The Ninth Annual Montreal Ska Festival: November 23-26, 2017!

The Ninth Annual Montreal Ska Festival (organized by the Montreal Ska Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Québécois and Canadian ska music and culture) is fast approaching! If you're a fan of the amazing Canadian ska scene (as well as a few American interlopers!), this is the place to be.

Of note, this year's edition of the festival features the return of two very much missed bands, The Kingpins and 2 Stone 2 Skank.

Details on each night's line-up are below and through the links.

Vive le ska!

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Thursday, November 23, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Kman and the 45s, The Peelers, The Resojets, Les Séparatwists

Cafe Campus - Montreal
57 Prince-Arthur E.
Montreal, Quebec
$15/18+

Friday, November 24, 2017 @ 7:30 pm

2 Stone 2 Skank, Danny Rebel and The KGB, Les Happycuriens, Sammy Kay

Cafe Campus - Montreal
57 Prince-Arthur E.
Montreal, Quebec
$15/18+

Saturday, November 25, 2017

The Kingpins, The Beatdown, Vic Ruggiero and Chris Murray, Skatton Club

Cafe Campus - Montreal
57 Prince-Arthur E.
Montreal, Quebec
$22/18+

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And there are afterparties each night.

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For some more background on the Montreal Ska Festival, read an interview we did with the organizers, Valerie Desnoyers and Lorraine Muller, back in 2011.

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The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Spring/Summer 2015 Ska Calendar #5

Friday, April 17, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Skarroneros, The Beatdown, The Rudie Crew, Beat Brigade

Grand Victory
245 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

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Saturday, April 18, 2015 @ 10:00 pm

The Scofflaws (10pm), The Shanks, This Good Robot

Record Store Day 2015
Soul Sounds Records
291 West Main Street
Sayville, NY
After 6pm: $10

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Wednesday, April 22, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Mighty Mystic, InDaze, The Far East

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$10 in advance/$12 day of show

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Saturday, April 25, 2015 @ 7:30 pm

Roddy Radiation (of The Specials) w/The Scotch Bonnets, Rude Boy George

Fontana's Bar
105 Eldridge Street
New York, NY
$10/21+

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The English Beat, The Rudie Crew

The Gramercy Theater
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY

$25/16+

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 (3 sets starting at 7:00 pm)

Rude Boy George

Toshi's Living Room
1141 Broadway
New York, NY
No cover!

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Fishbone, Easy Star Allstars, The Skints

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$22/21+

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Saturday, May 9, 2015 @ 9:00 pm

Dig Deeper Presents Derrick Morgan, Crazy Baldhead, DJ Scratch Famous (of Deadly Dragon Sound System), DJ Honky and Mr. Robinson

Littlefield
622 Degraw Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
$20 in advance/$25 day of show
21+

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Saturday, May 9, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The Skatalites

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

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Friday, May 15, 2015, from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Rude Boy George

Jersey Shore Festival
The Aztec Pool
901 Boardwalk
Seaside Heights, NJ

Free!

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Friday, May 15, 2015 @ 7:30 pm

Bad Manners, Dale and the Zdubs

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$20 in advance/$25 day of show

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Saturday, May 30, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Rude Boy George

State Theatre of Boyertown
61 North Reading Avenue
Boyertown, PA

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Friday, June 26, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The Pietasters

Rock's Off Booze Cruise
The Jewel
Board the boat at East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive, Manhattan
Tix: $25 in advance/$30 day of show
21+

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The Duff Guide to Ska Winter/Spring 2015 Ska Calendar #4

Saturday, March 7, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Vic Ruggiero, The Snails, Reggay Lords (Record Release!), DJ Grace of Spades

Grand Victory
245 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

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Saturday, March 14, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The Pilfers Record Release Party w/Leaving Lifted, Fear Nuttin Band, The Rudie Crew, Sweet Lucy, Rude Boy George, The Native Alien Tribe, plus special guests and DJs!

