Rocking Steady

E-ZINE # 02

more ska, more reggae, more music! rocking steady!

r cking steady

YOUR E-ZINE & DOWNLOAD STORE

www.rockingsteady.com

Big Trombone We´ve got them for an interview: The giants of the Jamaican trombone Rico Rodriguez and Vin Gordon (aka Don Drummond Junior) and one of the great trombones of the european skascene: Mr. T-Bone from page 04

SKANKIN 80s 25 and still going strong: Mr. Review & Bluekilla anniversary interviews, The Busters shortcut & Mobster with a new single! from page 17

Ska & Design Vol. 1 - Jada Leblanc

Issue #2

FreeZine & Download Store

The new magazine for ska and reggae-people all over the world!

Foto: Rico Rodriguez | © LiveReggae.de/D.Neumann

The World of Ska!!!

The Ukrainians ‘Mad Heads XL“ in the portrait.

New releases from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, UK , U.S.A., Australia and some other countries from page 25

Ausgabe Nr. 2!

Jan/Feb

Editorial the offbeatbomb

2011

www.rockingsteady.eu What can I say. Our number 1 is stamped like a bomb and made all the glory to our nickname „The Offbeat Bomb“. Over 4.000 readers worldwide have already read our first edition.

We got really positive feedback. From the States, from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, UK, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Poland, Spain, Canada, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Indonesia, Hungary, Greece, and of course Germany and so on. Thanks to Helen for my favorite comment concerning our magazine: „This is such a beautiful pole next to the RIDDIM! Rocks!“. Thank you for the flowers. We promise you, this is just the beginning. The pool of bands on www. rockingsteady.de grows, the label list as well and especially the number of cooperating labels. And with them we`ve got a growing group of readers and an increasing catalogue

for the digital distribution, which we will start for you soon. To kick off the download stores, we will also start to offer our first „Freemiums“: The new single „I love Berlin“ by The Butlers will be available for free download within the start of our store. And also we`ll offer our first „digital only and limited“ sampler with a selected mix of fabulous ska tracks from well-known and lesser-known bands for free download after that. Already, there are numerous innovations www. rockingsteady.de: Rocking Radio, TV Rocking Steady, Steady Rocking! Community and our competition. More about these features on the next page.

Also for issue # 2, we interviewed Jamaican originals again. We have met Rico Rodriguez and Vin Gordon, the two giants of the Jamaican trombone and added a well-known

trombonist from Europe, Italy. We continue the series with bands that are just celebrating anniversary. And our review area has become very detailed and varied. A new addition will be the first volume of a series of designers who have a special connection to ska and reggae. This starts with a portray and an interview with Jada Leblanc from Victoria, Canada, who some of you probably already know as the designer of the Victoria Ska Festival.

Your O.W.

www.rockingsteady.com be part check the community

About us!

03 Jan/Feb

Editorial Rocking Medias!

2011

What‘s new on Rocking Steady Part 1!? - Rocking Steady! Radio-Stream Rocking Steady Radio always offers 10 current and selected songs as a free stream.

• We change the previews of our radio from time to time, depending on new releases or just on our taste!

• The radiostreams are linked to our download store, so you can buy those songs with one click if you want!

• The streams might represent special topics, news or maybe the sound of an upcoming festival. So if you visit us without a special goal, check out this streaming radio to find some good surprises! http://www.rockingsteady.de/deu/radio/radio.html

What‘s new on Rocking Steady Part 2!? - Rocking Steady! TV Between the publications of the magazine every second month, we have been busy for sure: Rocking Steady TV did short interviews for you, also short cuts and music videos.

In recent weeks we visited Nosliw during one of his rare appearances at the moment and asked Patrice about his plans for 2011. We have taken shortcuts with the Offenders and Roy Ellis. With the video „The City is waking up“ by Alaska, the title of the single off their new and unbelievable good album, we have expanded our music video database. Also we added the video „Superman“ by The Spankers. Check it out! http://tv.rockingsteady.de/

What‘s new on Rocking Steady Part 3!? - Rocking Steady! Community The good and long-standing community may not be missing on www.rockingsteady.com!

• It is rather empty right now due to its recent start. So help us to begin discussions, speak about your favorite topics or plan the carpool to the next gig, tell us the bleating about the new band or about a bad gig of an deserved Jamaican. http://board.rockingsteady.de/

What‘s new on Rocking Steady Part 4!? - Rocking Steady! Raffle Wanna be our keyvisual, the one and only person who represents the Rocking Steady! crowd?

• It`s no secret who we are. Show us who you are. Send your solidarity-video to Rocking Steady! and win records, shirts and credits for our download store in our new contest. Just turn on your webcam and shout „Rocking Steady“. Then upload your contribution and don`t forget to vote! The winner gets not only numerous prizes, but he is our new key visual, no matter whether man or woman. The winners are selected by you. http://www.rockingsteady.de/deu/_raffle.neo

What‘s new on auf Rocking Steady Part 4!? - Rocking Steady! Social Media Get our news via twitter, get in touch with us personally on facebook or leave a comment on our myspace-site. We are on at all theses social medias with our „Alias“ The Offbeat Bomb!: http://www.twitter.com/theoffbeatbomb http://www.myspace.com/theoffbeatbomb http://www.facebook.com/theoffbeatbomb

Imprint

Rocking Steady! eZine & download store

Publisher: Rocking Steady! GbR Ludwig Märthesheimer & Oliver Will Gundelsheimer Straße 22 D-96052 Bamberg Fon: +49. 951. 7005620 Fax: +49. 951. 7005619 projekt@rockingsteady.de

editioral office: Oliver Will (V.i.S.d.P.) Frank Keil credits: LiveReggae.de/D.Neumann photos & layout: Markus Püls | 2mcon Bamberg (www.2mcon.de); publication frequency: alle 2 Monate press dates: 15. des Vormonats adverts: Ludwig Märthesheimer | 0951 - 700 56 20 | lm@rockingsteady.de valid pricelist: 2011 | 2012

www.rockingsteady.de | www.rockingsteady.eu | www.rockingsteady.com

The Big Trombone

Cover story Tougher than tough

Jan/Feb

2011

This time we requested an interview with the two giants of the Jamaican trombone: Vin Gordon (aka Don Drummond jr.) and Rico Rodriguez - „The Man from Wareika“. While we could see Rico for many years with his solo project on stages worldwide and enjoy his perennial, stunning sounds each and every time, the current solo project of Vin is still unspent. His still actual album from 2008 is a collection of well-known reggae anthems, mostly written by himself, by the graduant of the Alpha Boys School. He played not only with the Skatalites and Bob Marley himself, but is responsible for numerous brass anthems of reggae as well. With the interview with Mr. T-Bone, the exceptional italian trombonist of the global skascene, we added a well-known european musician to our cover story.

www.vingordon.com

Vin Gordon (a.k.a. Don Drummond jr.)

Interview From Paris with love!!!

