It’s been my opinion that the birth of The Green Room Rockers signaled the start of a new phase for the Ska scene. In GRR, you’ll find the trad-ska sounds you’ve always loved, plus a heaping helping of that soulful, dirty reggae that’s been a big hit since The Aggrolites broke out- all this from one of the most unlikely places, Indiana. But what stands out the most, to me, is their age. I love that the youth is embracing the Jamaican sounds and not simply standing on the shoulders of the third wave or two tone.
It wasn’t long after Green Room’s first record, Hoosier Homegrown, that I started seeing this trend build steam. In a showing of solidarity, GRR have teamed up with their Ohio counterparts and occasional collaborators, The Pinstripes, to release a killer 10″.
It’s called Midwest Soundclash, and features three songs from each band. The Pinstripes have grown more than you’d expect since their 2008 debut latest record, The Decay- and the track Cool Whip/Hot Sauce is a stand out on this split. However, it doesn’t get any better than GRR’s cover of Symarip’s Stay With Him. I’ve been playing one version or another of this tune all year- this is one of those songs that stays in your brain for days and extra days.
“But,” in the words of Commander La Forge, “Don’t take my word for it…” Stream the whole record here, for free:
Midwest Soundclash is also available as a digital download from Amazon and iTunes .
This video has been up since April, but it’s news to me- so now it’s news for you. This short interview based documentary was directed by Marie Le Claire, whose name I recognized instantly. I remember a few years ago, The Slackers announced a concert documentary and even released this trailer. I contacted Le Claire and she says that the project was never finished, and it sounds like we’ll have to settle for the short we have.
It really is a great video, too. Here’s Vic in the studio talking mostly about his dad, and weighing the pros and cons of working as a musician. There’s some great concert and rehearsal footage between the interview segments, and some faces from Slackers past. I love getting a glimpse of their cramped rehearsal space- oh and Vic does a Mick Jagger impression.
No joke! TheOnion.com’s serious media wing, The AV Club, has just picked ska as the subject for the latest Gateway To Geekery. This is not the long-winded, comprehensive history of ska, that I usually link to- no. This is a cursory overview- an introduction. After all, this is the big idea behind Gateways To Geekery, to give an entry point into a densely geek-ified scene.
If Ska has never crossed your path, The AV Club recommends that you test the water with 70′s Ska- This Are Two Tone, in particular. I don’t think I would immediately point the uninitiated straight to The Specials, but their reasons are sound. I don’t want to sum up the piece too much, it’s not that long to begin with.
Be sure to keep scrolling for all of the comments, it’s amazing to read a wide sampling of opinions on the ever-expanding subject of ska music. Less Than Jake fans that are more earnest than Scientologists- armchair musicologists brave enough to drop “mento” bombs- a thread dedicated to ska-pun band names- I’m telling you, the comments section is worth the visit.
That’s right- Everyone’s favorite Italian Ska Boss, Mr. T-Bone, is planning not one, but two more tours in the US. Here’s the details that were passed along to me…
Mr. T-Bone will appear with Brooklyn’s The Forthrights, for two shows this month with The Slackers:
Sept 25th SLACK-FEST @ Bowery Ballroom NYC
Sept 27th Middle east downstairs + The Slackers Boston MA
And later on, in January, you can expect Mr. T to hit up both coasts and spots between. He even hinted that Chicago will have a date on the tour, which means that mid-westerners like myself might even get a chance to dance.
Also, keep your eyes peeled for his latest album Heroes, to be release on LP by Jump Up, and on CD by Special Potato sometime soon.
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Sep 30 2009