The Wick
260 Meserole Street
Brooklyn, NY
$15 in advance/$25 at door
18+

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Tuesday, March 17, 2015 @ 6:00 pm

St. Patrick's Day Bash w/Straight to Hell, Bonus Pump, Badfish

BB King's Blues Club
237 West 42nd Street
New York, NY
$20/All ages

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Saturday, March 21, 2015 @ 9:30 pm

Rude Boy George

Seaside Tavern
981 Cove Road
Stamford, CT

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Friday, April 17, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Skarroneros, The Beatdown, The Pandemics, Beat Brigade, King Django

Grand Victory
245 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10/21+

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Saturday, April 25, 2015 @ 7:30 pm

Roddy Radiation (of The Specials) w/The Scotch Bonnets, Rude Boy George

Fontana's Bar
105 Eldridge Street
New York, NY
$10/21+

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The English Beat, The Rudie Crew

The Gramercy Theater
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY
$25/16+

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 (3 sets starting at 7:00 pm)

Rude Boy George

Toshi's Living Room
1141 Broadway
New York, NY
No cover!

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Fishbone, Easy Star Allstars, The Skints

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$22/21+

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Saturday, May 9, 2015 @ 9:00 pm

Dig Deeper Presents Derrick Morgan, Crazy Baldhead, DJ Scratch Famous (of Deadly Dragon Sound System), DJ Honky and Mr. Robinson

Littlefield
622 Degraw Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
$20 in advance/$25 day of show
21+

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Saturday, May 9, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The Skatalites

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

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Friday, May 15, 2015 @ 7:30 pm

Bad Manners, Dale and the Zdubs

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$20 in advance/$25 day of show

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Saturday, May 30, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Rude Boy George

State Theatre of Boyertown
61 North Reading Avenue
Boyertown, PA

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Friday, June 26, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

The Pietasters

Rock's Off Booze Cruise
The Jewel
Board the boat at East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive, Manhattan
Tix: $25 in advance/$30 day of show
21+

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Duff Review: 2000 Tons of TNT "Reggae Mysteria"

Self-released CD (contact the band for a copy)
Digital via Bandcamp
2012

(Review by Steve Shafer)

Taking their name from a G.G. All Stars skinhead reggae cut, SoCal's 2000 Tons of TNT have dropped an exceedingly smart and powerful debut--Reggae Mysteria--that mixes the soulful/funky/latin dirty reggae of The Beatdown, The Caroloregians, and The Bullets with the revved up, rough-around-the-edges garage rock of old skool bands like The Fleshtones or The Lyres.

In keeping with the spirit and form of late 60s JA and UK skinhead reggae, Reggae Mysteria contains a healthy serving of pack-the-dancefloor instrumental tracks (see "Reggae Mysteria," "Cougar Communion," or the incredible "Theme for Ambu"--someday, I'd like a tune this good written about me!), moodier set pieces ("Tiger Uppercut," "Electric Pyramid," and "Rabo de Toro" ["Oxtail Stew"]), and a series of fantastic vocal cuts that are more about evoking emotional states of mind than conveying linear stories or political points of view.

The journey depicted in "How Long Will It Take" is being undertaken either to atone for one's offenses or is an attempt to outrun their consequences--though the singer ends up feeling tortured either way: "Headed west/Need some time/to clear my head/Body breaks/Mind it sleeps/Get no rest/How long will it take before I get there?/How long will my mind know these regrets?" The loping, almost-Western reggae feel of the song conjures up Cinema-scope images of our (anti-)hero trekking through the bleak wilderness on horseback toward whatever fate has in store for him. (The tension-filled, Spanish-language track "¿Adónde Vamos?" then poses the question, "where do we go?")

"I'm Feeling Lonely" relates how people can haunt you long after they've withdrawn their love and presence from your life: "I never thought I'd know this feeling so well/Like an old friend/it listens to the stories I tell/I know you're long gone baby/I'm still under your spell..." This isn't a self-pitying song--more like the protagonist is stunned to find himself at this odd place in life (even though countless people in the past, present, and future have been/are/will be there) and even more surprised to still be wanting someone who outright abandoned them. But sometimes love is just like that--a desire/fixation on what you just can't have.

