NYC Winter 2013 Ska Calendar Number 1

Thursday, January 31, 2013 (Doors at 6:30 pm/show at 7:00 pm)

Tri-State Conspiracy, Bigger Thomas, and more (plus Agent Jay on the decks)

The Studio at Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY
19+
$12 advance/$15 day of show

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Saturday, February 2, 2013 @ 9:00 pm

Bigger Thomas, Inspecter 7

Court Tavern
124 Church Street
New Brunswick, NJ
$10/21+

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Monday, February 4, 2013 (Doors at 6pm/show at 8pm)

Reel Big Fish, The Pilfers, Dan P from MU330

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn NY
$17/21+

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Friday, February 9, 2013

The Forthrights and The Hard Times

The Shrine

2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard
Harlem
No Cover/Free!

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Saturday, February 9, 2013 @ 9:00 pm

The Pandemics, Slightly Askew, and more TBA

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street
New York, NY
Free!

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Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 8:00 pm

A Perfect Mess presents: The Rudie Crew, The Pandemics, The Snails, and Skunk Daze!

Dingbatz
620 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ
$10

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Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 8:30 pm

Electric Avenue Presents The Reggay Lords, The Copacetics

Characters NYC
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue--near all subway lines)
Manhattan
$5 cover (all of which goes to the bands)
18+

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Sunday, February 24, 2013 (Doors at 6pm/show at 8pm)

Fishbone

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn NY
21+
$10 in advance/$15 day of show

(Fishbone is also doing an acoustic set at 3PM this day at Brooklyn Bowl; tix are $5.)

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Lost at Sea presents: Sailor Jerry's Final Long Island Show w/The Pandemics, Eli Whitney and the Sound Machine, Life Between Sleep, Wester, Cut the Brakes, Donny Uccellini II of Lost and Adrift, and more TBA!

Even Flo Bar
150 East Main Street
Bay Shore, NY
$10/All ages!

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Fishbone w/The Pandemics, Disposable, Mumbling Lucy, Thank You Scientist

Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ

Contact The Pandemics for $20 tix ($25 at door; $23.50 from Stanhope House online)

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Thursday, February 28, 2013 (6:00 pm doors)

The Toasters, Mrs. Skanatto

Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ
$12

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Thursday, February 28, 2013 (Doors at 6pm/show at 8pm)

The Skatalites and The Forthrights

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

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Friday, March 1, 2013

The Rudie Crew, Bigger Thomas, and FunkFace

Spike Hill
184/186 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Japan Tsunami/Earthquake Disaster Anniversary Benefit
w/Uzuhi (PMA infused NYC punk rock), The Pandemics, and more TBA!

Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY
All ages/$10

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Saturday, March 16, 2013 @ 10:30 pm

Mephiskapheles, The Bluebeats, The Reggay Lords

Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston Street
Manhattan
$15 in advance/$20 day of the show
21+

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Friday, March 29, 2013 @ 6:00 pm

The Pietasters, Big D and The Kid's Table

The Highline Ballroom
431 West 16th Street
Manhattan
$16.50 in advance/$19 day of the show
All ages

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Sunday, April 28, 2013 @ 8:00 pm

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Dave Hillyard and The Rocksteady 7, The Pandemics

Stage 48
605 West 48th Street
Manhattan
$35

(Tickets can be bought from The Pandemics--save on the $4.95 ticket service fee--by emailing them here: admin@thepandemics.net)

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Bigger Thomas Releases Compilation Celebrating 25 Years!

Starting out at Rutgers University in New Jersey in the late 1980s as Panic (after The Smiths song of the same name), but forced to rechristen themselves (after the protagonist in Richard Wright's novel "Native Son") when a cover band with the same moniker sent them a "cease and desist" letter, Bigger Thomas are now celebrating 25 years of making ska music in 2013. Thankfully, they're not showing sign of shifting into a lower gears any time in the foreseeable future.

Bigger Thomas is marking this significant benchmark--three founding members are still in the band: Roger Apollon, Marc Wasserman, and Jim Cooper--with a new, spectacular 21-track digital compilation released this past Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (also the second Inauguration of President Barack Obama) called Ska in My Pocket: The Biggest and Bestest of Bigger Thomas (available on Bandcamp for $7.00), which features key cuts from all four of their albums: Bigger Thomas (1989), Resisting Success (2004), We Wear the Mask (2005), and Steal My Sound (2010).  Fans of 2 Tone (BT are heavily influenced by The English Beat in particular) and of the post-2 Tone NYC ska sound (best represented on NYC Ska Live compilation, which included two Bigger Thomas tracks) will have an instant affinity (love, really) for the band's fantastically upbeat and catchy songs (see "I Live at Home," "Fun," "Chucks" "I Can't Remember My Name," "Kings of the Club," "Moving," "Radics and Roger A Chat," their early hit "Ska in My Pocket," and many more).

