Big D and the Kids Table 'How It Goes'—The masterpiece of the Boston ska-punk scene and the most controversial release of 2004 that earned a 92/100 from AbsolutePunk is here

Big D and the Kids Table / How It Goes

The third studio album from the Boston-based ska-punk band Big D and the Kids Table, 'How It Goes', was released in 2004 via Springman Records and Moon Ska. Recorded at The Outpost in Stoughton, Massachusetts, and produced by Jim Siegel, this work boasts an overwhelming volume of 20 tracks totaling 76 minutes and 16 seconds. Frontman David McWane has stated, 'There are bands that want to play music, and then there are musicians. We are modern American gypsies,' and true to his words, this album is filled from start to finish with an uncompromising DIY spirit and a pure love for music.

Genre and Musicality

The sound, which moves freely between ska-punk, skate-punk, and roots reggae, is the hallmark of this work. The horn section can be soft and soothing or powerful and assertive, and the unique production of inserting audio clips—such as old-time advertisements, voicemails, and vinyl playback instructions—shines throughout. Their ability to fuse punk, ska, and pop-punk into a single entertainment package shows the full potential of the Boston ska scene, often mentioned alongside The Supremes, Less Than Jake, and Streetlight Manifesto.

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Recommended Tracks

• The Sounds of Allston Village
  An opener filled with love for the downtown Boston area that kicks off the album.
  Based on the band's local area of Allston Village, this track features uplifting horn lines intertwined with Dave McWane's husky vocals, instantly drawing the listener into the world of Big D. It is a song that can be called the spiritual origin of the band, where love and pride for their hometown reside in the music.

• New Nail Bed
  A song where the joy of straightforward ska-punk filled with upstrokes is in full swing. With vibrant horn lines and a popping rhythm section, this track embodies the catchiest and most exhilarating aspects of the ska-punk genre. It is one of the most dance-floor-ready, high-speed tracks on the album.

• My Girlfriend’s on Drugs
  A song that perfectly balances humor and melancholy, even for this album.
  While the impact of the title alone invites laughter, listening to it reveals Dave McWane's emotional vocals, which strike the heart with unexpected depth. With a sense of sorrow seeping through the vibrancy of the ska upstrokes and horn section, this track proves that Big D and the Kids Table are not just a 'fun-only ska band.'

• Girls Against Drunk Bitches
  One of the album's best anthems, described as 'punk rock from the good old days with horns added.' The lyrics, filled with a cynical view of parties and humor, condense the band's explosive live energy, and the sense of the title alone conveys exactly what the band wants to do. It is a hidden core of this work that sparks sing-alongs from the audience during live shows.

Album Review

Catch 22, Mustard Plug, and The Planet Smashers on the 'Ska Is Dead and You're Next Tour,' as well as their participation in the Vans Warped Tour, solidified their position in the ska scene. This work, which Big D and the Kids Table completed by pouring in all their energy, is a masterpiece rated 92/100 on AbsolutePunk and described on Bandcamp as 'deeply infectious, hooky ska-punk for the next generation.' The overwhelming volume of 76 minutes and 20 tracks might seem reckless at first, but the band's diversity and the ingenuity of their song structure, which keeps the listener from getting bored for almost a single moment across all 20 tracks, make this album not just a grand work, but a true masterpiece.

🎵My Girlfriend’s on Drugs

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