One thing we definitely have to look forward to in 2013 is the next album from King Hammond! Titled Hot Skin Music, this 20-track record ("a mix of bluebeat, skinhead reggae, country, and comedy") will be largely autobiographical and include the acoustic "The Life and Times of a Ska Man" (which is also the name of King Hammond's autobiography being written with Paul Willo, who wrote The Specials' biography, "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion").
Of note, the title track ("Hot Skin Music") will be released in two parts, with 7" and 12" mixes (what, are we in the 80s again?!). King Hammond (AKA Nick Welsh) describes is as "a kind of Donna Summer, Japan, funk, skinhead, Afro-rock track." With a description like that, I can't wait to hear it!
In other news, King Hammond's new live band is called The Spirit of '69, in a nod to the King's skinhead reggae roots (his previous backing band, Rude Boy Mafia, broke up when bassist Nick Welsh, Jr. moved to Canada).
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(BTW, do you need to brush up on some of King Hammond's music? Check out his YouTube channel, King Hammond World, for dozens upon dozens of videos--most of them done by Paul Willo.)
If you couldn't make it to the first amazing Jamaican Oldies Weekend in Chicago a few weekends ago, here are some videos of Stranger Cole backed by The Prizefighters and performing "Crying Every Night"--a soul-reggae cover of The Guess Who's "These Eyes" and Pat Kelly backed by Green Room Rockers and performing The Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain."
For some background on the Jamaican Oldies Weekend, read the recent Duff Guide to Ska interview with Jump Up's Chuck Wren here.
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More Stranger Cole/Prizefighter videos can be watched here and Pat Kelly/GRR videos can be found here.
Our friends at Stubborn Records have some highly anticipated releases coming out in the near future (they're being pressed right now) that we thought we should point out to you:
- King Django's star-studded full-length CD Anywhere I Roam
- The Dr. Ring Ding "Dibby Sound Boy" b/w Dave Hillyard "Dragon Fiyah" 45rpm 7" single (this is actually on the Version City imprint)
(Of note: the classic Stubborn Records release Get On High by the Cold Spot 8 - can now be heard on Pandora!)
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Also, The Duff Guide to Ska is a proud sponsor of the Version City Tour--with King Django, The Snails, and Matt MacLeod--hitting points all along the East Coast this December and January:
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 29 SAT: Durham, NC - The Casbah
2012 DEC 30 SUN: Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
2013 JAN 1 TUE: Jacksonville, FL - Burro Bar
2013 JAN 2 WED: Sanford, FL - The West End Trading Co.
2013 JAN 3 THU: Orlando, FL - The Social
2013 JAN 4 FRI: Jupiter, FL - Guanabana's
2013 JAN 5 SAT: Lake Worth, FL - Propaganda
2013 JAN 6 SUN: Coral Gables, FL - Books and Books
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 10 THU: Sarasota, FL - The Blue Rooster
2013 JAN 11 FRI: St. Petersburg, FL - Local 662
2013 JAN 12 SAT: Gainesville, FL - The Atlantic
2013 JAN 14 MON: Pensacola, FL - The Handle Bar
2013 JAN 16 WED: Atlanta, GA - Asylum
2013 JAN 20 SUN: Harrisburg, PA - Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
Frustration over how illegal music file sharing has eaten away at the sales of his recent batch of really superb CDs (The King and I, Jacuzzi, Showbiz, and Dancing in the Garden of Evil), coupled with his deep rooted love of vinyl records, has led King Hammond (AKA Nick Welsh) to focus his next batch of releases on limited-edition, white label singles that are signed and personalized for each purchaser (mine reads, "To The King of New York! From your pal, King Hammond"). This release also happens to include a "Rude Boy Rock" badge designed by Paul Willo (which is a nice touch and something very much appreciated by those of us who grew up sporting band buttons on our overcoats, parkas, and flight jackets). While this approach definitely appeals to the old school ska fan, I hope that it helps shape the behaviors of the new ones (I buy CDs and LPs for my son as birthday/Xmas gifts, etc. and he has begun to like going with me to new and used record stores to make his own purchases). So if you don't already have one, it's probably time to go scour the thrift shops or eBay for a turntable, because it's looking more and more like ska musicians are going to be releasing a good portion of their recorded music exclusively on vinyl (for the latest example, see the two Dr. Ring Ding Ska-Vaganza singles on Jump Up Records).
