QUESTION: Why are there shows listed for ones that are outside NYC???
ANSWER: There is a good reason for this!!! From my experiences, I am well aware that many ska folks, including me, travel often for shows. Knowing the other shows in the area makes it easy to see if it possible to catch another show that might be close if you're busy, or you might be a junkie like me who goes to a few shows for each tour of certain bands. It also makes it easier to see all the area shows at once rather than having to check all the other profiles. Bands recognize and value those fans who travel to see them...plus, it makes for good road trip stories! The shows I will be going to will try my best to be in attendance are denoted in as (M) on the calendar. I hope to see you at the show!
Don't think that I haven't been checking you guys out!
Anytime I get invites for friends, I always wonder where everyone is from...is it just NYC folks or others? Well, after looking at hundreds of invites I've received, I noticed you guys are from EVERYWHERE....so here is a map to show were our friends are from. Now you all have been exposed. sorry to "out" you like that. :)
UPDATE (6/25/08): The tracking map that was here awesome...until they decided to turn it into a virus!!! Grr. I will look for another one, but in the meantime you can go play "Do Nothing" by the Specials and sulk with me over it.
6/25/08 - FIRST, it feels good that there are plenty of ska shows to choose from this summer. Ahh. It's like running through the sprinklers for your ears. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, Goldfinger, and The Slackers are a few who are touring through our area soon. SECOND, Warped tour kicked off in CA and will be going all over the damn place for the next 2 months. On a sad note, the singer of Reel Big Fish, Aaron, had his brand new $1100 white Les Paul guitar STOLEN just a few days into the tour. *sniff sniff* It was a gift that was given to him about a month ago from a close friend of the band just to say "thank you for being cool." How sad. Go to Reel Big Fish's myspace page and take a look at the newly posted Warped Tour pics to see the few days Aaron had the chance to play it. THIRD, I'm PSYCHED to announce our friends at RocksOff has given NYC yet another great summer lineup for ska booze cruises!!! We can look forward to Deal's Gone Bad (7/5), The Pietasters (8/22), the Slackers (8/28), and Fishbone (8/29). These are by far my most favorite time of the year. FOURTH, I'd like to bitch about the cost of TicketMaster (whom I lovingly call TicketBastard). Less Than Jake and Goldfinger are hooking up with The Dropkick Murphys for a big show at Penn's Landing near Philly. In search of tickets, TicketMaster has them for sale at nearly 40 bucks!!! ouch. When did ska get so expensive??? Not only that, but the extra charges on top of that (convenience my ass!) were over 10 bucks...making it over 50 bucks for that show!?!?!?! My lord. I actually am not going now b/c of that. I hope TicketBastard rots in hell someday. FINALLY, I recently fell in love with a new NYC ska band: The Forthrights. I saw them play with Dub Is a Weapon at Sullivan Hall 2 weeks ago, loved them, then went to go see them play at a rooftop party in Brooklyn last wknd. Welllllllllllll, the night was clear UNTIL I got out of the subway with a flash downpour. OH SHIT! By the time I got upstairs the Forthrights were 1 1/2 into their set when the rain came....yup, thousands of dollars of equipment RUINED. One of the guys even got electricuted by his own instrument! Sadly too, after I got there and all the equipment was dragged inside, the rain let up, and the skies cleared. I don't know when the next time we are going to be able to see them again, but I wish them a quick recovery and hope they play again soon.
5/12/08 - YET ANOTHER NYC SKA CONTEST!
THE QUESTION: Are you a Slacker??? Do you ever "wash the dishes" by just rinsing it with water or haul your laundry over your parent's house to do even though you're grown up??? Maybe you use the copier at work for your personal things or pass off the things you hate to do to your sibling. We wanna know!!!
THE SLACKERS AND FRIENDS: Our friends at Live Nation are generously giving NYC SKA 2 pairs of tickets to give away for the Slackers/Pietasters show at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza on June 7th in another contest!
PECULIAR (the contest): Post a comment in blog called "I'm a Slacker!" (this one, right here!) and tell us in a blurb (100 words or less) some of the slacker things you do. The two most amusing posts will win 2 tickets each for the show.
REDLIGHT (the fine print): No previous winners of NYC SKA contests can win again. The contest ends at Monday June 1st at 8pm EST. The two winners will be contacted via message for their full names.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: What are you waiting for? Go. Post now!
