The Mighty Mighty Bosstones While We're At It Interview

The 90's Ska Ambassadors Are Dropping Their New Album, While We're At It

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones became the ambassadors of the 90s ska explosion (the third wave of SKA) by forging new territory and being one of the first, if not the first band to cross high-energy ska with hardcore punk. Over a 30-year career Boston's best dressed band has built, and continue to build, a devoted following with their unique brass-infused brand of punk rock.

They were fresh out of high school when they recorded their debut album, Devils Night Out, which was released in 1990 on Taang! Records. Fast-forward to 1997 for the release of Let's Face It - the band's biggest-selling album to date; certified platinum and buoyed by the success of the anthemic The Impression That I Get. Live from the Middle East followed in 1998 and Pay Attention was released in the spring of 2000, producing another modern rock hit, So Sad to Say. A Jackknife to a Swan appeared two years later, as did a headlining stint on The Vans Warped Tour.

Having toured nonstop since 1991, the band announced they were going on hiatus in 2003. During this time frontman Dicky Barrett became a staple as the announcer on ABC's late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The band returned in 2007 by performing several live shows and releasing Medium Rare, marking the end of their hiatus. In 2008 they released, Pin Points and Gin Joints, and continued to tour. Then in 2011 the band dropped The Magic of Youth, on their very own record label, Big Rig Records.

2017 saw the band headline Riot Fest and play the 20th Anniversary of their highly successful and long-standing holiday party, Hometown Throwdown. That same year Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh, presented the Bosstones with a proclamation declaring December 28th Mighty Mighty Bosstones Day in the city of Boston.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have stuck more pins in the map and racked up more tour miles than they can probably remember, earning themselves the reputation as one of the hardest working bands in rock. Now Boston's best dressed band are back and set to release their first new studio album since 2011 titled While We're At It. This will be their 10th studio album and their second release via their own record label, Big Rig Records.

"This is the best of what we do best" vows frontman, Dicky Barrett. "It's us firing on all of our cylinders. This is where we're at in our lives with no regrets."

The album was produced and mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Ted Hutt (Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, The Gaslight Anthem) and mastered by Grammy Award-nominated Greg Calbi (David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan) at Sterling Sound.

Listen here.

Interview with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Question: What inspired the return to the studio, after seven years?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: The six years we weren't in the studio. We make records when we want to make records we feel like we're allowed to do that.


Question: How would you describe While We're At It?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: The best of what we do best. The record we needed to make right now. An exceptional Mighty Mighty BossToneS effort. Tremendous music, thoughtful lyrics. Damn good!


Question: What's changed for you over the past seven years?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: I feel like things didn't change for me, but things changed around me. In the last few years it's a much different world, to be more specific I live in a much different country.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: We've been having a lot of success with Wonderful Day For the Race, Green Bay Wisconsin and The Constant but the album is only a few weeks old.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: A lot of different things. Whatever's going on at the time, sometimes historical events, feelings I have, stuff I'm experiencing and beer.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: I like this English band Buster Shuffle a great deal.

Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: Neil Diamond, Glen Campbell or Peter Porker.


Question: What's next for you guys?

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: BossToneS shows hopefully there will be some in Australia.


Interview by Brooke Hunter