As of late, Nick (with help from Paul "You're Wondering Now" Willo) has been working on penning his autobiography "The Life and Times of a Ska Man," chronicling his fascinating and oftentimes amusing experiences as a musician/songwriter/producer (with Bad Manners, The Selecter, Big 5, 3 Men and a Black, Skaville UK, King Hammond, Prince Buster, Lee Perry, and Laurel Aitken)--and it appears that this look back is probably the inspiration for this fantastic cut, "Rude Boy Rock." The track opens with a long spoken-word introduction over a wicked, funky skinhead reggae rhythm: "When I was a teenager growing up in North London in the early 70s, I loved my reggae. You know, a bit of Trojan, Island, all that gear. But at the same time, I was banging on what the media would call glam rock. Although to me, it was just pop music: T. Rex, Slade, Sweet. And even way back then, I thought one day I'll have a band of my own and I'd mix these two kinds of music together and call it "Rude Boy Rock." Well, it's taken a little bit longer than I'd thought, but here we go..." The music then shifts into glam/punk power chords for the "Rude Boy Rock" chorus and back to dirty reggae for the subsequent verses that recount his discovery of "that beautiful, amphetamine-fueled sound of punk rock," while simultaneously maintaining his all-out obsession with ska and reggae.
Having hit the mid-century mark, King Hammond is one of the few still active second generation of ska musicians producing high-quality new music. In this role, he seems to relish being a part Homer-like epic poet of ska (the keeper of ska history, which is retold for the benefit of younger fans) and part pub stool raconteur eager to give you the straight skinny behind all the myths. And that's what is so appealing about this track--KH is a stellar storyteller and in recounting/revealing his personal history directly for his most fervent fans, he forges an even closer relationship between himself and his supporters ("...did he just essentially tell us that he thought up ska-punk years before it actually came into being?!"). In this age when pop culture is increasingly decentralized and sliced up into millions of micro channels catering to tiny audiences, giving your people what they want is more vital than ever to a professional musician's survival.
On the flip side, King Hammond collaborator Sammy Buzz delivers the rude record "Ruff Ride Ruff," which expands upon the theme of--and appropriates some of the music from--Prince Buster's perennial favorite "Rough Rider." Sammy sings and toasts: "She's rough in the morning/She's rough in the evening...She rougher than the carpet in my room/Tougher than the bristles pon a broom/Rougher than the pet hedgehog/Rough like a flea bitten dog..." The painfully absurd imagery/humor here takes some of the bite out of the slack lyrics--but they're still kind of lewd! Yet, you get the feeling that this track is really about honoring the tradition of the rude sides by musicians like The Prince and Lloyd Charmers (AKA Lloydie and the Lowbites) than really titillating the dirty 14 year-old lurking inside all of us.
If you're a King Hammond fan, this record is a must--and for those of you who aren't on board the King Hammond train to Reggae City, what are waiting for? You're missing out on some of the best ska out there!
Despite having to compete with two (!) other ska/reggae shows that night (Dub is a Weapon, and The Forthrights/Frightnrs gig--both in Brooklyn), a very enthusiastic crowd of about 60-70 turned out for Electric Avenue's debut ska-punk night with The Pandemics and Los Skarroneros. Both bands were terrific; everyone had blast; and the vibe was really, really, good!
While I'm not overly familiar with either band's material (I've never seen The Pandemics before and have only caught Los Skarroneros at a show once before at The Lake), they both served up extremely high energy performances that had the audience up on their feet and dancing for both sets (dorky EA fact: Los Skarroneros' set actually inspired our first Electric Avenue mosh pit to form).
I usually have loads of video for Duff Guide to Ska readers to view, but just before I left to set up my DJ equipment at Characters NYC, I discovered that my Flip video camera was busted (the little metal knob that provides a connection to and holds the battery in place was gone--it must have come off when I dropped the Flip a few weeks ago...anyone out there good at soldering?). However, I did tape one song from each band on my phone to give you a taste of the bands and the night.
The Pandemics' excellent set--which ranged from vintage ska to ska-jazz to modern ska to ska-punk--was comprised mostly of songs from their great new-ish album, Brain on Tap (which can be sampled/bought here on Bandcamp). I particularly dug their trad and modern ska songs, including "Skaramanga," "One Night Stand," "Movin'," and "Separate Parts" (the last two you'd swear were Toasters songs)--and they also threw in two very choice covers: Byron Lee's/Keith Lyn's/Ken Lazarus' "Jamaica Ska" and John Lennon's/Paul McCartney's "I Saw Her Standing There."
