Biography
Buck-O-Nine formed in the early 1990s as a San Diego ska-punk outfit anchored by Jon Pebsworth on vocals, Jonas Kleiner on guitar, Scott Kennerly on bass, Steve Bauer on drums, Tony Currey on trumpet, Don Albert on trombone, and Craig Yarnold on saxophone. The group quickly established itself within the California ska-punk circuit and issued its debut, Songs in the Key of Bree, on Taang! Records in 1994. Barfly followed in 1995, broadening the audience through constant U.S. dates and an initial visit to Japan, while the Water in My Head EP surfaced the next spring.
After signing with TVT Records in 1996, the band recorded Twenty-Eight Teeth with producers Neill King and David Kershenbaum; the April 1997 release pushed further into reggae and ska territories and yielded the national radio single “My Town.” Drummer Steve Bauer departed after the supporting tour. The Pass the Dutchie EP arrived in 1998, and Libido appeared the following year with Jeff Hawthorne replacing Bauer behind the kit and ex-Unwritten Law bassist John Bell joining the lineup. TVT ultimately released the band after executives showed little interest in more experimental demos, prompting the 2000 live set Hellos & Goodbyes—captured in Japan and issued on Pebsworth’s Offramp label—while Bell stepped away for health reasons after the same Japanese dates, with Andy Platfoot taking over on bass.
Although the musicians kept performing, they deliberately scaled back their heavy touring schedule to spend more time at home. A best-of collection marked the quiet years before Sustain emerged in 2007 as the first new material in seven years. The band stayed largely low-key afterward, playing sporadic shows until 2012, when founding drummer Steve Bauer reclaimed his spot from Jeff Hawthorne. Cleopatra Records extended an invitation in 2017 that led to the track “Don’t Be Afraid” appearing on the Punk Rock Halloween compilation, which in turn prompted the label to offer a full-length project. The resulting FunDayMental arrived in 2019 as the group’s ninth studio album and first new record in twelve years. Promotion proved difficult: most 2019 dates fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a rescheduled January 2022 run was canceled after Pebsworth suffered a massive heart attack. Prior to that health crisis, however, the musicians convened at their San Diego rehearsal and recording space, Earthling, to capture an audience-free live set later released by Cleopatra as 572 Days Later: Live at Earthling in June 2022.
After signing with TVT Records in 1996, the band recorded Twenty-Eight Teeth with producers Neill King and David Kershenbaum; the April 1997 release pushed further into reggae and ska territories and yielded the national radio single “My Town.” Drummer Steve Bauer departed after the supporting tour. The Pass the Dutchie EP arrived in 1998, and Libido appeared the following year with Jeff Hawthorne replacing Bauer behind the kit and ex-Unwritten Law bassist John Bell joining the lineup. TVT ultimately released the band after executives showed little interest in more experimental demos, prompting the 2000 live set Hellos & Goodbyes—captured in Japan and issued on Pebsworth’s Offramp label—while Bell stepped away for health reasons after the same Japanese dates, with Andy Platfoot taking over on bass.
Although the musicians kept performing, they deliberately scaled back their heavy touring schedule to spend more time at home. A best-of collection marked the quiet years before Sustain emerged in 2007 as the first new material in seven years. The band stayed largely low-key afterward, playing sporadic shows until 2012, when founding drummer Steve Bauer reclaimed his spot from Jeff Hawthorne. Cleopatra Records extended an invitation in 2017 that led to the track “Don’t Be Afraid” appearing on the Punk Rock Halloween compilation, which in turn prompted the label to offer a full-length project. The resulting FunDayMental arrived in 2019 as the group’s ninth studio album and first new record in twelve years. Promotion proved difficult: most 2019 dates fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a rescheduled January 2022 run was canceled after Pebsworth suffered a massive heart attack. Prior to that health crisis, however, the musicians convened at their San Diego rehearsal and recording space, Earthling, to capture an audience-free live set later released by Cleopatra as 572 Days Later: Live at Earthling in June 2022.
Albums
Cut Out The Noise
2025
FunDayMental
2019
Sustain
2007
Libido
1999
Pass The Dutchie - EP
1998
Twenty-Eight Teeth
1997
Songs In The Key Of Bree
1994
Singles
Live
