The Duff Guide to Ska Winter 2019 NYC Ska Calendar #10

...and Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa!

Friday, December 20, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

The Slackers, The Pietasters, Mephiskapheles

Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY
$22/18+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 21, 2019 @ 6:30 PM

Hub City Stompers Record Release Party w/The Rudie Crew, 45 Adapters, Damage Done

Berlin Under A
25 Avenue A
New York, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Sunday, December 22, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Barbicide, The Joint G, The I in Team

The Cobra Club
6 Wyckoff Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

+ + + +

Tuesday, December 24, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Roots Reggae Xmas featuring Vic Ruggiero, Anant Pradhan, plus DJ Vic Axelrod

Mama Tried Brooklyn
787 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$10

+ + + +

Friday, December 27, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
and
Saturday, December 28, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Steel Pulse

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$30/21+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 28, 2019 @ 6:00 pm

Holiday Party w/Rude Boy George, The Rudie Crew, The Band Called Fuse

Four City Brewing Company
55 South Essex Avenue
Orange, NJ
(It's about a block from the NJ Transit station!)

+ + + +

Friday, January 3, 2020 @ 8:30 pm

The Skatalites, The Du-Rites

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

+ + + +

Friday, January 24, 2020 @ 9:00 pm

Caz Gardiner

The Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston Street
New York, NY
2 Drink Minimum/21+

+ + + +

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 9:00 pm

Dave Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7

Gutterbar
200 N 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY

+ + + +

Friday, January 31, 2020 @ 7:00 pm

Top Shotta Band featuring Screechy Dan, Boomshot!, plus Selector Agent Jay

Piano's
158 Ludlow Street
New York, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Friday, May 22, 2020 @ 8:00 pm

Madness (40th Anniversary Tour), The English Beat (featuring Dave Wakeling)

Manhattan Center
311 West 34th Street
New York, NY
$44.50-$110

+ + + +

The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Fall/Winter 2018 Ska Calendar #11

Linton Kwesi Johnson: Time's running out, so see some ska!

Friday, November 16, 2018 @ 6:00pm - 10:00 pm

100% Ska Selections with DJ Ryan Midnight

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street (between Avenues A and B)
New York, NY
No cover!

+ + + +

Saturday, November 17, 2018 @ 9:30 pm

The Scofflaws, The Big Takeover

Diviera Drive
131 Berry Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10

+ + + +

Saturday, November 17, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Mustard Plug, Sgt. Scag

Bowery Electric
327 Bowery
New York, NY
Tix: Advance - $14/Day of show - $16
21+

+ + + +

Saturday, November 17, 2018 @ 9:00 pm

Dubistry

Silvana
300 West 116th Street
New York, NY

+ + + +

Saturday, November 24, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Skarroñeros Farewell Show w/Días Azules, Perdixion, Escasos Recuros, Invading Species, and Lakras

Brooklyn Bazaar
150 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

+ + + +

Saturday, November 24, 2018 @ 9:00 pm

Caz Gardiner

Silvana
300 West 116th Street
New York, NY

+ + + +

Friday, November 30, 2018 @ 9:00 pm

Ensamble Calavera First Anniversary Party

Maguire's Pub
5420 Roosevelt Avenue
Woodside, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 1, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Streetlight Manifesto, Mephiskapheles

Playstation Theater
1515 Broadway (at West 44th Street)
New York, NY
$29.50/16+

+ + + +

Sunday, December 2, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

NYC Ska Orchestra w/Maddie Ruthless, Rho and The Nomads

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

+ + + +

Saturday, December 15, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Uzimon Holiday Danse with DJ Grace of Spades

Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston Street
New York, NY
$12-$15/21+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

The Slackers, W.O.W., Pandemics, DJ Grace

Irving Plaza
17 Irving Place
New York, NY
$22/All ages

+ + + +

Wednesday, January 2, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Steel Pulse

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$35-$30/21+

+ + + +

If you don't see a NYC ska show listed here, send us all of the details to duffguidetoska@gmail.com!

+ + + +

Duff Guide to Ska Fast Takes: Caz Gardiner, The Far East, The Classy Wrecks

(Reviews by Steve Shafer)

The always amazing Caz Gardiner (ex-Checkered Cabs/ex-Caz and the Day Laborers) has an excellent new(ish) single out called "Stop" (digital, Carbonero Records, 2018)--which is a full-on funky soul track about someone who should be seen, but definitely not heard ("...The way you talking/I keep thinking/Stop!"). A whole lot of ska fans love their soul--so make sure to check out this cut and keep tabs on whatever Caz is doing next.

