| Background | group_or_band |
|---|---|
| Origin | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Genre | Ska punk, punk rock, indie rock |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Label | Asian Man Records |
| Associated acts | Dan P & the Bricks, The Stitch Up, Spitzer, Bagheera, Skankin' Pickle, Orange Tree, Mikey |
| Website | www.mu330.com |
| Current members | Dan Potthast Ted Moll Chris Diebold Robert Bell Gerry Lundquist |
MU330 is an American ska punk band from St. Louis, Missouri. Formed by students of St. Louis University High School in 1988, MU330 played a self-described brand of music called "psycho ska", high energy ska punk marked by manic performances and humorous, often strange lyricism.[1]
Since 1997, the band's musical direction has changed towards a more melodic and lyric-driven ska/indie rock sound, a combination that has been described as "Weezer meets The Specials".[2] This style was noted in a 2022 review.[3]
Dan Potthast (guitar/vocals), Ted Moll (drums), Chris Diebold (bass guitar), and Robert Bell (trombone) have remained with MU330 since the band's inception, and the trombonist Gerry Lundquist has been a member for over two decades. There have been several different frontmen in the past, but Potthast has always been the band's principal songwriter and lyricist.[4]
Biography
The original members met in St. Louis University High School music class 330, hence the band's name.[5] They learned to play instruments and practiced in the basement of Moll's grandmothers home. They started to get gigs at schools in St. Louis. Their musical style was later influenced by the Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, Toasters and Special Beat.[6]
Potthast has released solo work and has also started a second band, The Stitch Up, with the former Slow Gherkin frontman, James Rickman. He also started a ska/rocksteady group called Dan P and the Bricks with former the MU330 saxophonist, Matt Knobbe.
In 2018, Potthast was part of Jeff Rosenstock's touring band. Moll, the drummer, has a side project band called Bagheera. Most members of MU330 have performed with Mike Park's Bruce Lee Band throughout the band's history. Potthast played live with The Bruce Lee Band, for example in 2024.[7] MU330 continues to perform live sporadically across the United States.
Band members
Press (up to 1994)
- John Kavanaugh - vocals, trumpet
- Dan Potthast - vocals, guitar
- Ted Moll - drums, vocals
- Chris Diebold - bass guitar
- Robert Bell - trombone
- Matt Knobbe - tenor saxophone
Chumps on Parade (1995–1997)
- Jason Nelson - vocals
- Dan Potthast - vocals, guitar
- Ted Moll - drums, vocals
- Chris Diebold - bass guitar
- Rob Bell - trombone
- Traygen Bilsland - saxophone
- Nick Baur - Trumpet
1997 - present
- Dan Potthast - vocals, guitar
- Ted Moll - drums, vocals
- Chris Diebold - bass guitar
- Robert Bell - trombone
- Gerry Lundquist - trombone
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Salamander Stew | Self-released |
| 1994 | Press[8] | Moon Ska Records / Asian Man Records |
| 1996 | Chumps on Parade | Dill Records / Asian Man Records |
| 1997 | Crab Rangoon | Asian Man Records |
| 1999 | MU330[9] | Asian Man Records |
| 1999 | Winter Wonderland![10] | Asian Man Records |
| 2002 | Ultra Panic[11] | Asian Man Records |
Live albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Oh Yeah!" Live[12] | Asian Man Records |
Compilations
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Best of MU330 | California Roll | Japan-only compilation with four unreleased songs |
Singles, demos and non-album tracks
| Year | Title | Label | Formats | Notes/Track(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Salamander Stew | Self-released | Cassette | Demo recorded and mixed at Profound Sound |
| 1996 | "Jason" b/w "Now" 7" | Moon Ska Records | "Jason", "Now" | |
| 1997 | MU330 / Blue Meanies Split 7" | Asian Man Records | "Vacation" (Caffey, Valentine, Wiedlin) | |
| 1998 | Time Bomb EP 7" | H.Y.R. | "Hoosier Love", "LA", "Ireland" Split with Punishment Park. Released only in Norway. | |
| 2000 | Doppel Pack soundtrack | "Better Than Pork" (Potthast) | ||
| 2000 | Metalliska: A Ska Tribute to 80's Metal | Too Hep | "Motorbreath" (Hetfield) | |
| 2007 | Ska Is Dead Compilation CD | Asian Man Records | "Please Don't Run" | |
| 2017 | Don't Worry Don't Stress[13] | Asian Man Records | Digital | "Don't Worry Don't Stress" |
References
- ^ "MU330". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "MU330 "Crab Rangoon" CD/LP". Asian Man Records. Archived June 13, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- "MU 330". MTV. Archived June 20, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 5, 2013. - ^ Lauden, S. W. (10 February 2022). "Aaron Carnes' Top 5 Favorite '90s Ska Songs". The Big Takeover. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "mu330". VH1. Archived April 26, 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "Biography MU330". AllMusic
- ^ Ruggiero, Bob (10 February 2000). "Old School". Houston Press. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "bottomofthehill: The Bruce Lee Band ~ 10/19/2024". www.bottomofthehill.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Greene, Jo-Anne. "Press Review". AllMusic. Archived December 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "MU330 - MU330". AllMusic. Archived August 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Winter Wonderland Review". AllMusic. Archived November 23, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ Anderson, Rick. "Ultra Panic Review". AllMusic. Archived May 3, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ Wiznitzer, Ari. "Live Oh Yeah! Review". AllMusic. Archived December 3, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "Don't Worry Don't Stress by MU330". Bandcamp. Asian Man Records. Archived August 21, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
External links
- Official website[dead link]
- Dan Potthast's official website Archived July 2, 2010 at the Wayback Machine