3/31/08 - Lots of great news lately in the ska world! FIRST, the Slackers have announced the release dates for their new album SELF MEDICATION...and dates is plural since Canada, the US, Japan and Europe are all on different dates. By the way, you Canadians suck since you get it 2 weeks earlier than us! Our date in the US is APRIL 29TH. If you're interested there are also 2 interviews posted of recent interviews of Vic and Dave that you can check out at (Part 1: http://www.grundfunk.net/faulenzen-mit-den-slackers/) and (Part 2:http://www.grundfunk.net/faulenzen-mit-den-slackers-teil-2/). And the best news from the Slackers!?!??! THEY ARE PLAYING THEIR NYC SHOW AT IRVING PLAZA WITH THE PIETASTERS!!!! NOT a show to miss!!! SECONDLY, our friends at Rocks Off hinted that this summer will continue the awesome annual booze cruises around NYC harbor, now in their 6th year. I always feel these are the most fun shows of the year and they sell out FAST. When I know, I'll let you know which bands are playing and when. You may want to also check out their non-ska cruises...even 2 hr tailgatiing-on-a-boat pre-Mets games cruises! THIRDLY, our favorite revived band, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, have a great discussion board online with some of the most knowledgable fans out there. Go here now: (http://bosstonesmusic.com/bboard/index.php) Lots of other ska peeps I am friends with are regulars there. Also, there are contests where you can win cool stuff. Also, some news on the Bosstones front is that they were scheduled to play on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show's 1000th episode on April 3rd but has already been cancelled. Boo! If you want to still catch them around these parts, they will be playing Bamboozle (a warped tour style show) in NJ on May 4th. Less Than Jake and Street Light Manifesto are join to be playing that gig that weekend as well. and FINALLY, summer tours schedules have been being posted recently. I'll let you know about the local ones, but with summer vacation on the horizon, you should be planning roadtrips too!!! See you at the shows!
1/30/08 - WARPED TOUR DATES ARE OUT!!! Though Reel Big Fish is really the only ska band, I'm glad I can start planning my whole summer vacation around it. Sad but true. I'm sure other ska bands with join in for select dates as they have in the past, but nothing official yet. Also, posted as of yesterday (1/29/08) our favorite ska-core band, THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES have happily announced one more show...all the freggin way in Los Angeles at Avalon...ROADTRIP!!! I made all 5 shows at the recent throwdown in Boston and I'm ready to haul ass to another. 3000 miles for one ska show. I'm starting to shock myself. I feel justified though in the long run since THE STREET DOGS and THE PIETASTERS are opening for them!!! Say it loud, say it proud....MIGHTY MIGHTY...!!! See you at the shows!
1/8/08 - HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!! I think 2007 was the best year of ska since it's peak back in the mid 90s: Reel Big Fish toured with Less Than Jake (who even thanked their fans "for coming out to see bands that were popular 10 years ago."), The Mighty Mighty Bosstones reunion to have the 10 Hometown Throwdown, monthly ska fixes from Version City shows and 3 Flrs of Ska shows at the Knitting Factory, seeing our fave local bands playing sell out shows in NYC, having tons of wonderful (and quite good) ska albums released just to name a few, and getting spoiled with the most summer booze cruises around NYC yet with the Slackers (twice!!!), the Pietasters, Fishbone, and the Toasters with Hub City.....just to name a few! Ska IS STILL alive!!!
12/25/07 - Not only is this Christmas, but also the day NYC SKA was turned over to a new moderator....me (Michelle)! In the past year, I'm glad to say that I have doubled the amount of friends and have had more than 15,000 hits on this page. I thank everyone for the support, friendships, and fans here who have made this page fun, intriguing, and informative. And an especially big THANK YOU to the wonderful musicians that make this all happen. :)
10/19/07 - the biggest rip off day in the history of ska...the Mighty Mighty Bosstones reunion Hometown Throwdown tickets go on sale and in exactly TWO MINUTES sold out!!! Tickets have been resold upwards of $1,000 bucks. As the bassist Joe Gittleman even called them "scumbag scalpers" and with the addition of the New Year's Eve show at Lupo's in Providence RI, the Bosstones are trying to halt that fiasco from happening again. Kudos for a band who cares about their fans.