The singer in "Cleansing Sound" believes in the power of redemption through reggae and is doing his best to spread the good word like the musical equivalent of an Elmer Gantry-like, tent-revival evangelist minister: "From Phoenix down to New Orleans/Wall Street up to Aberdeen/This sound is traveling with the wind/It's coming round to cleanse your sins/It's alright now baby, just let it flow/Some people think they speak the truth/Blood and bone dagger and tooth/But I see them through their cheap facade/I'm gonna knock 'em dead like it's my job." This is performance as baptismal ritual; music as holy water; and musician as preacher traveling the land and fighting the forces of darkness, while enlightening the people and revealing the truth.

In an album crammed with excellent tracks, "Shot in the Dark" (which has nothing to do with the Henry Mancini "Pink Panther"-related soundtrack song of the same name covered by both The Scofflaws and The Skatalites) stands out as a dark gem of a song that incorporates grandiose rude boy tougher-than-tough/dreader-than-dread bravado with freaky, wild-eyed, end-of-days paranoia: "Shot in the dark/Knife in the back/Arrow in heart/Your teeth in my neck/I'm breaking the chains/A bottle of beer/Telling my people/oh, the ending is near/I can't stand it..." I keep coming back to this magnificent track, as it captures the invincibility, defiance, alienation, and bad-ass know-it-all-ness of youth like few others out there. (Derrick Morgan, you've been put on notice.)

You may not be familiar with the band, but 2000 Tons of TNT's Reggae Mysteria is an album all fans of ska and reggae should get to know--and will definitely come to treasure. Without a doubt, this one is marked for the DGTS "best of 2012 releases" category!

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2012 Montreal Ska Festival Boasts NYC Night with Victor Rice, The Forthrights, and The Rudie Crew!!

God, if I had a less complicated, responsibility-filled life, I would point the family station wagon due North and head straight up the NY State Thruway until I hit the Canadian border and beyond in order to experience the 2012 Montreal Ska Festival, which takes place between October 11th and 14th (see image at right for all of the glorious details).

Of particular note, this year there is a NYC night (!) featuring some of the finest bands Gotham has to offer: Victor Rice (who actually may be more Brazilian right now that New Yorker!), The Forthrights, and The Rudie Crew (plus Agent Jay of The Slackers is DJing each night of the festival).

Canadian acts that I would love to catch include Prince Perry, The Beatdown, The Planet Smashers, and Mitch Girio (currently of Prince Perry and formerly of the late and very great King Apparatus). If any of these bands are thinking about coming down to the NYC, I could perhaps hook them up with a gig at a certain monthly ska night called Electric Avenue (...just sayin'!).

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For some background on the festival (which is organized by a non-profit group staffed by volunteers), check out this interview I did last year with one of the festival's co-founders, Valerie Desnoyers, as well as festival volunteer/performer/booster, Lorraine Muller (of The Fabulous Lolo, Lo and the Magnetics, and The Kingpins).

Free Download of the New Beatdown Single "Walkin' Proud"

Fans of dirty/skinhead reggae will want to get over to the Stomp Records site to download a free copy of The Beatdown's cool new single--"Walkin' Proud"-- off their forthcoming album of the same name (to be released on August 28, 2012).

(To read The Duff Guide to Ska's review of their s/t debut album, go here.)

New Beatdown Album "Walkin' Proud"

Seems like we're on a Canadian ska/skinhead reggae kick right now, 'cause we're psyched that the new Beatdown album is slated for release on August 28th, 2012. It's titled Walkin' Proud and will be released on the great Stomp Records. Here's the promo video:



The Beatdown's s/t debut album is also definitely worth purchasing--read The Duff Guide to Ska review of it here.

NYC Winter 2012 Ska Calendar Update #17

Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Dig Deeper Presents Eric "Monty" Morris with Crazy Baldhead

The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tix: $15 in advance/$20 day of the show

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Friday, March 16, 2012 @ 7:30 pm

Hub City Stompers, The Beatdown, Royal City Riot, The Pandemics, Plus DJ Hahn Solo!