As for new recorded tunes on the horizon, Bigger Thomas are in the process of putting together an EP's worth of songs (with Agent Jay of The Slackers, Reggay Lords, Crazy Baldhead mixing/producing), as well as a cover of The English Beat's "Sole Salvation" for the forthcoming Specialized 2: Beat Teenage Cancer CD that will benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK.

Bigger Thomas have also been gigging as of late, with recent shows in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (with The English Beat)--plus upcoming performances this week at the Studio at Webster Hall in Manhattan on Thursday (1/31/13) and the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ with Inspecter 7 on Saturday (2/2/13). Rumor has it that there will be a giant Bigger Thomas 25th anniversary show sometime later this spring or summer. Make sure to catch the band in action. I've seen them many times and they've never failed to get an old ska fan like me dancing for most of their set (when I'm not videotaping parts of their performance, that is!)...

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The Next Electric Avenue Show: The Reggay Lords and The Copacetics on Saturday, February 23, 2013

Duff Gig Review: The Scofflaws and The Bullbuckers at Electric Avenue on 1/19/13!

(Review by Steve Shafer)

When we first announced that The Scofflaws were going to be the headlining act of Electric Avenue's first show of 2013, there was an immediate, enthusiastic online reaction about the re-emergence of this highly regarded 90s-era band (I think the last time they played in Manhattan was at The Studio at Webster Hall with Bad Manners and The Forthrights in June 2011)--and I have to admit that I was just as excited about the prospect of seeing them again as the next rabid ska fan.

Years ago, after hearing and completely digging their "Rudy's Back" track on the Moon Records Ska Face compilation, I caught my first Scofflaws show in May of 1989 at the Pyramid on Avenue A (my college friend and I were the only two non-skinheads in the joint). I had actually shown up to see the NY Citizens--who were absolutely fantastic (I had recently reviewed their debut album On the Move in my college newspaper)--but I stumbled out of the Pyramid a sweaty, newly-minted Scofflaws zealot--and saw them many times throughout the 90s (in places as humble as TGIF's on 13th Street and Fifth Avenue to massive rock venues like The (New) Ritz/Studio 54 for Skalapalooza and the Palladium for the taping of the "USA Up All Night New Year's Eve Ska Party"). I also had the great pleasure of working with the band at Moon Records, helping to promote all of their albums and tours.

My Electric Avenue partner in crime, Marc Wasserman (Bigger Thomas/Marco on the Bass) had suggested booking The Bullbuckers for this EA night, who hail from Delaware and (we believe) are pretty much the only ska band in that state (anyone got the goods to contradict me?). Marc had heard really good things about their live show--and since Electric Avenue is all about featuring acts from out-of-town and forging new bonds to extend/strengthen the ska network--we were more than happy to book them.

About 75 people turned out last Saturday night (1/19/13) at Characters for our Electric Avenue night (a decent crowd for a room that can fit around 120). The Bullbuckers--who have a tight, muscular ska-rock-reggae sound (with Kevin Tarzanin on bass and vocals; Aaron Poole on guitar; and Steve Politowski on drums) and sport one of the best horn sections on the scene (Jim Miller on trumpet; Dave Faga on alto sax; and Steve Sharp on trombone)--instantly won over the crowd with their mix of excellent originals from their debut album When Push Comes to Shove (such as "St. Patty's Day," "Gimme A Little Sign," "That's How Strong," "Otis," and "Falcon") and vintage ska classics (Rafael Hernández Marín's/Sound Dimension's "Rockfort Rock"; and Derrick Morgan's "The Conqueror" and "Tougher Than Tough"). Check out some videos I shot of their stellar performance below.







If you have the opportunity to see The Bullbuckers play (they typically have gigs in Philly, Newark, DE, and Reheboth Beach, DE), definitely do it--you'll have a great time! They're genuinely nice and talented guys who deserve ska fans' support!

