N.Y. Beat 25th Anniversary Reunion on 4/10/10

It's hard to believe, but a quarter of a century has passed since the first-ever US ska compilation was released on Moon Records in 1985 (I was a senior in high school and remember picking up a copy of N.Y. Beat: Hit & Run at Sounds on St. Mark's, not quite sure what it would contain--but knowing that I liked ska, The Specials, Fishbone, and this band called The Toasters).

To celebrate this milestone in the history of NYC/American ska music, Marc Wasserman of Bigger Thomas (and the 2 Tone/80s ska blog Marco on the Bass) has organized a N.Y.Beat: Hit & Run reunion for Saturday April 10, 2010 at 8:00 pm at the Dusk Lounge in New York City (co-owned by A-Kings/Thick As Thieves bass player Sid Reitzfeld). Members from almost all of the 13 bands featured on the album are expected to attend--and fans, family, and friends are all encouraged to come. (If it makes a difference, I'm also deejaying the event with an offbeat mix of vintage, 2 Tone, and modern ska.)

For more info about this extraordinary event, check out the Marco on the Bass blog and the Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Ska Compilation N.Y. Beat: Hit & Run Facebook page.

If you are anywhere near the NYC area, I hope to see you there...