Since my Spanish is poor to non-existent, I can't tell you much about Los Skaronneros were singing about--but their slightly ragged ska-punk songs were passionate and (from what I was told) political, and really pumped everyone up. The track I recorded below, "Cananea 1906," is about a strike at the Cananea Consolidated Copper Company, where the Mexican miners demanded equal pay/treatment with their American counterparts. The U.S.-owned company sent American vigilantes to confront the Mexican workers and ended up shooting and killing dozens of miners--which outraged people across Mexico and helped spark the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
After Los Skarroneros' set, most people hung around for a few more hours--drinking and talking while I spun ska and reggae vinyl and CDs. Twice, Chris Malone of The Pandemics approached me to confirm the names of the tracks I was playing: "Swinging Like Tiger Woods" by The Porkers and "Kicking Pigeons" by Spunge. Someone else then asked about the Planet Smashers' "All Men Fear Women"--though the track that seemed to move the crowd the most was Prince Fatty's incredible new production of John Holt's "Ali Baba," featuring Winston Francis and Dennis Alcapone.
We plan to have both bands back sometime in 2013, so you'll have a chance to check them out/see them again--something you definitely should make a point to do.
Here's the latest word from the Hub City Stompers:
After 10 years musically stomping your face Jersey style, Hub City Stompers will be coming to an end. As profound and depressing as one would expect this to be to us, I actually bring this news with a bright and focused outlook for the future.
Hub City Stompers' demise is facilitating a rebirth of sorts. Beginning in February 2013, Inspecter 7, from whose ashes HCS was spawned, will be back full time and full force. The majority of the HCS line up and HCS music catalogue will be coming right along to Inspecter 7 to be added to the i7 roster, as well as some Steel Toe Solution material. So don't look at this as so much of an end, but more so as things coming full circle. It's all coming home. The same songs, spirit, energy, and drive of both bands will be there with i7. So come right along as the story continues, and witness 20 years of NJ music history under the banner from which it all began: Inspecter 7. Be on the lookout for i7 touring out your way.
HCS thanks EVERYONE involved in any way for a decade of dirty Jersey music and fun. And for those of you not already down with i7, we urge you to come right along to Inspecter 7 and continue on the journey.
These two phenomenal singles from the immensely gifted Dr. Ring Ding are the first vintage ska musical biscuits from his brand new album Piping Hot (Pork Pie is releasing the CD/Buenritmo is issuing the LP)--recorded with the Freedom Street Band (who serve as the rhythm section; they, along with other guest artists from the ska world, comprise the Dr. Ring Ding Ska-Vaganza). Both singles' A sides feature Dr. Ring Ding compositions from Piping Hot, while the Bs contain songs exclusive to these singles (one cover; one original). All in all, a great bang for the ska consumer's buck.
If you were tuned into the more traditional frequencies of the 90s ska scene, you know that Dr. Ring Ding and the Allstars' Dandimite (1995) and Ram Di Dance (1997) were two of the finest modern old school ska albums ever recorded--in a style similar to that of The Skatalites paired with some of the greatest singers of that era, like Laurel Aitken, Lord Tanamo, Stranger Cole, and a million other incredible JA vocalists (the Mango Intensified, Original Ska 1962-1966 and More Intensified, Original Ska 1963-1967, Vol. 2 comps were like blueprints used to build this band and construct its sound).
Longtime fans will be psyched to find that the new Dr. Ring Ding Ska-Vaganza material picks right up where Dandimite and Ram Di Dance (and Lord Tanamo with Dr. Ring Ding and the Senior Allstars' Best Place in the World) left off, with The Freedom Street Band providing an equally excellent--yet more organic sounding--backing to the good Doctor's colorful vocals.
Side A: "Sammy Don't Go Out No More" is a ska stomper of a tribute/lament to those who retire from or age/drop out of a scene (I, for one, even as I hit true middle age, refuse to consider this possibility): "Sammy don't go out no more/You won't see him walk through that door...No more weekend specials at the bars downtown/No more ladies nights/and no more two for one/These days are long time gone!"