Jan/Feb

2011

the most prominent Jamaican trombonist.

Born on the 4th of August 1949 in Jones Town, Kingston, he entered the famous Alpha Boys School at the age of five and learned to play trombone. But who could anticipate then that the talented boy would get a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers and reaches international fame. 2011 Vin Gordon, after nearly 50 years in the music business, lives in his adopted home of Paris and tells us plenty of interesting facts about Jamaican music in this interview.

Rocking Steady!: In the Alpha Boys School each student had to learn an instrument.

Could you choose one?

Taking a look back at the history of ska, rocksteady and reggae, we come inevitably to Vin Gordon aka Don Drummond Junior (a nickname) aka Trommie, considered one of

Vin Gordon: Yes, there were options: I play a little piano, then bass and tuba, but the trombone is my main instrument that I play since 1962 and Lennie Hibbert was one of my teachers.

Rocking Steady!: Mid-60s your school days were over and your first commitment was

at the Salvation Army Band in Montego Bay, before you went back to the capital.

Vin Gordon: Right. I had also played with the Skatalites briefly in 1964/65, but I haven`t been in the studio with them. After their reunion, I was in the band again from 20012008, in place of the genius Don Drummond, who died in 1969. But back to the beginnings.

First of all Roland Alphonso brought me to the legendary Studio One, where I accompanied the Wailers on their Rudeboy classic „Jailhouse“ (December 1965). This was my first recording at all.

Rocking Steady!: There you also met the music producer Lee „Scratch“ Perry and from then on, you played with many local artists of the Rock Steady-era, which are known today.

Can you give us some names?

Vin Gordon: By Lee Perry, still one of the most influential people for Reggae & Dub, I came in contact with BB Seaton, Joe Higgs,

05 Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson, Toots & The Maytals, Winston Francis and Justin Hinds, to name only the most important. In the late 60s, then inter alia with The Heptones, Derrick Morgan, Slim Smith, Jackie Mittoo, Roy Richards, Burning Spear, Roy Shirley, Desmond Dekker, Prince Buster and Lloyd Charmers.

Rocking Steady!: As a freelancer, you always had a variety of offerings. Your first solo album „Musical Bones“, produced by Lee Perry in 1975 was followed by other regular records, as well for Coxsone Dodd and Joe Gibbs. But you are right known as a trombone player for Bob Marley and The Wailers.

At what time you were with them?

Vin Gordon: First I played with Bob Marley and The Wailers between 1974 and 1979.

During this time such great songs like „Is This Love“, „One Love / People Get Ready“, „Exodus“ or „Jamming“ and the albums „Exodus“ and „Kaya“. Then, after the death of Bob Marley in 1981 I was a musician of the Wailers again from 1995-2001.

Rocking Steady!: Many Jamaican musicians settled down in England, such as your colleague and world-renowned Rico Rodriguez, who now lives in London. You choose Paris. Why? Vin Gordon: Yes, I last played together with Rico in 2009. I was in london for some time as well, when worked for Aswad („Warrior Charge“) in 1979. Paris became my first choice later, because my French wife is from there and I‘ve found suitable musicians for my current band.

Sound Dimension, Mad Lighters, Aswad or Night Doctor, the list of your co-operation could be extended continously. But now your own project is in the forefront, especially as there is your actual cd „Gordon In De Garden Vol.1“ on the music market.

Vin Gordon: It was indeed taken in 2008, but is still current. All the pieces out of „Addis A Rasta“ about „Jonestown Special“ and „Double Take“ to „Stone Valley Dub“ come from me. With „African Thing“ by Osibisa there is only one cover on the cd with 13 tracks. I worked on it with the original Wailers‘ horn section: Glen Da Costa (tenor sax), David Madden (trumpet) and myself (trombone) and with some jamaican session musicians.

The CD was recorded in Kingston and Ochos Rios in Jamaica. The mixing and mastering took place in France then.

Rocking Steady!: Especially the horn section is absolutely convincing. Three optimal conplementary musicians for this Instrumentalmix from Rock Steady, Reggae and a little ska. Then there are certainly plans for bringing your fourth solo CD live on stage?

www.rockingsteady.de CD Available soon!

Vin Gordon: Of course we are always interested in performing live, whether in a small club or at a large festival. It would also be nice to present „Gordon In De Garden Vol.1“ in 2011 in Germany. For this Rocking Steady! can certainly be helpful.

Rocking Steady!: First of all, thank you very much for this interview and all the best for your musical future. We also hope to see you live in the german speaking countries soon.

Frank Keil

Rocking Steady!: The Skatalites, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Soul Vendors, The

DisCography: Vin Gordon is the most prolific jamaican trombonist. He was Bob Marley`s trombonist, played with the Skatalites and for every major artists like Burning Spear, Aswad, Culture, Max Romeo, Justin Hinds, The Mighty Diamonds and many more. He wrote and created famous horn melodies for numerous bands. Each choice, no matter how well organized, wouldn`t fit to his whole work. Even the summary, he has created for its website, is only a part of his work: http://www.vin-gordon.com/discography/discography.htm

Rico Rodriguez

Jan/Feb

Interview Man From Wareika

2011

to earn your living, allthough there were hits like „The Bullet“(1969) . Only when reggae established, you managed the larger breakthrough.

Rico Rodriguez: Right! The success came with Island Records, which engaged me as a studio musician in 1975. First, I played for Toots and The Maytals and Burning Spear, then I was allowed to record „Man From Wareika“, a groundbreaking instrumental album in Jamaica, which was released in 1976. This combination of jazz and reggae has been released on Blue Note in the United States. I toured with the album as the opening act for Bob Marley throughout Europe. This was a great experience ..

Foto: Rico Rodriguez | © LiveReggae.de/D.Neumann Rico Rodriguez, born on the 17th of october 1934 in Kingston, Jamaica, is one of the founders of jamaican popular music. The trombonist and composer grew up in humble conditions and visited the famous Alpha Boys School, where he had instrument lessons inter alia from the tragic legend Don Drummond (presumed death in May 1969 by suicide in a mental hospital). From 1952-1954 he did an education as a mechanic. A profession, which Rico Rodriguez never pursued.

Instead of that, he won an international fanbase with his records and throughout playing live on stage. He still works with musicians from all around the world. During a gig with Soul Food International in the „Kulturfabrik“ in Wetzikon, Switzerland, the opportunity arose to interview the agile and friendly senior from London, his adpoted home.

Rocking Steady!: What are your stylistic roots and which first musical experiences have you had?

Rico Rodriguez: I grew up with African music, jazz and rhythm&blues. At the Alpha Boys School older students like Don Drummond have shaped me. Through training at the Stoney Hill Music School from 1954 to1957 everything became professional.

With Clue J. & The Blues Blasters I did my first recordings for producer Coxson Dodd,

including „Easy Snappin“. I made a name in the local music scene, but the income was just enough to survive.

