Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Must See Halloween Gigs: Destroy Babylon, The Drastics!

Even though I usually point out NYC area ska/reggae events, there are two very cool Halloween gigs taking place tonight far beyond our battered, but still standing, city borders...

The first takes place in the city of my birth--Boston, MA--with the fantastic Destroy Babylon, who will be performing the soundtrack to The Harder They Come in its entirety, in celebration of that album's/movie's 40th anniversary, at the Middle East Up in Cambridge! Details and tix for the show can be found here. Destroy Babylon will be sure to do these tracks great justice, so make sure to attend this show if you are anywhere near Cambridge, Mass!

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If you happen to be near or in Chicago area, you have to see The Drastics, who will be performing tracks (with help from Akasha crew, Deal's Gone Bad, and MC ZULUoff their incredible MJ A Rocker EP, which came out a few years ago (The Duff Guide to Ska write up about it can be found here).

Here is how The Drastics are describing their show tonight at Martyr's in Chicago:

"We took six of the King of Pop's biggest tunes and arranged them inna Jamaican style. Imagine if Coxsone Dodd was behind the mixing board instead of Quincy Jones, and you're half-way there. We'll be adding a couple more tunes to the repertoire for this set, BUT this is also probably, most likely, for-realsy, the only time this will ever be performed live, so, ya know, don't blow it."

Much earlier this year, there had been some talk of bringing this show on the road--but unfortunately this never panned out. I would have loved to have seen it. The idea and the execution of it are brilliant!

If you're interested in a free download of MJ A Rocker, go here--and Jump Up Records still has a few copies of this on vinyl.

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Bonus Halloween Treat for New Yorkers: If you're in Brooklyn tonight, head on down to Watch This Sound's "DanceHalloween" at Brooklyn Stable--Grace of Spades, Maddie Ruthless, Jah Point, Sweet V and Bats are spinning reggay way past the witching hour! Details here.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

"Reggae Golden Jubilee" Box Set Compiled by Edward Seaga

I happened to be watching the local NYC Time Warner news channel NY1 yesterday and caught this story about former Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga visiting VP Records (Seaga helped study and promote Jamaican music, ran the WIRL record label, and was one of the key architects of Jamaica's independence--though I should note that his politics and policies have been conservative-leaning). NY1 isn't hosting the video of the segment--otherwise I would have posted a link to it here. Seaga was in New York signing advance copies of Reggae Golden Jubilee - Origins of Jamaican Music - 50th Anniversary, a four CD box set (featuring hit songs from the first 50 years of Jamaican independence) compiled by Seaga himself; he also contributed track by track liner notes.

Not all, but many of the tracks here will be familiar to most ska/reggae fans, but it still looks like a very decent compilation. (Even more ambitious--and highly recommended--is Trojan Records' stellar Freedom Sounds, which is a five CD set of much rarer material, most of it directly related to the struggle for and celebration of Jamaica's independence from the UK; perhaps I'll review it someday, if I ever have the time to really dig into it!)


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Reggae Steady Ska: Madness Album Series!

In a countdown to the release of Madness' new album (their 10th!), Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da (available worldwide on October 29, 2012), and in celebration of the band's incredible history, the website Reggae Steady Ska (run by Joachim Uerschels, singer songwriter for The Braces and Alpha Boys) has been publishing its Madness Album Series--a record by record tribute to the band's back catalogue.

For this series, Joachim has asked various ska DJs, musicians, and bloggers to write up their thoughts and memories related to a particular Madness album. I've written a piece on The Liberty of Norton Folgate (which can be read here), while my friend Marc Wasserman (Bigger Thomas, Marco on the Bass blog) shared his personal connection The Rise and Fall, which you can check out here--I highly recommend it!).

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Thanks and respect to Joe for the opportunity to participate in this Madness tribute.




