MU330
MU330 is an American ska punk band from St. Louis, Missouri. Formed by students of St. Louis University High School in 1988, MU330 played a self-described brand of music called "psycho ska", high energy ska punk marked by manic performances and humorous, often strange lyricism.
Since 1997, the band's musical direction has changed towards a more melodic and lyric-driven ska/indie rock sound, a combination that has been described as "Weezer meets The Specials". This style was noted in a 2022 review.
Dan Potthast, Ted Moll, Chris Diebold, and Robert Bell have remained with MU330 since the band's inception, and the trombonist Gerry Lundquist has been a member for over two decades. There have been several different frontmen in the past, but Potthast has always been the band's principal songwriter and lyricist.
Biography
The original members met in St. Louis University High School music class 330, hence the band's name. They learned to play instruments and practiced in the basement of Moll's grandmothers home. They started to get gigs at schools in St. Louis. Their musical style was later influenced by the Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, Toasters and Special Beat.Potthast has released solo work and has also started a second band, The Stitch Up, with the former Slow Gherkin frontman, James Rickman. He also started a ska/rocksteady group called Dan P and the Bricks with former the MU330 saxophonist, Matt Knobbe.
In 2018, Potthast was part of Jeff Rosenstock's touring band. Moll, the drummer, has a side project band called Bagheera. Most members of MU330 have performed with Mike Park's Bruce Lee Band throughout the band's history. Potthast played live with The Bruce Lee Band, for example in 2024. MU330 continues to perform live sporadically across the United States.
Band members
''Press'' (up to 1994)
- John Kavanaugh - vocals, trumpet
- Dan Potthast - vocals, guitar
- Ted Moll - drums, vocals
- Chris Diebold - bass guitar
- Robert Bell - trombone
- Matt Knobbe - tenor saxophone
''Chumps on Parade'' (1995-1997)
- Jason Nelson - vocals
- Dan Potthast - vocals, guitar
- Ted Moll - drums, vocals
- Chris Diebold - bass guitar
- Rob Bell - trombone
- Traygen Bilsland - saxophone
- Nick Baur - Trumpet
1997 - present
- Dan Potthast - vocals, guitar
- Ted Moll - drums, vocals
- Chris Diebold - bass guitar
- Robert Bell - trombone
- Gerry Lundquist - trombone
Discography