Ain’t no prom like the Ska Prom. The annual festival brought together a hive of like-minded skanking enthusiasts from every corner of Massachusetts and all points beyond. The nine-band bill played through from noon until the nighttime hours on Saturday, 17 September as the entire town of Somerville celebrated its much beloved creation, fluff, during the 17th Annual What the Fluff extravaganza.

Fluff – yes – fluff. The magical marshmallow creme invented by Archibald Query, Somerville resident and man-about-town, who sold his product door-to-door at the beginning of the 20th century. The Ska Prom was one of many ways to celebrate the memory of dear Archibald over the weekend. The ONCE production team made certain that a cooler full of fluffernutters were on hand to fuel the music making at Boynton Yards.

The bill was divided in two parts, with The Cat Attic, Double Star, The New Limits, and Joker's Republic kicking off the day. Along with the music, food, and drinks, vendors sold wares, bands hawked merch, and a slew of party games lay in wait for the curious. Sources report that no fans cornhole harder than ska fans.

The second half of the bill began with the ska attack of Hobo Chili. The Boston-based six piece boasted strong horn representation. A heady trio of one trumpet and two saxophones was flanked on either side by bass and guitar, with the drums bringing up the rear. It produced a big, bright, brassy, danceable mix. Sources report that no fans dance harder than ska fans.

No one was quite ready for the havoc that New Brunswick’s Thirsty Guys brought to the stage next. The four piece plays more like a screamo punk band than your classic ska outfit, but the change of pace was welcome in the daylong bill. The frontguy handled most of the vocals and briefly flirted with the idea of playing keys before systematically demolishing the instrument over the course of the entire set. The energy of the live show is a big selling point for Thirsty Guys. You might not remember the songs, but you’ll remember the performance. Sources report that the frontguy changed into a Green Man costume later in the night.

Billerica’s Threat Level Burgundy might have had the deepest roster of the night with bass, guitar, drums, two trombones, one saxophone, and one trumpet. Maybe more? They were their own private army of ska.

The band forever endeared themselves to the heart of Hump Day News by opening with a skankable version of the Water Country theme song, a well-known ditty around these parts.

Read Heather F.'s review of Water Country on Yelp

Fall River’s Sweet Babylon is a three-piece that mixed originals with covers, including a tight version of Blondie’s “The Tide Is High.” Extra points for playing a ska version of “Earth Angel” – perfect for a Ska Prom.

Fall River, by the way, is located along the southern edge of Massachusetts and is the home of infamous axe-murderer Lizzie Borden. Though we shouldn’t be too quick to call her an axe-murderer because she was tried, and acquitted. Since no one else was charged or tried for the murders, the townsfolk must have been satisied that she was guilty even if they couldn’t prove it in court. Lizzie Borden, supreme baller that she was, went on living the rest of her days in the town, giving zero fucks. Other than a minor shoplifting charge later in life, she stayed below the radar.

Headliners The Pomps closed out the night with a pop-forward brand of ska that mixed covers and originals. If you hadn’t grabbed a Fluffernutter by the end of show, no worries, the 17th Annual What The Fluff?! extravaganza was rocking in Somerville all the next day.