Side B: "Crazy" is a swinging ska cover of the Willie Nelson country ballad immortalized by Patsy Cline. You know a song is expertly crafted if it can be versioned in a completely different genre and sound just as good as the original (of course, it helps to be in the hands of someone of the calibre of the good Doctor!). This is a rare Dr. Ring Ding track that fans will want in their collection.
Side A: "Dancing with the Fat Man's Lady" may remind you of one of Laurel Aitken's more upbeat rhythm and blues/ska tracks mixed with the knowing naughtiness of a song like "Shame and Scandal." Everyone is gleefully indulging in their own vices/transgressions (and getting over/off on others while doing it): "While we were almost mating/the guy was masticating/Having the time of his life..." But the singer is (kind of) redeemed, since the Fat Man is the stereotypical bad guy in JA musical shorthand, so score one for the good guys (or more like, the good guy scored!).
Side B: "It Don't Mean It's Over" is a terrific rocksteady track about not being able to let go of a relationship when the other person's finished with you (but not in a stalker-y way--the singer's forgiving, still deeply in love, and holding out hope for a second chance): "It don't mean it's over/just because you said goodbye/It don't mean it's over/just because you made me cry/It don't mean it's over/just because you made me blue/I'll be standing at your door waiting for you/with flowers in my hand!" Rejection rarely sounds this good.
These two singles--and I imagine the accompanying Piping Hot album--represent some of the best ska music you can expect to hear this year. They're highly recommended.
This smart, limited-edition single marks the debut of Roger Rivas' (organist/songwriter for The Aggrolites and Los Bullets) imprint Rivas Recordings--yet another outlet for this highly prolific and immensely gifted musician's skinhead reggae creations. The tracks here were recorded by Rivas with top LA ska/reggae performers, credited here as Roger's All Stars and The Virgos.
"First Attack" is a bright, sprightly early reggae instrumental tune by Rivas in a Hippy Boys/Upsetters style (love the Cold War-era reference of the title, so appropriate for a track capturing the sounds and feel of the late 1960s). Turn the wax over and you have a rocksteady cover of the Latin standard "Sabor A Mi" by Mexican composer Alvaro Carrillo. Both cuts are stellar and will be greatly appreciated by fans of this genre.
Only 300 copies of this single are being pressed, so make sure to grab a copy here (I'm looking forward to spinning this 45 at the next Electric Avenue ska/reggae night in NYC...).
Calling all rude boys and girls in the Philippines! Duff Guide to Ska reader Arvee Fider kindly altered us to the upcoming Philippine Ska Festival, taking place this December, and asked us to help spread the word. This three night event features the best Philippine ska bands around, as well as South Korea's number one ska act, Kingston Rudieska, which will be playing each date. (It's great to discover that such a brilliant traditional ska band thrives in the land of shiny K-pop!) All details are below and in the festival flyer. And definitely be sure to check out Kingston Rudieska's video--they are terrific! We have to admit to not knowing much about the Philippine ska scene, but it is fantastic to know that something like this is taking place in that part of the world. We wish the organizers, bands, and fans the best of luck with it!
The Philippine Ska Festival
DEC 08 (7PM) - 3rd MANILA SKA FESTIVAL @ Makati Square Arena
DEC 15 (8PM) - SOUTHSIDE SKARNIVAL @ Peace Bar, Cebu City
DEC 16 (8PM) - SOUTHSIDE SKARNIVAL @ Bob Marlin, Mandaue City
Within the last week, two different people in the ska world have been in touch regarding some ways in which the ska community can assist people suffering in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. One is asking us to help a ska musician and his family who lost everything in the storm; the other to help clothe people along the Jersey shore, as well as support the Red Cross' efforts there.
Our good friend King Django writes:
A beloved and respected member of the Stubborn family, and a close personal friend of mine, Tim "Predator" Boyce of Predator Dub Assassins suffered calamitous loss due to the devastating force of Hurrican Sandy.
Tim, who was living in Bradley Beach with his wife, his 14-year-old daughter and three-week old baby reports, "we lost everything from both chest high floodwaters running through our house, as well as a giant tree that smashed trough our roof. We are homeless and without equipment."
If you would like to help the Dub family in the wake of this epic disaster, please check these links for more information:
Here's the deal: when you purchase a t-shirt (for $30) or hoodie (for $50), you receive one and you buy/donate one for someone in need on the Jersey Shore (or you can just donate two t-shirts and hoodies, if you want to be even more generous). Any remaining money from the sale will then be donated to the Red Cross to support their relief efforts there.
