Reel Big Fish has only released one short EP (the holiday-themed Happy Skalidays) in the last handful of years, but that hasn't stopped them from touring the world whenever they get the chance. After all, they've got well over two decades' worth of material to work with on a daily basis, and that doesn't even count their love of playing covers and different versions of their same original songs on stage. Although guitar-wielding and dad joke-cracking frontman Aaron Barrett is the only original member, Southern California's favorite ska band is currently kicking off their third nationwide tour of the year after a small break following their summer as one half of the veteran ska presence (along with Less Than Jake) on the Vans Warped Tour.

In the middle of their year full of touring, Myspace caught up with two of the Reel Big Fish elder statesmen— Barrett and trumpeteer John "Johnny Christmas" Christianson — at Warped Tour this summer to discuss their lifelong commitment to ska, the band's veteran status at the touring punk rock summer camp, and signing things for their audience's parents.

When you play a concert or festival, a lot of your fans have been listening to you for decades now. What's it like to have lifelong fans at just about every show?

Aaron Barrett: It’s very strange because I feel like we just started doing it yesterday. It feels like I was just in the garage learning how to play, and here we are 25 years later. I can’t get over that, so having someone come up to me and say ‘I’ve been listening to you since I was three. You inspired me to play guitar!’ is pretty special.

John “Johnny Christmas” Christianson: It’s very special. You kind of have to take that into perspective and go ‘Wow, we’re doing good in the world with this style of music!’ We really appreciate it.

Aaron Barrett

Given that ska is making a bit of a comeback with you and Less Than Jake both on Warped Tour and bands like the Interrupters incorporating ska into their music, how does it feel to see your influence trickling down to this next generation of bands?

Barrett: It’s great. I love ska music, and I’ve always told everyone about it. I love writing ska songs and being in a ska band. We never were one of those bands who were ashamed of it once it wasn’t cool anymore. We’ve been carrying the torch for a long time, and it’s nice to see people catching on. It’s really nice to see other people catching on and see it getting bigger and going strong.

Your sets are known for being more like hilarious parties than concerts, often incorporating as many jokes as songs. What inspires you to keep your sense of humor rather than becoming one of the many more serious bands out there?

Barrett: They're parties and really annoying comedy shows. You know that comedy show that Eddie Murphy goes to in The Nutty Professor? It’s like that. That’s just me. It’s how I am. I always joke around, I’m always a really weird, quirky person. That’s just what I sound like in the form of music.

John "Johnny Christmas" Christianson

You did Warped Tour again this year, and you must feel like experts on everything related to Warped Tour by now. How does it feel to be one of the veteran bands that consistently plays Warped Tour after all of these years?

Christianson: Yeah, we’ve got it down. We know how to do it. We’re just glad that Warped Tour has asked us back every few years, because it helps us get in front of new people who wouldn’t ordinarily see us or maybe have never even heard of us.

Barrett: We definitely know how to tour. This life isn’t for everybody. We’ve had a lot of people who have come in and out of the band over the years. People have had babies and entered a different chapter in their life, and we all love this. We all recognize that this is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The more that you can keep that in perspective and realize that, the happier you are. 

When you go on Warped Tour these days, is it fair to say that the fans are probably younger than anyone in the band for most of the dates?

Barrett: Well, we’ve been doing a lot of signings and kids will come up to have us sign something and say ‘This is for my mom!’ or ‘Sign it to my dad! My dad loves you guys! I don’t like you, but I’m a nice kid so I’m getting something signed for my dad.’