The Mighty Mighty Bosstones helped to popularize ska music in the United States with the 1997 release of their signature hit "The Impression That I Get."
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones formed in Boston in 1983. Around the core lineup of Dicky Barrett (vocals), bassist Joe Gittleman and onstage dancer (a.k.a. "skanker" Ben Carr. Their music blended Jamaican ska with Boston hardcore, bolstered by catchy melodies and Barrett's gravelly vocals. The Bosstones first surfaced on Boston indie label Taang!, slowly but surely building a national audience on the strength of their raucous live shows; the group signed to major-label Mercury to cut its third LP, Don't Know How to Party, and in 1995 toured as part of the annual Lollapalooza festival lineup in addition to performing onscreen in the coming-of-age teen comedy sensation Clueless, which grossed $56.1 million in the U.S.
"The Impression That I Get" vaulted the Mighty Mighty Bosstones to mainstream success, although ska-punk's moment in the sun proved short-lived, and Mercury dropped the band after its 2000 LP Pay Attention failed to meet chart expectations. The Bosstones went on hiatus in 2003 but reformed four years later, continuing to record and tour until 2022, when they announced their split in response to Barrett's strident anti-vaxxer views.
