Duff Review: The Ratchet Boys "Live from 1997-2001"

Eco LP
DCxPC Live
2022

(Review by Steve Shafer)

If you were still paying attention to ska in the early 2000s (after the '90s scene crashed and burned), you were probably aware of Michelle Chin's terrific DCska.com website, which was a reliable online source of news and reviews after the majority of ska zines faded away (here's an archived page from 2001). Depending on whether you were in the greater metro DC area (the DMV--DC, Maryland, and Virginia), you also might know that Chin and her boyfriend Dan Hess, singer for The Rachet Boys, promoted ska shows in the late '90s and early '00s through Rude in DC Productions--and more recently via BlueBeat DC. (For a phenomenal history of the DC ska scene in the '90s/'00s, see the article "Skank and File: An Oral History of D.C. Ska," published by the Washington City Paper in 2013.)

Joining a stellar collection of peers--The Pietasters, Checkered Cabs, Eastern Standard Time, and The Skunks--The Rachet Boys became one of the more dominant ska bands on the late '90s/early '00s DMV ska and punk scene. For several years, they also fueled a number of massively popular shows (booked by Chin and Hess) at an indoor soccerplex in Gaithersburg, MD called The Corner Kick. Just as the DMV scene began winding down around 2006, Hess was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, and tragically passed away in 2007 at age 30.

A digital collection of The Rachet Boys' live recordings was released in 2019 by BOB Records. For fans preferring vinyl, DCxPC Live recently reissued this set as The Rachet Boys Live from 1997-2001 LP, with all money from sales (though not shipping) donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Hess' memory. As one might expect, some of these recordings are more rough than ready, but they capture the undeniably winning live power of the band, Hess' charisma and humor (though not the donuts he used to toss to the crowd), and a whole lot of stage banter and crowd noise. The Ratchet Boys' sound falls in The Scofflaws/Skavoovie & The Epitones' modern (and slightly twisted) trad ska category (though they occasionally veer into punky ska). While this set contains two covers (Madness/Prince Buster's evergreen "One Step Beyond" and Symarip's "Skinhead Moonstomp), it spotlights The Rachet Boys' trove of excellent originals like "Montoya," "Farragut North" (a DC Metro station), "Shipwrecked," "Gator Bait," and "Brave New World" (paging Aldous Huxley!), as well as sillier but crowd-pleasing fare like "Blue Balls" (hey, the band originally was named The Skanker Sores).

This album is likely a must-buy for anyone who was part of the DMV ska scene and a fan of Dan Hess and The Rachet Boys (you can vicariously re-live those glory days!). But it'll also be of interest to '90s ska fans in general, who will be transported back in time on hearing these peculiar Third Wave ska sounds again.

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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...

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Duff Interview with Steve Jackson of The Pietasters!

Photo by Ryan Midnight

(By Ryan Midnight)

The Pietasters recently completed a quick tour of the NYC tri-state area the last weekend of January-- and prior to their January 27th show at the Brooklyn Bazaar in Greenpoint, I sat down with Steve Jackson, lead singer and co-founder of the legendary DC-based band to get his thoughts on any planned recording, the state of the DC ska scene, and the next big concert dates for the band.

The Pietasters last album, All Day, was released back in 2007 and fans have been clamoring for another outing. When asked about plans to get back into the studio, Jackson noted that they revolve around "Jeremy [Roberts, trombone] who is building a studio in his basement. We've got a ton of material and it's just a matter of editing and finishing recording, and we'll probably start fresh with recording rhythm tracks. So, there's something in the pipeline!"

Jackson went on to jokingly note on how they may release the album: "With [the state of] music these days, I think we might do it all on cassette, not even a digital release," and that someone else will have to digitize and upload it.

When asked what is driving some of their current songwriting, Jackson replied, "probably getting old is something that everyone is the band is experiencing. You get seven, eight, nine people in a band there's going to be a lot of things. The songs are just about having fun, and talking about when we had fun, and weird stories. One of the albums that [several band members] liked recently was the most recent Blur album [The Magic Whip]."

The Pietasters are currently the longest, consistently performing ska band in the DC area with Eastern Standard Time coming in at a close second. When asked about the current local scene and any upcoming bands of note, Jackson enthusiastically commented, "there's The Forwards, in Baltimore, and they just played with Lee "Scratch" Perry. So, Baltimore has this really cool, more of a reggae scene it seems, though it’s hard to keep any scene going."

Jackson also noted the The Fuss, another DC-based band. He explained, "they're really important to the DC scene because they run Bluebeat DC, a monthly show of local and touring bands [at Wonderland Ballroom]. When we started playing there was a monthly show at Hennessey's where we would play or The Skunks or The Checkered Cabs, so it’s cool that all the folks at Bluebeat are keeping that DIY thing alive.”

In May, the Pietasters will be returning to the Supernova International Ska Festival. Jackson chimed in, "that's always a fun party, and Tim and his wife April work so hard on that and you can see a lot of upcoming bands and old farts like us." [At the time of writing, it was just announced that the Stubborn All-Stars will reunite to play the show as well.]

The Pietasters have for the past several years done a booze cruise off Manhattan, playing close to three hours on a boat floating down the Hudson and East Rivers. When asked whether the tradition would continue, Jackson noted that they were definitely planning it, and were working on a date in mid-August.