About half way through The Bullbuckers' performance, I spied Richard "Sammy" Brooks (singer, songwriter, and saxophonist of The Scofflaws) nattily dressed in a suit and pork pie, surveying the scene for people he knew (he spotted Michelle Ska at once) and sizing up the musical competition. It's been over a decade, I hate to admit, since I'd last seen The Scofflaws, so it was fantastic to see Richard and to catch up a bit before (and after) their set.

As The Scofflaws opened with Don Drummond's "Man in the Street," a line of 90s-era ska faithful--ex-Moon Records employees Adam Liebling, Ray Manuud, and myself, as well as uber ska fans Michelle Ska and Skankin' Rich--closed ranks at the front of the crowd to take in the band up close. Their set was spectacular--a mix of their hits of their four albums ("A Shot in the Dark," "Nude Beach," "Back Door Open," "Paul Getty," "Till the End of Time," "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," "On Hold with Quackie," "Ska-La-Parisian," "Nightmare," and "Grazin' in the Grass," which incorporated a lengthy and hilarious jeremiad against the anti-weed forces that be, and more--all of which were so good to hear again live), as well as a slew of really terrific new songs, including the instrumental "Rude Boy Train" (loved the inclusion of the Super Mario Brothers video game music by the trombonist during his improvisatory riff!), the slightly lewd "Lucy Brown," "Country Man" (about a pot farmer), and covers of "Batman" (from the campy TV show with Adam West, natch) and the theme from "The Godfather."

Towards the end of their performance, ex-Scofflaw Buford O'Sullivan (now of the Easy Stars All-Stars) had shown up to see his old mates and was called up to sing a raucous version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" (which The Scofflaws have always done as "These Boots are Made for Stompin'!").

The current incarnation of the band--(Richard Brooks on sax and vocals; Greg Bucking on guitar; Glen Saunders on bass; Jared Dubin on trombone; and John Soldo on drums)--is really top notch. But the focus was, as it should be, on Brooks, who made mad faces, wagged his ass, did exaggerated, crazy 60s dance moves, screamed at us, and dashed madly through the crowd--anything and everything to entertain, engage, and please the audience (which he did and then some). The Scofflaws put on one hell of an enjoyable show--as you'll find in my videos below.





















After their set, Richard told me that The Scofflaws will be releasing a new album sometime this year--Skinhead Beer Party--which is already in the can! From the new tunes we heard here, it should be a scorcher!

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Check out great photos by Bryan Kremkau (of Skapunkphotos.com) of both The Scofflaws and The Bullbuckers in action at Electric Avenue!

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Shameless plug: the next Electric Avenue ska night is Saturday, February 23, 2013 with The Reggay Lords and The Copasetics (from Rhode Island). If you're in the NYC area, we hope to see you there.

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NYC Winter 2013 Ska Calendar - They Live (by Ska) Edition

Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 8:30 pm

Electric Avenue presents: The Scoffaws and The Bullbuckers (from Delaware), plus Selector Steve and Kames Jelly!

Characters NYC (back room!)
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue)
Manhattan
$8/18+

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Bigger Thomas

Hat City Kitchen
459 Valley Street
Orange, NJ

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Saturday, January 26, 2013 @ 8:00 pm

Punky Reggae Party w/The Rudie Crew, World War IX, Los Skarroneros, Consumata, Band Droidz (plus Crazy Baldhead Crew, Sabotage Selekta)

The Swamp
Brooklyn, NY
$7

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Sunday, January 27, 2013 @ 7:30 pm

The English Beat, Bigger Thomas

Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
$33

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Thursday, January 31, 2013 (Doors at 6:30 pm/show at 7:00 pm)

Tri-State Conspiracy, Bigger Thomas, and more (plus Agent Jay on the decks)

The Studio at Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY
19+
$12 advance/$15 day of show

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Saturday, February 2, 2013 @ 9:00 pm

Bigger Thomas, Inspecter 7

Court Tavern
124 Church Street
New Brunswick, NJ
$10/21+

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Friday, February 9, 2013

The Forthrights and The Hard Times

The Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard
Harlem
No Cover/Free!

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Saturday, February 9, 2013 @ 9:00 pm

The Pandemics, Slightly Askew, and more TBA

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street
New York, NY
Free!

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Friday, February 22, 2013

A Perfect Mess presents: The Pandemics, The Snails, and more TBA!

Dingbatz
620 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ

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Sunday, February 24, 2013 (Doors at 6pm/show at 8pm)

Fishbone

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn NY
21+
$10 in advance/$15 day of show

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Lost at Sea presents: Sailor Jerry's Final Long Island Show w/The Pandemics, Eli Whitney and the Sound Machine, Life Between Sleep, Wester, Cut the Brakes, Donny Uccellini II of Lost and Adrift, and more TBA!