The Shop Brooklyn
290 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

$7 cover
21+

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Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

The Rudie Crew, The Snails, Gameday Regulars, King Sickabilly and his Full Moon Boys, Screamin' Rebel Angels

The Trash Bar
256 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

$12 cover
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Additional gigs will be posted when we find out about them. Send info to duffguidetoska@gmail.com!

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NYC Winter 2012 Ska Calendar Update #16

It's actually a damn shame (and an embarrassment of riches, really) that there are two, equally compelling ska shows this coming Friday night (March 2, 2012) in NYC. Since I'm actually involved with one of them--the Bigger Thomas/Rudie Crew/Pidgin Dropping/Ini Mighty Lockdown gig in Lower Manhattan (details below), I'm pushing that one heavily. But I'm sad to miss two friends' bands in Brooklyn: the debut of Sammy K and the Fast Four and Mike Drance's punk act the XLerators (and I wish them both the best). So, if you're in Brooklyn on Friday and don't feel like coming into Manhattan, go to The Lake and see them--but if you're in Manhattan or feel like coming into the city, see the Reggae Meets Ska show!

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Friday, March 2, 2012 @ 8:00 pm

Reggae Meets Ska, Part V w/Bigger Thomas, The Rudie Crew, Pidgin Droppings, and Ini Mighty Lockdown-Plus DJ Juggwise and DJ Duff!

Cin-M-Art Space
43 Murray Street (between Church and West Broadway)
Manhattan, NY

$10 cover

This is a RARE Manhattan ska/reggae show with some amazingly good bands--and really easy to get to from New Jersey or Brooklyn, Queens or The Bronx (the venue is right near the PATH train, as well as the 1, 2, 3, A, N, and R trains). Plus, I'm spinning a kickin' mix of vintage, 2 Tone, and modern ska at this gig, while DJ Juggwise will have dem grooving to some deep, sweet reggay!

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Friday, March 2, 2012 at 8:30 pm

Punky Reggae Fest II - Night One with Sammy K and the Fast Four, Los Skarroneros (NYC/Mexico Ska), and the XLerators (featuring Mike Drance of The Bluebeats!)

The Lake
258 Johnson Avenue (Between Bushwick Avenue and White Street)
Brooklyn, NY

Take the L train to Montrose walk down Bushwick and make a left on Johnson or take the J train to Flushing walk towards Bushwick Avenue, make a left, and walk till you hit Johnson and make a right.

Doors at 7:00 pm
$4.00 gets you in

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Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 8:30 pm

Punky Reggae Fest II - Night 2 with Tri-State Conspiracy (NYC Ska/Swing/Psychobilly), Yuppicide (NYC Punk veterans), Truth Warriors (Ari Up's backup band salutes The Slits), (A)Truth (Latino Anarcho-Punk), Reggay Lords (Brooklyn Rocksteady's royal family), and Cotillion (NYHC ska!)

The Lake
258 Johnson Avenue (Between Bushwick Avenue and White Street)
Brooklyn, NY

Take the L train to Montrose walk down Bushwick and make a left on Johnson or take the J train to Flushing walk towards Bushwick Avenue, make a left, and walk till you hit Johnson and make a right.

Doors at 7:00 pm
$8.00 gets you in

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Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Dig Deeper Presents Eric "Monty" Morris with Crazy Baldhead

The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tix: $15 in advance/$20 day of the show

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Friday, March 16, 2012

The Hub City Stompers, The Beatdown, Royal City Riot, Plus DJ Hahn Solo!

The Shop Brooklyn
290 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

$7 cover
21+

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Additional gigs will be posted when we find out about them. Send info to duffguidetoska@gmail.com!

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NYC Fall 2011 Ska Calendar

Since there are a slew of ska gigs and events coming up this fall in the NYC area, The Duff Guide to Ska though it might be helpful to put them all together in one place for the ska fans around Gotham...

