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{{Short description|American ska punk band}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name = Mustard Plug
| origin = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], United States
| genre = [[Ska punk]], [[pop punk]]
| years_active = 1991–present
| label = [[Hopeless Records|Hopeless]], [[No Idea Records]], Bad Time Records
| website = {{URL|http://www.mustardplug.com/}}
| current_members = Dave Kirchgessner Brandon Jenison Jim Hofer Micheal Skowron Colin Clive Mark Petz Greg Witulski
| past_members = Rick Johnson Bleu VanDyke Michael Skowron Craig DeYoung Nick Varano Bob Kneisel Kevin Dixon Brad Rozier John Massel Matt Van Brandon Power Mike McKendrick
}}

'''Mustard Plug''' is an American [[ska punk]] band from [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]], consisting of Dave Kirchgessner (vocals), Brandon Jenison (trumpet), Jim Hofer (trombone), Nate Cohn (drums), Colin Clive (guitar/vocals), Mark Petz (tenor saxophone) and Greg Witulski (bass).

Formed in 1991, the band has regularly toured throughout the [[United States]], [[Europe]], [[Japan]], and [[South America]]. They have toured with the [[Warped Tour]] twice, and participated in the [[Ska Against Racism]] Tour. {{As of|2024}}, the band has released eight studio albums and continues to tour actively.[[File:Lead Singer of Mustard Plug Sings a song.jpg|thumb|Lead Singer of Mustard Plug performing at Garden AMP (Jan 18 2025)]]

Explaining the band's goal, Jim Hofer said, "We may have some messages in our music, but essentially we just do this because we love it and we want people to lighten up and have fun."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlmag.com/Blogs/Look-Listen/May-2011/Mustard-Plug-Wants-You-To-Know-Ska-is-Not-Dead/|title=Mustard Plug Wants You To Know Ska is Not Dead|first=Rosalind|last=Early|date=May 9, 2011|website=Stlmag.com|access-date=March 27, 2020}}</ref>

==History==
{{Cleanup|date=August 2023|reason=Too many random, unorganized points.|section}}
The band formed in 1991 after Colin and Dave both attended a Special Beat show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mustardplug.com/history.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305063147/http://www.mustardplug.com/history.php|url-status=dead|title=mustard plug - history|archive-date=March 5, 2012}}</ref> The band's original members were Dave Kirchgessner, Mike McKendrick, Colin Clive, and Anthony Vilchez. There was virtually no ska scene in [[Grand Rapids]] at the time, so Mustard Plug was able to develop a unique sound and draw a large following.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ExclaimTV/garageland_mustard_plug|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929093810/http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ExclaimTV/garageland_mustard_plug|url-status=dead|title=Garageland: Mustard Plug • Music / Video • exclaim.ca|archive-date=September 29, 2012}}</ref>

Brandon Jenison stated in an interview that their band name originated when "a guy in the early stages of the band was making a sandwich and that crusty stuff that forms on the mustard bottle when you put it in the fridge without wiping it off first gave him an interesting idea for a name."<ref>{{cite web|author=Housewives? |url=https://midwesternhousewives.blogspot.com/2007/07/mustard-plug-interview-talks-about-new.html |title=Battle of the Midwestern Housewives: Mustard Plug Interview: Talks about New Album, Breakfast Cereals, and more! |publisher=Midwesternhousewives.blogspot.com |date=July 6, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref>

In 2002, the band released ''[[Yellow No. 5 (album)|Yellow #5]]'', and supported the album for years on tour. In 2005, they released the "greatest hits" album ''[[Masterpieces: 1991–2002]]''.

