The Duff Guide to Ska NYC Fall 2016 Ska Calendar #38

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

King Django, The Duppies, The Pandemics, Wake the Town

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

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Thursday, October 6, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

The Selecter, Hub City Stompers, High School Football Heroes

The Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY
$41.50/16+

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Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Chris Murray, Boomshot, Todd Fausnacht (of The Snails), John Glenn Sound

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

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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+

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

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

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

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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+

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Thursday, November 3, 2016 @ 6:00 pm (doors)/8:00 pm (show)

Toots and the Maytals

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

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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

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Duff Review: The Hard Times Two Bucks for Bob EP

Whatevski Records
2010
3-track digital EP

With a name that couldn't be more relevant if they tried, NYC's awesome practitioners of Upsetters-inspired boss skinhead reggae, The Hard Times, have dropped an EP of buoyant tracks to temporarily distract us from the swelling ranks of the unemployed among us and the disintegrating social safety net in tatters at our feet. The three stellar instrumental cuts you'll find on the digital-only Two Bucks for Bob EP are on par with those from other early reggae heavyweights on the scene like The Caroloregians, King Hammond, and The Bullets. Truly, this is some sweet stuff.

The high-quality of The Hard Times' songwriting and musicianship really shouldn't come as a shock when you consider the band's lineage--most of them are veterans of the NYC ska scene. Drummer Bob Timm previously was in 90s-era bands The DeFactos and Orange Street (and did a boffo job covering ska for About.com from 1997 to 2005); keyboardist Jerica Rosenblum was a member of The Scofflaws, Mephiskapheles, and The Defactos; now ex-bassist Juan Cardenas was in The Duppies; and guitarist Jacob Wake-Up used to be in Across the Aisle and is still in Hey Stranger.

"Two Bucks for Bob" (what's the story behind that title?) is a moody, reggay-ish cut that introduces you to the band's amazing chops. You might think "Bender of Steel" is a groovy mash note to that irascible, cigar-chomping, beer-chugging, fire-belching, foul-mouthed, thieving (but orphan-loving) robot from 31st century New New York, Bender Bending Rodríguez (from Futurama)--but it's actually an ode to Coney Island strongman Mighty Joe Rollino (RIP). Put "Ricochet Rocker" on the sound system and it's guaranteed to pack the dancefloor with its jerky, propulsive riddims, looping bass lines, and killer melody that's passed back and forth between the guitar and keys like a steaming hot potato. You'll be hard-pressed not to shake your booty to this cut. (Listen to samples of all of these tracks here.)

Two Bucks for Bob is a smashing debut for The Hard Times--this is exactly the kind of music we all need in our lives: tunes to help us to get through the bad times and celebrate the good.

The Duff Guide to Ska Grade: A

Across the Aisle to Appear on Checkerboard Kids TV Show

This week, Across the Aisle are filming a segment for Checkerboard Kids, a long-running, ska-influenced, public access cable variety show, hosted by Phil Esquire and The Masked Mutant. (In NYC, this show may be seen on cable--generally every other Tuesday night at midnight, but visit the Checkerboard Kids site for times and channels--if you are outside of the five boroughs, you can watch it at its broadcast time over the internet at www.mnn.org.) I dropped Phil a line to find out when the ATA show will air and will pass that info along to The Duff Guide to Ska readers when I receive it. (Phil?)

Phil Esquire (and his trademark, gravity-defying poof of hair) has been a mainstay of the NYC ska scene for years--he graciously aired and promoted the ska videos we sent his way in my Moon days--and he continues to showcase many a great ska act on his program. Plus, he has great respect and admiration for Laurel "The Godfather of Ska" Aitken (there is a even a picture of Phil with Laurel taken, I believe, at the in-store I set up at the Moon shop back in '97 or so), which makes him more than okay in my book.

Here is the Checkerboard Kids promo to give you some flava...



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In other ATA news, the band is currently recording new tracks for a new release. The band's next gig is with The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, Hey Stranger, and the Duppies at The Trash Bar in Williamsburg on October 12. See flyer below for details...

Yet More NYC Summer Ska Gigs!

Jake, the guitarist from Across the Aisle dropped me a line about this show they're playing on Monday, June 15th along with The Duppies (traditional ska band now on tour of the Northeast from Florida), King Django (ska/reggae master), The Forthrights (NYC trad ska), and Royal City Riot (a trad ska-soul band from Long Island). Six clams gets you in the door, and there is all the PBR you can chug from 8:00-9:00 pm (provided you are of age). The Trash Bar is in Williamsburg, at 256 Grand, betweeen Roebling and Driggs.

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I also want to remind everyone of The Bluebeats' FREE gig this Saturday night at 10:00 pm sharp at Shrine aka Black United Fun Plaza (2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, aka 7th Avenue, between 133rd and 134th). I'm hoping to sneak out of a party I'm invited to in order to catch them! (FYI, The Duppies are playing here the night before.)

Here are several more chances to catch The Bluebeats in action this summer...

Friday, June 19 @ 10:00 pm: Two Boots, 514 2nd Street (7th and 8th Avenues), Park Slope, Brooklyn

Friday, July 17: Beau's Bar in Greenlaw, NY

Friday, July 24: Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street, Manhattan

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Lastly, while I'm not a big RBF fan, they are touring this summer with Dave Wakeling's English Beat and will be in NYC at the Nokia Theatre on July 9 (other US dates may be found here--of note, Hepcat will be performing at their Milwaukee gig on July 5).