Even Flo Bar
150 East Main Street
Bay Shore, NY
$10/All ages!

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Fishbone w/The Pandemics, Disposable, Mumbling Lucy, Thank You Scientist

Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ

Contact The Pandemics for $20 tix ($25 at door; $23.50 from Stanhope House online)

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Thursday, February 28, 2013 (6:00 pm doors)

The Toasters, Mrs. Skanatto

Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ
$12

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Friday, March 1, 2013

The Rudie Crew, Bigger Thomas, and FunkFace

Spike Hill
184/186 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Japan Tsunami/Earthquake Disaster Anniversary Benefit
w/Uzuhi (PMA infused NYC punk rock), The Pandemics, and more TBA!

Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY
All ages/$10

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Saturday, March 16, 2013 @ 10:30 pm

Mephiskapheles, The Bluebeats, The Reggay Lords

Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston Street
Manhattan
$15 in advance/$20 day of the show
21+

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2013 London International Ska Festival: March 28-31!

The London International Ska Festival--celebrating its 25th anniversary this year--returns to the UK capital city this Easter weekend (March 28-31, 2013). This year's festival features four main shows, plus a series of associated events, including cinema, DJ all-nighters, a record fair, Thames cruise, kids days, and exhibitions--all taking place at iconic and famed London venues! Tickets are on sale here.

Here's the AMAZING schedule. Much more is still to be added, so be on the lookout for updates. Make your way to London this March if you can!

Day 1: Thursday March 28 - 7pm-11pm
Rico Rodriguez performing Man From Wareika in its entirety
The Sidewalk Doctors (UK)
DJ David Katz
at The Jazz Cafe, Parkway, Camden, London NW1

Club night DJs and venue TBA

Day 2 - Friday, March 29
Studio One Special (Venue TBA)
BB Seaton (The Gaylads/Bibby and The Astronauts)
Vin Gordon and more TBA

Day 2 - Friday, March 29 - 10pm-4am
International Ska Review!
Buster Shuffle (UK)
Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra (Hungary)
Bombskare (Scotland)
Skylarkin Sound System w/DJ Derek and Count Skylarkin
and more TBA!
at The Garage, Highbury Corner, Islington (opposite Highbury and Islington tube)

Day 3 - Saturday, March 30 - Daytime Event TBA

Day 3 - Saturday, March 30 - 7pm-11pm
Trojan Explosion!
Freddie Notes (Trojan Records/"Montego Bay")
Intensified (UK)
The Upsessions (Netherlands)
and more TBA
at The 100 Club, 100 Oxford St, London W1

Day 3 - Saturday, March 30 - 10pm-6am - Allnighter!
Tribute to Duke Vin: The LISF Sound System Conference 2013
Sponsored by www.lionvibes.com Reggae Vinyl Heaven

- The Sound System Room
Metro w/Eddie Regal (Metro Sound)
Gladdy Wax
Ras Digby (Sir Jessus Sound)
Jumbo (Java Hi-Power)
Tighten Up Crew w/Champian (Jamdown Rockers)

- Room 2
Mungo's HiFi
Wrong TOm
at Islington Metal Works, Torrens St, Islington N1
(behind Angel tube station)

Day 4 - Sunday, March 31 - Daytime event TBA
Do the Dog Music Special
Cartoon Violence (UK; offical album launch party)
The Splitters (UK)
Robb Blake (UK)
at The Dublin Castle, Parkway, Camden, London NW1

Day 4 - Sun, March 31 March - Evening event TBA
The Great British Ska Explosion
100 Men starring Mik Whitnall (UK)
Maroon Town plus special guests--members from The Loafers and more (UK)!
The Toasters (USA)
Potato 5 DJ set
at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, London NW1

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Acts Confirmed/Still to be Programmed
Pama International (UK)
Mr. T Bone and The Young Lions (Italy)
Razika (Norway)

Sound System/DJ Sets Confirmed/Still to be Programmed
Lynval Golding (The Specials)
Rhoda Dakar (The Bodysnatchers/Special AKA)
DJ Cellos Coast to Coast
Little Diane (Ace Cafe)

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Festival Background
Originally launched in 1988, The London International Ska Festival returned to critical acclaim in 2011 and has featured Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Dave and Ansell Collins, The Pioneers, Rico Rodriguez MBE, Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Don Letts, Lynval Golding (The Specials), Neville Staple (The Specials), Neol Davies (The Selecter), Laurel Aitken, Owen Gray, Rhoda Dakar (Bodysnatchers/Special AKA), Ska Cubano, Hotknives, The Loafers, Dub Pistols, The Dualers, Potato 5, Buster Shuffle, and The Skints, amongst many others.

