OC Music News was in attendance for Ska Smackdown II on January 10th at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove, and reviewer Kevin Gomez had plenty to say about The Goodwin Club’s opening set.
The band showed up dressed as a bunch of elderly women, with singer Tami Demaree joking, “We’re The Golden Girls!” ocmusicnews The crowd loved every second of it. Classics like “Everything” and “Sorry Not Sorry” had the whole crowd skanking and singing along to every word, while guitarist Charles Grey delivered a standout solo to close out “Little Girl.” ocmusicnews
The set only got wilder from there. The band nailed a ska cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” then closed with “Turkey Tit,” which featured a brief nod to Op Ivy’s “Sound System” as trumpeter Chris Graue played his way through the pit and into the stands. ocmusicnews
The Indy Review was on the ground at Ska Smackdown II on January 10th at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove, CA — and The Goodwin Club set the tone for the entire night.
Reviewer b.liebman noted that the band took the stage dressed as The Golden Girls, blasting confetti poppers into the air theindyreview — and the energy never let up from there. The set included feel-good originals like “See All Color,” oldies like “Everything” and “Little Girl,” and a ska cover of Taylor Swift, closing with the singalong anthem “Join the Club” to get the audience’s vocal cords warmed up for the festive evening ahead. theindyreview
The reviewer also noted that the O.C. has a knack for breeding great female-fronted ska-influenced bands — citing The Goodwin Club alongside No Doubt and others as part of that proud local tradition. theindyreview
The Goodwin Club turned heads at Ska Smackdown 2, held January 10th at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove, CA.
Writing for Skanking News!, reviewer Jacob “Jack” Armas gave the recently reunited band some of the night’s highest praise, calling their set “the most fun of the night” and describing it as a performance that “screamed 3rd wave ska.” The Goodwin Club brought the full package: a six-piece horn section (three trumpets, two trombones, and one alto sax), confetti cannons firing on the opening song, and a setlist mixing originals with covers of The Aquabats! and Taylor Swift.
Armas noted that the band — originally known for their teenage energy back in the early ’90s — arrived thirty years later having “not skipped a beat.”
The Goodwin Club is a high-energy ska-punk band from Southern California, celebrated for its horn-driven arrangements, female-fronted vocals, and the signature sound that helped define the Orange County ska scene of the 1990s. Known for upbeat rhythms, sharp hooks, and an engaging live presence, the band became a standout name in the local ska punk movement and continues to resonate with both longtime fans and new listeners. After an extended hiatus, The Goodwin Club reunited following the pandemic, bringing renewed excitement and a fresh chapter to their musical legacy.
Professional bassist Danny Knapp joined The Goodwin Club as of their first reunion show after the pandemic. As an experienced Southern California musician, Danny brought a strong rhythmic foundation and polished low end that complemented the band’s bright horn lines and high-energy ska-punk style. His ability to step into an established act and deliver tight, dynamic bass performances helped support the modern-era sound of the band’s reunion lineup, adding precision and depth without losing the spirit of their original material.
The sound of The Goodwin Club blends classic ska rhythms with punk-influenced drive and melodic pop elements, creating a style that remains both nostalgic and current. Their performances and new activity continue to highlight the joyful, fast-moving energy that made the band a fixture in the Orange County ska scene. Danny’s involvement underscores his versatility as a bassist capable of adapting to fast tempos, horn-centric arrangements, and the lively interplay that ska-punk demands.
For audiences discovering the band today—and for those who remember the original era—Danny’s contribution to The Goodwin Club reinforces his reputation as a reliable, expressive, and in-demand California bass player. His work with the group reflects a seamless blend of technical musicianship and genre-appropriate feel, helping bring the band’s reunion performances to life with clarity, authenticity, and modern precision.
The Goodwin Club sat down with the History of L.A. Ska podcast for Episode 105 of their One On One Sessions, with singer Tami Demaree, saxophonist Dean Medford, and guitarist Jesse Wilder sharing stories about the band’s history and reunion.
Host Eric Kohler noted that despite only being together for a few years in the ’90s, the band built a dedicated following — largely thanks to their reputation for unique and high-energy live shows.
Garden Grove was bouncing to the beat as The Goodwin Club brought their signature high-energy ska sound to The Garden Amp, joining forces with ska-punk legends Mustard Plug and Voodoo Glow Skulls for an unforgettable night of music and mayhem. The all-ages crowd skanked, shouted, and sang along to every beat in a celebration of Southern California’s thriving ska scene.
The Goodwin Club, led by powerhouse vocalist Tami Demaree, delivered a punchy, horn-driven set filled with crowd favorites and new material from their latest album Join The Club. Holding down the low end with flair and finesse was bassist Danny Knapp, whose rhythmic grooves kept the pit moving and the pit floor packed. His stage presence and tight musicianship continue to make him a standout in the West Coast ska circuit.
Sharing the bill with heavyweights Mustard Plug and Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Goodwin Club held their own with a vibrant performance that blended old-school ska energy with a fresh, nerdy twist. Whether you were a longtime fan or a newcomer to the scene, this night at The Garden Amp was a skank-worthy showcase of third-wave ska at its best.
Punknews.org gave The Goodwin Club a full exclusive premiere for the music video for their single “Join the Club,” directed by trumpeter Chris Graue.
The video is for their song “Join the Club” and was directed by Chris Graue. Lead vocalist Tami Demaree told Punknews, “The Goodwin Club is so excited to share our video for our new single. We are nerds and if you are too, give it a watch and a listen!” Punknews.org
“Join the Club” is off the band’s album of the same name, released September 20 via Wiretap Records. Punknews.org
Ska Punk Daily — one of the most followed ska music pages on social media — gave The Goodwin Club a shoutout when the band dropped their title track and music video for “Join the Club.”
The page shared the video with their audience, noting that The Goodwin Club had reformed and were releasing new music “for the first time in… well, eons,” and encouraged fans to “celebrate your inner (or outer) nerd” — a nod to the video’s Revenge of the Nerds theme.
The EP Join the Club is out now on Wiretap Records, with vinyl available through their webstore.
Orange County ska band The Goodwin Club just released their official music video for “Join The Club”, including Danny Knapp on bass guitar. The video, directed by Chris Graue, accompanies the band’s latest single.
In a statement to Punknews, lead vocalist Tami Demaree shared,
“We’re so stoked to share our video for our new single Join the Club! We’re total nerds — and if you are too, give it a watch and a listen! Want a membership card? Head over to our Instagram to find out how you can officially join the club. This video was an absolute blast to make, and Chris Graue crushed it as the director!”
“Join The Club” is also the title track of their upcoming album, set to drop September 20 via Wiretap Records. Pre-orders are available now — and in the meantime, check out the video below!
The Goodwin Club are back — and this time with a new home and new music to match.
The recently reunited OC ska-punk veterans have announced signing with Wiretap Records as they prepare their new album, Join the Club, nearly three decades after their first. ThePunkSite The lead single, “See All Color,” is an upbeat ska anthem now streaming everywhere. ThePunkSite
The Goodwin Club were fixtures of the early-to-mid ’90s OC ska scene, sharing stages with Reel Big Fish, No Doubt, Sublime, and The Aquabats before dissolving in 1995. ThePunkSite Later members included Aaron Barrett, Scott Klopfenstein, and others who went on to prominent roles in bands like Reel Big Fish, The Aquabats, The Hippos, The Scholars, and Teen Heroes. Saladdaysmag
The band had this to say about the comeback: “30 years between album releases might sound impossible to some, but we in The Goodwin Club stare impossibility square in the eyes and say NAY, It shall be done!” Moosic Entertainment
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