Growing up in Michigan and discovering ska music during the early days of the ’90s ska boom meant bands like Mustard Plug helped shape my musical tastes. My first exposure to the band came courtesy of Cinema Beer Nuts. Back then, compilation albums on cassette and CD were a crucial component for music discovery. Hopeless Records adapted the concept and released a VHS cassette full of music videos.
I watched that video tape over and over again instead of MTV because, outside of a few super-popular groups, this was the only way to see music videos from bands I liked. Mustard Plug’s offering for that tape was “You,” off Evildoers Beware! I bought the album at the earliest opportunity after that first VHS play-through. I was immediately hooked.
Twenty-six years later, I’m just as hooked as when I was 17.
There are some bands you can immediately identify when a song you aren’t familiar with starts playing. Mustard Plug is one of those bands for me. One of the biggest reason for that is because of vocalist Dave Kirchgessner’s distinct singing voice. Colin Clive’s voice and the horn section are pretty iconic, too. They’ve got some power to them. All of this to say, when I heard the title track for Where Did All My Friends Go? for the first time, it felt like I was catching up with an old friend.
My friend is a little older than the last time we spoke. I was struck by their candid thoughts on getting older, how life changes with the passing of time, and how important it is to live your life without regrets. So, even though they sound like the same old Mustard Plug I know and love, they aren’t the same. The title track isn’t the only directly introspective track on the album. Other gems that touch on such themes include “Rebel Youth Face” and “Doin’ What We Do.”
Mustard Plug doesn’t wallow in the fact that they’re getting older.
I say this with all sincerity as a fan of this band for the last 26 years. Mustard Plug is at the top of their game right now. Their entire career has led them to this point – the release of Where Did All My Friends Go?. It’s a shining light and message to seize the day now. Life will end eventually, so if you want things to be better, you should do something about it. In fact, the album ends with one of the more motivational songs I’ve heard all year, “Now or Never.” To make things better, all of the affirmations in the track are paired with extremely danceable ska music.
Also, I was thrilled to hear that Bill Stevenson worked on Where Did All My Friends Go?. Outside of his job with Descendents as the best drummer in punk rock (in my humble opinion), he’s also produced absolutely killer albums, including several from Mustard Plug. He produced Evildoers Beware! at his Blasting Room Studio in Colorado. Thus, with his stamp on the band’s new era, it feels like everything has come full circle.
It’s not all ska-punk though.
Since the beginning, Mustard Plug has been more than a collection of their musical influences. On this project, they deliver some amazing dance songs interwoven into the more punk-forward songs in their discography. One such song is “Vampire,” which borrows heavily from reggae and ska dancehalls back in the day. In fact, Mustard Plug is mentioned in the recent horror film Renfield, and since the film’s material fits the song, one of the cast members stars in the video.
The Mustard Plug live show has always been stellar.
Whether it’s a 30-minute festival set, or a headlining set in a sweaty club, Mustard Plug consistently leaves it all on the stage for their fans. I’ve had the pleasure of getting more access to Mustard Plug over the years than most because of where I live. In fact, I’ve already seen them once this year, and I can confirm that these new songs make excellent additions to the band’s classic set lists. Also, even though the band is over 30 years old now, it doesn’t mean the members won’t outperform the younger bands on the bill. I don’t know how they have so much energy, but it’s damn inspiring.
I am extremely overjoyed that Mustard Plug has given the world new music for the first time in almost a decade. They’re back with an absolute bang, and I truly hope Where Did All My Friends Go? gets the attention and praise it deserves. Everyone involved with the creation of this record should feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
It can be easy for veteran bands to phone it in and put out albums with no heart for a mere paycheck because they know fans will buy it. Thankfully, Mustard Plug didn’t take that route. Instead, they’ve given their current (and future) fans an album that is equal parts thought-provoking, introspective, and modern. It will be in my rotation for a long time.