From its birth in Jamaica, ska has come a long way, morphing and inspiring every generation and reaching all corners of the world. The festival will once again showcase all that ska has to offer--from its roots in rhythm and blues, mento and calypso, to the Jamaican originators, the progression through rocksteady and reggae, 2 Tone, ska-punk and right up-to-date with 21st century ska sounds.

For uptodate info and tickets go to: www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk

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The Toasters in 2013: Touring USA, Europe, Russia; London Intl Ska Festival; New CD and Vinyl Releases

As always, there is lots going in The Toasters' camp. They're just about to launch their 2013 winter tour of the the USA this January and February (see dates below), to be followed by a European tour in April and May, and then Russia in June.

Other big Toasters news is that the band is one of the featured performers on day four of The 2013 London International Ska Festival on March 31 at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, London. Other performers on this bill ("The Great British Ska Explosion") include Maroon Town (featuring their original singer, Stevie Bee, plus specials guests from The Loafers and Hotknives), 100 Men, and a DJ set by members of the great Potato 5.

On the recorded music front, Phoenix City Records recently released two fantastic Toasters CDs: the 20-track career retrospective 30th Anniversary; and Pool Shark, the 1987 Unicorn Records release of the same name (many of these cuts went on to form Skaboom in the USA), plus bonus tracks comprised of two other '87 UK-released Toasters EPs, East Side Beat (Ska/Oi Records) and Recriminations (Unicorn). Jump Up Records will soon be issuing one of my favorite Toasters albums on vinyl, New York Fever (there was never a domestic vinyl release of this record--only a limited pressing by Pork Pie in Germany). I'll be posting a long write-up of this record soon. And lastly, Buck tells me the long, long-awaited "House of Soul" single is being pressed now--I can't wait to get a copy of this one.

The Toasters' 2013 Winter Tour of the USA

Jan 18 The Met Cafe, Pawtucket, RI
Jan 19 Fury's Publick House, Dover, NH
Jan 20 Revolution Bar & Music Hall (Formerly Ollie's Point), Amityville, NY
Jan 21 Dub Land Underground, Rochester, NY
Jan 22 Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
Jan 23 Mickey Finns, Toledo, OH
Jan 24 The Frequency, Madison, WI
Jan 25 Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
Jan 26 Knickerbockers, Lincoln, NE
Jan 27 Marquis Theater, Denver, CO
Jan 28 Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
Jan 29 Atlas Theater, Cheyenne, WY
Jan 30 Bar Deluxe, Salt Lake City, UT
Jan 31 Shredder Boise, ID
Feb 01 El Corazon, Seattle, WA
Feb 02 Ash Street Saloon, Portland, OR
Feb 04 Jambalaya, Arcata, CA
Feb 05 Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
Feb 06 The Parkside, San Francisco, CA
Feb 07 The Alley, Sparks, NV
Feb 08 Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip, Las Vegas, NV
Feb 09 WCLAC, Los Angeles, CA
Feb 10 San Diego/San Francisco, CA: TBA
Feb 11 Slidebar, Fullerton, CA
Feb 12 Strummer's Village Tavern, Yuma, AZ
Feb 13 Crescent Ballroom Phoenix, AZ
Feb 14 The Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff, AZ
Feb 15 The Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM
Feb 16 Gallery 127, El Paso, TX
Feb 17 Antone's, Austin, TX
Feb 18 Fatty Arbuckle's, Shreveport, LA
Feb 19 Maxine's Pub Hot Springs, AR
Feb 20 Grant Street Lafayette, LA
Feb 21 Handle Bar, Pensacola, FL
Feb 22 High Dive, Gainesville, FL
Feb 23 Cocoa Beach Scooter Rally, Cocoa Beach, FL
Feb 24 Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
Feb 25 Soapbox Laundro-Lounge, Wilmington, NC
Feb 26 Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Feb 27 Jewish Mother Backstage, Norfolk, VA
Feb 28 Stanhope House Stanhope, NJ
Mar 01 T.T. The Bear's, Cambridge, MA

Duff Review: Sammy Kay and The East Los Three EP

Panic State Records/Whatevski Records (CD EP/digital)
2012

(Review by Steve Shafer)

Sammy Kay (Krajkowski) first became well-known on the NYC ska scene as a member of the Brooklyn rocksteady crew The Forthrights, but broke away a year or so ago to roam the US, opening for ska acts like The Skatalites, The Snails, and The Slackers, while road-testing his new tunes. In the process, he discovered that he kind of liked being rootless, so he's become based both in LA and Brooklyn (and when he's in one place, he's usually pining for the other). This has led him to form two backing groups: when he's out in Cali, he plays with The East Los Three; and when in the NYC area, he plays with The Fast Four. Got it?

