Bunjie Jambo

Bunjie Jambo is a third-wave punk-ska revival band, established in the early 1990's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Playing sloppy 2-Tone-influenced ska crossed with down-n-dirty hard-rock and tongue-in-cheek punk, they became a major draw in the tri-state (Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania) area.

History

After releasing an independently-produced seven-inch record called “Dummy Wipe,” Bunjie Jambo signed to Sin Klub Entertainment in 1994 and released the album “Morning Breath,” followed by “All Balled Up” (1996). The band wrote off-the-wall songs with reoccurring themes about Pittsburgh -- notably the Steelers (“Franco-American,” “The Loser Loses His Shoes”) -- and referenced pinball (“Multi-Balled,” “Irie Balled”), fishing (“Rockabillababakahuna,” “Bad [...] Bass Angler”) and drugs (“Dave Spilled The Bowl In The Bongwater,” “Rodney Is Ganja,” “4:20”). Fat Cheeks ‘Zine called them, "One part gasoline, one part turbo jet propulsion, a shot of ska, and buzzsaw punk abandonment." In 1999, the band moved to Grappler Unlimited in a partial acquisition of Sin Klub by Cleveland International Records. As a result, Bunjie Jambo recorded “Potty Karate,” a more polished CD, mixed by Frank Vale (of Exotic Birds fame). They completed one US tour in support of the album.

Performances

The band became known for their live shows thanks to lead vocalist Ernie Dojack, who paraded around the stage like a caged animal, banging pots and pans, playing a multitude of instruments, engaging in ridiculous stunts and performing while on his head. The band performed at the All-Freaks Ball and has played alongside acts like The Melvins, 311, Finger Eleven, the Blue Meanies (Illinois band), Chicken Dog, Less Than Jake, Let's Go Bowling, Kid Rock, Mephiskapheles, MU330, [...] Flakes, the Voodoo Glow Skulls, Section 315, and even Anal [...]. Known for continually disbanding and reforming, the band remains active in the Pittsburgh area.

Solo Pursuits

Front-man Ernie Dojack plays Officer Moe Bigsley in “Nacho Mountain” and Jobe Gary in “Nothingface,” a pair of independent films released by Dirt Productions / Mitch Csanadi. Dojack has also played with Ern & The Burn, The Roger Six and the Eastern Accordion Ensemble. Mike Scaratelly (drummer), on the other hand, now owns and operates a bar called “The Smiling Moose” (in Pittsburgh).

Discography