Born in the SoCal underground and baptized by chaos, Mad Tab is what punk sounds like when it’s been through something real. Backed by Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), the band returns with “Awake,” out April 1—their defining introduction and the first release on Fisher’s new label, InnaNuttshell Reekordingz.
Raw, technical, and explosive, “Awake” is the lead single from Mad Tab’s forthcoming full-length Alas! The Bomb Voyage…(Fall 2026), capturing a band operating at full intensity—melding SoCal punk urgency with intricate musicianship, dual lead vocals, and a sharp modern edge.
At its core, “Awake” is about coming out the other side—finding strength to break free from self-destructive patterns that keep pulling you under, and finding a way forward. For a band shaped by nearly two decades of chaos, setbacks, and reinvention, the message lands with hard-earned weight.
Formed in 2006 in the South OC underground, Mad Tab built their reputation the hard way—house parties, bowling alley shows that spiraled into riots, abrupt shutdowns, lineup shifts, and long stretches of silence. Along the way, they detoured through reggae, rocksteady, and ska before returning to the punk foundation they never stopped writing toward.
That foundation now arrives fully realized. Founding members Dave Tab and Gram Tab, alongside Scott Beattie and drummer Rob Wheeler, lock into a rare, decades-deep chemistry—tight, aggressive, and impossible to neatly categorize. Their sound lands somewhere between Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Turnstile, with flashes of Rancid and The Hives.
What further separates Mad Tab is their expanded sonic palette. With keys and analog synth woven directly into the band’s DNA—not as embellishment, but as propulsion—their sound adds grit, depth, and texture rarely heard in punk. Combined with a dual-fronted vocal attack and four-part harmonies, the result is dynamic, immediate, and built to hit just as hard live as it does on record.
Mad Tab also arrive with infrastructure already in place. Built around their own ecosystem—including OPB Productions (media/content) and MTA Printing (design/merch)—the band operates as a fully independent unit.
The connection to Norwood Fisher stems from a long-standing relationship with Dave Tab, forged during years touring nationally and working across the Southern California music community. As Fisher launches InnaNuttshell Reekordingz, Mad Tab stands as its first artist—a deliberate choice that underscores both their originality and staying power.
“Awake” also marks a turning point. For years, the band’s recorded output didn’t reflect who they’d become. This release closes that gap, presenting Mad Tab as they are now: focused, ferocious, and fully realized.
Nearly four years in the making, Alas! The Bomb Voyage… was recorded by Hayden Hanson (Tunnel Vision) at Tubetown Studios in San Clemente and mixed by Jim Monroe (The Adolescents, The Dickies, Cadillac Tramps, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, among others)—tracked with intention and mixed to fully capture the band’s intensity.
After twenty years of near-misses and persistence, Mad Tab are no longer building toward something—they’ve arrived.
And it all starts with “Awake.”
Upcoming Show:
Saturday, May 16- Costa Mesa, CA Tiki Bar (w/ Yellowman) 21+
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