The Pietasters went on to perform a killer headline show at the Brooklyn Bazaar--with support from High School Football Heroes, the Dull Blue Lights (formally The Snails), and Ensamble Calavera. They performed songs mostly from Ooolooloo, Willis, and All Day--Jackson front and center with his signature sing-alongs with the crowd, including favorites "Maggie Mae" and "Out All Night." See you next time on the dance floor, and drink, drink, drink, drink!

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Ryan Midnight is a New York City area DJ, who can be found spinning ska tunes at various bars and supporting bands in the area. He can be heard on his weekly-ish podcast "100% Ska." Find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/djryanmidnight/.

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Duff Review: Caz and the Day Laborers Self-Titled EP

Digital download via Bandcamp
(Vinyl EP release TK)
2013

(Review by Steve Shafer)

Sometimes, I could kick myself for lazily sticking to my ingrained, old school, dopey ways. Having grown up in the pre-digital age (buying LPs and cassettes in my teen years), I'm predisposed to favoring music released on tangible formats--and am less in love with digital-only releases, even though I understand the financial and logistical choices for going that route (and actually have really dug recent digital releases from Bigger Thomas, 2000 Tons of TNT, and The Frightnrs, amongst others). One of the members of Caz and the Day Laborers sent me a link to a review copy of their new digital EP back in (gulp) April and I didn't get around to downloading it until this week. In my lame defense, it's been an unbelievably busy spring and summer at work, but I feel terrible for ignoring such good music for so long. My apologies to the band!

Caz and the Day Laborers' self-titled digital EP (beautifully recorded by Sean Russell in Virginia and mixed by Victor Rice down in Brazil) features six ace rocksteady and reggae original cuts, as well as six terrific dub versions of these tracks assembled by the talented Mr. Rice. Back in the 1990s, I was lucky to be part of the label (Moon Ska/Ska Satellite) that released the 1998 debut CD of Caz Gardiner's (and Jorge Bañales') first band, The Checkered Cabs--so I'm thrilled to know that she's back on the Washington, DC ska scene in such strong and fine form (she has great command of her gorgeously pure and rich alto voice), and backed by a fantastic band comprised of DC-area ska stars (the Day Laborers are: Jorge Pezzimenti, guitars, backing vocals/The Pietasters; Teddy "Dos Dedos" García, keyboards/Los Granadians and The Shifters; Jorge E. Bañales, bass/The Shifters; and Curtis F. Reaves Jr., drums, percussion, backing vocals/The Smooths and The Pietasters).

"You Got It" is jaunty rocksteady song full of the frisson of anticipating a love connection ("You call me/and you say it real sweet/That you want to see me/I'm gonna to tell ya.../You got it") with a great Jackie Mittoo organ line. One of my favorite tracks here, "Grateful" is a catchy, soaring hymn to persevering in tough times (the song grew out of Caz's coping with an extremely painful neurological condition called trigeminal neuralgia, AKA the grim "suicide disease") and keeping one's life and circumstances in perspective ("I know to be grateful, grateful, grateful/I know, I could be worse off/Yes, it's true"). The sultry, but wary and warning "Now That I'm Dancing" is, on its surface, about never wanting the groove to end, but I suspect that it's also really about being able to trust someone after you've acquiesced to entering a relationship with them ("I hear the music pumping/And the people dancing on the floor/I been in here a while now/but I want to dance a little more/And this song keeps playing/Want this to never end/Don't let me down/now that I'm dancing").


Though there is deep sadness in Caz's voice, the cheery and easy-going melody and tempo of "You Know You're Wrong" masks the simmering outrage and frustration over the circumstances of the Trayvon Martin murder and the logic-defying and completely immoral outcome of that trial--and alludes to the despicable racial profiling of young men of color and their often unjust treatment at the hands of police (and society in general): "Though, you know you're wrong/You stand up proud with same old song/Though, you know you're wrong/You say you're right and they go along/The people out there, they're really scared/They feel that their rights, they aren't there/And you walk around as if you care/But each child is taught they must beware...With you in the rule/there is a fear/Has nothing to do with what's out here/We're more scared of you than it appears/Always on guard when you are near..." While Lynval Golding "dedicated" "A Message to You, Rudy," "It Doesn't Make It Alright," and "Why" to George Zimmerman at The Specials' recent concert in New York City, Caz and the Day Laborers' "You Know You're Wrong" has to be the one of the first (if not the first) songs written and recorded by a band on the current ska scene directly addressing this racial killing (and they've got my admiration and respect for continuing the worthy Jamaican ska/reggae tradition of addressing social injustice, as well as honoring the 2 Tone legacy of decrying racism and intolerance).

The upbeat reggae break-up tune "I Give Up" sounds so sweet that you might not mind that it's all over, while the knowing rocksteady track "Intentions" ("Why do you smile/when you mean me harm?/Do you think I don't know what's on your mind?") contains a fair amount of menace and dread for a song with such a terrifically mellow electric keyboard accompaniment. She's no fool; has his number; and won't get played this time, or ever.

Sorry to be so New York-centric about this (but it's where I live in every sense of the word!), but fans of The Slackers, The Frightnrs, The Forthrights, and host of other rocksteady and early reggae bands should take note--this EP is for you! Don't be an idiot like me and almost miss this rocksteady gem!

Caz and the Day Laborers are just back from a mini-tour of Argentia (!) and are playing at The Kennedy Center (!) in Washington, DC later this month. Here's to their continuing success--I look forward to the chance to see them live and can't wait to hear what they do next!

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Postscript: I've spied a photo of a vinyl test-pressing of this EP on the band's Facebook page, so my old man music desires should be sated at some point in the near future.