Friday, October 19, 2012

NYC Ska/Reggae Calendar Fall 2012 #558

Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Skalapalooza 2012
w/Pilfers, Edna's Goldfish, Spring Heeled Jack (acoustic), Sammy Kay and the Fast Five, Across the Aisle

Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY

$18

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Friday, October 26, 2012 @ 7:00 pm

Rocks Off Halloween Boat Party w/Mephiskapheles, Inspecter 7, Step2Far

Star of Palm Beach Party Boat
Pier 40
West Houston Street and West Side Highway
Manhattan

Boarding time: 7:00 pm

$20

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Friday, October 26, 2012 @ 9:00 pm

3rd Annual Halloween Reggae Party Massacre
Witch Dance: The Forthrights/Frightnrs Halloween Session

Tea Factory Lofts #111
175 Stockholm Street
Brooklyn, NY

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

Halloween 2012 w/Maninblack and DOOMSDAY! The Ultimate Mephiskapheles Unplugged Tribute
(Plus Agent Jay spins ska and reggae!)

Double Down Saloon
14 Avenue A
New York, NY

21+ w/ID

Free

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Friday, November 2, 2012 (Doors 6:30 pm/show 7:30 pm)

The Toasters, The Rudie Crew, The Snails
(plus Electric Avenue selectors Marc Wasserman and Steve Shafer)

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

All ages!

Advance tix: $12/DOS: $14

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Saturday, November 10, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

Electric Avenue w/Three Bands To Be Announced Soon!

Characters NYC (back room)
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue)
Manhattan, NY

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Saturday, November 17, 2012 (Doors at 7:00 pm/show at 7:30 pm)


Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

All ages!

Advance tix: $12/DOS: $14

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 @ 10:00 pm

Chris Dowd's Ultra Infidels, Corey Glover, Funk Face

Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY

18+

$15 in advance/$20 day of show

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Saturday, December 1, 2012 @ 7:30 pm

Chris Dowd's The Ultra Infidels, Funk Face, Bigger Thomas

Randy Now's Man Cave/Consolidated Firehouse
Crosswicks Street and Farnsworth Avenue
Bordentown, NJ

All ages!

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Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 8:00 pm


The Bell House
149 12th Street
Brooklyn, NY 
$15 advance/$17 day of show



Thursday, October 18, 2012

Duff Gig Review: Destroy Babylon and The Frightnrs at Electric Avenue (at Characters NYC) on 10/13/12

(By Steve Shafer)

I really had no idea of what to expect for the third Electric Avenue ska/reggae night (our debut featured The Snails and King Django; the second, Doomsday/Meph Tribute by Meph members, Bigger Thomas, and Beat Brigade)--apart from the fact that the two bands featured on the bill, Destroy Babylon and The Frightnrs, would be certain to serve up some incredible performances. The evening started up fortuitously enough. After I had set up the DJ equipment, my friend Joe (who also graciously served as our door person, collecting the cover to be split between the two bands) and I bellied up to the bar for some grub and a pint before the event started. The afternoon bartender, Larry, had finished his shift and was sitting a stool away from us and struck up a conversation about the bands that were playing later. I described each band's style of reggae, which led him to rave about Linton Kwesi Johnson and his Dread Beat an' Blood and Forces of Victory albums, as well as LKJ's tracks, "Sonny's Lettah" (about the pernicious Sus laws at the time) and "Inglan is a Bitch," which is a fave of mine. He then recounted his teen years in Dublin and the punk acts he had seen and loved that introduced him to reggae, like The Clash and The Ruts (he had also caught The Jam, The Buzzcocks, The Undertones, The Specials, and many more). Larry then told us he had picked up a copy of Vive Le Rock recently which included a free CD that contained a track from a ska band he wanted to recommend to me: The Skints (I've heard the name, but not their music)! All of this just goes to show the world is sometimes much smaller than we think, and you never know who is just one barstool away in a pub in midtown Manhattan!

Another surprising aspect of the evening that manifest itself while both acts were loading in their equipment. Both acts are bands of brothers: The Frightnrs have Chuck (organ) and Preet (bass) Patel, while Destroy Babylon has twins John (bass) and Marc (drums) Beaudette. And, maybe it was just me, but both bands seemed all the more tighter because of these familial bonds (you don't have to believe me, the proof's in the videos below).

