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
What I Do
The Pietasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I just lied again to you.
Cast a line and I reel you right in, never should believe a word I say is true,
But you always do every time I lie to you.
Well I just stole again for the first time,
Well I just stole again from you.
Turn your back and now your money's missing, cry all night but I never listen,
What can you do every time I steal from you?
I never need to answer questions that you field,
I like to let you wonder if I am for real.
The one thing that I said, to you that is for sure
You know my love for you is secure.
Well I just killed again for the first time,
Well I just killed again for you.
You're tellin' me that I don't have a reason, crack a forty ouncer and it's open season,
What can you do every time I lie to,
Every time I steal from, every time I kill for you.
The Pietasters' song "What I Do" is a straightforward presentation of a person who is not trustworthy in a relationship, no matter how much their partner believes in them. The singer brags about stealing, lying, and killing for the first time after being caught and then doing it all over again. The opening lines, "Well, I just lied again for the first time, well, I just lied again to you," set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer's partner believes every word they say, even when it is proven to be untrue. The singer takes advantage of their trust, even admitting that they are aware of their partner's gullibility.
The chorus, "What can you do every time I lie to, every time I steal from, every time I kill for you," emphasizes the singer's control over the situation. The repeated use of "every time" suggests this is a recurring pattern that the partner should have seen coming. The singer implies their partner is unable to stop them and continues to give in to their manipulations. However, there is a glimpse of the singer's true feelings in the bridge, "The one thing that I said to you that is for sure, you know my love for you is secure." It is unclear whether the singer is telling the truth or trying to manipulate their partner further, which adds to the complexity of the song.
Overall, “What I Do” portrays a toxic relationship dynamic where one person is in control and the other is blindly following them. The song is catchy and upbeat, which makes the message even more powerful, as listeners can dance along without realizing the dark themes embedded in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I just lied again for the first time,
I just told a lie to you, even though I've done it before and will likely do it again.
Well I just lied again to you.
I just told you another lie, possibly because I enjoy manipulating you or keeping you on your toes.
Cast a line and I reel you right in, never should believe a word I say is true,
I use charm or deception to draw you in and make you believe me, even though I know I can't be trusted.
But you always do every time I lie to you.
Despite my history of dishonesty, you continue to believe what I say, which only reinforces my habit of lying.
Well I just stole again for the first time,
I recently took something from you without permission or justification, even though I've done it before.
Well I just stole again from you.
I took something that belonged to you without permission or remorse, indicating a lack of respect for your boundaries.
Turn your back and now your money's missing, cry all night but I never listen,
I stole your money while you weren't looking, and even though you're upset about it, I don't care enough to listen or make amends.
What can you do every time I steal from you?
I've stolen from you before and will likely do it again, leaving you feeling powerless to stop me or protect yourself.
I never need to answer questions that you field,
I don't feel obligated to explain myself or my actions to you, which can create a sense of uncertainty or mistrust in our relationship.
I like to let you wonder if I am for real.
I enjoy keeping you guessing about my motives or feelings, which can create a sense of instability or unpredictability in our interactions.
The one thing that I said, to you that is for sure
Even though I frequently lie or deceive you, you can trust that I do love you (assuming this isn't another lie).
You know my love for you is secure.
Despite my other faults, you can count on me to love you and provide emotional support (assuming this line is truthful).
Well I just killed again for the first time,
I recently took someone's life, either figuratively or literally (although this may be hyperbole or metaphorical).
Well I just killed again for you.
I committed an act of violence or aggression on your behalf or as a result of our relationship, indicating a toxic or unhealthy dynamic.
You're tellin' me that I don't have a reason, crack a forty ouncer and it's open season,
You're questioning my logic or justification for my violent behavior, and I'm responding with anger or alcoholism as an excuse or way to cope.
What can you do every time I lie to, every time I steal from, every time I kill for you.
I have a pattern of harming or manipulating you, which can make you feel trapped or helpless to escape the cycle of abuse.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TODD BRYAN ECKHARDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.”