Probably the best way to describe how his very exceptional, self-titled Sammy Kay and The East Los Three EP sounds is that it's like Tom Waits fronting the Stubborn All-Stars. That is, it's a potent and winning mix of vintage ska/rocksteady heavy laced with elements of Americana (blues, country, rhythm and blues, early rock, and folk). This combination of styles works particularly well given the main theme that connects all of these songs: you can't always get what you want (but if you try sometimes, you might get what you need). They're about having the grit to keep on standing up to follow your passion when life keeps smacking you down; trying to find love and happiness in messily imperfect relationships; and accepting that ephemeral relationships and profound loss are sometimes the price for doing what you have to do with your time on Earth.

"Something, Someday" is a heartfelt hymn of support to all the down-but-not-out nobodies who have a dream and are going to do their damndest to follow it and make their lives meaningful: "You're gonna be something, someday/(Something, someday)/Oh, you've got that attitude/Something like that P.M.A./You're always in the right mind, yeah/Everything's gonna go your way...You pray to old St. Joe/with all of your working class woes/You think it's kind of funny, yeah/You're turning that rebellion into money." Those last four lines of lyrics are obviously a loving nod to Joe Strummer and his magnificent "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais." But Strummer's disdain for the music industry and wannabe punk bands (not in it for the music, just the money) is turned on its head here, as it's now referring to the struggling underground musician striving to earn an honest living off the life's blood of youth culture (but you still sense the unease in that economic equation).

The fantastic traditional blues standard (I was unfamiliar with it until now) "My Babe" (which you could imagine Laurel Aitken singing in the early 60s) is about a girlfriend who won't "stand no cheating...or none of that midnight creeping," but "when she's hot, there ain't no cooling" and "she really loves me." Most of us can't ask for more than that, really. Things turn a bit sour (you can hear it in the dissonant organ line) on "Maybe...(I'll Take You Back)"--whose theme and vocals echoes the teen melodramas of 60s groups like The Shangri-Las: "She's in love again/with somebody else/She wants to spend her time/with somebody else/You're gonna need me girl/when he says goodbye/But I won't be there, girl/So, kiss me goodbye/Tell me you love me/even if far and wide/And maybe I'll take you back...again/Tell the me reasons/why you so cruel?/Why you do the things/that you do/Maybe I've let you down/ but baby, you, too/So, please don't take me back...again."

"Bye Bye"--probably my favorite song on the EP--is a groovy rocksteady cut that justifies the singer's guileless wanderlust: "I'm sorry baby/I just can't settle down/I gotta keep on moving/to the next town/Like my daddy before me/I was born a rolling stone/Music is my healing/the road my home..." I particularly like the bridge: "Can't keep dancing to the same song/Can't keep playing to the same drum." No hard feelings, babe. It's just how I'm hardwired and who I am.

The funky reggae "Jaguar Season" (think Caroloregians) is a boastful, tongue-in-cheek verbal assault (in the vein of the Prince Buster/Derrick Morgan or the Stubborn All-Stars/Hepcat/Dr. Ring Ding attack and answer records) on a certain former band and one of its new members. Listen and decipher the goings on for yourself.

"Lorimer" (which refers to a subway stop in Williamsburg on the L train) is a hopeful, evocative song (you can easily conjure up a short black and white film about it in your mind and cast your own real-life characters in the parts) about trying to win over someone else's girl: "The sun goes down on Bedford Avenue/and I see the wind keeps blowing me/so close to you/You see tonight's not the night, girl/for your foolish games/I see you tired, tired/of waiting around/for what's his name/Walking up towards Union Avenue/I see the moon sits high, girl/as you wait to do/Refreshing faces rise from subway lines/Darling, one more kiss, girl/you could be mine."