Around 45 or 50 people had filled the back room of Characters by the time The Frightnrs started their set at 10:00 pm and they wowed the crowd with their sweet, brilliantly authentic rub-a-dub sounds--kicking off with Dawn Penn's rocksteady classic "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)." They played several original cuts off their extraordinary, self-titled EP (one of the best new recordings I've heard this year--The Duff Guide to Ska review can be read here; and you can download the EP for free here, but please pay something, as this music is something you'll treasure), including "Walking," "Evening Time," "And I Wouldn't Tell You This," and "Ties Been Severed." Other highlights of their set included "Champion Bubbler," "Admiration," and "Full Up Riddim Ride." One of the many things that I love about this band is that they have the early dancehall sound down so well that you're never completely positive if you're hearing an original track or a tantalizingly familiar riddim track whose name is just on the tip of your tongue. The Frightnrs put on an excellent, tight live show (as captured in the videos I shot below)--so make a point to seem them, as they are, without a doubt, one of NYC's finest.











The roots-rock-reggae powerhouse that is Destroy Babylon went on around 11:30 pm, and by that time the back room of Characters was a large, raucous, enthusiastic, and well lubricated mass (helped by the fact that many in the audience had come over from Comic Con--one of the DB members was working at a booth there earlier in the day). We were thrilled to be able to feature this Boston band, which we've been wanting to see ever since hearing their stellar, socially/politically conscious album, Long Live the Vortex (read The Duff Guide to Ska review of it here). DB performed a good number of tracks off Vortex, including "DB, Inc.," "Bad Draw," "Mr. Money Bags," "#1 Killer," "Free the King" and "Freeze"--as well as some other original cuts like "Come Over" (sung by the fantastic Kelli Webb) and "Cold Blooded Killer." Plus they snuck in some really choice covers in their set, like The Clash's "Guns of Brixton," an incredible reggae reading of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel," The Misfits' "Hollywood Babylon" (also with Kelli), and a dread version of The English Beat's "Mirror in the Bathroom." Destroy Babylon put on one hell of a good live show (again, watch the videos below and you'll get a good sense of what you're in for when you see them) and many more NYC-area ska and reggae fans really, really need to get to know this band (you'll have that chance sometime in 2013, as we hope to bring them back down from Beantown for another Electric Avenue night over the winter).



















Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Version City Party Tour 2012 (Updated)

Here are the latest confirmed dates for the Version City Party Tour with King DjangoThe Snails, and Matt MacLeod (of The Heavy Beat), which is hitting the I-95 corridor this December and January (and will be a tour package not to miss!):

2012 DEC 15 SAT: New London, CT - El'n'Gee
2012 DEC 16 SUN: Providence, RI - Firehouse 13
2012 DEC 20 THU: Washington, DC - BlueBeat DC @ Solly's Tavern
2012 DEC 22 SAT: Rehoboth Beach, DE - Dogfish Head Brewing
2012 DEC 27 THU: Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
2012 DEC 30 SUN: Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
2013 JAN 1 TUE: Jacksonville, FL - Burro Bar
2013 JAN 5 SAT: Lake Worth, FL - Propaganda
2013 JAN 7 MON: Pompano Beach, FL - Mickey's Bar
2013 JAN 8 TUE: Miami, FL - Churchill's
2013 JAN 9 WED: Cape Coral, FL - Rack'Em Billiards
2013 JAN 12 SAT: Gainesville, FL - The Atlantic
2013 JAN 14 MON: Pensacola, FL - The Handle Bar

The Skatalites 2012 Tour and New Album "Walk with Me"

This October, The Skatalites are playing dates in America's heartland (where they do love their ska!) in support of their new album Walk With Me (which was released in the UK earlier this year). Joining them on this tour will be the Van Gordon Martin Band.

Skatalites 2012 Midwest USA Tour

Saturday, 10/13: Flamingo Cantina - Austin, TX
Wednesday, 10/17: Zoo Bar - Lincoln, NE
Thursday, 10/18: Davey's Uptown - Kansas City, MO
Friday, 10/19: Gas Lamp - Des Moines, IA
Saturday, 10/20: Reggie's Rock Club - Chicago IL
Sunday, 10/21: Club Garibaldi's - Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday, 10/23: Off Broadway - St Louis, MO
Thursday, 10/25: Founder's Brewing Co - Grand Rapids, MI
Friday, 10/26: Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
Saturday, 10/27: Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH

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Walk With Me features 11 tracks of re-recorded classics such as “Song for My Father” and “King Solomon” along with brand new compositions. Guest musicians on the release feature Rich Graiko (Westbound Train/The Void Union) on trumpet, Ansel Meditation and Ranking Joe signing harmony on “Desert Ska,” and Sunny Moon.