Rocking Steady!: The Rasta community around percussionist Count Ossie in the Wareika hills became your residence at that time. Over there they played so to speak for food. But mentally it was your home. As from 1958 R & B and rock ‚n‘ roll changed the Jamaican music industry, studio musicians were probably increasingly sought.

Rocking Steady!: The international success continued through the cooperation with the 2 Tone label, which brought together colored and white audiences. It was founded in 1979 by The Specials from Coventry. You have been quite active in the studio again, have been much on tour and you made numerous recordings. How long did the success last?

Rico Rodriguez: End of the 70‘s a big wave swept from the island to the continent. Through the fusion of reggae with the energy of punk also ska had an amazing revival. 2 Tone was involved against racism so much. At first The Specials engaged me

Rico Rodriguez: Yes! The exposure increased, for artists such as Smith and Drumbago for producers like Duke Reid, Vincent Chin, or Prince Buster. But as Rastafari it was not easy for me at all. Though in 1961 with „Rico Special“ the first production under my own name was published, I left Jamaica after „Rico Farewell“ and moved to England, where I hoped to have better income opportunities.

1962 for example I have recorded the track „Youth Boogie“ under the name of Rico‘s Combo.

Rocking Steady: You succeeded to establish yourself in the British scene. You have played for well-known musicians such as Georgie Fame and Laurel Aitken, and recorded many records for many labels including the Blue Beat label, Iceland, Trojan and Pama.

Nevertheless, you had to do some other jobs

Foto: Rico Rodriguez © LiveReggae.de/D.Neumann

07 to record „Rudy, A Message To You“ by Dandy Livingstone. As I was good friends with keyboardist Jerry Dammers. Then I recorded two 7“ („Sea Cruise“/ „Carolina“ and „Jungle Music“ / „Rasta Call You“) a 12“ and the albums „That Man Is Forward“ and „ Yama“. I have also worked on the Compilations „This Are Two Tone“ and „The 2 Tone Story“

go in Europe. And in the spring of 2011 I will record an album together with the Belgian early reggae band The Caroloregians in Charleroi for Grover Records. And in 2011 it is probably to be expected that I am honored for my life‘s work in jamaica. A good reason to return to the island after almost 25 years again.

Rocking Steady!: 1982-1985 you spent back in Jamaica, before swiss reggae musicians brought you back to europe for a project after which you returned to London. Soughtafter studio musician, band member of various projects, traveler around the world.

You really seem to have little free time ...

Rocking Steady!: So we wish you a good health until then and hope to see you on stage and recording for a long time.

Frank Keill

Rico Rodriguez: I entirely take my time, especially for my wife and my children. But you are right. In addition to my work with Jazz Jamaica by Gary Crosby I have to do a lot with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. I am also often on tour, Japan is always great, and also I am constantly on the

www.rockingsteady.de CD Available soon!

Discography (outline): Rico, Special 7“ Rico & The Rudies LP Rico - Man From Wareika LP Rico And The Special A.K.A. 7“ Jazz Jamaica, Skaravan Rico & His Band You Must Be Crazy CD Rico & His Band, Get Up Your Foot CD Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Dance The Ska EP Side A: 1) Rico Rodriguez „L.O.V.E.“

Randy´s Trojan Island Jungle Music/Rasta Call You, 2Tone Quattro, Japan Grover Grover

1961 1969 1976 1982 1994 1994 2000

Later Records

2010

Mr. T-Bone

Jan/Feb

Interview Mr. T-Bone & Friends Rocking Steady!: You are number three of our trombone-special in our #2 issue. We also interviewed Vin Gordon and Rico Rodriguez, two of the greatest trombone players from jamaica. Both living in europe today.

Do you know them, like them, love them - are they a kind of source for your own sound? Or are you influenced by some other musicians you could mention?

2011

jamaican music for the very first time and describe the development to your link to it today?

Mr. T-Bone: First of all I‘m honored to be number three after those two trombone legends. Of course I know and love them, Rico is a nature‘s miracle - I mean he‘s almost 80 years old and he‘s still recording, touring and playing... . I‘ve learned a lot from his way to play, he‘s the master of trombone. Vin Gordon is another amazing living legend.

If you check his discography you go crazy... he played on all the greatest albums of the reggae- and skahistory. I love his sound and his album „Gordon In The Garden“ is in heavy rotation in my house - he‘s awesome! Well, when we are talking about ska trombonists, nobody can forget to mention the great and only Don Drummond. He definitely influenced anyone who decided to play ska music whith any kind of horn.

Mr. T-Bone: Well, it is not easy to describe my own sound...I built it by listening and playing a lot, studying and touring since almost 20 years. I think it‘s a mix of all the music and all the musicians who I played with during those years, can‘t describe it more detailed. Tell me!

I got into jamaican music in the late 80‘s when I discovered the first italian ska band called „Casino Royale“ (a few years later I had the joy to join them for a few recording sessions). Then a friend showed me some original Skatalites music. But at that time I was so young and focused on jazz, and that kind of language sounded to me too cheesy... during the years walking through the jazz language backwards, I felt in love with the Original New Orleans Jazz music and I‘ve found many things that reminded me of the original jamaican music. So I went back and started listening the original tunes...becoming infatuated for the rest of my life.... Then I‘ve heard Dr. Ring Ding and decided to start with my own band!

Rocking Steady!: Please describe your own sound concerning your way of playing ska music? And maybe you could mention when and where you got in touch with

Rocking Steady!: It seems that jamaican music became rather important for you!?

You are playing it together with musicians all over the globe. Would you say there is a

Foto: Mr. T-Bone | © LiveReggae.de/D.Neumann

www.mrtbone.com circle of musicians nowadays, who uphold the traditional tunes besides the jamaican originators, and maybe they innovate jamaican music throughout mixing it with contemporary sounds and influences, sometimes with a great focus on retro-sounds, often with jazz-background? If yes, could you mention some of these musicians?

Mr. T-Bone: Absolutely yes. I think we‘re coming into a new and interesting instrumental ska and reggae period. I can easily mention „David Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7“, „Victor Rice“ is now putting together his ska instrumental band again, „Tommy Tornado“, the „New York Ska Jazz Ensemble“, and of course myself as well...just to name a few friends. But touring all over Europe and the U.S.A. I always hear more and more instrumental ska bands...and that makes me happy!

Rocking Steady!: You rerecorded some instrumentals of your choice for your actual album „Mr. T-Bone & Friends - Instrumental Session Vol. 1“ (Jump Up Records).

Tracks from The Soul Captives, The Heatmakers, The Bullets, The Forthrights, The Ratazanas, The Moon Invaders, The Slackers, The Caroloregians and Mr. T-Bones All Stars. You composed new melodies for them. What was the bands reaction concerning your idea? And are the songs completely new now, cause you also renamed the tracks!?

Mr. T-Bone: My idea was to do something very special and I think we did it. But to do that, I needed help by all the friends I met during those years on the road. So I called them and explained my idea. And the great news was, that all of them jumped up and started working together. All of them loved the project and they worked hard to do a great job and f..k yes....they did it!

