish ones who dream of happiness
Contemplating those who strive for happiness in a world that doesn't seem to allow it.
To tell the truth I'm a happy man, and happier I'll be
Despite the chaos, still finding contentment and happiness in the situation.
When I awake to the freak show that is put in front of me
Waking up to the same abnormal environment and embracing it as a spectacle.
It's just a freak show...
Reiterating that all of this is simply a display of peculiarity and absurdity.
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dead
on Set Me Up
The song is about former DC mayor, Marion Barry.
On January 18, 1990, Barry was arrested with a former girlfriend, Hazel Diane Moore, in a sting operation at the Vista International Hotel by the FBI and D.C. police for crack cocaine use and possession. Moore was an FBI informant when she invited Barry to the hotel room and insisted that he smoke freebase cocaine before they had sex, while agents in another room watched on camera, waiting for Barry to accept her offer. During the videotaped arrest, Barry says of Moore, "Bitch set me up.”