No Funny Stuff is an unconventional band featuring an American, two musicians from Molise, and an Italian, all equipped with an array of quirky, homemade instruments. From repurposed containers and broom handles to saws, washboards, pots, cans, and garden watering cans, they turn everyday objects into an astonishing musical adventure. Their sound is a wild and explosive mix: Heavy Swing, Bluegressive, Jug Band Blues, and 1920s Punk Rock blend into a high-energy musical fusion. Their setlist combines original compositions with reimagined pop and rock hits, twisted beyond recognition and transported back in time with a charming retro feel.
In the spring of 2014, on the outskirts of Rome, two unusual characters found themselves stuck in the same elevator due to a malfunction—just enough time to get to know each other and realize they had a lot in common. The first was Mike Botula, a Californian bassist with a punk rock soul, fresh from a performance at the Sziget Festival. The second was Giuseppe Cassa, a guitarist with a unique passion: creating musical instruments by recycling everyday objects. From that unexpected encounter, a collaboration was born. After a few jam sessions and brainstorming sessions, they decided to form a real jug band. Completing the lineup were Giuseppe Petti, an unconventional percussionist specializing in washboards, kitchen pot drums, and tin cans, and Fabio Gabbianelli, bringing his unmistakable barockabilly double bass. The band started out as buskers, immediately capturing audiences with their infectious energy and natural ability to engage everyone. They performed at numerous festivals, including the prestigious Ferrara Buskers Festival, the largest in the world, which they won in 2016. As an eco-friendly band and champions of creative recycling, they took part in events dedicated to ecology, reuse, and sustainability. Their originality also brought them to television, with appearances on shows such as Ci Pensa Mainardi(Fox Life), I Soliti Ignoti (Rai 1), and Tu Si Que Vales (Canale 5), where they received a unanimous “Yes” from the judges and 96% approval from the audience. Still going strong, you can catch them in clubs, festivals, and town squares all over Italy, ready to entertain with their unique music and irreverent spirit!