The EP closes with the folky secret track "See You Soon," recorded live and unvarnished with just Sammy and his guitar. It's a mournful tune about great loss and sacrifice that feels quite timeless--it seems like it could be written about the Civil War, Vietnam, or the "wars on terror" in Iraq/Afghanistan (and you can think of this as the postscript to the young men who didn't heed Strummer's pleas in "The Call Up," but had the dumb luck to survive the bloodshed that their brothers-in-arms did not):

"The siren screeching close to dawn
Broken tide from the long storm
The heroes rise, they take appraise
Just another line in history's page

War is over, the battle's done
Tell me soldier, which side you on?
The victors sing a lullaby
Just tell me why you left that night

I'm looking for these hopes and dreams
Another way to look at things
The streets are no longer paved with gold
See ya soon, that's what I've been told"

The Sammy Kay and The East Los Three EP is a surprisingly mature and thoughtful collection of really stellar songs. Make sure to track this down. You need this music.

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Click here for an interview I did with Sammy Kay back in 2011 that provides some interesting background on this fella (as well as his days with The Forthrights).

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New Video from By The Rivers: "Take Control"

Hailing from Laurel Aitken's adopted home town of Leicester, ace reggae outfit By The Rivers have a fantastic new video for their CD/digital single "Take Control" (Kompyla Records).

In the video, when you first see a hand manipulating the video game control stick, you might think it's about the legally dubious U.S. drone program, but according to the press materials...

"...the song was written around the time of the 2010 Government elections in the UK and is an emotive song expressing the frustrations of voices not being heard when Government change was so desperately needed. The song aptly illustrates the feelings of the majority of the public in the UK, describing the stagnation of both the Tory and Labour party, the country once again plummeting into recession, and the fear of future riots and destruction at the hands of a dissatisfied nation."

I always love a good message in my music.

If you recall, By The Rivers was selected by The Specials as tour support for their 2011 UK arena tour.

New King Hammond Video: "Reggae Mantra"

This excellent new video by Paul Willo just dropped today in support of the new King Hammond track "Reggae Mantra," which will be on the forthcoming 2013 KH album, Hot Skin Music...



A new KH album is something else to look forward to this year, right?

NYC Winter 2013 Ska Calendar #666

Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 8pm (sharp!)

A Benefit for Punk Island 2013 featuring The Frightnrs, Joey Steel & The Attitude Adjusters, Los Skarroneros, Consumata Sonidera, and The Facts

Don Pedro Bar Lounge
90 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$7/21+

(Punk Island is NYC's largest DIY/All ages/Free punk show--they are planning 75+ bands this year.)

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Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 8:30 pm

Electric Avenue presents: The Scoffaws and The Bullbuckers (from Delaware), plus Selector Steve and Kames Jelly!

Characters NYC (back room!)
243 West 54th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue)
New York, NY
$8/18+

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Bigger Thomas

Hat City Kitchen
459 Valley Street
Orange, NJ

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Sunday, January 27, 2013 @ 7:30 pm

The English Beat, Bigger Thomas

Sellersville Theater
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville PA
$33

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Thursday, January 31, 2013 (Doors at 6:30 pm/show at 7:00 pm)

Tri-State Conspiracy, Bigger Thomas, and more (plus Agent Jay on the decks)

The Studio at Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY
19+
$12 advance/$15 day of show

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Saturday, February 2, 2013 @ 9:00 pm

Bigger Thomas, Inspecter 7

Court Tavern
124 Church Street
New Brunswick, NJ
$10/21+

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Saturday, February 9, 2013 @ 9:00 pm

The Pandemics, Slightly Askew, and more TBA

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street
New York, NY
Free!

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Friday, February 22, 2013

A Perfect Mess presents: The Pandemics, The Snails, and more TBA!

Dingbatz
620 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ

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Sunday, February 24, 2013 (Doors at 6pm/show at 8pm)

Fishbone

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn NY
21+
$10 in advance/$15 day of show

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Lost at Sea presents: Sailor Jerry's Final Long Island Show w/The Pandemics, Eli Whitney and the Sound Machine, Life Between Sleep, Wester, Cut the Brakes, Donny Uccellini II of Lost and Adrift, and more TBA!

Even Flo Bar
150 East Main Street
Bay Shore, NY
$10/All ages!

