Public Access

Public Access was formed in the basements of Ravena, New York by guitarist Jay Bonafide and original drummer Al Fargione in the summer of 2000. The lineup was later completed by the additions of Chris Jordan on baritone sax and vocals and Eric Zell on bass. The band played their first show in March of 2001 to an amazingly large and welcoming crowd of over 300. In the months and years to follow, the band would find themselves playing over 100 shows all over their home state of New York and beyond.
Public Access has quickly become “the ska-punk force” (Metroland) in the Albany scene, building a strong grassroots following through their high energy live show and commitment to their music. The band has had the opportunity to share the stage with many of the acts that inspired them, including the Pietasters, Leftover Crack, the Slackers, the Toasters and Murphy’s Law, as well as bands as popular and diverse as Zebrahead, Motion City Soundtrack, Streetlight Manifesto, Lucky Boys Confusion and the Street Dogs. Strong believers in the Do-It-Yourself ethic, Public Access has almost single-handedly revived the long-neglected ska scene in Albany by booking many of their own shows and bringing some of the best underground bands in America to their hometown. The band has also played a large part in organizing and playing a series of benefit shows, raising thousands of dollars for various charities.
In the spring of 2004, the band was faced with the departure of both founding member Al Fargione and bassist Eric Zell. While both left Public Access on good terms in order to pursue college and other interests, the remaining members found themselves looking at an extremely difficult situation. Determined to push forward with the band in one way or another, Jay and Chris ran through a variety of different lineup options. Derek Melsh, formerly of the respected Albany punk band Nothing Famous, took over the drumming duties, providing the band with a completely fresh and original approach to the songs. The band was then introduced to bassist Bob Watson, and things finally began to click. The new lineup was completed by the addition of Matt Elia on tenor sax and vocals, opening up new musical possibilities for a band that had long felt limited by only having one horn.
While firmly rooted in ska and punk, the members of Public Access bring a wide array of other influences to the table. The band incorporates elements of rock, funk, hardcore, reggae, metal and even old-school rap into a sound that is all their own. The music has brought comparisons to bands like Fishbone, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Operation Ivy.
After facing circumstances that would destroy many groups, Public Access has emerged from hard times as a much more committed, focused unit than ever before. Never missing a step, the band completed its first tour, a 2000-mile trek through the Midwest, in the summer of 2004. Continually finding new audiences through a busy show schedule and growing airplay of their EP, "Please Throw Money," on college and internet radio stations, the upcoming months will find the band playing in new cities and working on fresh material.