Hello :)

I'm at home, spending time with the family and stuff, so I'll start again on Monday.

YAY FAMILY

I Want "U" To Know The Power Of The Underground

Band: Union Jack

Country: France (I KNOW RIGHT)

Notable Album: Tales of Urban Freedom

Favourite Song: Non-Commercial Activity

I have no exciting things to use as an introduction, so today is strictly music.  Actually that's a lie. I watched Death Race 2 tonight.  Don't ever watch it.  What a piece of garbage.  If  I could un-watch a movie, it would be that.  Or the Human Centipede.  Actually, I'd rather watch Death Race 2 than the Human Centipede.  But just don't watch either one.  Seriously.  Ever.  They're gross.  Moving on to things that won't give me nightmares.

This is at KOI Fest.  But for Anti-Flag.

How cool is this?? A French ska-punk band that also raps and uses turntables!  I first heard about Union Jack a few days before KOI Fest this past September and although I didn't get a chance to see them perform, I was able to pick up their album - lucky me!  This is a super cool band, a very unique mix of ska, punk, and hip-hop, but it's really the use of the turntables that make them stand out.  




Tales of Urban Freedom is Union Jack's first and, currently, only full-length album.  The use of sampling and scratching vinyl on almost every track make this album super cool to listen to.  Although they're a French band, the lyrics are almost all in English.  That being said, the French accents make many of the lyrics hard to understand anyways, but if you can get past that you'll catch your feet tapping in no time.  There aren't really any super fast songs like most ska-punk bands, but the aggression of a ska-punk band is there - it's just used in a different, more controlled way.  In this case, it's the way the two lead singers share vocal duty - it's almost like a call/respond sort of deal.  It would be really cool to see these guys perform live - watching them call the lyrics back and forth to each other would be quite the sight to see.


Non-Commercial Activity is a sweet track off this album.  It's slow-ish but doesn't get boring - just keeps going in a steady skanking rhythm.  I don't know where the quote came from at the beginning, but it goes really well with the song and sets the tone for the rest of the track.  The title is very obviously a poor translation, but that's to be expected with a foreign band.  So get over it and love this song.  Other great songs from this album are Some Hope, Take Action! and a cover of the Clash's Guns Of Brixton.


Support Union Jack by buying their album here, and stay tuned as I try to find a ska band that starts with "V" for tomorrow!

"T" Time!

Band: The Toasters

Country: USA

Notable Album: One More Bullet

Favourite Song: What A Gwan

I'm tired, this will be short.  Apologies for not writing last night again - I went to perform at an Open Mic Night a few blocks down from my house so my evening was spent quickly learning music, eating pizza, being scared, and then quickly performing music and sleeping.  It was a fun night though, so it was worth missing a post.  But I bet you're all like "NOOOOOOOO MITCHELL WRITE MORE STUFF ABOUT SKA BECAUSE I LOVE SKA AND WANT TO READ YOUR HILARIOUS AND WITTY POSTS" so I'm back.  Just for you.  My loyal readers.  You're welcome.


So today's band is one that I had a chance to see back in October.  I didn't see them, though, because I was still 18 and they were all like "NO this is 19+ only" so I walked around Nuit Blanche fuming.  That's right.  I'd rather go see a ska band at the Horseshoe than see Nuit Blanche.  Wanna fight about it?  Anyways, I didn't get to see them and I was sad, but I ended up having a lovely time seeing Downtown Toronto covered with interesting exhibitions.


The Toasters hail from New York City, and they've been a band for over 25 years - although their lead singer Rob Hingley is the only remaining original member.  They were one of the first bands to bring in the "3rd wave" of ska, although their style stays true to the 2-Tone and traditional ska sounds.  They've released 9 full-length studio albums, and have continued to tour despite a ridiculously long musical career.  Rob Hingley also ran Moon Ska Records until 2003, and when it went under he founded Megalith Records - I think Megalith is still in operation today.  The Toasters, although not groundbreaking in any way, has featured some pretty impressive musicians - listen to the solos on many of their songs and you'll hear what I'm talking about.  That's one of the problems with ska, especially 2-Tone and onwards - the musicianship isn't at the forefront with the popular bands (with certain exceptions, of course), so the only times that musicians can express their true talent is through the solo.  The Toasters have taken this to heart, however, and write songs that push past the barriers of ska and enter into reggae, blues, swing, and even the occasional country cover song.  They helped push us into the 3rd wave of ska while staying true to their roots, and that's why it's important that they get recognition.


One More Bullet was recorded in commemoration of the Toasters' 25th anniversary as a band.  Released in 2007 as their first album on Stomp Records (founded by Matt Collyer of the Planet Smashers - yes, it's a Canadian label!), I picked it up in December of that year.  I can remember driving in to Toronto a few days before Christmas, listening to this album all the way there and back.  It was awesome - the first album I subjected my family to on our trip to Lake Placid the following March as well.  I'm proud to say that I know almost all the words to this incredible album, and I have no shame in singing them at the top of my lungs.  When no one else is around.


