Mephiskapheles Tickets

MEPHISKAPHELES IN CONCERT:

Third-wave ska rockers Mephiskapheles have never played by the rules. Boasting an impressive lineup of punk rockers playing alongside trained jazz musicians, the newly reformed band keeps their live shows as unpredictable as ever. Since its inception in 1991 the band has taken the concept of devil worship, layered it on top of ska music, and sprinkled in elements of punk, metal, and jazz. The result is a live show that's entirely more theatrical and dramatic than traditional ska concerts. Lording over the spectacle is lead singer Invidious, who thrashes around the stage delivering a death metal scream that takes the horn section's melodies to gripping new heights. Ticket buyers will be thrilled by a dynamic, high-energy experience that keeps them thrashing all night long.

BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:

Mephiskapheles burst onto the ska scene in New York City in 1991, transfixing fans with satanic undertones and a diverse lineup of musicians. The band was formed by a group of friends in the local punk scene who recruited a group of jazz horn players to round out their sound. After their demo tape DEMOn earned them a cult following of fans in the northeast, they toured alongside punk rock band Buzzcocks and metal thrashers GWAR. Their debut album, 1994's God Bless Satan, encompassed a smorgasbord of tracks ranging from shrieking satanic rants to lightning-speed ska anthems. The alluring melodies and infectious choruses on songs like "Doomsday"  and "Bumble Bee Tuna" earned them national airplay on MTV and attracted fans all over the world. The band toured heavily between 1995 to 1998 and released two more albums, 1997's Maximum Perversion and 1999's Might-Ay White-Ay, which infused hardcore and heavy metal elements into their sound. That year, the group suddenly called it quits and split off into several spin-off bands including Skull-A-Bull, Tirade, and Burn Guitars. In 2012 two separate Mephiskapheles shows were announced -- one led by original guitarist and cofounder Brendog Tween, and the other led by lead singer Andrew Worrell, aka Invidious. The latter group spent 2013-14 touring at clubs and festivals -- including Riot Fest in Chicago and Apple Stomp in New York -- and recording brand-new music for the first time in more than a decade.