10/4/07 - Want to win a pair of tickets to the THREE FLOORS OF SKA show at the Knitting Factory on October 13th??? I have 2 pairs to give away! To win them, write a blurb (100 words or less) in the GIMME TICKETS blog comments about the BEST ska show you went to IN NEW YORK CITY. I will be picking the two winners at 11pm on Thursday, October 11th who have the best story. I will message the winners to get their first and last name. Good luck rudies!
9/9/07 - ISC VEGAS PICS POSTED!!! Yep, yours truly was there for all the action. A blog of the highlights is now posted and a bunch of pics from the show are in a photo album. What a great freggin time!
9/8/07 - WHOOHOO!!! LET'S HEAR IT FOR NEW SKA!!! That's right, ska's not dead! At ISC in Vegas many of the bands who played released new material recently (since June): Mustard Plug, The Slackers, The Pietasters, MU330, The Toasters to name a few. Though they didn't play ISC this year, Reel Big Fish and Tim Armstrong backed by the Aggrolites also released a new album. Go buy these albums and continue to support this awesome music!
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SKA SHOW SLIDESHOWS:
BOSSTONES 10TH HOMETOWN THROWDOWN PICS ARE FINALLY HERE!!! December 26-30, 2007 at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA is now ranked as the second best day of my life (and yes, I'm aware it was a week, not a day). I couldn't thank Joe Gittleman enough. Here are my faves:
Ahh, the last booze cruise of the summer is wrapped up by the Toasters and Hub City Stompers. It held up its name with lots of drunken fans and great ska music. It was great to see the regular scenesters come out. NYC SKA rocks!
Here are the pics from this summer's annual Slackers Booze Cruise on June 16, 2007. Great as usual and perfect weather. You can't beat a sold out show.
Pics from the Pietasters Booze Cruise below. Always my favorite night of the year. I got two words for you folks....MORE SMOKE!!! Definitely a great night and thanks to those who came out to Union Pool for the after party!
This was the Fishbone Booze Cruise on 5-3-07. This was BY FAR the WILDEST cruise I've been on since they started these 5 years ago...and I was barely drinking! I couldn't have wanted to start the summer any other way. Enjoy the pics!
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IN GENERAL:
Hello Rudeboys and Rudegirls! On Christmas day 2006, this page was turned over to a new moderator, so someone could continue promoting and supporting NYC ska music...that person was me, Michelle. I moved to NYC 12+ years ago solely for the ska scene and have been to nearly every show since. You may know me as "the girl with the ska tattoos," so I believed there was no one else more fitting to take on the responsibility of this page.
With nearly a year under my checkered belt, I think I got this page under control: I have one of the best ska calendars around; I have musicians who are letting me in on the “know” as to what’s going on; I have fans who are extremely thankful as well as helpful; I have been blogging some informative in addition to entertaining stories; I like changing the things on the page to keep it fresh and interesting; and I’m notorious about keeping it up to date and accurate. Thank you for everyone’s continued support.
My Top Friends include individuals who have substantially contributed to the NYC SKA scene. It’s important to recognize them as well as the bands that make the ska scene what it is. They are DJs, producers, promoters, music teachers, and more.
NYC ska bands and promoters...let me know about what is going on around town, so I can spread the good word of ska to the masses. Fans of ska music...keep up the good work by going to shows and buying merchandise. And to all other bands and fans outside of NYC...you will not be forgotten. This is YOUR page, not mine. Also, a note to non-ska bands...I'm here to promote SKA and ska-influenced music. I love punk, swing, rockabilliy, and other genres as much as the next, but it will not be represented here. Sorry!
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FINDING NYC SKA INFORMATION:
RUDIES: If you are visiting NYC and need to know how to get to a show, where to find ska stuff, info about a ska band or person, or anything else, let me know! I know plenty of things to direct you to depending on what you are looking for.
BANDS: I have been asked plenty of times who to contact for gigs in the NYC area. Please go to the LAST THREE TOP FRIENDS listed on this page. They are the ones who can help you the most with booking a show.
At one time I was able to post the YouTube video of "The History of Ska," but recently the embedded link has been disabled by request. In the meantime here is the ULR directly to the site to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AesId12OKsY
in ITALY distribution by AMMONIA RECORDS(edel) for USA it's available on STUBBORN RECORDS for EUROPE & REST OF THE WORLD write a boss@skoolbus.eu LOVELY GIRL of skavesà it's free in SKOOLBUS RECORDS myspace download it and comment back cheers