What A Gwan is the first track off this album, and a perfect way to start things off for the rest of the record.  The horn riff is catchy, the sing-along chorus is easy to remember, and the rhythm is perfect for skanking.  Rob's voice is pitch perfect and there's great toasting in the bridge and finale.  Ska needs more toasting in upbeat songs!  This is a great hype-song - a track that will get you moving up and about no matter how you were feeling before.  Other great tracks from this album are Where's The Freedom, Run Rudy Run Redux (a redo of Run Rudy Run from their Skaboom! album), Bit & Pieces (a Dave Clark 5 cover), and One More Bullet - not to mention the Blues Brothers Outtro (if you haven't seen the Blues Brothers you won't get this but that's cool.  You'll just be missing out).


I very highly recommend this album to anyone who's interested in 2-Tone, 3rd wave, or ska in general - there's something here for everyone.  Buy the album here, and check them out at a show soon! Well, not too soon.  Their only Canadian date right now is Vancouver.  We'll see what happens.


It's after midnight.  This still counts as the post for January 26.  "U" BAND UP TOMORROW!

Sorry Again

Played music down at Maxwell's Music House for Open Mic Night, got distracted and didn't make time for this.  MY BAD. Nap time, post tomorrow.

STAY TUNED FOR THE LETTER "T"... WHO WILL IT BE?

S is for Ska! (Thank you Conor for your awe-inspiring mastery of the English language)

Band: The Slackers

Country: USA

Notable Album: Better Late Than Never

Favourite Song: Run Away

CONOR IS RIGHT, I AM JEALOUS OF HIS WIT AND MASTERY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.  Take a look at the hilarious title of this post and see for yourself just how unbelievable his literary skills are.  Yesterday was quite the adventure - went to Cambridge for fun (weird, right?), played some music (a lot less scary than Saturday), and went to a really weird dance that scared the crap out of me but everyone else liked so that was cool.  Then it was sleep time so I missed a day - but things are back on track, life is calm, and ska prevails once again.  So let's continue this magical journey of letters and bands and music.


NOTE: Half of bagel, cheese, turkey, dijon mustard, Frank's hot sauce, horseradish, and other half of bagel makes a yummy sandwich, according to James.  This may become another extremely disjointed and distracted post.  Laugh if you can.  Follow along if you can.  You probably can't.


Today was a tough decision - ska-punk or traditional-style ska?  It was a choice between Subb (great Canadian ska-punk, check 'em out) and The Slackers, and I've been mulling it over all day.  I had the distinct honour of seeing Subb's final Ontario show in London a few months back, accompanied by my trusty sidekick Metal Conor.  It was a great show, and I was able to take a few moments to talk with J-F afterwards - I don't think I've ever met a more humble musician.  He was so appreciative of people like us supporting the local scene that the concert has stuck with me as inspiration, reminding me that the whole music scene hasn't sold out yet - there's hope if we start to care and support the honest musicians.  For that very reason, I almost feel guilty for choosing The Slackers over Subb, but there's been so much ska-punk lately that Royal City Riot yesterday and The Slackers today just feel like a good way to shake things up.  I'm crazy like that.  What will I do next?  Who knows - I just live on the edge.

Glen Pine singing for the Slackers
E-Bar, Guelph, October 2010

So today's band is The Slackers.  I had the privilege of seeing them play in Guelph back in October - what an incredible show.  They didn't even have to try to pump the crowd up with stage antics (the Johnstones come to mind) - the simple fact that they are true musicians, make quality music, and love the music they play makes it fun enough for anyone.  By the second song (Watch This), the entire crowd was bouncing and the girls were already being told to stay off the monitors - no dancing allowed up there.  It was a great night, and it's a very special treat to see a ska band that is made up of such incredible talent.  The Slackers have 2 lead vocalists, and both have unique voices - Vic Ruggiero (also keyboard master) has the coolest New York accent you'll ever heard, and unlike most singers it doesn't disappear as he sings, and Glen Pine (also trombone extraordinaire) has an incredibly powerful, pitch-perfect voice that is perfect for the ballads that they sometimes play.  Alongside some sweet sax grooves, a great trad-ska drummer, some really sweet bass lines, and great skanking offbeats, the group that makes up the Slackers aren't one to joke about.