The album is dedicated to Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Jerome “Jah Jerry” Haynes and John “Dizzy Johnny” Moore, who have all passed on since our last recording.

The track listing (below) is the same as the UK release with updated artwork.

1. Desert Ska
2. Lalibela
3. Hot Flash
4. The Leader
5. Love is the Way
6. Walk With Me
7. Piece for Peace
8. Song for My Father
9. Little Teresa
10. King Solomon
11. Dub Lalibela

Thursday, October 11, 2012

NYC Fall 2012 Ska/Reggae Calendar #325


(Roots-rock-reggae meets rub-a-dub!)

Characters NYC (back room)
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue)
Manhattan, NY

$5 cover

Doors at 8:00 pm; The Frightnrs go on at 10:00 pm and Destroy Babylon plays at 11:30 pm.

Selectors Duff and Kames Jelly spinning the best in ska, rocksteady, and reggae all night long!

(Electric Avenue is co-sponsored by Marco on the Bass and The Duff Guide to Ska)

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012 (Doors at 6:00 pm; show at 8:00 pm)

CMJ Music Festival Show

B.B. Kings Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd Street (Between 7th & 8th Avenues)
New York

$25 in advance/$30 day of show

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Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm

w/Pilfers, Edna's Goldfish, Spring Heeled Jack (acoustic), Sammy Kay and the Fast Five, Across the Aisle

Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY

$18

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Friday, October 26, 2012 @ 7:00 pm

Rocks Off Halloween Boat Party w/Mephiskapheles, Inspecter 7, Step2Far

Star of Palm Beach Party Boat
Pier 40
West Houston Street and West Side HIghway
Manhattan

Boarding time: 7:00 pm

$20

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Friday, October 26, 2012 @ 9:00 pm


Tea Factory Lofts #111
175 Stockholm Street
Brooklyn, NY 

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

(Plus Agent Jay spins ska and reggae!)

Double Down Saloon
14 Avenue A
New York, NY
21+ w/ID

Free

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Friday, November 2, 2012 (Doors  6:30 pm/Show 7:30 pm)


Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
All ages!

Advance tix: $12/DOS: $14

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Saturday, November 10, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

Electric Avenue w/Three Bands To Be Announced Soon!

Characters NYC (back room)
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue)
Manhattan, NY

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Saturday, December 1, 2012 @ 7:30 pm


Randy Now's Man Cave/Consolidated Firehouse
Crosswicks Street and Farnsworth Avenue
Bordentown, NJ
All ages!

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Rico Rodriguez Awarded Silver Musgrave Medal

Legendary Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez, MBE, is being awarded the silver Musgrave medal (in recognition of outstanding Jamaicans in the fields of the arts, literature, and science) by the Institute of Jamaica, according to an article in the Jamaica Gleaner written by Herbie Miller (who just happens to be the Director/Curator of the Jamaica Music Museum at The Institute of Jamaica).

Miller's tribute also happens to be one of the best overviews of Rico's magnificent career that I've ever read--you'll definitely come away from this piece with an even greater appreciation for his stellar body of work and better understanding of his place in the Jamaican musical firmament.

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

NPR Shows the Ska Love with Coverage of Releases from The English Beat, Ernest Ranglin

Maybe it's the demographic of the people now running the music end of things at National Public Radio (NPR)--they were probably teenagers when 2 Tone, and The English Beat in particular, won over legions of American New Wave kids and stormed the playlists at modern rock and college radio stations in the late 70s and early 80s--that would explain why there have been two ska/reggae related pieces recently broadcast nationwide, one covering The English Beat's career (in conjunction with the re-release of their catalogue on Shout Factory) and the other reviewing Ernest Ranglin's new album.

What is particularly refreshing is that both pieces were written and recorded by music writers who are clearly knowledgeable about ska, reggae, jazz, and 2 Tone (I've read hundreds, if not thousands, of reviews and features related to ska and a lot of people just don't get it right).

