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
Without You
The Pietasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said I try my hardest but in vain
Got my house, but I lost my home
I said without you I'm all alone
Got my bed, but I can't sleep
Because your love I just can't keep
Got a license, but I got no car
I said without you I won't get far
I got a phone but you don't call
Just what to say, forget it all
I got burned and lost my pride
I said without you right by my side
Got a job, but I make no pay
I said it doesn't matter anyway
Got no girl to spend it on
I said without you my love goes on
You took my love and then you threw it through the door
But for some reason I keep coming back for more
You said you'd always love me, love me, love me
Those words you said they keep ringing in my head
Revolving round and a bringing me down
I can't replace the memory of you love, I love you
Got some books but I got no brain
I said I try my hardest but in vain
Got my house, but I lost my home
I said without you I'm all alone
Got my bed, but I can't sleep
Because your love I just can't keep
Got a license, but I got no car
I said without you I won't get far
I got a phone but you don't call
Just what to say, forget it all
I got burned and lost my pride
I said without you right by my side
Got a job, but I make no pay
I said it doesn't matter anyway
Got no girl to spend it on
I said without you my love goes on
(Without you, without you, my love goes on)
(Without you, without you, without you, my love goes on)
In "Without You," The Pietasters express the devastating effects of a lost love. The lyrics describe a man who has lost everything he once had due to the absence of his lover. He has books but no brain, a house but no home, a bed but no ability to sleep, a license but no car, a job but no pay, and no one to spend his money on. Despite these losses, he keeps coming back to his lover and can't seem to forget the words she said to him. He repeats the phrase "Without you, I'm all alone," emphasizing the overwhelming feeling of loneliness that comes with a lost love. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, implying that the singer's love will go on even though his lover is no longer by his side.
The words of this song highlight the destructive nature of heartbreak on an individual. The singer feels like he has no purpose or direction without his lover. He's physically present but mentally elsewhere, unable to focus on his studies or job, unable to sleep, and unable to live his life to its fullest potential. The listener can feel the weight of his loss, the holes in his life that his love used to fill, and the constant pull toward his lover despite the pain associated with their absence. "Without You" speaks to anyone who has ever lost someone they loved deeply and struggled to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Got some books but I got no brain
I have material possessions, but I lack the intelligence to make use of them.
I said I try my hardest but in vain
I attempt to succeed, but my efforts are all for naught.
Got my house, but I lost my home
I have a structure to shelter me, but I have lost the emotional warmth and love that makes it a true home.
I said without you I'm all alone
In your absence, I feel a profound sense of loneliness and disconnection from the world.
Got my bed, but I can't sleep
My physical necessities are met, but my emotional turmoil prevents me from finding rest and peace.
Because your love I just can't keep
I am unable to maintain the love and affection that we once had.
Got a license, but I got no car
I have the permission, but not the means to move forward and progress.
I said without you I won't get far
Your presence is necessary for me to make advancements and pursue a fulfilling life.
I got a phone but you don't call
I have a tool for communication, but our relationship has deteriorated to the point where you no longer make the effort to contact me.
Just what to say, forget it all
I am at a loss for words and unable to articulate my feelings, so I choose to ignore them altogether.
I got burned and lost my pride
I was hurt and my ego was damaged as a result of our relationship.
I said without you right by my side
Your physical presence is necessary for me to regain my confidence and sense of self.
Got a job, but I make no pay
I have a way to earn money, but it is ultimately meaningless without the person I love by my side.
I said it doesn't matter anyway
My job is insignificant compared to the importance of our relationship.
Got no girl to spend it on
I have no significant other to share my time and resources with.
I said without you my love goes on
Even in your absence, my feelings of love for you persist.
You took my love and then you threw it through the door
You accepted my love and later rejected it, causing me immense pain and heartbreak.
But for some reason I keep coming back for more
Despite the hurt and pain, I continue to hold onto the hope of rekindling our love.
You said you'd always love me, love me, love me
You made a promise to always love me, but it seems as though that promise has been broken.
Those words you said they keep ringing in my head
Your words of love and devotion continue to haunt me, even though our relationship has ended.
Revolving round and a bringing me down
My thoughts of you are incessant and they bring me emotional distress.
I can't replace the memory of your love, I love you
I am unable to forget the love we shared and still hold feelings of love for you.
(Without you, without you, my love goes on)
Even without your physical presence, my love for you continues to exist.
(Without you, without you, without you, my love goes on)
Despite your total absence from my life, my feelings of love for you persist.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephen Jackson, Alan Makranczy, Jeremy Roberts, Carlos Linares, Rob Steward, Dan Schneider, Dave Vermillion, Joe Ross
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sean Finnegan
I heard this song for the first time more than ten years ago, and it still moves me like it did back then.
Persun McPersonson
Listen once more!
Man Of The Year
One of my favorite bands since 97. These guys sound better live.
Elias Martinez
they left me there album, one night when I was working graveyards, and I was hooked on there music...
Becky Lippa
A little love from a transplant from B'more, so true. Even in down tempo this song means a lot, thanks for making the scene great in my formative years. When in doubt, remember that what you did meant something to someone somewhere Philly Illy. ❤️
J H
This should be in a movie somehow
Cruzer Six
love you guys!
Alex Star
This band should be more popular....his vocals re amazing...see them live, it will change you...RANCID and PIETASTERS 2 best live bands....LIFE CHANGING
Everardo Gonzales
These guys whip the lions ass!
James Hoffman
Wish I could find G to F here...really dig that one!