Formed in 2002, Chase Long Beach have risen quickly through the ranks of the Southern California Ska movement trying to revive the scene. Packing their energetic live shows full of kids, CLB are creating a solid name for themselves.
CLB started out as most ska bands do, playing the local church and school circuit. Their first break came when they played with fellow Orange County band Suburban Legends. At their second show they played together CLB released their first EP "A Molotov Cocktail Party" creating a loyal following as well as impressing their ska colleagues. Composed of three out of seven members in their band, their brass section is one of the most tight knit in the world, the band is never lacking energy onstage. Despite the band's age, the listener cannot help but respect them as artists and human beings.
With CLB on the rise, everything came together when front woman Karen Roberts was asked onstage during a July 31, 2006 Reel Big Fish show to sing their hit "She Has A Girlfriend Now." Reel Big Fish lead singer Aaron Barrett was so impressed that he offered to produce the band's debut full length, "LeBeC" without even seeing them perform live. This was quickly changed, as CLB were asked to open to a packed audience on February 22, 2007 at Claremont College, Claremont, CA.
Barrett has said CLB have "songs with interesting lyrics that are sometimes deeper and more introspective than your usual jokey ska songs (though they [have] those too). I think that's important; ska needs to have more heart and more intelligence, not just be all silliness," which emphasizes their unique approach to the genre. Ska enthusiasts from around the world have said that CLB are the new face of ska.
2007 promises to be a big year for CLB with shows already confirmed with artists Mustard Plug, Buck-O-Nine and Starpool. CLB have also locked in as support to Frank And His Skunk Allstars for two months in 2008, trekking all over the Eastern Hemisphere with runs in Japan, Europe and Australia.
To date, CLB have shared the stage with artists and acts such as Reel Big Fish, Buck-O-Nine, The Toasters, Starpool, Suburban Legends, The Skeletones, Against All Authority, Authority Zero, Los Kung Fu Monkeys, Hellogoodbye, The Plain White Ts, The Phenomenauts, Go Jimmy Go, and I Hate Kate. CLB were also invited to play the November 2006 West Coast debut of Three Floors of Ska.