Brooklyn's The Far East have released an intriguing new single "Far East Ride" b/w "Rain On My Party" (vinyl single/digital, Channel Tubes, 2018). I'm really partial to the B side, which is billed as a Lovers Rock cut, but seems more influenced by the sounds of late '50s/early '60s girl groups (check out the "wah-wah-wah" backing harmonies) married to some serious rocksteady grooves. But don't just take my word on this--legendary BBC reggae DJ David Rodigan recently gave the track his stamp of approval by Tweeting out the link to the official "Rain On My Party" video. (Speaking of Rodigan, his autobiography is a fascinating read! In particular, the story of his first trip to JA to buy dub plates from King Tubby is absolutely incredible!)

Toronto's Classy Wrecks play a really enjoyable mix of hook-filled pop and rocksteady--and they've just released two songs as a preview of their forthcoming album Bedrocksteady (digital, Bandcamp, 2018). "In the Evening" is about a guy who kind of knows he's on the less equal side of the relationship equation ("You said that we're always having fun/But I'm waiting on your every move/Baby, you control my mood"), but is kind of okay with it. "Time Moves On"--essentially a good kick in the ass for procrastinators to get things in gear now--has a fantastic, almost Motown-ish horn riff embedded in it. I'm definitely interested in hearing where the rest of the album takes us...

+ + + +

The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Spring/Summer 2018 Ska Calendar #6

The Selecter in LA, 1980

Friday, June 8, 2018 between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm

100% Ska at Otto's Shrunken Head w/Selections by DJ Ryan Midnight

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street (between Avenues A and B)
New York, NY
(No cover!)

+ + + +

Friday, June 8, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

Dubistry

Silvana
300 West 116th Street
New York, NY

+ + + +

Saturday, June 9, 2018 @ 9:00 pm

Dance Inna Bushwick w/Top Shotta Band featuring Tonto Irie, The Far East, Boomshot!, and selections by Grace of Spades

1239 Dekalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$10

+ + + +

Friday, June 15, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Reggay Lords, The Fuss, The Freecoasters, w/selections by Grace of Spades

El Cortez
17 Ingraham Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Friday, June 15, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

Caz Gardiner

Silvana
300 West 116th Street
New York, NY

+ + + +

Saturday, June 16, 2018 @ 1:00 pm

Beat Brigade, Night of the Living Funk

Riis Park Beach Bazaar
16702 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Queens, NY
Free!

+ + + +

Sunday, June 24, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

The Toasters, Beat Brigade, Joker's Republic

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$15 in advance/$17 day of show
All ages

+ + + +

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

NYC Ska Orchestra, Royal KhaoZ

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

+ + + +

Thursday, July 12, 2018 @ 6:00 pm

Brown Rice Family

Live at the Dumbo Archway
155 Water Street
Brooklyn, NY
Free!

+ + + +

Saturday, July 28, 2018 @ 1:00 pm

Reggay Lords

Riis Park Beach Bazaar
16702 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Queens, NY
Free!

+ + + +

Saturday, August 18, 2018 @ 6:30 pm

The Pietasters Booze Cruise

The Lucille
Board boat at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan
$37.50 in advance/$40 day of show
21+

+ + + +

Friday, August 24, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Fishbone ("Classic '80s/'90s line-up!), Oxymorrons

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$25/21+

+ + + +

Saturday, August 25, 2018 @ 6:00 pm

The Slackers Booze Cruise

The Liberty Belle
Board boat at Pier 36, 299 South Street in Manhattan
$30 in advance/$35 day of show
21+

+ + + +

If you don't see a NYC ska show listed here, send us all of the details to duffguidetoska@gmail.com!
+ + + +

The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Fall/Winter 2017/2018 Ska Calendar #57

From The Toasters' "Christmas Ska" album; art by Bob Fingerman.

Friday, December 8, 2017

High School Football Heroes, The Ladrones

The Safari Room at El Cortez
17 Ingraham Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

The Pandemics, Mad Conductor, Freya Wilcox, MJT, Love is a Fist

The Gateway
1272 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
$10

+ + + +

Saturday, December 16, 2017 @ 10:00 pm

Women of Ska, Reggae, and Soul w/Dubistry and Caz Gardiner

Silvana
300 West 116th Street
New York, NY

+ + + +

Friday, December 22, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

The Slackers (playing the "Red Light" album in its entirety) w/Sammy Kay, Crazy and the Brains, DJ Bugaloo Pete

The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY
Tix: $20 in advance/$25 day of show/$32 two-day pass
21+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 23, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

The Slackers (playing the "Peculiar" album in its entirety) w/The World/Inferno Friendship Society, The Fad, DJ Lady Gemini

The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY
Tix: $20 in advance/$25 day of show/$32 two-day pass
21+

+ + + +

Friday, December 29, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

DJ Ryan Midnight: Spinning 100% Ska at Otto's Shrunken Head

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street (between Aves A and B)
New York, NY
No cover/21+