It‘s not easy to get so many people involved in a project, but I‘m lucky to have met so

09 many great musicians, to be their friend and to play with them...and when you play with someone and you feel like he‘s playing in the same mood as you are, in that moment you became just one sound and well, something magical happens and you can feel that you start creating good vibrations and it remains forever, more than 1000 words or anything else...it‘s like love, there‘s no way to explain it, and that‘s what I wanted to create for this album - and I think you can feel it.

my job, so I am involved in many different projects and so sometimes I need to force myself to focus on some special projects. I love instrumental music and I want to keep doing it. I don‘t know what and when would be a Vol.2, but it is gonna happen!

Rocking Steady!: Yes, in fact, your idea leads to an impressive album. If you compare it with albums of Rico Rodriguez and Vin Gordon - where do you think is the difference?

Mr. T-Bone: With „The Young Lions“ we created our own sound and we are keeping working on it. We are going to release a new album in 2011! At the moment my idea is to try to create what I was saying before: getting on stage with different people almost every night and try to create something special. For this reason the first part of the tour of „Mr.T-Bone & Friends LIVE“ will include many bands on stage with me - or better I‘ll be on stage with them ehehe.... I will join Tommy Tornado and the Rude Rich and the High Notes (NL), The Caroloregians (BE), The Gramophone Allstar (ES), The Upsttemians (ES), The Golden Singles Band (ES) and maybe for some italian gigs a kind of special version of The Young Lions.

Mr. T-Bone: Every album is different. I can‘t compare my album with others. Anyway, I think the biggest difference is the structure of the album. I had to make a kind of restore.

I mean I had to fill up the free spots and make it work. It was more an arrangement and production work than a real composition. I guess it‘s easier when you compose new tunes, because you can follow your mind everywhere you want to go...it‘s another way to work, but both is really exciting.

Rocking Steady!: As you quoted your album as Vol. 1, there should be a Vol.2? Any idea when, with whom and with wich songs?

Mr. T-Bone: Oh yes, ahah, I did that to force me to keep doing instrumental albums. I love to compose music and thank God, that‘s

Mr. T-Bone: Mr.T-Bone & Friends is for me a kind of synthesis of my last 10 years spent on tour all over Europe and the U.S.A. It reflects 100% of who I am and where I am now. Bob Marley said „Music is music“ there‘s nothing else to say.

OWW

Rocking Steady!: Will you play these sounds live with a backing band of your choice or maybe with your own band „The Young Lions“?

Rocking Steady!: Mr. T-Bone & Friends seems to be a very good set card or let us say one-sheet for you and your music. Anything you would like to add to it, not to be misunderstood in any way?

www.rockingsteady.de CD Available soon!

Jada Leblanc

Jan/Feb

Cover Story Ska & DesIgn Vol. 1

Ska and design, these are two worlds that love and hate themselves. Especially since the Two Tone era the dancing rudies and checkerboard patterns, that we previously knew only from the yellow cabs, spread.

Originally vinyl labels dominated as the only possibilities for design. There simple but unique language is copied and revived again today. The greatest impetus was given to the skascene by the 2-Tone label. It reformed the visual language of ska bands and declared black and white to the main-topic of the designs. Checkerboard pattern in logos and on vinyl covers were the rule, the Rude Boys and Rude Girls cartoons adorned posters, flyers and records. With black and white equality was celebrated, while the same time the look gets more sharp, or at least concise outline due to the punk influence that determined the „second wave“.

Many Skabands still derive from this phenomenon, even though there are very good alternative solutions and counter-examples today, in which the connection to ska is

2011

expressed with other stylistic devices and new visual and formal languages. The typical elements, the popular laurel wreath included, is reduced to a minimum or completely replaced. Only the retro-vinyl look is found more frequently and took an important place in the design of record labels again.

Too much variety is not to be found beyond.

Bands are not more inventive in this as in the shooting of their band photos: All ladies and gentlemen should stay in front of a wall with either a grin or serious mimic - Done.

All in all, a rather unsatisfactory history of visual expression of ska bands - from Two Tone aside. At that time, the brand has been celebrated and enjoyed, like the ska bands, a huge popularity. Today it is left in addition to all other facets of reggae history, where it is overlapped from hip-hop-influenced dancehall styles and reduced to mere history.

Some designers show us that there is another way. They have a close, personal relationship with ska and reggae music.

Accordingly, they have their idea of and

www.victoriaskafest.ca | Design: Jada Leblanc

emotion for skarelated content. Their designs are unique and highly successful alternatives to the usual 1 x 1 of ska designs.

With Ska & Design Vol. 1, we start a series of graphic artists, illustrators and designers in this issue, who have a special connection to ska. We ask them how they get in touch with ska, present their work and try to figure out why they have become what they are. We also want to use the series to collect graphic designs that we will offer you in our merchandise store as shirts then. First few things are online at: http://www.rockingsteady.de/ deu/_merchandise.neo OW

11 „Jada (Ms. Leblanc), die Chefdesignerin der Voctoria BC Ska Society, ist die dritte Grafikerin seit Beginn des Festivals (frühere Grafiken waren von Martin Wales, dem Schöpfer des Kindernaught Comics und Jesse Ladret).

Jada macht seit 10 Jahren unglaublich gute Grafiken für das Victoria Ska Festival für Poster, Werbung, Aufkleber oder Shirts .

Sie ist in jedem Falle die Bienenkönigin der Victoria BC Ska Society und sie soll es auch bleiben!“ (Dane Roberts - Artistic Director of Victoria BC Ska Society)

I really love Jada‘s poster. It has a nice mix of elements - cool and quirky, contemporary and classic! And what I find most important with any gig poster, all the important information is easy to see and pops.

(Chris Murray)

Jada Leblanc

Jan/Feb

Interview SKa in your heart

2011

Jada Leblanc began her career in graphic design in 2000 after studying at Pacific Design Academy in Victoria, British Columbia.

It was at this time that Jada was approached by a local promoter of the Victoria ska scene to design promotional posters for ska acts touring the city. Simultaneously, a newly formed festival celebrating ska and reggae culture, the Victoria Ska Festival, was gaining momentum and Jada became contributing graphic designer for the festival, creating logos, advertisements, posters and t-shirts.

As the popularity of this festival grew, Jada‘s graphic work became more visible on an international level, as artists such as The Slackers, Barrington Levy, The Specials, and Easy Star All Stars were booked as headlining acts on the bill. Today The Victoria Ska Festival has become a world class ska festival, the largest of it‘s kind in North America. Meanwhile Jada‘s design work has become synonymous with ska music in particular, forging a new graphic identity for the genre.

Rocking Steady!: As you got involved with the ska scene and responsible for some design-outfits for the Victoria Ska Festival and later well known Ska-Acts, was it a lucky match of your work as graphic designer with your passion for ska music or did you become involved into the ska scene through this work?

