The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are a band that plays the music that they like. The general consensus is that now is the time for the Bosstones, that they have finally recieved their ticket to the big time. Maybe that is true, and maybe they are on their way to superstardom, destined to forget everything that made them great. Somehow I have trouble believing that. With luck they will become household names, but even if they don't, it's very unlikely that they will ever abandon their roots in Beantown.

I had occasion to speak with Joe Gittleman, the bass fiddleman, about the band, the new album, and life as a musician. I talked with Gittleman about his views on the mainstream popularity that ska has been receiving and how it could affect the band. His response was short and honest: "We don't concern ourselves with trends."

While people have been trying to label the Bosstones as ska, ska-core, or ska-punk for the last ten years, this is a band that refuses to label themselves. "The music is just us," according to Gittleman.

If the music is just them, it makes it even more difficult to put a name to their style. When Gittleman and Nate Albert started playing ska back in high school, singer Dicky Barrett was already a "kingpin" of the Boston hard-core scene, performing with his band, The Cheapskates.

All the members of the Bosstones come from various backgrounds and they all bring a different perspective to music and the creation process. While Barrett listens to all sorts of music, Gittleman still listens to the same few records that he was listening to back in grade school -- namely The Clash and The Specials. The Bosstones first got together way back in 1985. After returning from living in Albany, NY, Barrett approached Gittleman and Albert about starting a band. They initially were thinking about naming themselves either the Cashmeres or the Bosstones. They settled on the Bosstones because of the reference to their hometown of Boston, Mass. They later changed to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, after learning that a Harvard a capella group was already using the name Bosstones.

After their initial formation, the Bostones split up for a while so Albert could finish college. But in 1987 they got back together and the rest has been history. The Bosstones have been very fortunate to last in the underground as long as they have. Gittleman attributes their staying power to luck. In contrast to most bands, the Bosstones have never had any major crisis. Everyone in the band gets along really well and Gittleman cannot foresee them ever ceasing to play. Perhaps the most difficult situation the Bosstones ever found themselves in was linked to disagreements with their first record label, Taang. In a move that Taang executives are probably kicking themselves for now, Taang didn't support the band in any of their activities. They weren't paying royalties on the records and they weren't supporting the touring efforts of the band. The band decided that it would be best if they left Taang and decided to start their own label. They eventually joined up with Mercury records and started the Big Rig label.

One of the more amazing things about this band is their relentless touring. They have been playing over 200 shows a year on average during the last few years. Few bands play as often or as enthusiastically as the Bosstones. I talked quite a bit with Gittleman about this and what he said was very refreshing to hear, especially in comparison to what so many musical prima donnas have said.

To Gittleman, it is a "gift to call [playing music] work." Avoiding the "9 to 5 grind" is not something that many people have a chance to do. He also criticized those musicians who "call it tough," saying that "they need to step back and get a little perspective." After hearing this, I have trouble believing that the Bosstones are ever going to "sell out." For the Bosstones, this isn't about money, it is about their love for the music and the interaction with their fans.

For those who have been to a Bosstones show, audience interaction is a central part of the show. Few bands encourage the audience to join them on the stage more than the Bosstones. One rule, however, is in effect -- Stay out of Ben Carrs' way! For those who are not aware, Carrs doesn't play an instrument or sing regularly. Instead, he dances like a man possessed. Always dressed impeccably in a fine suit, he never seems to tire and I can never remember him even loosening his tie. I always wondered how that became part of the show and Gittleman provided the answer.

When the band was playing little dives with 25 people in the audience, Carrs was a roadie. One night he got up on stage, "started kicking shit up," and the rest has been history. For all those fans out there concerned that the Bosstones are going to sell out and start playing big arenas, don't worry. If Gittleman has a say, they will continue playing the small clubs, they will continue playing 200 shows a year and they will continue playing their unique blend of ska, punk, rock, and anything else that they feel like throwing in. For those people who have just learned about this fabulous band, look for them to making a stop in the Boston area in the very near future and also look for them on Real World Boston. Lets face it, the Bosstones have arrived.