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Mustard Plug

File:Lead Singer of Mustard Plug Sings a song.jpgFile:Saxophone player from Mustard Plug.jpg{{Short description|American ska punk band}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Mustard Plug

| origin = Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

| genre = Ska punk, pop punk

| years_active = 1991–present

| label = Hopeless, No Idea Records, Bad Time Records

| website = {{URL|http://www.mustardplug.com/}}

| current_members = Dave Kirchgessner
Brandon Jenison
Jim Hofer
Micheal Skowron
Colin Clive
Mark Petz
Greg Witulski

| past_members = Rick Johnson
Bleu VanDyke
Michael Skowron
Craig DeYoung
Nick Varano
Bob Kneisel
Kevin Dixon
Brad Rozier
John Massel
Matt Van
Brandon Power
Mike McKendrick

}}

Mustard Plug is an American ska punk band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, consisting of Dave Kirchgessner (vocals), Brandon Jenison (trumpet), Jim Hofer (trombone), Nate Cohn (drums), Colin Clive (guitar/vocals), Mark Petz (tenor saxophone) and Greg Witulski (bass).

Formed in 1991, the band has regularly toured throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and South America. They have toured with the Warped Tour twice, and participated in the Ska Against Racism Tour. {{As of|2024}}, the band has released eight studio albums and continues to tour actively.File:Lead Singer of Mustard Plug.jpg

Explaining the band's goal, Jim Hofer said, "We may have some messages in our music, but essentially we just do this because we love it and we want people to lighten up and have fun."{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlmag.com/Blogs/Look-Listen/May-2011/Mustard-Plug-Wants-You-To-Know-Ska-is-Not-Dead/|title=Mustard Plug Wants You To Know Ska is Not Dead|first=Rosalind|last=Early|date=May 9, 2011|website=Stlmag.com|access-date=March 27, 2020}}

History

{{Cleanup|date=August 2023|reason=Too many random, unorganized points.|section}}

The band formed in 1991 after Colin and Dave both attended a Special Beat show.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mustardplug.com/history.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305063147/http://www.mustardplug.com/history.php|url-status=dead|title=mustard plug - history|archive-date=March 5, 2012}} The band's original members were Dave Kirchgessner, Mike McKendrick, Colin Clive, and Anthony Vilchez. There was virtually no ska scene in Grand Rapids at the time, so Mustard Plug was able to develop a unique sound and draw a large following.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ExclaimTV/garageland_mustard_plug|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929093810/http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ExclaimTV/garageland_mustard_plug|url-status=dead|title=Garageland: Mustard Plug • Music / Video • exclaim.ca|archive-date=September 29, 2012}}

Brandon Jenison stated in an interview that their band name originated when "a guy in the early stages of the band was making a sandwich and that crusty stuff that forms on the mustard bottle when you put it in the fridge without wiping it off first gave him an interesting idea for a name."{{cite web|author=Housewives? |url=http://midwesternhousewives.blogspot.com/2007/07/mustard-plug-interview-talks-about-new.html |title=Battle of the Midwestern Housewives: Mustard Plug Interview: Talks about New Album, Breakfast Cereals, and more! |publisher=Midwesternhousewives.blogspot.com |date=July 6, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2011}}

In 2002, the band released Yellow #5, and supported the album for years on tour. In 2005, they released the "greatest hits" album Masterpieces: 1991–2002.

Mustard Plug was on the label Hopeless Records for many years, but had a period of free agency until their signing with Bad Time Records.{{Cite web |title=MUSTARD PLUG |url=https://www.badtimerecords.com/pages/mustard-plug |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Bad Time Records |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2010/07/mustard_plug_plays_bikestock_d.html|title=Mustard Plug plays Bikestock Dos in downtown Grand Rapids|first1=Rachael Recker | The|last1=Gr|first2=Rapids|last2=Press|date=July 15, 2010|website=Mlive.com|access-date=March 27, 2020}}

The band celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2011 with a national tour.{{Cite web|url=http://www.soundspike.com/news/tour/2099-mustard_plug_concert_news_tour_dates/|title=Mustard Plug delivers ska to the Midwest, South|website=Soundspike.com|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509234843/http://www.soundspike.com/news/tour/2099-mustard_plug_concert_news_tour_dates/|archive-date=May 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}

In 2012, the band had an idea for a live album called Mustard Plug:Live!, but canceled in favor of their 2014 album Can't Contain It, the recording of which was funded via Kickstarter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1739374006/mustard-plug-new-record|title=Mustard Plug New Record!|website=Kickstarter.com|access-date=March 27, 2020}} The album features cover art by Jeff Rosenstock of Bomb the Music Industry.

In May 2017, the band performed at Pouzza Fest in Montreal. In 2019, they embarked on a tour of Japan. The band continues to perform around the United States on a regular basis. In 2021, long-time bassist Rick Johnson left the group.[http://www.cjlo.com/articles/pouzza-fest-7th-edition-may-19-21-2017 "Pouzza Fest, 7th Edition - May 19 to 21, 2017"]. CJLO AM Radio, by Robert Portnoff // May 29, 2017

On September 8, 2023, the band released Where Did All My Friends Go?, their first studio album in 9 years, on DIY label Bad Time Records.