Mustard Plug was on the label [[Hopeless Records]] for many years, but had a period of free agency until their signing with Bad Time Records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MUSTARD PLUG |url=https://www.badtimerecords.com/pages/mustard-plug |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Bad Time Records |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2010/07/mustard_plug_plays_bikestock_d.html|title=Mustard Plug plays Bikestock Dos in downtown Grand Rapids|first1=Rachael Recker | The|last1=Gr|first2=Rapids|last2=Press|date=July 15, 2010|website=Mlive.com|access-date=March 27, 2020}}</ref>

The band celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2011 with a national tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soundspike.com/news/tour/2099-mustard_plug_concert_news_tour_dates/|title=Mustard Plug delivers ska to the Midwest, South|website=Soundspike.com|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509234843/http://www.soundspike.com/news/tour/2099-mustard_plug_concert_news_tour_dates/|archive-date=May 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2012, the band had an idea for a live album called ''Mustard Plug:Live!'', but canceled in favor of their 2014 album ''[[Can't Contain It]]'', the recording of which was funded via [[Kickstarter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1739374006/mustard-plug-new-record|title=Mustard Plug New Record!|website=Kickstarter.com|access-date=March 27, 2020}}</ref> The album features cover art by [[Jeff Rosenstock]] of [[Bomb the Music Industry]].

In May 2017, the band performed at Pouzza Fest in [[Montreal]]. In 2019, they embarked on a tour of Japan. The band continues to perform around the United States on a regular basis. In 2021, long-time bassist Rick Johnson left the group.<ref>[http://www.cjlo.com/articles/pouzza-fest-7th-edition-may-19-21-2017 "Pouzza Fest, 7th Edition - May 19 to 21, 2017"]. ''CJLO AM Radio'', by Robert Portnoff // May 29, 2017</ref>

On September 8, 2023, the band released ''Where Did All My Friends Go?'', their first studio album in 9 years, on label Bad Time Records.

==Line-up==
* Dave Kirchgessner - [[vocals|lead vocals]] (1991–present)
* Colin Clive - [[guitar]], vocals (1991–present)
* Nathan Cohn - [[drums]] (2005–present)
* Brandon Jenison - [[trumpet]], [[backing vocals]] (1994–present)
* Jim Hofer - [[trombone]] (1994–present)
* Mark Petz - [[tenor saxophone]] (1993–1998; 2021–present)
* Greg Witulski - [[Bass (guitar)|bass]] (2021–present)

===Past members===
* Rick Johnson - [[Bass guitar|bass]] (2004–2021)
* Anthony Vilchez - bass (1991–1994)
* Craig DeYoung - bass (1994–2001), [[alto saxophone]] (1992–1994)
* Matt Van - bass (2001–2004)
* Mike McKendrick - drums (1991–1993)
* Michael Skowron - trombone (1993-1995), [[tenor saxophone]] (1993-1995)
* Nick Varano - drums (1993–1999)
* Brad Rozier - drums (1999–2004)
* John Massel - drums (2004-2005)
* Bob Engelsman - trombone (1992–1994)
* Bleu VanDyke - trombone (1995–1998)
* Kevin Dixon - tenor saxophone (1996–1998)

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
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Period = from:1991 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
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id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Trumpet value:yelloworange legend:Trumpet,_backing_vocals
id:Sax value:skyblue legend:Saxophone
id:Trombone value:coral legend:Trombone
id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:Keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_album
id:bars value:gray(0.95)

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ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1991

LineData =
at:30/10/1992 color:black layer:back
at:01/12/1993 color:black layer:back
at:18/03/1997 color:black layer:back
at:16/03/1999 color:black layer:back
at:17/09/2002 color:black layer:back
at:11/09/2007 color:black layer:back
at:14/01/2014 color:black layer:back

BarData =
bar:DK text:"Dave Kirchgessner"
bar:BJ text:"Brandon Jenison"
bar:CD text:"Craig DeYoung"
bar:MS text:"Michael Skowron"
bar:MP text:"Mark Petz"
bar:KD text:"Kevin Dixon"
bar:BE text:"Bob Engelsman"
bar:JH text:"Jim Hofer"
bar:BV text:"Bleu VanDyke"
bar:CC text:"Colin Clive"
bar:AV text:"Anthony Vilchez"
bar:MV text:"Matt Van"
bar:RJ text:"Rick Johnson"
bar:GW text:"Greg Witulski"
bar:MM text:"Mike McKendrick"
bar:NV text:"Nick Varano"
bar:BR text:"Brad Rozier"
bar:JM text:"John Massel"
bar:NC text:"Nathan Cohn"