Rocking Steady!: Hello Jada. Could you please introduce yourself to the Rocking Steady! audience in few sentences?

Rocking Steady!: Can you tell us more about your link to ska music?

Jada Leblanc: I am a graphic designer and illustrator extraordinaire, who designs for the music industry primarily and with a heavy focus on and influence in ska and reggae. Also I am an organizer of the Victoria Ska Festival, the largest skafestival in North America.

Jada Leblanc: I had no formal introduction to ska music until I first attended the Victoria Ska Festival while I was in design school. I was drawn to ska music when I first heard it live and saw a crowd of hot guys in suits and fedoras dancing. It was such a positively unique musical experience that I became interested in the genre right away. I introduced myself to the Ska Festival promoter as a fledgling designer, and through this opportunity I‘ve been creating graphics for ska musicians ever since! So I would say that I became involved and passionate about the music through my work.

Jada Leblanc: I have been creating artwork and graphics for the ska scene for 10 years now. I am the senior designer for the Victoria Ska Festival, the largest ska festival in North America and perhaps the world. Through this festival I am introduced and exposed to a world of ska and reggae musicians, promoters and record labels.

This exposure to me has been invaluable in growing my career in graphic design. I have been fortunate to create artwork for the best ska and reggae bands on the planet, among them The English Beat, The Slackers, The Specials, The Skatalites, Junior Reid, Chris Murray, Gregory Isaacs, The Aggrolites, Barrington Levy.

Rocking Steady!: Can you describe the connection between your graphic ideas or styles with the ska music? Is there a deeper sense or just a pictographic idea or what else is responsible for the result, for your style for graphics promoting ska music?

Jada Leblanc: As I first started out creating graphic artwork for a local ska promoter, I was urged not to draw anything that was

stereotypically ‚two-tone‘. Meaning, keep the black and white checkers and rude boys on scooters down to a minimum. So this encouraged me to find a new visual language for ska. I found that by using icons such as palm trees, brass instruments, guitars, lions and laurel leaves, I was able to visually represent what I felt was the sound of ska music. Repeating these styles and ideas from piece to piece has helped me to develop an identity for ska and brand the genre visually. I also use bright colours, retro fonts, high contrast photos and heavy outlines simply because I like them and it‘s important throughout the creation process that I am somewhat amused by my work. . Rocking Steady!: Please name three to five bands you would love to work with or design for?

Jada Leblanc: The Skatalites - perhaps my favourite ska band. I have seen them live many many times and danced on stage to „Rivers of Babylon“ at one of their shows. I often listen to The Skatalites while designing and the upbeat spirit of their music often finds it‘s influence into my work. I would definitely love to do work for them in the future.

U2 - it is my teenage dream to one day design an album for U2. In a way it was this band that first gave me the crazy idea to design for the music industry, and years later I‘m living the dream.

13 M.I.A. has album covers that push the boundaries and her music videos are very animated. I would love to illustrate an album cover or graphics for a video. Doing graphics for music videos would be a new venture for me but I can definitely imagine my work being combined with music as music is the heart and soul of my work.

Rocking Steady!: What are your three to five jobs in the ska-world you liked the most?

Jada Leblanc: I am most proud of the work I have done as senior graphic designer for the Victoria Ska Festival. I work with an incredible team of organizers who are devoted to bringing ska to the masses, through live shows attended by tens of thousands over the course of the festival, to free musical workshops instructed by ska heavyweights like The Aggrolites, Los Rastrillos and Chris Murray. The festival has grown to become the largest festival of it‘s kind on the planet, and I am honored to be the artist who designs the look and feel of the festival from year to year. Someday I would like to look back and consider my legacy to be the work I have done for this festival, as it has certainly been a labour of love.

Rocking Steady!: Which of your works for the ska scene do you like most of all? Can you show us which and explain why?

Jada Leblanc: I really love my Chris Murray and Brave New Waves poster. With this poster I had no idea how it would turn out, but after finding the image of the dog with a top hat, the poster just built itself. I am happy with virtually every detail of this poster, and the client was thrilled.

The poster for The Idlers, a ska ensemble from western Canada, is one of my favourite pieces. I am very happy with the typography, and although this poster is text heavy, it doesn‘t appear this way at first glance. And the main image on this poster, of the troubadour musicians on a floating boat, in a make believe way exemplify what I feel is the spirit of The Idlers.

I have created a half dozen or so logos for the Victoria Ska Festival, and this black and white version really appeals to me. I took the heavy, dirty feeling of what it‘s like to experience a rock concert, and interpreted that into this logo. The elements of the Ska

Fest crest, with the sax, fedora, and checkers, combined with the motto „ entertain, educate, unite“ work together to describe the festival simply and effectively. This logo was used for t-shirts sold at the festival.

Rocking Steady!: Supposed you have to create a cover for the Rocking Steady! Magazine. What do you think should it look like?

Jada Leblanc: I would like it to be bright and punky with a little bit of attitude. You‘d get a graphic that punches ska right in your

face.

OW

Skankin 80s - The Q&A Biplane Plus Cover Story Skalebrity death match

In the first issue we had already presented The Butlers and their anniversary album. With Mr. Review and Bluekilla we continue our series of anniversaries. For some, this bands are an indispensable companion for many years, for others they are just really good ska groups and the youngest generation could be a bit surprised about the fact, that all the old hands are still on the stage again. While 25 years suffice maximum for the Bronze Division of the skaveterans. In fact, there is currently a spate of reunions, maybe for a one off show at the London International Ska Festival (as The Loafers) or to get back on the ramp in general. (e.g. The Specials). Even the Skatalites had a break and a reunion, but a little earlier than the rat tail of bands that follows them to conquer the skaworld once more. They are all active again today. The Specials announced their tour throughout europe yet. The London Internatio-

Mr. Review Interview XXV (Eigenvertrieb)

Jan/Feb

2011

nal Ska Festival seems like a big 80s party with another trip through the history of ska bands with few one off shows. As if one could switch bands on and off.

The swedish band Mobster is a bit more creative in bringing back the 80s with their current release of their skaversion of the Depeche Mode track „Master & Servants“ from 1984. While Mr. Review had merely changed its name and also Bluekilla do their ska since 25 years now. Both to the delight of their older fans, plus one or two generations below. Last but not least, the Busters are close to their 25th birthday. So we had some questions to all of them, the two matured german bands as well as the mid80s top of the pops from sweden and the netherlands.

Jan/Feb

2011

of the worst things and please add the most exciting thing in your 25 years band history.

Arne Visser: When we started a band with a couple of friends 25 years ago we never really intended to be a ska band. We didn‘t have a plan at all actually. We started playing the music which we liked, which at the time was a mixture of reggae, ska and rock. At the time there wasn‘t hardly anything going in Holland with ska, so the people who liked the music came to our dramatic concerts. The interest in the band focussed on our ska songs which made us decide to skip the other ones from the setlist. I soon started writing songs myself. Songs which I wrote at that time should be forgotten anyway.

