by Mike DaRonco & Corey AparThe Boston ensemble Big D and the Kids Table brought on their fast-paced style of ska-punk upon their debut in 1995. But like most ska bands, a revolving lineup frequented for the next three years as the Allston-based crew self-released their debut 1997 split with pop-punkers Drexel, Shot by Lammi (recorded for only $700), and the Live EP. Both were issued on their own Fork in Hand Records, run by vocalist David McWane and bassist Steve Foote. By the time Big D signed with Asian Man Records, the ten-piece of McWane, Foote, Gabe Feenberg (trombone), Dan Stoppelman (trumpet), Sean P. Rogan (guitar), Marc Flynn (trombone), Chris Bush (tenor sax), Jon Lammi (guitar), Max MacVeety (drums), and Chris Sallen (tenor sax) had already released their first full-length, Good Luck, in 1999. Known for an especially rowdy live show, Big D picked up the award for Outstanding Ska Band at the 1999 Boston Music Awards before Mike Park and Asian Man reissued Good Luck. The band returned in 2002 with the Gipsy Hill EP and continued with their notoriously relentless show schedule (playing an average of 200 shows a year), as a split EP with Japanese noise rock act Melt Banana appeared in 2003. Fueled by a D.I.Y. work ethic since early on, the band's small but loyal fan base kept growing through incessant grassroots touring and promotion, all with little label support and money. Big D hooked up with part of the summer's Warped Tour and played at Vegas' Ska Summit. They headed out across North America in 2004 on the Ska Is Dead and You're Next tour with Catch 22, Mustard Plug, and the Planet Smashers; their Springman debut, How It Goes, was released that same year. Big D stayed on the road, of course, hooking up with the likes of the Suicide Machines, Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, RX Bandits, and more. By this time, the band was down to seven members: McWane, Foote, Stoppelman, Rogan, Bush, drummer Jon Reilly, and trombonist Paul E. Cuttler. The limited-edition Salem Girls EP appeared for Halloween 2005; Big D then returned to the studio by 2006's end to work on their next full-length and debut for SideOneDummy Records, with Mighty Mighty Bosstones bassist Joe Gittleman in the production chair. With new saxophonist Ryan O'Connor on board in place of Bush, the chilled-out vibe of Strictly Rude surfaced in March 2007. The album was preceded by a February split via Bad News Records with China's Brain Failure, entitled Beijing to Boston.