Spring Heeled Jack USA
| Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Genres | third wave ska, ska |
| Years active | 1991–2000 2010–2012 (reunion shows) 2013 |
| Labels | Ignition Records Moon Ska Records |
| Associated acts | The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Lost City Angels, Bim Skala Bim, Pilfers, Avoid One Thing, The Toasters, 2 Skinnee J's, The Spicy Griblets, Lord Fowl, Bonafide, Ladyfriend, Cenzo, The Murder Mile, The Risley Dales, Crooked Hook, The Mountain Movers |
| Members | Ron Ragona Mike Pellegrino Corky Evans Nick Bacon Vinny Nobile Peet Golan Tom Quartulli Nick Di Maria |
| Past members | Dave Karcich Rick Omonte Chris Rhodes Pete Wasilewski Tyler Jones Pat Gingras James Riley Chris Bath John Powers Justin Frazier Joseph Busch Seager Tennis Mike DeMatteo |
Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. (more often known simply as Spring Heeled Jack) is a third wave ska band based out of New Haven, Connecticut. The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Ron Ragona and drummer Dave Karcich in 1991. After a short breakup, Ragona and Karcich reformed the band with a new lineup. This lineup went on to record two albums before announcing a hiatus in 2000. While the band members moved on to perform in several new bands, their intention was to play the occasional reunion show. This plan would never come to fruition as a cerebral aneurysm would be cause for Karcich's death in 2002. In 2013, some of the band members reformed the band. A third studio album, Sound Salvation, followed in 2017.
The original lineup of the band featuring Ron Ragona, Dave Karcich, John Powers, Justin Frazier, and Joseph Busch was short lived due to Ragona moving to Boston, in order to play bass for Skavoovie and the Epitones. After six months in Boston, Ragona returned to Connecticut and reformed Spring Heeled Jack. The only other member of the original lineup to return would be Karcich. By the time the band decided to record its demo tape, the lineup consisted of Ragona on vocals and guitar, Karcich on drums, Mike Pellegrino on vocals and guitar, Rick Omonte on bass, Chris Rhodes on trombone, Pat Gingras on trumpet and James Riley on saxophone. The demo tape, titled Connecticut Ska, was released in 1993. The band performed local shows and soon had a devoted following amongst the New Haven ska scene. The band would also contribute studio and live songs to various ska compilations over the next few years.
The band's rising popularity did not escape notice by Robert "Bucket" Hingley, founding member of The Toasters and owner of Moon Ska Records. Hingley signed the band to the label and had them start recording their debut album. By this time, the lineup had changed again. Gingras had left and was replaced by Tyler Jones. Midway through recording the album, Riley had also decided to leave the band. As a result, half of the album features Riley performing saxophone, while the other half was recorded with new member, Pete Wasilewski, who had previously played alongside Rhodes in the Connecticut band, JC Superska. In 1996, the band's debut album, Static World View, was released and the band filmed their first music video for the song, "Pay Some Dues." To support the release of the album, the band started touring outside of their usual territory. During this time, the band became friendly with The Amazing Royal Crowns who would become frequent touring partners in the years to come. The friendship between the two bands would lead to the Spring Heeled Jack horn section performing on the song "Do The Devil" from the 1997 debut album by The Amazing Royal Crowns.
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