I still feel uncomfortable when our first ‚Unicorn sampler‘ contribution comes by.

Rocking Steady!: Your recipe is a history of succes right from the beginning: really good lyrics, melodic hooks and an uptempo rhythm (with just a few exceptions that are among the best ballads in ska music ever e.g. „Ships Pass Through The Night“ and my all time favourite: „Rainy Day“). Don`t you ever think to change something musically? Is there some musical development you could describe?

Arne Visser: I write songs the way I like them.

I listen to more kinds of music which all leave their trace in a songwriters mind. Not being afraid to approach the music in your own way.

Most of my favourite songs by other bands have the old fashioned popsong structure. Melody is important for me. So much songs have only a rhytm, for instance „rap“, that‘s really not my thing.

Rocking Steady!: You are on the road for years and play ska for a few generations by now.

What do you think – have there been some changes in your audience?

www.mrreviewska.com Mr. Review is well known, so there is not so much to say about them. The Dutch have won the hearts of the european skapeople not only with their dynamic Ska, but also with their superb ballads. They are one of the international top bands in the up-tempo range. After several years of separation of the founding members, in which the two main protagonists toured as Rude & Visser, Mr. Review have a reunion on time

and released their new album XXV recently.

Since this 25th year anniversary they are all together on stage again as Mr. Review. We got in touch and asked them to spill the beans: Rocking Steady!: 25 years on stage. Forget about the break, which never has been a musical change, but rather a change of the line up. Please tell us one of the best things, and one

Arne Visser: I think the change is more in ourselves by simple growing older. You learn all the time, you figure out things ‚ you dind‘t understand before, things which seemed important 25 years ago sometimes don‘t seem to mean that much to you anymore. On the other hand things you never thougt or worried about 25 years ago become more important.

Rocking Steady: For sure you are one of the bands where the audience can feel your fun while playing your original skasound. And this seems very important to you, as important as it surely is for your music. But besides all your fun on stage and the rousing pressure of the sound

15 you produce, there is something like a melancholic flavour in each and every song, which supports one thing, that seems to be really, really important to you: your lyrics! They seem to be rather next to your biography, depending on your mood, so it is very honest. Fun in your music is always present, while your lyrics clarify your positon in every word, on emotional basis as on political. This gives your music a great possibility of identification (e.g. Everyday Another Day, Rainy Day, The Girl Is Money, Prejudice). Do you think this is the core of your music, maybe the soul of Arne Visser, as the main songwriter of Mr. Review? Do you think Mr. Review would be possible without this phenomenon? Do you think there is a change in the 25 years regarding to the person, to the biography of Arne Visser which affected the music?

Arne Visser: Wow, loads of questions!

When I write a song it always starts with the melody. I have the arrangements for the whole song practically in my mind but still not a word on paper. It‘ would be easy to ‚fill in‘ the lyrics with the usual cliché crap. Like I said earlier, I write songs the way I like them so there should be some meaning in the lyrics too besides a good melodic song. When I start working on the lyrics for a song I just write down everything which comes to my mind. It doesn‘t have any meaning and most of the time I still have no idea what the song is going to be about. These notes may not ever leave the house, people would start to doubt my sanity! Sometimes you suddenly find a sentence which fits in nicely, sometimes there is a ‘connection‘ between all the loose ends. At a sudden point there comes a picture in what you‘ve got. From that moment it gets easier, the more the idea grows, the simpler you can fill it in. Still I keep on writing everything which comes to my mind down. In the end I pick out the best parts, fit them together and that‘s it! There always have been good reactions to the Mr. Review lyrics, for me as writer it stimulates me to do the best I can and to try to keep up the same

level. In quite a few songs the lyrics reflect how I think (or thought, in the older songs) about certain subjects. So they are close to my person.

Some songs are totally not. The story in ‚Short way home‘ is a fantasy. Every now and then on the news such tragedies appear and makes you feel sad and angry. Strangely more than the usual slaughter, which is shown everyday, we seem to be numbed by it. Once during a bicycle trip I held a rest and a young girl came to me, her parents were standing at a distance. The girl asked me where I came from and where I was going to, then she told me that she just had her birthday and had become 8 years old. She told me that she was very happy about it and was allowed now by her parents to ‚talk to strangers‘.

Her parents had forbidden her to do so for her safety during her younger years. It kept on circling in my mind and turned out in the song ‚short way home‘. I wrote it for the biggest deal during that cycle holiday, recording it in my mind without any instrument around.

Rocking Steady!: Last but not least this is the place for you to say thank you to some people that pushed your musical way right from the beginning, throughout all the years and up to nowadays! I am sure your audience wants to know to whom you owe your success besides your own good and tireless work for the entire ska scene all over Europe!

Arne Visser: Over the years there has been lots of people who has put in one or another way their energy in this band and helped us getting where we are. The list would be long and probably incomplete. I think that we made a good start with the first line up, we were in our early twenties, very fanatic, didn‘t try to be a ‚look alike‘ , we just set our own course. Besides that all, it‘s a thing which just happens, being at the right time at the right spot, meeting the right people, etc. It could have turned out completely different just the same!

OW

Rocking Steady!: Your actual album, released a few weeks ago, is named, it`s no stunner, XXV. What would you say was the mission regarding the recording of “XXV” like? You don`t record a 25years anniversary album every day! I am sure you reached the goal, you coped the mission, whatever it was alike, cause the album sounds great! great! great! But maybe there is some finesse you kept for your next album? Would you mind to reveal your plans?

Arne Visser: Most of the songs we played already for some time. It got time to come up with some decent studio recording of them all. Our anniversary was getting close so we combined the whole lot. Usually whole generations die in the period between our studio recordings. It‘s frightning that you start about a next one.

Rocking Steady!: There is no cover-version on your current album. No problem at all, but if I think of your great version of „Africa“ for example, it would have been interesting to get another one. Any chance at your gigs or maybe on a next album?

Arne Visser: There are loads of songs of which we would like to, and could do a proper cover version. But we had enough own material for this album. Never say never.

Discography: 1988 Ice & Snow (Vinyl 12“) 1989 Walking Down Brentford Road 1994 Lock, Stock & Barrel

1995 The Street Where I`m Living (Viny 12“) 1995 Keep The Fire Burning (Live-Album) 1997 Ships That Pass In The Night (EP)

1998 One Way Ticket To Skaville 2002 Redrum (Mini-Album) 2010 XXV

Bluekilla Interview

Jan/Feb

Bavarian Global Player

2011

1985), and this proves, how important this anniversary is for us. We have simply ignored it, did not a jubilee concert and no „Best Of 25 Years“ album. We have put all our energy into the production of the sixth full length album.

