Together again

The Scrubs are set to reunite for

a showcase of old tunes and new
punk energy at Top Cat's

TABARI MCCOY | CIN WEEKLY

Jamie Mandel, right, plays the guitar and sings while practicing with The Scrubs. At left is lead singer and bass guitarist Mike Ingram, and in the rear is drummer Jeff Meeker. (Photo by Leigh Patton/CiN Weekly)

THE SCRUBS REUNION SHOW PART DEUX

WHAT: The Scrubs reunion show, featuring the punk trio's first full show in more than two years. Local punk act Curbsquirrels and Nice Guy Records artist Bottom Line join New Jersey's Your Best Regret in welcoming the group back to the stage.

WHEN: 9:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9

WHERE: Top Cat's, 2820 Vine St., Corryville

PRICE: $5; ages 18 and up.

CONTACT: (513) 281-2005

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.cincinnatishows.com or www.niceguyrecords.com for up-to-the-minute schedule, ticket and venue information.

JAMIE MANDEL
Nice guy finishes first

Local punk legends The Scrubs - Jamie Mandel, Jeff Meeker and Mike Ingram - will reunite Friday, Jan. 9, at Top Cat's for the group's first official performance in more than two years. Joining The Scrubs will be local artists Curbsquirrels and Bottom Line - currently working on their second album for Mandel's Nice Guy Records label. New Jersey outfit Your Best Regret rounds out the show's lineup.

Meeker says the fact the band hasn't played together in so long is why he is excited about the upcoming show.

"I don't know what the turnout will be like, but playing with Mike and Jamie is always fun," Meeker says. "It's always a pleasure to play with them again whenever we get the chance to. I go to school for music in Boston, and it's more work-oriented as opposed to being a hobby, so this is fun for me."

With Meeker back in town for the holidays, Mandel says the group collectively thought the time was right to play together. The group is billing the evening as its "reunion show part deux," as it follows an impromptu reunion show in August.

The Scrubs broke up so Meeker could attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The glory days of The Scrubs, though, are still fresh in Meeker's mind.

"We used to play at a place called the Buzz on University Avenue a lot, and it was always packed when we would play. It's a pretty small place, where like 200 people max are allowed in, and a lot of times, there would be people waiting outside for people to leave so they could get in, so it was nice to see that," Meeker says. "We had a pretty big regional following as well when we toured to places like Columbus and Louisville, so we always has a pretty good crowd wherever we played."

Mandel has similar memories of the band's schedule, which led him to starting Nice Guy.

"We were really pushing ourselves here, probably playing once a month and drawing 100 to 200 people every time we play, which for a local punk band is pretty good," Mandel says. "I always did the business end of the band, and that included putting on a lot of shows for touring bands that were coming through. A lot of those bands have gone on to great things."

Ben Howard, a guitarist/vocalist for Bottom Line, says his band wouldn't be where it is today without groups like The Scrubs paving the way. Like Meeker, he says live shows are vital to a band's success - "In the punk scene, if you can't perform, you really can't sell your music."