I’ve never been much of a gamer, but one of the first I ever
played was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,
whose incredible soundtrack truly began my love affair with music. That game
was pivotal in giving me my first exposure to the genres of ska and punk, which
have been pivotal in formulating my style of bass-playing. This game, besides
being a ton of fun, invited me into a world inhabited by fast guitar riffs,
pounding drums, and lilting horn melodies, all of which I would soon come to
adore.
THPS was my maiden
voyage into music, and through it, I met the energetic honesty of the Suicide
Machines, the sardonic and sarcastic stylings of the Dead Kennedys, and the
thrashing fervor of Suicidal Tendencies. Perhaps most importantly, this game
provoked my since undying love for Goldfinger, my favorite artist. Recently, I
decided to delve back into that well of youth, and found myself re-exploring
the tracks of this iconic soundtrack. During this process, I encountered one
song that in years passed I had somewhat overlooked, but now, I find myself
entranced by: “Here and Now” by the Ernies.
This song rocks from the moment it opens with an immediately-in-your-face
guitar riff. Turntables build to the drop of the beat, by which time the
listener is grooving in his seat. That groove only intensifies as the song
reaches the verse and the intense vocals take control. Will Hummel practically
raps through his sturdy melody, pulling the listener into the simple yet
elegant chorus that is full of soul. However, perhaps the most interesting
moment is the bridge, which features a sudden and unexpected visit from a horn
section as it blasts through a melody perfectly complementing the still-grooving
guitar riffs and steady drumbeats.
The brilliance of this song was never apparent to me before
the whim to revisit my youth overtook me. Indeed, I remember only that I liked
it as a kid, but never truly loved it. Yet now, I find it to be one of those
songs that I cannot stop listening to, especially due to the fact that the horn
section in this song was something that I never noticed as a child. Now, as a
fan of ska and everything entailed in that sound, I was pleasantly surprised to
hear those saxophones take control of what I thought was a straight alternative
rock song. I was further surprised and delighted to later uncover that the
Ernies always presented a ska-punk element in their music—indeed, their second
record, Dropping Science, features a
cover of the Operation Ivy staple “Sound System.”[1]
However, they never let the label of “ska” dominate them, instead branching
into all styles so as to present a unique and interesting sound[2],
one that is especially apparent in this track.
“Here and Now” by the Ernies had been a familiar
acquaintance in my youth, and as I return to it, a little more seasoned, I find
myself able to reconnect with it as I would an old friend. It echoes memories
of my childhood while creating new connections with me as an adult, inviting me
to continue exploring and enjoying the Ernies’ catalog. Such strength in a song
shows that it will stand tall even as the years continue to pile upon us both.
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