The worst story is probably still our nightmare journey into war-ridden former Yugoslavia. Five days in a country whose authorities were set extremely hostile against foreigners. Only our hosts, to whom we`ve got still good contact, and the visitors of our concerts, in retrospect moved this tour into a favorable light. Our bus had a breakdown, we had to return by train, arrest and interrogation, foot march in the freezing and cold night, searching for a warm place to sleep just a few minutes, too much Slibovic and a triggered Skawhirl. One could summarize the whole well in short. In retrospect, one might say, however, we probably would not exist until today without this extreme experience, which showed that we can rely on each other really much.

www.bluekilla.com The 10 Commandments of the DIY-Skaveterans - Bluekilla (..about themselves!): 1) is strictly anti-rascist, anti-fascist and antiviolence like 99% of all ska bands on this planet 2) is pure ska since 1985! no split up. no reunion. no major line up changes. two out of five original members are still active. one of the longest running ska bands on this planet, only made possible by being the laziest band in the world.

3) played more than 350 shows in 11 european countries plus australia.

4) has played „hava nagila“ as last song on every single gig since the band started to play it in 1992.

5) was the first foreign ska band to play in war troubled yugoslavia between the wars in 1997. the band was arrested under spy suspect, the bus broke down and they returned in a train department full of amplifiers and drum pieces.

6) supported laurel aitken in 1990 when he spoke the never forgotten words: „i make you famous“, but the band was too lazy.

7) is also known as „the chippendales of SKA“ since they discovered their obsesion for wearing panties in public rooms during a photo shooting for their first cd in 1994. the band refined this likeable fad in their first video „dr. deadlock stylee“, when they shared the ground with a flock of (naked) hogs. it came to an unequaled climax when the whole band did a

„full monty“ on dr. deadlock‘s wedding party in 1999, except of dr. deadlock himself of course. the crowd was overwhelmed by this performance to such an extend that no photographs or video has been shot, not even a single one. there‘s only the word but believe us, it‘s true.

8) is skanking on the net since 1997!

9) is celebrating 25 years of existance in 2010 10) produces, publishes and sells CDs all on their own - D.I.Y. We wanted to know something more about Bluekilla and asked what the 25 years anniversary means for them: Rocking Steady!: 25 years band history!

So the first thing we want to know from you is the worst story, that has ever happened to the band, and whether „The Best“ was the best (song) the band ever created or just the song with the largest dose of irony?

Bluekilla: Nice try. We never suggested that we are great in terms of our quality as a studio band. „The best“ is, as you regognized, a song with a good dose of irony. It was also an attempt to highlight the tradition of Jamaican DJs and ourselves and transfer it to the german language. This has not yet kept us from being attacked by supporters of other groups.

In fact, it is 26 years (Our claim: pure ska since

Rocking Steady!: Your recipe runs through all the years. Ska - Black - White, stylish and with a penchant for tempo, doing several facets of jamaican music. Has there been any interest in a development of the band? Have you done experiments that you dropped or perhaps some that could not be recognized as such anyway? Or was the band‘s style simply clear from the beginning and is only a shade more mature today? Where does the Bluekilla-Sound come from and is there any difference in what you have begun in 1985, compared with what you perform on stage currently?

Bluekilla: Once there was a half-hearted attempt in the mid nineties. After the album „The New Ska Age“, on our 1995 „Wickie“-EP we did two wayward versions of Wickie. One in techno and another one in hip hop style. We soon realized that there is no progress for us with it. The international skascene, who has just became aware of us, was disappointed and it was fortunate, that we could publish a pretty authentic 2-Tone album very soon. From then on it was clear, how it would go further. However, since our recordings for our second album we always said that it would be our last one.

One can not speak of a long-term orientation.

The Bluekilla sound that you mention, in my view reflects the fact that none of us has barely learned his instrument. Sound clichés and fa-

17 miliar elements from the world of ska were produced late in the studio. When I now listen to the old things and compare them to the things we do today, i don`t think our skills improved anyway, but we have a large range of styles.

And the songwriting increased significantly.

Between our first recordings to our professional albums are poles apart. Especially our current album, which has actually less covers than the preceding, will prove this, as it contains variants in style that we have never played before.

Bluekilla: I do not understand the question. If I am convinced of something, I should keep it?

That sounds as if it is impossible to be married, for example, and spend your entire life with a partner or as follower of a religion. We fortunately have never been so succesful, that there was the need to satisfy the expectations of any fans who have been interested in us, or to be politically radical for example. When we did skinhead reggae, our aim was not to tell them what they want to hear, but to support those skinheads who dissociate from brown ideas („Let the good vibes get a lot stronger“). What we‘ve always done and we will continue is playing in alternative clubs with left alignment and reject requests from the right wing scene (there are none since a long time yet).

Rocking Steady!: You are on the stage for lots of years and play ska music today since and for several generations. Is there a change in the audience anyway?

Bluekilla: No, no significant. Besides the fact that the average age is increasing for understandable reasons.

Rocking Steady!: I think the joy of music and your power on stage is quite essential for you. This is also evidenced by your lyrics and your song selection (e.g. „Wickie“ cover or „Naughty Girl“, „Billy the Boy“„or even a „Love Song“ in jamaican style: „Stay With Me“ „She came“). Nevertheless, the band had not only an ovious relation to jamaica and the habits of Jamaican music, but also had a plain political position right from the start. And in spite of your self-criticism and openness („Don`t Stop“) this is not only confirmed in some of your lyrics (eg „Gunman“, „Soldier“, „Shoplifter“), but also in your general communication. Is it possible to adhere to that seriously for more than 25 years, while times changed much? Isn`t there a notable difference in the political appearance of a ska band from the very first beginning of this genre in Europe, the hype of the Third Wave, and today? Is this convincingly, if one keeps his attidude so stringent all over the years?

Rocking Steady!: Your new album, which will be published in the mid of february in 2011, is dedicated to the 25 years band history? So not an every-day publication! Have you made any special things? How easy or difficult is it to record an anniversary album? What message has the album? I mean, it would have been much more easier to release a „Best Of“ album?

Bluekilla: This is now a bit stupid, because I personally, and I probably speak for the whole band, do not speak of an anniversary publication. But however, if for you and probably for all who know us will feel so, I‘ll answer on the expected general view of our new album. The message is, we are a ska band and always will be one. Anyone who expects more will be dissapointed. But anyone who expects to hear the same as on our previous albums will hopefully be surprised positive. We are rocking much more and thre is a trace of gloom in the style of the eighties that makes the difference to our former recordings. This is neither attached nor accidental, maybe a little trendy, but we are, so to speak, at home in the eighties.

use retro synth sounds of the early eighties. But we have conciously set value to keep the proportion of covers very low this time, another difference to our previous releases.

Rocking Steady!: At the end there is the opportunity to say thank you to all those who have supported the history of your band in the last 25 years. Because this is a long period and no matter how much a band is doing on its own, there are important stations and people in such a band‘s history, which are also of interest for us!

