Finals week got you down?

Head to the House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, on Thursday. Seasoned ska aces Mustard Plug will be playing along with local bands The Love Shots, Bust!, Waste Basket, and Danger Boy.

Take it from me, you will not be disappointed.

If history repeats itself, this promises to be quite an entertaining show. Mustard Plug, which played the House last March, had us all skanking with singles like “Lolita.” Besides that, the group’s cover of Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” was memorable, as well. While no cover could ever touch one of Fugazi’s best, Mustard Plug put a spin on it and had us all singing along anyway.

Normally, I’d hold something like covering Fugazi against a band, but Mustard Plug has been actively touring and recording since the early ‘90s. The band has obviously been doing something right, and it had me enjoying a cover that I would otherwise consider blasphemous.

Bust!, a band I saw a few years ago at Just For Fun Roller Rink, 914 Front St., in McHenry, knocked me out. Not one person could help but love the two punks in front of them screaming and thrashing their instruments, and I left the show knowing that Bust! would make a name for itself. In just a few years, Bust! has recorded two splits, two albums, and become a staple of the local music scene.

Of course, a Dekalb ska show would be incomplete without the likes of Danger Boy. On the multiple occasions I’ve seem them play, their antics have never left me anything but delighted. Songs about giant brains and killer robots tend to have that effect, as does the positive energy that this band exudes during its shows. This show will also feature the release of the band’s newest EP Giant Squid Attack!.

If you’ve never seen headliners Mustard Plug or any of the locals play live, you owe it to yourself to go to the House this Thursday. Finals week is always a drag, but a little ska is sure to start your weekend off on the right foot.