Reel Big Fish has been to Hawai'i so many times, the band might want to consider investing in a time-share.

In the past eight years, the SoCal ska-punk vets have skipped live shows here just twice — in 2000 and 2004. Lead singer Aaron Barrett and bass player Matt Wong even married their girlfriends here last year in separate ceremonies.

The band plays Pipeline Cafe with longtime ska-punk peers/tourmates Goldfinger on Monday night.

A jovial Barrett answered my Five Questions from a Melbourne, Australia, tour stop.

Q. What's your favorite Reel Big Fish in Hawai'i story?

A. I always remember the first time we went there, because we didn't even have a record deal yet. We had put out our own independent CD. And somehow Radio Free Hawaii got a copy of it and started playing "Beer." So we got to come to Hawai'i, stay in a hotel for a week, play two shows (and) hang out. It was a total vacation, and the first time we ever felt like a real band — that we had actually made it somewhere. ... It was cool.

Q. Self-deprecation has always been a part of Real Big Fish's lyrics. But there seems to be a lot more anger issues being worked out over the otherwise happy, energetic ska beats of the band's most recent CD, "We're Not Happy 'Til You're Happy." Issues with fickle fans, the music industry, radio, your bandmates. Were things really that bad?

A. We were going through some rough times. There were people in the band that weren't really getting along. There was a lot of tension and a lot of bad vibes going on. And it was hell touring for a while. I didn't even realize (it), but I was just so bummed out being in the band at the time ... so I just wrote all these songs.

Once I got (the songs) out, we got some new members — a new drummer, a new trumpet player. Everybody's getting along a lot better now. ... It's been very therapeutic. (Laughs.)

Q. I can't imagine a Reel Big Fish fan who wouldn't appreciate the darkly humorous directness of new songs like "Don't Start a Band" and "Your Guts (I Hate 'Em)." But I especially enjoyed the band's cover of "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful." Are you a Morrissey fan?

A. I'm a huge Morrissey fan. ... I've wanted to cover that song for a long time, because it kind of goes with that theme ... of us always singing about bands, what we do and the scene. Especially now that so many bands that we've played with have gone on to be hugely successful like blink-182, New Found Glory, Sum-41 (and) Simple Plan.

Not that I'm bitter. I'm glad to see the bands get big and successful. But you do get (angry) and think, "How come it's not me?"

I just really relate to the song.

Q. Are you still hopeful that Reel Big Fish will reach that level of success someday?

A. I'm still hopeful, actually. I'm sure a lot of people think that we've done all we can. (The band's sole chart hit "Sell Out" peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's modern-rock chart in 1997.) ... I'm sure we could have a huge hit someday. We've got a really good thing right now because we've got the underground-cult thing going. We're still part of the ska scene, and that's really cool. So I can't really complain, even though I do sometimes. (Laughs.)

Q. "We're Not Happy ..." was released six months ago; the songs were written months or years before that. Tell me you're in a happier place now.

A. Totally. I'm in a totally different place now.

Sometimes when we start into a song like "Don't Start a Band," I look out at the kids and, well, I kind of feel bad because ... it's mean. (Laughs.) I don't want to bum these kids out. I really love playing for (them) and I want 'em to start bands. I know that we've inspired a lot of bands to start.

I just hope that most people (who listen) are going, "Aww, that's just Reel Big Fish being funny. Ha, ha, ha."(Laughs.)

I really have a good attitude, in real life!

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.