So when you have a about 10 minutes, give a to listen to Ed Ward's recounting of The English Beat's all too short existence in Out Of Industrial Wasteland, The English Beat Was Bornand Banning Eyre's review of Ernest Ranglin's Avila (Avila Street Records): A Ska And Jazz Innovator Bridges Continents And Decades.

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(Photo of The Beat by Adrian Boot)




Tuesday, October 2, 2012

NYC Fall 2012 Ska Calendar #1,459!


Thursday, October 4, 2012 @ 8:00 pm


Irving Plaza
17 Irving Place
New York, NY 
16+

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Friday, October 5, 2012 @ 7:00 pm


Rocks Off Concert Cruise Aboard The Jewel
Boards: East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive, Manhattan
Advance tix: $25/DOS: $30
18+

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Saturday, October 6, 2012 @ 12:00 - 2:00 pm


YMCA Fall Festival
Great South Bay YMCA
200 West Main Street
Bay Shore, NY 
Free!

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Saturday, October 6, 2012 @ 10:00 pm (two sets!)


Two Boots Brooklyn
514 2nd Street
Brooklyn, NY
Free!

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Saturday, October 13, 2012


Characters NYC (back room)
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue)
Manhattan, NY
$5

(Electric Avenue is co-sponsored by Marco on the Bass and The Duff Guide to Ska)

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Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm

w/Pilfers, Edna's Goldfish, Spring Heeled Jack (acoustic), Sammy Kay and the Fast Five, Across the Aisle

Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY
$18

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Friday, October 26, 2012 @ 9:00 pm


Tea Factory Lofts #111
175 Stockholm Street
Brooklyn, NY 

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Friday, November 2, 2012 (Doors  6:30 pm/Show 7:30 pm)


Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
All ages!

Advance tix: $12/DOS: $14

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Monday, October 1, 2012

Duff Gig Review: Beat Brigade, Bigger Thomas, and Doomsday! at Electric Avenue (at Characters NYC) on 9/15/12

(Write-up by Steve Shafer)

Well, to be candid, this isn't really a review, since I helped put this whole show together with Marc Wasserman of the Marco on the Bass blog (and Bigger Thomas). So, consider this more of an enthusiastically biased show report for those who weren't able to make this gig. (By the way, that's Paul Gil of The NY Citizens from back in the day representing on the show flyer--he was at the show, so we thanked him in person for letting us borrow his image for our own purposes.)

On Saturday, September 15, about 130 filled up the back room of Characters NYC (a great Irish pub in midtown Manhattan near Columbus Circle and most subway lines) to be time-machined back several decades to experience a night of old school 1980s and 1990s NYC ska sounds/vibes with Doomsday! (The Ultimate Tribute to Mephiskapheles Consisting of Former Members of Mephiskapheles), Bigger Thomas, and Beat Brigade. In between sets, I shared the decks with Kames Jelly and we spun everything from early Skatalites to recently released Prince Fatty.

First at bat were Doomsday! (The Ultimate Tribute to Mephiskapheles Consisting of Former Members of Mephiskapheles), who served up a spectacular, almost folk-ska (check out the electric banjo, rhumba box, and melodica!) tribute to Mephiskapheles/themselves (several were founding members of Meph who recorded the infamous Mephiskapheles demo tape, The Demo(n)--which they performed in its entirety: "Doomsday," "Dansemenot," "Eskamo," and "Shame and Scandal"). Some highlights of Doomsday's set included the mass, inebriated sing-along to "Saba"; Michael Drance (of The Bluebeats) joining Brendog Tween on vocals for a wonderfully rambunctious rendition of Toots and Maytal's "Sweet and Dandy"; the sweat pouring off Mikal Reich as he slapped his rhumba box into overdrive; Jerica Rosenblum's haunting melodica lines; and the palpable and enthusiastic love and appreciation radiating off the audience for the band.

