In the Works?
Ska Isn’t dead - it’s just In the Works?
Photo by Trevor Castillo
In the Works? was my entrance into the music scene. From the moment I heard Liam’s sly saxophone drawl and Jack’s kick drum dance off the walls, I was sold. I didn’t know it yet but that night sparked an insistent fascination that carried me through sweaty shows, grueling tours, and a deep infatuation with local music. Now, three years later, I’m sitting across from the band at one of their final shows, asking the questions…
A scrappy blend of ska and rock, In the Works? is the brainchild of Liam Garrison (Vox, Sax, Guitar), Charlie Wheeler (Sax, Bass), Dominic “Dom” Gruneich (Vox, Guitar), and Jack Tolbert (Drums).
Fate played its hand early in the immaculate conception of In the Works? beginning with a cosmic bond between Charlie and Dom - nicknamed the ‘Barton Babies’ after the hospital where they were both born. Both Charlie and Dom’s father’s were in a ska and reggae project called Lavish Green, which they credit as a major influence on their passion for music.
“Being around music my entire life has always given me the appreciation for music, it’s just amazing in every way, it can boost anyone’s mood at anytime. Hearing my dad and [Dom’s] dad be able to riff off each other made me want to play in a band - since before I knew what thoughts were.” - Charlie
“When Lavish Green broke up, my dad stopped playing music and that was a big contributing factor of why I started playing music - I wanted to get him back and playing again. It worked!” - Dom
Liam was introduced through a football friend, and Jack wasn’t far behind. They soon started bonding in late-night PlayStation party chats,
“It was Covid, we were playing video games all the time, then one day I was like ‘Dude do you know this one Pink Guy song? Check out this ukulele riff.’ Then Dom was like ‘Yo, I started playing guitar’ and then he sent one song called “Can’t Live For Free” - deep cut, never released…it was about our economy and how you can’t live for free because of the bourgeoisie.” - Liam
Photo provided courtesy of In the Works?
Since their first show at the Lizard Lounge - a music shop in Gardnerville - they’ve gone on to grace stages all across the West Coast, touring multiple times throughout Oregon, California, and Washington. Highlights include performances at the Cypress and the Holland Project in Reno, the Smell in Los Angeles, and the Mountain Vibe Music Festival in Calaveras County.
When asked about their most memorable show, Charlie and Liam answered without missing a beat:
“What really sticks out, right off the bat, is the Holland Project’s ‘Fresh Meat’ showcase. Right when we started, we played with Evening Spirits - we love them - and the Olivias. I told my parents to show up early because the show was sold out, and they pretty much had to bribe their way in” - Charlie
“We played this festival all the way in San Diego, a 10 hour drive, and as soon as the first couple of bands started playing, the wind started picking up and it started fucking hailing. We were pretty much in a cloud. Everyone left minus the other musicians and we ended up playing while it was pelting. It was the worst show we ever played and it was in front of only cool musicians watching us from an awkward distance.” - Liam
Photo provided courtesy of In the Works?
New to In the Works? The band recommends starting with their sophomore album, Psycho Tsunami - a high-energy ride packed with punchy horn lines, upbeat rhythms, and a few hidden Easter eggs. Eagle-eyed listeners might catch that the production is credited to the mysteriously named 'Mattress on the Door Studios'...
“One of our first jam spaces, in Charlie’s tiny little jam room, there was a mattress leaned against the door (probably the fire escape door) to block out sound because my neighbors would call the cops at 8 o'clock” - Liam
While leaning into ska elements early on, the band’s sound has diverged into something completely idiosyncratic:
“We’re getting older and our music taste is shifting. We were definitely into ska and lighter stuff earlier, but then after watching people play ska their whole lives, we decided we never want to play the same thing twice” - Dom
Now they call their music “mutt rock”:
“It’s a mix of multiple genres and whatever we want, multiple breeds per-se” - Dom
Photo provided courtesy of In the Works?
After years of shared stages, late-night drives, and unforgettable shows, In the Works? has officially hung up their hats - each member now setting off on new adventures, forever carrying the memories and music that brought them together.
Listeners may have wondered about the question mark in In the Works?—a subtle nod to Pink Floyd’s “In the Flesh?.” Now, with their final album, the band is dropping the question mark for good, leaving things on a more definitive note with their final album entitled In the Works.
While they close the door on this project, they leave the scene with some advice for new-comers:
“Build a mutual community, bring more young people into music:” - Dom
“More people need to talk to each other and bring people out to shows!” - Liam
As the curtain falls on this chapter, I’m reminded that I came for the music and stayed for the sax. Now, after dozens of shows, it all makes sense—In the Works? was always exactly just that: a band discovering their rhythm, finding their voice, and kicking brass every step of the way.