+ + + +

Friday, January 5, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Boomshot!, Top Shotta, The Fuss

El Cortez
17 Ingraham Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

The Original Wailers, Tribal Seeds, The Expanders

Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY
$20

+ + + +

Saturday, January 27, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

The Pietasters and more TBA

Brooklyn Bazaar
150 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$17 in advance/$20 day of show
All ages

+ + + +

Friday, February 23, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

The Skatalites, The Alchemystics

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$15/21+

+ + + +

Friday, March 23, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Hollie Cook

Elsewhere (Hall)
599 Johnson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$20 in advance/$22 day of show/16+

+ + + +

Friday, April 20, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

The Annual 4:20 Reggae Fiesta on the River w/Dub is a Weapon, Crazy Baldhead Dub Apparatus, plus Specials Guests TBA

Rocks Off Concert Cruise - Aboard the Harbor Lights
Boards 23rd Street and the FDR
Manhattan, NY
$29 in advance/$35 day of show
21+

+ + + +

The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Fall/Winter 2017/2018 Ska Calendar #56

The one and only Gaz Mayall of The Trojans!

Saturday, December 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

The Pandemics, Mad Conductor, Freya Wilcox, MJT, Love is a Fist

The Gateway
1272 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
$10

+ + + +

Saturday, December 16, 2017 @ 10:00 pm

Women of Ska, Reggae, and Soul w/Dubistry and Caz Gardiner

Silvana
300 West 116th Street
New York, NY

+ + + +

Friday, December 22, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

The Slackers (playing the "Red Light" album in its entirety)

The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY
Tix: $20 in advance/$25 day of show/$32 two-day pass
21+

+ + + +

Saturday, December 23, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

The Slackers (playing the "Peculiar" album in its entirety)

The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY
Tix: $20 in advance/$25 day of show/$32 two-day pass
21+

+ + + +

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

The Original Wailers, Tribal Seeds, The Expanders

Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY
$20

+ + + +

Friday, March 23, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Hollie Cook

Elsewhere (Hall)
599 Johnson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$20 in advance/$22 day of show/16+

+ + + +

The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Fall/Winter 2016 Ska Calendar #40

Linton Kwesi Johnson: Forces of Victory!

Saturday, October 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

DJ Gorilla Fest w/Beat Brigade, Raise the Kicks, Ras Majesty and the New Vibration Band, Escasos Recursos, Blaire Alise and The Bombshells, Bodega Satellite, PrinceLionSound, plus DJ Ryan Midnight

Don Pedro
90 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Vic Ruggiero and The Snails (Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs cover set), The Othermen

Don Pedro
90 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

+ + + +

Thursday, October 27, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Talking Dreads (with special appearance by Cindy Wilson of The B-52's), The Soul Junkies, The Pandemics, The Rudie Crew

American Beauty
251 West 30th Street
New York, NY
$10

+ + + +

Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

5th Annual Devil's Night Danse w/Mephiskapheles, The Pietasters, The Brooklyn Attractors, and Murphy's Law!

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY
$15/21+

+ + + +

Monday, October 31, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

The Interrupters, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Joey Steel and the Attitude Adjusters

Highline Ballroom
431 West 16th Street
New York, NY
$12 in advance/$15 day of show
All ages

+ + + +

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 @ 6:00 pm (doors)/8:00 pm (show)
and Thursday, November 3, 2016 @ 6:00 pm (doors)/8:00 pm (show)
Toots and the Maytals, Leba, Selectress Iriela

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$28.50-$31.00/21+

+ + + +

Monday, November 7, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Yellowman

BB Kings Blues Club and Grill
237 West 42nd Street
New York, NY
$22.50 plus fees

+ + + +

Friday, November 18, 2017 @7:30 pm

Full Watts Band with special guests Caz Gardiner (Checkered Cabs) and selector Grace of Spades!

C'mon Everybody
325 Franklin Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$8 in advance/$10 at door
21+

+ + + +

Friday, November 25, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Rude Boy George, Lucy Adamas, Glass, Ourida

Pianos
158 Ludlow Street
New York, NY
$10

+ + + +

Saturday, November 26, 2016 @ 9:30 pm (8:00 pm show sold out!)

Save the Cave Benefit Show w/Bigger Thomas

Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue
Bordentown, NJ
$12 (very limited availability--buy in advance through the link above)

+ + + +

Saturday, December 17, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

The Slackers, The Frightnrs, Full Watts, DJ John Glenn Soundsystem

Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY
$20/21+

+ + + +

Thursday, December 29, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

The Skints, Rude Boy George, The Far East

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$15 in advance/$20 day of show
All ages

+ + + +

Friday, December 30, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

The Porkers, The Pandemics, The Rudie Crew, Skarroneros

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$12 in advance/$15 day of show

+ + + +