Save Ferris Music Group

Save Ferris could use a day off. When the seven band members gathered to rehearse at a studio here earlier this week, exhaustion had clearly set in. Trouble is, the popular Orange County ska-pop-swing band faces an even more taxing schedule in the weeks ahead. Its major label debut, "It Means Everything," hit the stores Tuesday. Its current single, "Come On Eileen," has been getting steady airplay for several weeks on modern-rock stations.

Unlike last spring, aspiring but relatively unknown Orange County bands that played over the long weekend at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference here did not set the industry's tongues wagging. By the end of 1997's festivities, the O.C. ska-swing group Save Ferris had finalized a label deal with Epic Records. But this time, nothing out of O.C., not Fold Zandura's Oasis-goes-electronica or Mr. Mirainga's Latin-tinged rock, seemed to jump out as the Next Big Thing.

Unlike last spring, aspiring but relatively unknown Orange County bands that played over the long weekend at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference here did not set the industry's tongues wagging. By the end of 1997's festivities, the O.C. ska-swing group Save Ferris had finalized a label deal with Epic Records. But this time, nothing out of O.C., not Fold Zandura's Oasis-goes-electronica or Mr. Mirainga's Latin-tinged rock, seemed to jump out as the Next Big Thing.

Call them No Doubt with a horn section or Reel Big Fish with a glamorous frontwoman, but Save Ferris is out to separate itself from the pack of rapidly multiplying Orange County ska bands. A step away from No Doubt's rock-ska blend, Save Ferris also rides on a spunky blend of pop and big-band swing. After years of developing a strong following in the Orange County underground that spawned No Doubt and Sublime, Save Ferris saw its first album, "It Means Everything," debut as the No.

Call them No Doubt with a horn section or Reel Big Fish with a glamorous frontwoman, but Save Ferris is out to separate itself from the pack of rapidly multiplying Orange County ska bands. A step away from No Doubt's rock-ska blend, Save Ferris also rides on a spunky blend of pop and big-band swing. After years of developing a strong following in the Orange County underground that spawned No Doubt and Sublime, Save Ferris saw its first album, "It Means Everything," debut as the No.

Save Ferris could use a day off. When the seven band members gathered to rehearse at a studio here earlier this week, exhaustion had clearly set in. Trouble is, the popular Orange County ska-pop-swing band faces an even more taxing schedule in the weeks ahead. Its major label debut, "It Means Everything," hit the stores Tuesday. Its current single, "Come On Eileen," has been getting steady airplay for several weeks on modern-rock stations.