DAN P AND THE BRICKS – Watch Where You Walk

Having gone to many ska shows in northern California from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, I remember seeing MU330’s vocalist and guitarist Dan Potthast randomly show up outside venues and play acoustic sets after the conclusion of the concert. Apparently, Potthast decided that Santa Cruz, located about 70 miles south of San Francisco, was calling him as a musician, and he moved there from his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. With Potthast’s move to California, this left the future of MU330 in the air, and eventually led the band to go on hiatus.


After a few solo albums and heading up the band The Stitch Up, Dan — along with members of defunct Santa Cruz ska act Slow Gherkin — have formed Dan P and The Bricks. Their debut album, Watch Where You Walk, features Potthast’s trademark vocals and songwriting, something that made MU330 stand out from other acts throughout the third-wave ska years of the 1990s.

Although the music with The Bricks sticks to a more toned-down, traditional roots 2-tone ska sound, it’s a definite departure from the sound of MU330’s fast paced punk-ska. Think of the lyrics of MU330 meets sound of The Pietasters. The five-piece horn section has a deep, rich sound — especially with the addition of baritone sax. With the song “One Reason,” Dan is joined by a female vocalist in this throwback tune featuring a doo-wop sound. The band also tackles one of Dan’s solo tunes “Set Sail,” which was featured on his 1999 debut solo album Eyeballs.

Watch Where You Walk is a reminder that while the mainstream hype and attention of ska music is long gone, those who drove that genre to mainstream notoriety are still producing great music.

(Asian Man Records, PO Box 35585 Monte Sereno, CA 95030)