Better Late Than Never is the Slackers' first full-length album, although many members were in a ska-punk band called The Nods (who had one full-length) slightly before.  As a first record, it's very well produced - in my opinion it's actually better produced than Redlight, which came out a year later.  I find it very easy to sit and listen to the entire album all the way through, something that I can't do for a few of their later ones.  I like most of the songs on the album, especially the original version of Sarah (which was re-recorded for their split with Pulley in 2004).  The horns are tight, the music is a cool mix of jazz, ska, and reggae, and it has a really cool overall "retro" feel.


Run Away is the second track from the album, and also my favourite one.  I can only find a sample, but it's a sweet song - you can find a full live version on YouTube.  It's a cool reggae song with a really catchy horn line, deep powerful bass, and an awesome 2-chord chorus that you can't help but sing to.  I highly recommend plugging in headphones or a good set of speakers when you listen to the song - the bass is extremely low, but powerful once it's amplified.  I have vivid memories of driving along the Trans-Canada Highway, listening to this song on my way to film some stuff in Fort Walsh this summer.  I had to stay in Maple Creek for the night (the town that flooded like mad over the summer) and this was the song that brought me into town (I listened to my Slackers mix CD twice).  That evening I wandered around town, ended up going to a local movie shop and talking to the owner for like 2 hours - we talked horror movies and he actually offered me a job!  I can remember that drive though - singing along, sipping an Iced Capp (now I want one), wearing some extremely stylish sunglasses, and enjoying the drive into Maple Creek as dinner time approached.  Then I ate dinner and it was even better.  It's a good song too, listen to it.


OK It's been 2 hours and I should be napping.  Hope you enjoyed my essay of stuff that really doesn't matter that much.  Support these great guys and buy Better Late Than Never here, and I also hope you check out Subb's music here.  Letter "T" will be up tomorrow night - NAP TIME.

Sorry

Too much going on tonight, will post tomorrow. Nap time.

"R" Ya Ready? (Insert pirate joke here... seriously - I love pirate jokes)

Band: Royal City Riot

Country: USA

Notable Album: Coast To Coast

Favourite Song: Myrtle Avenue

I've been up for 10 hours and I'm exhausted.  Luckily, my pun-making skills stay sharp no matter what my state of mind, and so the title for the blog is yet another representation of exquisite wit.  Are you bored of my letter puns yet?  If not, good!  If so, I'm just going to pretend you love them.  Does anyone even read this?  I feel scatterbrained tonight.  Must have been the pumpkin pasta (I KNOW RIGHT? IT'S A THING! WHO KNEW?) and the carrot soup - too many veggies in one meal and things can go very wrong.  Anyways, ska time.


I was very tempted (almost pressured!) to write this blog post for Reel Big Fish, but I figured that they were probably too well-known to write about them.  That's the same reason why I wrote about Los Furios instead of Less Than Jake for the letter "L."  Still, I highly recommend taking a moment to listen to Trendy by Reel Big Fish and appreciate how awesome they are.  But Royal City Riot takes the spotlight this evening for their album Coast To Coast.  This is the second album from these Long Island skankers, and it's significantly different than their first - but not in a way that's easy to describe.  I suppose it's a more mature sound (too much maturity talk recently, it makes me feel immature) more than a distinct change, but in any case it's a very impressive album.  Tight horns, some sweet keys, a good mix of swing-ska, trad-ska, rocksteady, smooth reggae, and Jesse's distinctively superb singing voice all make this album a real treat for the ears.  A few of the songs start to sound similar after a while, but if you can get past that, then this is a great album for any ska or reggae fan.


As a side note, It's now 11:30 and this is all I've written.  I started at 10.  I am ridiculously distracted tonight.


Myrtle Avenue was an easy choice tonight for this album, but it's definitely not the only song I like on this album. It's a toned-down, reggae track that has a very interesting feel to it.  Jesse sings about life in Long Island, and how he's torn between the serenity outside of New York and the bustle and business within it.  Myrtle Avenue a great track to listen to in any mood - it's not too fast, not too slow, just a ballad to a place that will always be considered home.  It's interesting how a song like this can be applicable to anyone, even though we may not come from Long Island or New York.  There's a hint of nostalgia - a hope that living there now will be like it was in the past, or that there's a chance to relive the memories that were created there - and anyone who comes back home after time away will understand that (I know I do).  There's comfort as well - sort of like a return to the known after years of new experiences - and it's this sort of "returning home" idea that really makes the song what it is.  For anyone who wants a calm, almost soothing song to listen to, then Myrtle Avenue's the song for you.  If you want some great upbeat ska, check out The Rhythm or Fire.  From their other album (Whatever You Please) you can listen to Where You Been, The Extra Mile, or Too Tight for some great tracks.


It's 12:15.  I'm going to take a nice long nap now.  Letter "S" will be up tomorrow night - come back then!  Or come back earlier and read my other posts.  Or comment on this and tell me what you think.  Or buy the Royal City Riot albums here.  Or also nap like me.  Really, the possibilities are endless.