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Fishbone w/The Pandemics, Disposable, Mumbling Lucy, Thank You Scientist

Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ

Contact The Pandemics for $20 tix ($25 at door; $23.50 from Stanhope House online)

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Thursday, February 28, 2013 (6:00 pm doors)

The Toasters, Mr. Skanatto

Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ
$12

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Friday, March 1, 2013

Bigger Thomas and FunkFace

Spike Hill
184/186 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Japan Tsunami/Earthquake Disaster Anniversary Benefit
w/Uzuhi (PMA infused NYC punk rock), The Pandemics, and more TBA!

Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY
All ages/$10

Next Electric Avenue Show: The Scofflaws and The Bullbuckers on Saturday, January 19, 2013

For those of you not paying attention, the Electric Avenue ska/reggae night in the back room of Characters NYC (243 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue in Manhattan) is organized by Marc Wasserman of Marco on the Bass/Bigger Thomas and me, your humble Duff Guide to Ska. Since last fall, we've been undertaking this labor of love--doing it for free (the bands split 100% of the cover, nobody else takes a cut)--to support ska bands and their fans, and have some fun in the process. Simple as that. Electric Avenue shows already have featured some of the best acts on the ska scene, including King Django, The Snails, The Frightnrs, Destroy Babylon, Bigger Thomas, Beat Brigade, Doomsday!, Los Skarronerros, and The Pandemics.

Our next Electric Avenue show is on Saturday, January 19, 2013 with The Scofflaws (Long Island, NY) and The Bullbuckers (Delaware)! Doors are at 8:30 pm and the cover is a reasonable $8. In between sets, I'll be selecting a great mix of trad and modern ska--and hope to have some help from Kames Jelly on the decks. (Character's staff serve up some fine pints and pub food at good prices, too!)

The Facebook Electric Avenue event page can be found here. And take a moment to "like" the Electric Avenue FB page, so you keep up on our shows.

As you should know, the traditionally-minded Scofflaws helped kickstart the 90s ska revival in NYC and far beyond with their high-energy and infectiously fun live shows--and the release of four great albums that contained what would become new ska standards like "Rudy's Back," "Paul Getty," "Ali-Ska-Ba," "Goin' Back to Kingston," "Nude Beach," "They Drive You Crazy," "William Shatner," "After the Lights," "In the Basement," and many more. They're one of our favorite bands.

The Scofflaws' current line-up includes:

Sammy Brooks: sax
John Soldo: drums
Brian Duggan: bass
Greg Bucking: guitar
Jared Dubin: trombone

The Bullbuckers hail from Delaware, mix mento, ska, reggae, rock, and soul--and are very big on the DE, Maryland, and PA ska/reggae scene. We're psyched to have them up to NYC and look forward to experiencing their live set ourselves!

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If you don't "get" the Electric Avenue flyer up top, take a look here for some context.

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Pressure Cooker Video "Brooklyn Bridge" from Their New Album, "Wherever You Go"

Boston's Pressure Cooker have a fantastic new album out--Wherever You Go on CD and LP--that we'll soon be reviewing here at The Duff Guide to Ska. Below is their video for the track "Brooklyn Bridge," shot at the record release party at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA on 12/22/12 (Destroy Babylon were also on the bill).

"El Desfiladero" Video for New Smooth Beans Album, "Keep Talking"

Check out the trippy, slightly NSFW, spaghetti Western-ish new video for Smooth Beans' "El Desfiladero"--promoting the band's new second album Keep Talking (Liquidator Music), which was released today.

Looks like this is another album we should review!

New Free Digital Single from 2000 Tons of TNT: "Harvest Moon" b/w "Wonky"

(Review by Steve Shafer)

To ring in the New Year, early reggae powerhouse 2000 Tons of TNT have released an excellent free digital single containing two new instrumental tracks: "Harvest Moon" b/w "Wonky."

"Harvest Moon" is a super get-up-on-your-feet funky slice of skinhead reggae (a must for fans of acts like The Caroloregians). "Wonky" is more on the rocksteady tip and incorporates some of "Auld Lang Syne" (plus a touch of Harry J Allstars' "Liquidator") in its fuzzed-out hammond organ riff. Both tracks portend more great things to come from this San Diego, CA act (in fact, these two cuts were taken from November/December 2012 recording sessions for their second, as of yet unnamed, album--which should be a knock-out). For your free download of these songs, go here.

Lastly, it should be noted that "Harvest Moon" and "Wonky" are dedicated to the memory of the recently departed reggae great Lloyd Charmers. They've certainly done him proud.

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To check out The Duff Guide to Ska review of Reggae Mysteria, the debut album from 2000 Tons of TNT, go here.