Thursday, September 15, 2011 from 6:30-10:00 pm

Roots Rock Reggae
Resident selectors Hahn Solo (Dub Is A Weapon, Lee "Scratch" Perry) and President Carter (WKCR, Wax Poetics) will be on-hand to serve up the finest selections on 100% pure vinyl.

Motor City Bar
127 Ludlow Street (between Rivington and Delancey)
New York, New York
Free/21+
(This event takes place most Thursday nights!)

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Friday, September 16, 2011 at 7:00 pm

The Beatdown and The Royal Swindle

Huntington Street Cafe
90 Huntington Street
Shelton, Connecticut
$6.00/All Ages

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Friday, September 16, 2011 at 8:00 pm

New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, The Defending Champions, The Penniless Loafers

The Stanhope House
45 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ
$10.00/21+

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Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 9:00 pm

NYC Champion Reggae / Move Your Mule: Big Boss, Maddie Ruthless
New Orleans ska songstress and all-around anarchist Maddie Ruthless is in town. She'll be doing a solo set to get you started. Then, Big Boss bigs up the back room with reggae, rub-a-dub style.

Otto's Shrunken Head
538 East 14th Street
New York, New York
Free/21+

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Friday, September 23, 2011 at 9:00 pm

Dirty Reggae Party XII: The Dirty Dozen w/The Scofflaws, Maddie Ruthless & Vic Ruggiero backed by The Forthrights, Big Boss, Dave Hillyard w/DJ 100 Decibels + Crazy Baldhead Crew

Goodbye Blue Monday
1087 Broadway (@ Dodworth)
Bushwick/Bed Stuy
Brooklyn
J train to Kosciuszko
$6.00/All Ages

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Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Dig Deeper with Stranger Cole & Patsy backed by Crazy Baldhead

Dig Deeper is honored to present two legends of Jamaican soul, ska, and rocksteady – Stranger Cole and Patsy – who will appear for the first time together in NYC for one night only, backed by local supergroup Crazy Baldhead. Tickets available on Ticketweb: http://tinyurl.com/strangerpatsy-digdeeper

The Bell House
149 7th St.
Brooklyn, NY
$20 advance/$25 at door

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Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm

The Times , The Rudie Crew, The Big Takeover, Fall Comeback Show

This is the CD release party for The Rudie Crew's "This is Skragga" album!

Union Hall
702 Union Street (at 5th Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY
$8.00/21+

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Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 8:00 pm

The Aggrolites and The Roots of Creation

Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011
$12 in advance/$15 day of show/16+

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Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Eastern Standard Time, Mr. T-Bone, Bigger Thomas, The Rudie Crew
DC's Eastern Standard Time comes to Brooklyn together with Italian trombone sensation, Mr. T-Bone to meet up with Bigger Thomas and the Rudie Crew for a great night of dancing tunes! Don't miss it!

Goodbye Blue Monday
1087 Broadway
Brooklyn, New York
J train to Kosciuszko
$6.00/All Ages

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Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 8:00 pm

The Skatalites and Top Shotta Band

B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
237 West 42nd Street
New York, NY
$20 in advance/$25 day of the show

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Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 8:00 pm

The Toasters 30th Anniversary Show, Obi Fernandez, Royal City Riot

Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011
$12 advance/$15 day of show/All Ages!

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Friday, November 18, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Mustard Plug, Flatfoot 56, Hub City Stompers, The Jukebox Romantics

Knitting Factory – Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
$12 in advance/$14 day of show

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Additional gigs will be posted when we find out about them.

CT Ska Alert: The Royal Swindle and The Beatdown This Friday Nite!

What: The Royal Swindle and The Beatdown (from Montreal, Canada)

When: Friday, September 16, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Where: Huntington Street Cafe, 90 Huntington Street, Shelton, CT

The Damage: $6.00, All Ages

The Copy: The Beatdown cook up a tasteful stew of roots reggae, ska, 60's soul, delivered with a gritty and uncompromising punk rock ethic. Formed out of the ashes of the now legendary ska bands, The One Night Band, The Planet Smashers and Kingpins. With special guests, The Royal Swindle, trad soulful ska from Connecticut (and made of members of Sgt. Scagnetti, Flip Ya For Real, The Stepbacks, and The Mugwams).

