Save Ferris at Jack Rabbits (May 13, 2025)

Save Ferris Setlist Anything Turn It Up The World Is New What You See Is What You Get Nobody but Me Do I Even Like You? Superspy New Sound Mistaken Your Friend Holding On Under 21 Goodbye Get Dancing Lights Out in the Reptile House Spam — Encore — Too Drunk to F**k (Dead Kennedys cover) Come on Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners cover)

 

Knives Setlist My Only Gold Home Dance Electric Kiss You in Hell Chemicals Moments Oh This Sin of Mine Ghost with Mickey

Tour Dates

• 5/14- Pensacola, FL – pensacolahandlebar
• 5/16- Houston, TX – @lastconcertcafe
• 5/17 – Dallas, TX – @ferriswheelers
• 5/18- Oklahoma City, OK – 89thstreetokc
• 5/20 – St. Louis, MO -@oldrockhousestl
• 5/24 Hatfield Slam Dunk Festival South
• 5/25 Leeds Slam Dunk Festival North
• 5/29 G. Berlin So56
• 5/ 30 A. Wels Sbam Festival
• 7/20 Nl Koog Aan De Zaan Haltpop Festival
• 8/2 B. Duffel Brackrock Festival
• 8/3 London Islington O2 Academy
• 8/4 Slovenia Tolmin Punk Rock Holiday Festival
• 8/7 Huddersfield Parish
• 8/8 Blackpool Rebellion Festival

 

90s ska/punk band Save Ferris, famous for their ska-tastic cover of Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen”, is back on tour, celebrating their 30th Anniversary as a band (the band formed in 1995 in Orange County). The tour stopped by Jack Rabbits, in Jacksonville, Florida, last night.

Based on the poster, Knives (or officially known as Knives FL) wasn’t originally on the bill. Thanks to support from the venue and being friends with the band, they were added to the lineup, and they seemed very thankful to get a chance to play their music to a full room, “Thanked for showing up early. I know you have no idea who we are, but thank you!”

The band is led by Danny Attack, who mentioned that the band isn’t 100% complete. In fact, they had to get a temporary drummer, Aaron from the band Bad Year, to sit with them for this gig (he had to learn their set in a few hours). Aaron, that night, had to drive back to Wisconsin, where he lives. I’ve recently had to drive from Minneapolis to Jacksonville, so I feel for you.

The alt-rock band went through their setlist very quickly, and they learned that they had to fulfill a 30-min set, Danny decided to add “Moments” to their set. The song, is about falling in love at a Denny’s.

Highlight of their set was their closer, a song called “Ghost”. A friend of the band (and someone working at Jack Rabbits), Mickey came on stage to help them close out their set.

 

The current tour, with supporting band Keep Flying, stopped at the Turf Club, in St Paul, a few weeks ago, which Thaddeus reports: “The opener was Keep Flying, a band from the Northeast (various sites say they are from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, though part way in the lead singer said, “We’re from New York”). For an opener, Keep Flying had quite the complicated on stage set up, with background banner of the band name. They also had very tall (8 foot?) posters on each side of the stage saying Time on the left and Tide on the right, supporting the name of their newest album, Time & Tide. They really felt like a headlining act. The sextet came out flying, with several members playing the hype/dance part. It’s a busy group with two guitarists (including the lead vocalist), bass, drums, and brass (with one of them playing back up and occasional lead vocals).”

You can tell by the way the band carries, that this wasn’t their first rodeo. They were, of course, promoting their record, Time & Tide. Trying to entice fans to purchase the vinyl to enter into a drawing, but also, they were promoting a non-profit called Punk Rock Save Lives. I believe representatives were travelling with the tour.

Keep Flying’s music was loud and in your face. The best part of their music is the horns section. Between John Ryan constantly pogoing and Henry Menzel’s eyeballs, they did a good job in getting the audience ready for the headliner.

Since Save Ferris emerged from the 90s, you would expect the audience to be in their 50’s, but it was surprisingly to see some teenagers in the audience. Perhaps they’re children of those older original fans… but it was still nice to see a different generation showing up to hear ska/punk music.

Singer and band leader, Monique Powell, in red hair and blue dress, was the center of attention. All eyes were on her, as she directs the audience to hands up or dance. To get a better idea of their show, read about May 1, 2025 appearance.

According to the band, the Jacksonville show was their first time they played the city as a headliner. They mentioned that they may have stopped through as part of the Warped Tour. Often with those touring music festival, the band gets lost in a sea of 100 other bands, so as headliner, it was a one-to-one with their fans.

The other thing that I can tell you, and it shouldn’t surprise you, is that they end their set with their big hit song, the Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen”. Undoubtedly, the highlight of their set, as everybody in the audience is dancing and singing along.