Posted April 7, 2008
By VivaLaGonzo

What do you get when Incubus, Sublime and 311 have a musical ménage à trois? You get Ballyhoo. From Aberdeen, Md., Ballyhoo consists of four friends who have been playing their eclectic blend of rock and reggae grooves since high school. Howi, on lead guitar and vocals, has a voice with an uncanny resemblance to both Brandon Boyd of Incubus and the late Bradley Nowell of Sublime. Ballyhoo even had their cover of “40 Oz. to Freedom” featured on a Sublime tribute album entitled “Forever Free.” The band has sold more than 6,000 copies of their latest album, “Do It For The Money!,” a grassroots campaign. “Somewhere Tropical” shows off Ballyhoo’s mix of punk, ska and reggae. The rhythm guitar has traditional reggae timing and newer infusions from bands like 311 while Big D lays down a steady beat with steel drums. “Somewhere Tropical” also proves that Howi has real chops; he unleashes a fluid solo to bring the song to a memorable climax. DJ Blaze brings subtle scratches and beats to the band alongside Mista J’s solid bass riffs. Ballyhoo is a reminder that the patchwork of genres that made Sublime and 311 household names still has plenty of life. Fans of the sunny shoreside grooves from Sublime, 311 or Clemson’s PictureMeFree should check them out at 356 on Thursday night. Bootleg will be giving away free t-shirts and coozies!

Ballyhoo April 10 Club 356 Clemson, SC 10 p.m. (864) 654-1356 http://www.myspace.com/ballyhoo