I first caught Meph live back in '91 or 92' at some second floor venue--its name is lost in the less traveled recesses my brain--on 23rd Street and 11th Avenue in or next to a nasty flophouse/hooker hotel and was sold on the band after experiencing their show amongst a sea of skinheads (Buck had sent me to the gig to scope them out after hearing their demo tape). So, it was absolutely fantastic to hear these tracks again after all this time. Doomsday's performance had to be on the early side for NYC and short due to some other obligations of one of the band members, but we hope to have Doomsday back at some point later this year.

(This was our second Electric Avenue show and we're still working out the last few sound and lighting issues with the venue, so please forgive us if some of the videos below are a little dark and the vocals are too low in the mix.)











Up next were perennial faves Bigger Thomas (with the always brilliant Roy Radics of The Rudie Crew) who completely killed it with their high energy, 2 Tone-influenced brand of modern ska--and had the crowd on their feet for their entire set. If you can separate the fact that I'm a huge fan/friend of the band, take my word that Bigger Thomas are one of the best/most enjoyable ska bands on the NYC--if not national/international--scene. I've never been less than completely impressed by every one of their performances. BT played several cuts of their most recent album, Steal My Sound, including "Crown Victoria" and "Can't Remember My Name," as well as older songs like "I Live at Home" (very under appreciated, but one of their greatest) and "Simple Man." (In related Bigger Thomas news, they're currently recording several new songs for a digital, and possibly vinyl, EP in 2013!)  Bigger Thomas are one of the NYC ska scene's biggest assets/treasures. Each time I catch them, I'm reminded why I like ska music so much (catchy tunes to sing along to; the social commentary in the lyrics; propulsive grooves that make you move; and the simple fact that the whole thing is fun as hell!). Whenever they play near you, always make sure to see them!





I entered the NYC ska scene in the late 80s, well after Beat Brigade's rise and fall, but was always aware of their great reputation and importance to the development of this genre in New York and beyond (read some great background on Beat Brigade here and here, courtesy of Marco on the Bass). But due to a host of all too common and lamentable circumstances, the band never released more than two songs on wax ("Armageddon Beat" on the Moon Records NY Beat: Hit and Run compilation LP and "Try and Try Again"--the flip side to The Toasters' "Talk is Cheap" single, also on Moon), which is a real shame, because Beat Brigade have the goods (and then some) and they deliver it in spades (I heard from keyboardist Dave Barry and bassist Frank Usamanont that there are current plans to enter the studio and lay down all of BB's greatest tracks, which is incredible news).

What I really like about Beat Brigade is that their songs and sound are not easily pigeonholed. It's definitely ska, but not stereotypically so. Like so many of the foundational 80s ska bands in New York City, Beat Brigade's music is uniquely their own; they're informed by 2 Tone (particularly The Beat) for sure, and also heavily influenced by the New Wave/post-punk of The Smiths, Elvis Costello, The Jam, and The Clash--but everything is mixed with the secret sauce that is in the songwriting minds of the Beat Brigade. The result is something hard to classify or pin down and that's what makes it particularly great.

My first introduction to ska was through The Specials and The Beat--so when I picked up The Toasters' Recriminations EP and NY Beat: Hit and Run comp at Sounds on St. Mark's Place back in 1985, I fully expected to hear 2 Tone ska. To be honest, I was put off at first; I wanted a continuation  of the familiar and beloved Dammers and Wakeling vision of ska, not the challenging, almost foreign newness of what all these NYC bands were doing with ska. Yet, I came around pretty quickly, playing "Radiation Skank" over and over on my record player, shedding my preconceived notions, and coming to fully appreciate the amazing and special NYC ska sound on its own terms. (The next ska purchases that helped expand my ska horizons were Fishbone's debut EP--which I bought at Caldor's of all places--and The Untouchables' Wild Child.)

Beat Brigade's performance at Electric Avenue was nothing short of a revelation; they were stellar. For so many of us that missed out on seeing them in the mid-80s, Beat Brigade's performance this night was like a gift, a chance for the space/time continuum to bend back on itself and let 1985 and 2012 exist at the same moment for an hour or so in a small corner of Earth called Manhattan. At the end of their show, I felt so thrilled and fortunate to have seen them--to have heard amazing new-to-me songs like "Keep Still Dark"--and to know first hand why there was a big buzz about them in the 80s. I must see them again soon (and you can bet that we'll be bringing them back to Electric Avenue in the future).