Dance Hall Crashers

ByLets Go Punk
Dance Hall Crashers are a Berkeley ska punk band formed in 1989 by ex-Operation Ivy members

Dance Hall Crashers (often abbreviated to DHC) is a ska punk band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1989. The group was originally started by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman of Operation Ivy and has gone through multiple lineup changes over the years. The most recent lineup includes Elyse Rogers and Karina Deniké on vocals, Jason and Gavin Hammon on guitar and drums, and Mikey Weiss on bass. Known for their blend of ska rhythms and pop punk hooks, the band released four studio albums, including 1995’s Lockjaw, which featured the song “Enough.”

How The Band Got Started

The name Dance Hall Crashers was inspired by the Alton Ellis song “Dance Crasher.” Armstrong and Freeman wanted to create a group focused more on ska and rocksteady than their previous band Operation Ivy. Their first lineup included Armstrong on vocals, Freeman on guitar, drummer Erik Larsen, keyboardist Joey Schaaf, vocalists Ingrid Jonsson and Andrew Champion, guitarist Grant McIntire, and bassist Joel Wing. They debuted at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley in 1989. Soon after, Armstrong and Freeman left to form Downfall, leaving the group to continue without them.

After several lineup changes, DHC eventually stabilized with Elyse Rogers and Karina Schwarz on vocals, Jason Hammon and Jaime McCormick on guitars, and Gavin Hammon on drums. They began building a reputation through local shows, including an all-ska Earth Day festival at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley in 1990 where they opened for Bad Manners. Around the same time, they released their self-titled debut on Moon Ska Records but disbanded shortly after. Rogers later explained that part of the breakup stemmed from the fact that many members were underage, which created problems at venues where they couldn’t leave the backstage area.

Breakthrough Years

The debut album continued to gain traction even after the band split, which led to reunion shows in the early 1990s. By 1993, they officially re-formed and Moon Ska Records released a compilation titled 1989-1992. A lineup in 1994 included Rogers, Karina Deniké (then Schwarz), Jason and Gavin Hammon, Mikey Weiss on bass, and a horn section that briefly expanded their sound. They released “Go” as a cassette single in Hawaii before recording what would become Lockjaw.

In 1995, they became the first band signed to MCA’s 510 Records and released Lockjaw. The album shifted away from horns and leaned more on guitars, with a sharper pop punk edge. The single “Enough” was featured in the film Angus and played on MTV’s 120 Minutes. They followed it with Honey, I’m Homely! in 1997, which included the singles “Lost Again” and “Mr. Blue.” That record reached No. 22 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers and helped them secure tours with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bad Religion, and appearances at festivals like Warped Tour and Lilith Fair.

Later Activity

The band released the EP Blue Plate Special in 1998, collecting B-sides, compilation tracks, and remixes. Their fourth studio album, Purr, came out in 1999 on Pink and Black Records, followed by a live album in 2000. By the early 2000s, their activity slowed as members pursued other careers, and they primarily played West Coast shows. A 2004 live performance at the Hollywood House of Blues was later released as part of Kung Fu Records’ The Show Must Go Off! DVD series.

2025 Reunion

After more than two decades of limited activity, Dance Hall Crashers announced in January 2025 that they would reunite. The band revealed appearances at Warped Tour stops in Washington, DC, and Long Beach, California. They also announced two shows at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall in June and a September show with Hepcat at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Later that year, they were added to the Riot Fest lineup in Chicago. Recording engineer and guitarist Jon Graber joined them on stage for these performances.

References in Popular Culture

  • “Enough” from Lockjaw appeared in Angus.
  • “Don’t Wanna Behave” from Lockjaw was used in Bio-Dome.
  • “I Want It All” from Honey, I’m Homely! was featured in Home Alone 3.
  • “She’s Trying” from Blue Plate Special appeared in The Show.
  • “Lady Luck” from Blue Plate Special appeared in Meet the Deedles.

Members

Current

  • Elyse Rogers – vocals
  • Karina Deniké – vocals
  • Jason Hammon – guitar
  • Mikey Weiss – bass
  • Gavin Hammon – drums
  • Jon Graber – guitar (touring)

Notable Former Members

  • Tim Armstrong – vocals
  • Matt Freeman – vocals, bass
  • Erik Larsen – drums
  • Jaime McCormick – guitar
  • Scott Goodell – guitar
  • Phil Ensor – guitar
  • Billy Bouchard – guitar
  • Various horn players including Jeremy Goody, Harvey Hawks, and Mike Park

Discography

Studio Albums

  • Dance Hall Crashers (1990), Moon Ska Records
  • Lockjaw (1995), MCA Records
  • Honey, I’m Homely! (1997), MCA Records
  • Purr (1999), Pink and Black

EPs

  • Blue Plate Special (1998), MCA

Live Albums

  • The Live Record: Witless Banter & 25 Mildly Antagonistic Songs About Love (2000), Pink and Black
  • Live at the House of Blues (2005), Kung Fu Records (DVD)

Compilations

  • 1989-1992 (1993), Moon Records
  • The Old Record (1996), Honest Don’s Records

Similar Posts