Line-up

=Past members=

  • Rick Johnson - bass (2004–2021)
  • Anthony Vilchez - bass (1991–1994)
  • Craig DeYoung - bass (1994–2001), alto saxophone (1992–1994)
  • Matt Van - bass (2001–2004)
  • Mike McKendrick - drums (1991–1993)
  • Michael Skowron - trombone (1993-1995), tenor saxophone (1993-1995)
  • Nick Varano - drums (1993–1999)
  • Brad Rozier - drums (1999–2004)
  • John Massel - drums (2004-2005)
  • Bob Engelsman - trombone (1992–1994)
  • Bleu VanDyke - trombone (1995–1998)
  • Kevin Dixon - tenor saxophone (1996–1998)

=Timeline=

{{#tag:timeline|

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Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:1991 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:dd/mm/yyyy

Colors =

id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:Trumpet value:yelloworange legend:Trumpet,_backing_vocals

id:Sax value:skyblue legend:Saxophone

id:Trombone value:coral legend:Trombone

id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar

id:Keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards

id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_album

id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

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ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1991

LineData =

at:30/10/1992 color:black layer:back

at:01/12/1993 color:black layer:back

at:18/03/1997 color:black layer:back

at:16/03/1999 color:black layer:back

at:17/09/2002 color:black layer:back

at:11/09/2007 color:black layer:back

at:14/01/2014 color:black layer:back

BarData =

bar:DK text:"Dave Kirchgessner"

bar:BJ text:"Brandon Jenison"

bar:CD text:"Craig DeYoung"

bar:MS text:"Michael Skowron"

bar:MP text:"Mark Petz"

bar:KD text:"Kevin Dixon"

bar:BE text:"Bob Engelsman"

bar:JH text:"Jim Hofer"

bar:BV text:"Bleu VanDyke"

bar:CC text:"Colin Clive"

bar:AV text:"Anthony Vilchez"

bar:MV text:"Matt Van"

bar:RJ text:"Rick Johnson"

bar:GW text:"Greg Witulski"

bar:MM text:"Mike McKendrick"

bar:NV text:"Nick Varano"

bar:BR text:"Brad Rozier"

bar:JM text:"John Massel"

bar:NC text:"Nathan Cohn"

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bar:DK from:start till:END color:Vocals

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bar:CC from:start till:END color:Guitar

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bar:CC from:start till:END color:Vocals

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:AV from:start till:01/01/1994 color:Bass

bar:CD from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/2001 color:Bass

bar:MV from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2004 color:Bass

bar:RJ from:01/01/2004 till:19/05/2021 color:Bass

bar:GW from:19/05/2021 till:end color:Bass

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bar:RJ from:01/01/2004 till:19/05/2021 color:Keyboards

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:MM from:start till:01/01/1993 color:Drums

bar:NV from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1999 color:Drums

bar:BR from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2004 color:Drums

bar:JM from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:Drums

bar:NC from:01/01/2005 till:END color:Drums

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:BJ from:01/01/1994 till:END color:Trumpet

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:BE from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1994 color:Trombone

bar:BV from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1998 color:Trombone

bar:JH from:01/01/1995 till:END color:Trombone

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bar:MS from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1995 color:Trombone

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:MP from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1998 color:Sax

bar:KD from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1998 color:Sax

bar:CD from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1993 color:Sax

bar:MS from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1995 color:Sax

bar:MP from:01/01/2021 till:end color:Sax

width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-5)

}}

Discography

=Albums=

=EPs=

  • Hey! (2024, Dashiki Clout Records)

=Music videos=

  • Summertime (1992)
  • Mr. Smiley (1993)
  • Beer (song) (1995)
  • You (1997)
  • Everything Girl (1999)
  • Hit Me! Hit Me! (2007)
  • Over the Edge (2007)
  • Fall Apart (2023)
  • Vampire (2023)
  • Doin' What We Do (2023)
  • Where Did All My Friends Go? (2023)
  • Why Does it Have To Be So Hard? (2023)

=Hopeless Records compilation appearances=

  • Lolita and Never Be appear on Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. II (1998)
  • Yesterday and Already Gone appear on Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 3 (2000)
  • Away from Here and Not Enough appear on Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 4 (2002)
  • You and Over the Edge appear on Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 6 (2006)

References

{{More footnotes needed|date=July 2011}}

{{Reflist}}

  • [http://midwesternhousewives.blogspot.com/2007/07/mustard-plug-interview-talks-about-new.html "Mustard Plug Interview: Talks about the New Album, Breakfast Cereals, and more!"], "The Battle Of The Midwestern Housewives", July 6, 2007. Accessed July 7, 2007
  • [http://michiganska.tumblr.com/post/64752904/interview-with-rick-johnson "Interview with Rick Johnson!"], "Michigan Ska Blog", December 12, 2008. Accessed September 9, 2009

External links

  • [http://www.mustardplug.com/ Official website]
  • [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p44813|pure_url=yes}} Mustard Plug's Allmusic entry]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071209184423/http://www.truepunk.com/interviews/mustard_plug/ Interview from 2002]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070701012111/http://www.truepunk.com/interviews/Mustard_Plug_2/ Interview from 2005]
  • [http://www.readjunk.com/interviews/mustard-plug Interview from 2007] at [http://www.readjunk.com ReadJunk.com]
  • [https://archive.org/details/MustardPlug Mustard Plug collection] at the Internet Archive's live music archive

{{Mustard Plug}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:American ska punk musical groups

Category:Third-wave ska groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1991

Category:1991 establishments in Michigan

Category:Hopeless Records artists

Category:Musical groups from Grand Rapids, Michigan