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Read The Duff Guide to Ska's review of The Beatdown's debut album here.

Duff Review: Ska is Dead 7" of the Month Club -- Mustard Plug/The Beatdown and Big D and the Kids Table/Brunt of It

Vinyl rules! Rebelling against the unfortunate dominance of easily disposable-erasable-pirated (and somehow soulless) digitally downloaded music, the fantastic Ska is Dead 7" of the Month Club has been issuing a series of limited edition split vinyl singles (on seriously thick black and white wax with cool, printed outer sleeves--love the tattered Walt Jabsco zombie!) from top shelf ska bands of all stripes (i.e.: vintage ska, 2 Tone, ska-punk, etc.). All of the featured cuts by these bands are new or unreleased--and this is the only place to find 'em, as they will not be released in any other form! (The Ska is Dead 7″ Club is a joint effort between Dave Kirchgessner of Mustard Plug and his Ska is Dead tour company, Asbestos Records and Underground Communique Records, that combines their collective obsession with dead genres and dead formats.)

Here's The Duff Guide to Ska review of the October and November 2010 batch of Ska is Dead singles:

Mustard Plug "Aye Aye Aye" b/w The Beatdown "Piece of Mind" (white vinyl)

On the debut Ska is Dead single, Mustard Plug completely mash it up with "Aye Aye Aye," a classic, super-charged third wave/modern ska song (as patented by bands like The Busters or El Bosso und die Ping Pongs--super melodic, maniacally upbeat, heavily guitar driven, mega-powered horn lines, etc.)--as opposed to some of the Plug's more (and equally great) ska'n'roll offerings. Singer Dave Kirchgessner professes to keep the faith (in ska, one might presume) no matter what goes down: "Aye aye aye/I never let it go/Though you tell me so/'Cause you know we believe/I believe!" Seriously, with Mustard Plug for us, who can be against us?

If you've been lucky enough to hear The Beatdown's debut, self-titled album (read The Duff Guide to Ska review of it here), then you'll know what I'm saying when I opine that "Piece of Mind" sounds like a single spun off that stellar album. This groovin', laid-back rocksteady/skinhead reggae cut is about the seeking the chunk of knowledge that will bring one solace (the double meaning in the phonetic relationship of piece/peace): "I haven't slept in a long, long time/Searching for a piece of mind/What I'm looking for, well I can't find/Walking on a very thin line/All over the city people think I'm crazy/I'm running blind, running blind for a piece of mind." Sure, I hope they find what they're looking for, but I feel privileged just to be along for the ride.


Big D & the Kids Table "Not Our Fault" and "Lash Out" b/w Brunt of It "Nah Nah Nah Nah" and "Art School Dropout" (33 1/3 rpm black vinyl 45)

Big D and the Kids Table turn in two crash'n'burn cuts for their Ska is Dead single. "Not Our Fault" is the ska-punk love story/cautionary tale of two busted juvenile delinquents who fall in love at the police station (shades of "Ferris Bueller")--but who fail to realize that they're responsible for their own stupid choices ("Take a look/ Open your eyes/Yeah, everybody's not the same/See, some of us got to do things right/that to some might seem insane"). "Lash Out" is a fierce hardcore workout that does just what it says.

I've caught Brunt of It live in action--essentially a sustained jet blast of hardcore--so it's kind of nice to be able to find the ska band within, and discern the melodies and musicianship that are clearly at work here. "Nah Nah Nah Nah" is a bitter post-mortem of a relationship gone bad: "Can't you see what you meant to me?/Forgiving me is an impossibility..." "Art School Drop Out" is about a femme fatale who has reeled in her patsy in this film noir-ish tale (imagine "Double Indemnity" re-done by Quentin Tarantino): "Everyone gives her the second look/"The Stranger" is her favorite book/A psycho secretary is how she dresses/Clunky shoes, librarian glasses/Our love is deranged/A dangerous game/I'm under your spell/Lead me to hell!" These tracks are intense and brutal, but one hundred percent compelling.

