It is not lost on 12-piece Voluntary Hazing that the genre known as ska isn’t exactly winning popularity contests. Which is why an upcoming tour for the band, which formed while its members attended San Jose State University, remains a huge deal; yes, they are popular outside of the West Coast. Still, one of their first songs, “Why (You in a Ska Band)” informs everyone that they are all in on the joke. With a band named Voluntary Hazing, how could you not be?
To dispel any fears: The group discourages hazing of any kind, and the fact that they are performing one of the least-celebrated—currently, at least—genres in music should help people appreciate the sense of humor its enterprising young individuals possess. (An original precursor to reggae, ska evolved over the decades and is currently experiencing a fourth-wave revival called New Tone.)
Drummer Alex Quick explained via email what it’s like to be in this type of outfit, the funny and the bizarre scenarios alike. For example, tenor sax player Thomas leads them through breathing and stretching exercises straight out of a high school PE class for their pre-show ritual. Listen, nobody wants to pull a hammy on stage—that is neither ska-like, nor sexy.
“When we were at Doll Fest, the founder, Maria Chaos, saw us doing our stretches and said she was unsure whether what we were doing was cute or cult-like,” Quick writes.
Voluntary Hazing is embarking on the Addictive Little Tour, which kicks off at Bottom of the Hill on June 21, takes them to the East Coast for the first time, then back out west, ending the eight-date affair in Anaheim. This is a big deal: It’s their first time flying as a band. Generally, nobody asks what it takes to move a group of their size to a gig, let alone on tour.
“We don’t have a single bandwagon, but a caravan of two to three cars, and communicate with walkie-talkies to keep the caravan together. When it comes to longer travel, our fearless leader, Kayla creates fairly in-depth itineraries to keep up with the needs of everyone in the group.”
Guitarist Gabriel Perez expanded on this transportation narrative.
“While it is tough traveling with such a large band, there is one positive: We are our own moving team, which makes loading into venues really easy. I have played with smaller bands, and it always takes multiple trips and a lot of effort to set up. With VH, we all work together like a group of ants, which makes setting up and tearing down a breeze.
“On the other hand, a negative is that it can be difficult to get food post-gig. We have walked into restaurants, and you can see some fear in the staff’s eyes when 10 people show up late at night. Sonic Drive-In is a place we usually end up at. I remember one time Kayla tried to buy everyone Texas toast, and Sonic just gave her a fully packaged loaf of bread, untoasted.”
We asked Voluntary Hazing a couple of questions, and they were very polite and giving with their answers.
48HILLS It’s so great you’re taking a giant leap with this tour, congratulations. It seems the Watsonville Strawberry Fest last summer drew your largest crowd, and Hot To Go” was the big hit. What song does the band expect to be the big hit this summer?
VOLUNTARY HAZING It was a giant surprise how well “Hot to Go” did for us that summer. It’s honestly impossible to guess what song will become the most popular with listeners. Of the newer songs we have been playing, I hope that our cover of Oasis’s “Wonderwall” takes off. We added a lot of ourselves into that one, and it is really fun to see the audience’s reaction to it.
48HILLS Did you all expect to get this far into a career?
VOLUNTARY HAZING We are a little surprised how we have been able to do this for this long. Starting a band in college is a lot of fun, but often it fizzles out. People get new jobs and move away, which often kills groups, but we have been able to maintain a strong friendship that holds us together. The fact that we have fans outside of our Bay Area bubble still blows our minds.
48HILLS How will finishing the tour and getting to work on the next record make you feel?
VOLUNTARY HAZING While I feel at my happiest on a stage, it is going to be great to buckle down on work on the record. We have been working on some of these songs for a while; one uses a piano piece I wrote over 10 years ago, and we are super-excited to show everyone what we have been cooking.
48HILLS Do you have any secret songs or dance moves for the performance at Bottom of the Hill?
VOLUNTARY HAZING Haha! We do have a new cover that will be debuting. While I can’t say too much, what I can clue you into is that people should dust off their old shutter shades and practice some 2010s dance moves!
VOLUNTARY HAZING w/ Half Past Two and Chudson, Sun/21, 7pm, Bottom of the Hill, SF. Tickets and more info here. Pick up Addictive Little Sounds here.
