GOGO13
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in St. George, Utah, United States |
| Founder | Parker Jacobs |
| Headquarters | Huntington Beach, California , United States |
Area served | Regional (Southern California, Utah) |
Key people | Parker Jacobs (vocalist and artist) |
| Products | Ska music, albums, live performances |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/gogo13band |
GOGO13 is a ska ensemble from the United States, established in 1993 by vocalist and artist Parker Jacobs, now operating out of Huntington Beach, California. Originating in St. George, Utah, their initial activity lasted less than a year but played a key role in shaping Utah's mid-1990s ska movement. The band resurfaced through connections with Orange County’s The Aquabats and has since been active regionally. Their first full-length album, I Like It!, debuted in April 2012.
1993-1994: initial formation
Late 1993 saw the creation of GOGO13 by singer Parker Jacobs and his brother Tyler, both former child actors who had returned to Utah from Southern California. Promoted as "Southern Utah's first ska band," they were instrumental in developing Utah's emerging ska scene alongside groups like Swim Herschel Swim and Stretch Armstrong. Drawing inspiration from late 1970s and early 1980s 2 Tone and Mod revival bands such as Madness and Bad Manners, GOGO13 embraced a spy motif influenced by the Japanese manga Golgo 13, incorporating theatrical elements like staged cap gun battles during performances.
The original ensemble disbanded within a year when Tyler Jacobs relocated northward and both Parker Jacobs and co-vocalist Dustin "Skip" Blad prepared for their missionary duties. Their concluding concerts took place in September 1994, including shows alongside Reel Big Fish and Mealticket. Just before parting ways, they recorded a seven-track EP titled Toy Guns & Pixy Stix, which was never officially released due to production issues; however, two songs were featured on the 2001 compilation Rice Capades.
Following his mission, Parker Jacobs moved to California and became involved with his brother Christian Jacobs’ group, The Aquabats, offering artistic contributions, creative guidance, managing their fan club, and performing as "The Professor" during live shows and videos. Early on, The Aquabats incorporated several GOGO13 compositions into their repertoire, notably "Idiot Box," which appeared on their 1996 album The Return of The Aquabats and was re-recorded for the 1997 follow-up The Fury of The Aquabats!.
2001-present: reunion period
GOGO13 reassembled in 2001 with Parker and Tyler Jacobs as the sole original members for a one-time performance in Orange County promoting Rice Capades. The band officially reformed in 2002, performing intermittently throughout Southern California and producing demo recordings featuring a fluctuating lineup, with Parker Jacobs remaining the constant presence. Mostly playing smaller venues dedicated to ska music, GOGO13 also supported acts such as The Aquabats along with notable 1990s ska bands like Five Iron Frenzy and My Superhero. They participated in the 2010 and 2012 editions of the Warped Tour and performed at the 2013 Orange County Music Awards. In 2008, Parker Jacobs was interviewed for The Up Beat, a documentary exploring Utah’s ska scene.
GOGO13 is particularly known for their work on Yo Gabba Gabba!, especially the original track "Pick It Up" featuring Alex Désert of Hepcat. The animated short accompanying this song, designed by Jacobs, received the "Excellence in Humor" award at the 2008 ASIFA-East Animation Festival. This track remains a staple in their live performances and was included on the Gabba compilation Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 3, which received acclaim from AllMusic. On April 13, 2012, nearly twenty years after their inception, GOGO13 independently issued their debut studio album, I Like It!, encompassing both new material and classic songs spanning their career. The release garnered favorable critiques, with the OC Weekly describing them as "OC's most underrated ska band".
Original line-up
- Parker Jacobs – lead vocals
- Dustin "Skip" Blad – vocals, harmonica
- Tyler Jacobs – keyboards
- Creed Watkins – lead guitar
- Jeff Dotson – rhythm guitar
- Mel, also known as Brad Gentry – bass guitar
- Ben Crosby – drums
- Joe Gibson – baritone saxophone
- Abe McCormick – trumpet
- Justin Vaden – tenor saxophone
Current line-up
- Parka AKA (Parker Jacobs) – vocals, ukulele
- Secret Agent Johnny Spleen (Johnny Beutler) – lead guitar
- Brian Gilmore – bass guitar
- Jeffrey "Dex" McFerson – organ, trombone
- PK Deeeluxe (Paul Kloepfer) – drums
- Scout (Erin Ashley) – saxophone
- Former members (2001–present)
- Ben Action (Ben Bergeson) – guitar
- Cris Crumpet (Stiles) – trumpet
- The Grik (Garrick Hargrove) – bass guitar
- Tyler Jacobs – vocals, melodica
- Keith Chaos (Hetrick) – trumpet
- Duke Regal (Ryan Blake) – organ
- Gata Hari (Raechel Bunnell) – organ
Discography
- Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | I Like It! | Free Agent Records |
- EPs
- Toy Guns & Pixy Stix (1994) (unreleased)
- It's a Trap! (2002)
- The Fluke Sessions (2004)
- "Big Red Fluke"
- "El Otro Comienzo" (acoustic version)
- RAAAAWR!! (2005)
- "Free Agent"
- "Monster"
- 7" singles
- "¡Es Ploded!" / "Cereal" (2009)
- Demos
- Demotape O' Fun (1994)
- The Jets Demos (1994)
- House Ape (2002)
- "House Ape"
- "Big Red Cup"
- "El Otro Comienzo"
Videography
- The Bluebeat Lounge Goes O.C. (2005)
- A concert DVD recorded during a live event hosted by The Bluebeat Lounge in Los Angeles, featuring performances of "Free Agent," "Big Red Cup," "Monster," and "House Ape."
- "Down in a Barrel" (2010)
- Music video for a song from I Like It!, directed by Tyler Jacobs and filmed in Huntington Beach, California.
Compilation appearances
- Rice Capades (2001)
- A compilation released by The Aquabats' Horchata Records label including the tracks "Idiot Box" and "Espionage" from the unreleased Toy Guns & Pixy Stix EP.
- Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is...Awesome!, Vol. 3 (2011)
- Soundtrack featuring the original track "Pick It Up," performed with Alex Désert of Hepcat.