The Duff Guide to Ska Grade (for all of these singles): A

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Read The Duff Guide to Ska review of the December 2010 Ska is Dead releases from Sonic Boom Six/The Nix 86 and Vic Ruggiero & Maddie Ruthless/The Forthrights here.

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If you're interested in subscribing to this limited edition 7" record club (there are only 550 copies of each single printed--there are no digital downloads, so break out yer luddite relative's turntable!), visit skaisdead.bigcartel.com.

Upcoming Ska is Dead releases: Reel Big Fish, Tip the Van, The Slackers, Bomb the Music Industry

The Best Ska Albums of 2010!

Editor's note: Here is The Duff Guide to Ska's "Best Ska Albums of 2010" list, such as it is. In all honesty, there were several albums that we weren't able to get our mitts on before the clock ran out (here's our shout-out of love to Babyhead and Pama Intl who probably should be on this list, too!)--and, no doubt, there were many others out there that we never even knew about. So here is our less-than-definitive "Best of List" in all of its flawed glory...

1592: This One's for You All (self-released). Read The Duff Guide to Ska Review here.

Babayaga: Funky Drop (Skanky 'Lil Records). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

Babylove and the van Dangos: The Money and the Time (Jump Up Records)

The Beatdown: The Beatdown (Stomp Records). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

Bigger Thomas: Steal My Sound (self-released). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

The Bullets: Sweet Misery (Jump Up Records). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

The Caroloregians: Funkify Your Reggae (Grover Records)

Jimmy the Squirrel: Whatever the Weather (Do the Dog Music). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

King Hammond: Jacuzzi (N.1. Records)

King Hammond: The King and I (N.1. Records). Read The Duff Guide to Ska Review here.

Mark Foggo: MAD (V2 Records). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

The Moon Invaders vs. The Caroloregians: Hot Blood Cold Weather (Jump Up Records)

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Bonus "Best of" Lists!

Best Live Ska Records:

King Django Quintet: Brooklyn Hangover (Stubborn Records). Read The Duff Guide to Ska review here.

The Moon Invaders: Live at the Ancienne Belgique (Grover Records)

Best Ska Reissue:

Laurel Aitken: Everybody Ska! Rudi Got Married 1980 to 1992 (Pressure Drop). Read The Duff Guide to Ska Review here.

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Also, check our "Best Ska Singles of 2010" and "Best Ska 10" and 12" Platters of 2010"!

What is Ska Massive?

In a move to help better promote what is going down on the ska scene, Dave Kirchgessner (Mustard Plug, Ska Is Dead) is spearheading a new Facebook page called Ska Massive, which will include ska-related news and developments posted by the folks behind Jump Up Records, Stomp Records, Stubborn Records, Megalith Records, The Ska Parade, and Musical Occupation.

In a synergistic move, Dave has re-branded the annual New Jersey-based "Skanksgiving" fest. It will now be called "Ska Massive" 2010 and take place on Saturday, December 4 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. Bands performing include Catch 22, The Pietasters, Mustard Plug, Deal's Gone Bad, The Forthrights, and Hub City Stompers.

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No doubt you've heard that Ska Is Dead, Asbestos Records, and Underground Communique Records are releasing a series of "Ska is Dead" split 7" vinyl singles ("new music on a dead format"!) featuring bands like The Beatdown, Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug, Big D & the Kids Table, Bomb the Music Industry!, The Slackers, and Sonic Boom Six. This is a subscription-only deal--you pay $36 and they ship you six singles in total: two each in three installments. To order, go here.

