Critical Mass

by Jason AnkenyThe Berkeley, California-based ska-punkers Critical Mass assembled vocalist/saxophonist Michael Valladares, guitarist Jeff Kamalian, bassist Moose and drummer Chris Barry-Smith. Influenced by sources ranging from jazz to funk to hard rock, the group rose in 1993 from the ashes of Bay Area outfits including the Noise, Chill Factor, the Viberaiders and the Elephant Men; after building a following on the West Coast club circuit, Critical Mass issued their debut album Give It Up, Let It Go in 1997. Bamboozled followed three years later and the self-titled release was issued in fall 2000.