An Interview with Son Of Bubba

Son of Bubba:
A Sequel That’s a Whole Lot Better Than Jaws III

by Ed Yashinsky

At a few minutes past 10 o’clock on Wednesday, April 9, the reformed, and renamed, Son of Bubba, tore into the first song (and second chapter) of their tough-to-explain musical career. Throughout the 50-minute set at Wanda’s Nightclub, it was vintage Bubba—the band playing workman-like cover tunes wrapped into some of the most bizarre and juxtaposed medleys imaginable, with lead singer Mark LaFaver reprising his role as court jester to the adoring, happy revelers who, for reasons unknown, have followed these guys around Central Pennsylvania for more than three years.

Somewhere in Harrisburg that night, a group of "serious musicians" let out a collective groan as they began, once again, to ponder life with Bubba in the Harrisburg music scene.

I have asked myself repeatedly why so many people love a band that plays, in their own words, cheesy music. Yet, as I stood in the back of the room watching the interaction between the band and their audience, it was hard not to be amused and entertained. According to LaFaver, it’s easy to figure out why people come to see Son of Bubba. "Harrisburg wants a party band, and we love being that band," he says. "As long as we can have some free beers while we’re playing, we’re happy."

In fact, you might say free beer is part of the reason that Son of Bubba was born. Bubba, the original, started in the fall of 1993. About six months ago, a few members decided they wanted to leave the band. Instead of looking for replacements, everyone agreed to call it quits after a 1996 New Year’s Eve bash at The Villa Courtyard. "Soon after Bubba broke up, Mark and I started talking about getting a band going again," says Tim Ulsh, guitarist and the other original member in Son of Bubba. "We enjoyed playing live and we weren’t thrilled about having to buy beers when we went out."

So instead of reinventing the wheel, LaFaver and Ulsh decided to find new members, work up some new cheesy medleys, and prove that Harrisburg still needed a party band. The new lineup, featuring Jeff Quigley on drums, Mike Soho on guitar, and Dave Garry on bass, sounds right at home with the original members. The new band is still developing their own sound, but they are all comfortable with the Son of Bubba philosophy. "We are all serious about what we’re doing, but at the same time, we are all here to have fun," says Quigley.

And whether or not there are new members, you can still taste Bubba’s cheesy goodness. If not, how can you explain medleys combining "Our Lips Are Sealed," by the Go-Go’s and "Rock and Roll All Night," by Kiss, or the ever-popular "Bust a Move" by Young MC meshed with "Back in Black," by AC/DC?

But what’s with the name? "We threw around Tickle Me Bubba, Bubba 2: Electric Bugaloo, and The Idiots Formerly Known as Bubba," says LaFaver, "But Son of Bubba really defines us. Although I am sure that we’ll be calling ourselves by many Bubba deviations from time to time."

As for the "serious musicians" take on Bubba, LaFaver is honest about where Son of Bubba stands. "I’ve been told by some of my musician friends that Bubba sucks and to be honest, I might have said the same thing about us ten years ago," says LaFaver. "But the entire band believes in what we do. We don’t want a record contract. We want to play music and have a great time, and that’s exactly what we do."

The Beating a Dead Horse Tour (which actually never stops) will be kicking into high-gear just in time for summer. So keep an eye open for Son of Bubba, have some fun, and don’t forget to buy the band a drink!!!