Check out the amazing design of the t-shirt in the photo!
Editor's note: Chuck Wren's essentialJump Up Records is celebrating its 20th anniversary year (wow!) with the kick-off of the Jamaican Oldies Weekend, which is coming up on November 16 and 17th and will feature original JA musicians/stars Pat Kelly and Stranger Cole! So, you'd be best served to take our advice: if you are anywhere near Chicago, you have to do anything and everything you can to attend these concerts and experience live music made by some of the greatest Jamaican musicians still around! You can purchase your two-day pass to the Jamaican Oldies Weekend here. Thanks to Chuck for doing this interview with us--and for keeping the ska faith throughout the good times and bad for the past two decades. The Duff Guide to Ska: What inspired you to launch the Jamaican Oldies Weekend concert series—and why did you start with Pat Kelly and Stranger Cole? Chuck Wren: I wanted to really celebrate the 20th anniversary year of Jump Up in style, not just with one showcase, but for an entire year of shows and releases. And also I have been insanely jealous of the amazing shows the Los Angeles scene has been putting together! There are many people like me in the Midwest that live and breathe this music, but are not at a place in our lives where we can fly somewhere to see a concert. So, I pounded the pavement and made an arrangement with the beautiful Mayne Stage here in Chicago. They believed in my vision to duplicate these shows, with Chicago being the mecca for the Midwest vintage Jamaican music fans. I was also very lucky to assemble a team that includes CHema Skandal, Darren Reggae, Edith Vel, and their Feel the Rhythm DJs. We’re all running around town promoting like madmen.
Jamaican Oldies Productions is determined to highlight the careers of Jamaican performers who never quite got the success of a Toots or Cliff, but who have had significant contributions to the history of Jamaican music. I am constantly reminding people that they know songs of Pat Kelly and Stranger Cole, they just forget that they know them! For example, when you tell someone “Artibella” or “Rough and Tough,” people often say, “Wow….that was Stranger Cole?”
DGTS:No judgment here, but why did you decide to go with 60s-era Jamaican artists instead of, say, some of the top ska bands of the 1990s?
CW: I have never been one to take the easy road! Hell, we’re the only label that has stayed active in its 20 years, releasing albums consistently every few months since 1993. We could have easily done that and book 90s acts, but we feel that going back to the roots and celebrating the original music – while these artists are still vibrant and performing – is so much more important.
DGTS:Green Room Rockers are backing Pat Kelly and The Prizefighters are playing with Stranger Cole—is this series also a means to promote and big up local, Midwest ska talent to new/larger crowds?
CW: You nailed it right on the head. These bands have earned their right to play with their idols, and these Jamaican Oldies shows will be the springboard for this to happen.
DGTS:How many people are you hoping to attract over this weekend? CW: We have modest goals, the club holds 300+ (and is truly a fantastic space!) and we are hoping to pack the place to the gills. We have DJs spinning all night and during the show, plus there will be an afterparty there to keep it going all night. This show is basically a litmus test – it must succeed for me to be able to continue in the future! Do not miss this one, there might not be a next!
DGTS:The Jamaican Oldies Weekend is part of Jump Up Records 20th anniversary celebration. What other anniversary-related events/releases do you have planned for the coming months? CW: We will be going back in the catalog and re-releasing some titles on vinyl, with input from our current fans and customers.
New albums from Soul Radics (in two weeks!), Crabs Corporation, King Pepe, and many more! There is an exciting new “mash up” in the works that digs into the classic alternative of the 80s. And there’s a project that’s focusing on 90s Rhythm and Blues and New Jack Swing. After their amazing performance on Halloween night, The Drastics have agreed to perform MJ A Rocker once again! Working on a tour to bring Tommy Tornado, Mr T Bone, and other European Jump Up acts over as one package, probably backed by Eastern Standard Time.
DGTS:Lastly, are there any current or upcoming Jump Up releases that ska fans should be aware of? CW: Every year I look back at all the stuff we have put out, and I am most proud when we have been able to help new bands get to a new level of exposure. That’s why we started Jump Up in 1993 – we were insanely proud of the Midwest’s caliber of bands and I felt starting Jump Up to release the American Skathic series was the only way to combat the West and East Coast scenes that dominated the press! Looking back, I’d like to say it worked! So with that mindset, we are extremely proud of a couple key titles we released in 2012: The FundamentalsGet Alright! vinyl LP and the Count Kutu and The Balmers 10” LP in our calypso series!