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bar:CC from:start till:END color:Vocals

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bar:AV from:start till:01/01/1994 color:Bass
bar:CD from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/2001 color:Bass
bar:MV from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2004 color:Bass
bar:RJ from:01/01/2004 till:19/05/2021 color:Bass
bar:GW from:19/05/2021 till:end color:Bass

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bar:NV from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1999 color:Drums
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bar:NC from:01/01/2005 till:END color:Drums

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bar:BJ from:01/01/1994 till:END color:Trumpet

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
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width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:MP from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1998 color:Sax
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bar:MP from:01/01/2021 till:end color:Sax

width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-5)
}}

==Discography==
===Albums===
*''[[Skapocalypse Now!]]'' (1992, Dashiki Clout)
*''[[Big Daddy Multitude]]'' (1993, [[Asbestos Records]])
*''[[Evildoers Beware!]]'' (1997, [[Hopeless Records]])
*''[[Pray for Mojo]]'' (1999, Hopeless Records)
*''[[Yellow No. 5 (album)|Yellow No. 5]]'' (2002, Hopeless Records)
*''[[Masterpieces: 1991-2002]]'' (2005, Hopeless Records)
*''[[In Black and White (Mustard Plug album)|In Black and White]]'' (2007, Hopeless Records)
*''[[Can't Contain It]]'' (2014, No Idea Records)
*''Where Did All My Friends Go?'' (2023, Bad Time Records)

===EPs===
*''Hey!'' (2024, Dashiki Clout Records)

===Music videos===
* ''Summertime'' (1992)
* ''Mr. Smiley'' (1993)
* ''Beer'' (song) (1995)
* ''You'' (1997)
* ''Everything Girl'' (1999)
* ''Hit Me! Hit Me!'' (2007)
* ''Over the Edge'' (2007)
* ''Fall Apart'' (2023)
* ''Vampire'' (2023)
* ''Doin' What We Do'' (2023)
* ''Where Did All My Friends Go?'' (2023)
* ''Why Does it Have To Be So Hard?'' (2023)

===Hopeless Records compilation appearances===
* ''Lolita'' and ''Never Be'' appear on ''Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. II'' (1998)
* ''Yesterday'' and ''Already Gone'' appear on ''Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 3'' (2000)
* ''Away from Here'' and ''Not Enough'' appear on ''Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 4'' (2002)
* ''You'' and ''Over the Edge'' appear on ''Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 6'' (2006)

==References==
{{More footnotes needed|date=July 2011}}
{{Reflist}}
*[https://midwesternhousewives.blogspot.com/2007/07/mustard-plug-interview-talks-about-new.html "Mustard Plug Interview: Talks about the New Album, Breakfast Cereals, and more!"], "The Battle Of The Midwestern Housewives", July 6, 2007. Accessed July 7, 2007
*[http://michiganska.tumblr.com/post/64752904/interview-with-rick-johnson "Interview with Rick Johnson!"], "Michigan Ska Blog", December 12, 2008. Accessed September 9, 2009

==External links==
*[http://www.mustardplug.com/ Official website]
*[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p44813|pure_url=yes}} Mustard Plug's Allmusic entry]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071209184423/http://www.truepunk.com/interviews/mustard_plug/ Interview from 2002]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070701012111/http://www.truepunk.com/interviews/Mustard_Plug_2/ Interview from 2005]
*[http://www.readjunk.com/interviews/mustard-plug Interview from 2007] at [http://www.readjunk.com ReadJunk.com]
*[https://archive.org/details/MustardPlug Mustard Plug collection] at the [[Internet Archive]]'s live music archive

{{Mustard Plug}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American ska punk musical groups]]
[[Category:Third-wave ska groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1991]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Hopeless Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Grand Rapids, Michigan]]

Mustard Plug - Revision history

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