Ska Essentials: Do the Dog Skazine

There are some terrific things in our lives that have just always been there--so much so that we just take them for granted. Do the Dog Skazine is one of the ska essentials that fans and bands should recognize and appreciate now and then for its very significant role in spreading the gospel of ska and helping to keep the scene informed and connected (there used to be hundreds of skazines back in the 90s--where'd they all go?!). Kevin Flowerdew (The Bakesys, Do the Dog Music) has been publishing the invaluable Do the Dog Skazine since 1989 (the zine was originally called Rude, but was re-branded in 1996 when Kevin launched his great ska label--and a portion of the publication is devoted to bands on Do the Dog Music). It never fails to provide an amazing overview of happenings on the global ska scene.

The latest issue contains news about Jimmy The Squirrel, Robb Blake, Liam O'Kane, Smoke Like A Fish, Splitters, Drewvis, Resolution 242, Captain Black No Stars, Cartoon Violence, Tin Roots, Dirty Revolution, The Skints, Pama International, Babyhead, The Sidewalk Doctors, Copasetics, Scubaroots, Cabstars, Aggressors BC, Sonic Boom Six, The Evidents, Faintest Idea, The Kirkz, The Breadchasers, Sam Wilson, Erin Bardewell Collective, Scrumptious Biscuit, The Usual Players, Spicy Roots, Sally Brown, 65 Mines Street, B Soul Allstars, The Offenders, Mobster, The Oldians, Open Season, Victor Rice, The Pum Pum Allstars, Reel Big Fish, The Beatdown, The Hangers, King Django, The Bullets, Moon Invaders, Caroloregians, The Israelites, Bim Skala Bim, The Slackers, Black Square, Dan Potthast, Dan P & The Bricks, and the Mad Caddies!

There is no electronic version of Do the Dog--it's print only. Here's how to subscribe:

For a four issue subscription to the zine send a cheque for £5.00 (made payable to Do The Dog Music) along with your name & postal address to: Do The Dog Music, 65 Blackdown Way, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 3FY.

You can also pay online by Paypal. Just send £5.00 via Paypal to dothedogmusic@yahoo.co.uk and include your name, postal address and "Zine Subscription" in the notes section.

It's also nice to see that Kevin and I share the same taste in ska music--it seems that he particularly likes the new releases from The Beatdown, The Bullets, and the King Django Quintet, which The Duff Guide to Ska gave rave reviews...

Duff Review: The Beatdown - The Beatdown

Stomp Records
2010

Montreal's The Beatdown offer up a potent blend of punky skinhead reggae, vintage ska, and soul on their excellent self-titled debut (think The Clash meet The Pioneers with King Hammond at the controls). The Beatdown contains a tremendous mix of aggressively upbeat, sing-along-with-the-chorus originals (see the awesome, should be massive hits "It's Alright" or "Tell Me Why"), choice covers (The Temptations' "Get Ready," which takes on an almost menacing edge here, while Delroy Wilson's "I Want Justice" is cheerfully defiant, considering the lyrics; it should be noted that Wilson also recorded "Get Ready" himself), and grooving keyboard-driven instrumentals.

Lyrically, The Beatdown are chiefly concerned about relations with significant others ("One Night," "Let Me Take You Out," "Number," or "Today"), trouble in the streets ("Hooligans"), or standing up for oneself ("Try to take me/take me down/And you'll see what I'm made of," from "Beatdown"). You know, feelings and experiences common to all of us. One of the best cuts ("Tell Me Why") challenges a friend to explain what's causing their depression: "I know you feel like/you only get what you deserve/Your life's a mess/You're nothing but a zero...You've come a long way/Got a lot more to say/Still have a long long way/So you better tell me why/tell me why/You better tell me why." This is music therapy of the best kind.

The Beatdown grew out of Alex Giguere's (vocals, guitar) and Pascal Lesieur's (bass) other dirty reggae group, One Night Band (which is on hiatus?). So the quality control is high here--the songwriting, performances, production, and results are outstanding.

The Beatdown is a record that will pick you up when you're down and fill the dance floor when you put it on--two things you can always count on first-rate music to do. This is definitely an album to add to your collection.

Duff Guide to Ska Grade: A