The Fundamentals have that perfect balance of modern third-wave influenced ska, yet still firmly holding on to the traditions of 60s Jamaican ska and American soul. Their interchange between male/female vocals gets me every time. It’s that same type of forward thinking, yet old skool sound that attracted me to Green Room Rockers a few years ago, and also our upcoming Soul Radics release. And what can I say about Count Kutu? Many people thought I was mad (including the band) when I wanted to release a rural mento album from a band from the Philippines – and mostly sung in their native tongue! This band is so authentic that I knew language was not a deal-breaker, in fact it made them unique and exciting. Every time we find a new fan for this band, we sit back and just glow with pride. And we get so much feedback from customers on that release – they can’t believe their ears – they think its Jamaican patois – but it’s Tagalog!
Honestly, we are proud of all our releases. I’ve never stopped doing this because it still excites me, I still have the same insane drive for new music I did years ago. That’s why I am still on the radio, too! The only way this music will survive is if new bands carry on the torch. We need to support these new bands and labels. I don’t understand these so called "fans” that refuse to listen to music after a certain year. They are not keeping the music alive, they are slowly ensuring its eventual death. Not that I will be around then, but I hope my daughter is able to celebrate with pride the Jamaica 100 independence!
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For a taste of what you're in for if you go to the Jamaican Oldies Weekend, check out these two videos I shot of Stranger Cole when he performed at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY in 2011 ("More life!").
If you've been following the great King Hammond, you're aware that Sammy Buzz of the Rudeboy Mafia (who back Sammy here and King Hammond whenever he plays live) is one of KH's musical collaborators and has been featured on KH tracks like "Rocking on Ridley Road" (from Showbiz). As King Hammond produced and co-wrote two of the three songs with Mr. Buzz on this EP, it won't surprise you to find that the brand of ska here is reminiscent of the catchy, lively late 80s tracks that KH--as his alter ego Nick Welsh--was composing for Bad Manners (see any of the stellar cuts Nick wrote on the magnificent Return of the Ugly album, such as "Skaville UK,""Memory Train,""Since You've Gone Away"). So, if you're a fan of Nick's work with the Fat Bastard or as King Hammond, you're going to be predisposed to liking what Sammy Buzz has got going here. The charming, semi-autobiographical, and very catchy songs collected on the I'm Buzzin' EP give Sammy Buzz his sweet moment in the sun--and he takes complete advantage of this opportunity to show off his talents and shine.
"I'm Buzzin'" spells out Sammy Buzz's let-the-good-times-roll, can't-change-fate approach to life ("I'm buzzing'/but I'm not out of my mind/Don't need no complication/An easy life for me/Don't work, no botheration/Yeah, what will be will be"). A very nice slice of upbeat ska for when your troubles might be grinding you down.
"Cigarettes" is a public service announcement with a ska beat (and cheesy, 70s-sounding keyboard lines!), urging listeners to quit this pernicious, addictive habit before it's too late ("Cigarette, cigarette/It can cause your death"), and Sammy offers a few hair-raising examples of why one should quit: "I had a friend called Bernadette/who was addicted to a cigarette/She smoked all day/in bed at night/until her bedroom, it catch alight/She's not with us anymore/Now's she's knocking on Heaven's door/A big fat lesson to all of you/give up the cigarette, it's overdue!"
In many ways, this EP reminds me of the glory days of the UK ska scene in the mid to late 80--and the joy and delight the top bands of that era (Potato 5, The Trojans, Laurel Aitken, The Deltones, The Loafers, etc.) took in following their post-2 Tone ska musical vision, even if was out of step with, or contrary to, the larger, contemporary musical scene. It simply was brilliant musicians playing the music they fiercely loved. And they had one hell of a fun time doing it. That's the essence of I'm Buzzin'.
One thing we definitely have to look forward to in 2013 is the next album from King Hammond! Titled Hot Skin Music, this 20-track record ("a mix of bluebeat, skinhead reggae, country, and comedy") will be largely autobiographical and include the acoustic "The Life and Times of a Ska Man" (which is also the name of King Hammond's autobiography being written with Paul Willo, who wrote The Specials' biography, "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion").