Bluekilla: So we would anticipate our thanks in our beautiful Digipack-Artwork. But whom we like to say thank you at this point are all those who habe been at our gigs in front of the stage, have been listening attentively, have taken eternally long ways upon themselves to see us and have overslept our show from exhaustion, those who have pinched it to copy the cds and spent money for it and have played it to their children, means all our fans and all of the Fanzines, Blogs and Webzines that dedicated fine words to us, instead of providing us with scorn and hatred.

OW

Rocking Steady!: Are there any covers on your new album „Never was a ska band“?

Bluekilla: Our new album contains two cover versions. You can look forward to the hit „Girl U Want“ from Devo in the early eighties and to a less-known track called „Shot By Both Sides“ of the early eighties band Magazine. We also

Discography: (outline) 1990 Cowboy [EP] 1992 Bluekilla 1994 The New Ska Age

1995 Wickie [EP] 1996 Ska a Go Go 1999 Ska is Our Business

2004 Back to Skatalonia 2011 Never Was a Ska Band

The Busters Interview

Jan/Feb

Schwarz-WeiSSer Weckdienst

2011

www.thebusters.com Ska, originally born in the late 50s in Jamaica from the mixture of Caribbean folklore and American rhythm`n`blues, established itsself in the early 60s by colored immigrants in the UK. There it was adapted first by the white youth from the working class as the so-called Blue Beat. The biggest hits of that time came from The Skatalites, Laurel Aitken and Desmond Dekker, who influenced the music of The Busters by today. In the late 70s a large wave of britsh ska swept from the island to the continent. Through the fusion of reggae and punk ska experienced an amazing revival. Bands and the audience made black and white to the colors of the scene. The most successful of these bands in this strongly politically motivated wave were The Bad Manners, Madness and The Specials / The Selecter from the legendary 2 Tone label. In germany The Busters have been ready to revive this music. With their ska-pop they even achieved chart success in germany since 1987 and established this music with a strong emphasis on rhythm as a music against racism.

The Busters from Wiesloch established in 1987 and released their debute album „Ruder Than Rude“ one year later on the Weser Label.

10 members are currently in the band, including some of the original members. „Ron Marsman is the only remaining singer since 2009 “, explains drummer Stefan Breuer, „The eternal life on tour and lots of publications was too much for the rest, who left due to their job or for private reasons. However, the band is still playing its succesful mix of ska, reggae and rocksteady“ adds Ron. Their discography is beyond the predetermined limits, but Germany‘s most successful ska band runs its own label Ska Revolution Records for a long time yet and published the double-DVD „Das Konzert für die Ewigkeit“ recently. With this they create a little more independence inbetween the limited opportunities of ska music. „Almost all Busters are professional musicians, there was a necessity of this step in the long run to earn some bucks with merchandise and the online shop as well.“ the two interlocutors explained. „But we all still play in other projects, the winds for example are Members of the Farin Urlaub Racing Team. „The current DVD as a Special Double Feature

DVD contains the concert recorded in May 2010 at the „Fabrik“ in Hamburg and in addition also a band documentary as well as extensive bonus material. According to the recently published „Waking The Dead“ album (11/2009) a fresh stylish, black and white wake up service again. The documentary is presented in selected cinemas as part of the tour. And, of course The Busters and filmmaker Jonas Grosch, who is responsible for the DVD along with Matt Hofmeister, are there. In 1991 the band is touring through the United States for the first time and once more in 1994, just one of their many tours all over the world, that leads them to Japan as well.

Especially on stage, the Busters still feel at home, as they proved in the „Hirsch“ in Nuremberg with best-of dash in the back. In ‚Space Patrol Orion‘, ‚Love Revolution‘, `Wish You Were Here´ or ´Whiskey Til I Drop´‚Caribbean elegance meets European experimental mood with playful stylistical confidence.

As a matter of course the big band enjoys the direct contact with the audience, even outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. „For 2011 there are already plans to play in Venezuela, the last major and successful stay was our sold-out tour of Japan in 2004“ Ron and Stefan added. „But the wishes of the band to travel abroad, keep visionary due to the high production costs. But for South America a realistic solution loomes.“ And so all remain extremely confident that the success story of the Busters will continue unchanged in 2012, the year in which they celebrate the 25th anniversary. Details about their activities regarding their jubilee are not fixed yet., perhaps it could be similar to the 15 years anniversary in 2002 in Wiesloch. It is certain that there will be a good mood party ... . Frank Keil

19

ady.de

Tickets online: www.rockingste

Mr. Review (Netherlands) review xx v

BUY @ http://www.mrreviewska.com/online%20shop.html

Jan/Feb

2011

The anniversary disk of the Dutch is a seamless continuation of their previous releases. „Mr. Review-Sound“ as we know and love it. No more, no less. Many of the tracks of the album „XXV“ they played live at their concerts yet. So we are glad to have them on cd now. And each time when songs have insisted on the stage they are recorded in experienced versions, clean and groovy. The very first song „Lost Along The Way“ gets us in the mood for typical Mr. Review styles. „Short Way Home“ is another excellent ska ballad from the dutch band. And also the lyrics are still high level, as we are used to it, with a little melancholy and social criticism,

Bluekilla (Germany)

Jan/Feb

review Never was a ska band (Blue Esquire Records)

2011

The new record from Bluekilla is a positive surprise. Paradoxical as it may be - the title of their album „Never Was A Ska Band“ is desigend mainly white with black, so that the record could easily be recognized as a clear ska-album. And also with the same titled song the nine guys from munich introduce the album with a really solid uptempo song with catchy melody, as we rather know it from The Hotknives. Both, the speed and the sound garment run throughout the whole disc, always provided with excellent details. The fourth track „Brizzle“ is tuned a bit on vocals. A jazzy trumpet here, very successful saxophone interjections and melodies there. And there is one song written for the scene at all: „Only Ska“

Rocking Steady! präsentiert:

is a really nice 60s-skatrack with a lot of swing in the bass and a scene-affinity refrain: „Play that Skinhead Reggae“. Otherwise, I hear a lot of good shots of Two Tone in the details which are also contributed by guest musicians. Here, above all, King Django must be acknowledged, but also the Venezuelan Horacio Blanco at „Siempre Sera Bluekilla Banda de Ska“ did a great job and incrased the variety of the CD. And with it the circle is complete: Bluekilla will always be a ska band: final!

OW

Querbeat Festival - 18. Ska Festival Headliner on saturday are The Incredible Staggers (AUT), Dubtari (D) and Markscheider Kunst (RUS), on Friday there will be lots of ska with The Hotknives (GB) und Talco (ITA)!

15 &16.04.2011 Unterwaldhausen Festzelt

just so much, that listening keeps pure fun at all. Especially with the up-tempo numbers like „Where The Carpark Ends“ or „Enjoy The Circus“ the reunited Mr. Review have proven to be back to the forefront of European Skabands again: „No More Waiting For Tomorrow From Now On“. Finally there are two bonus tracks. Once the dutch version of „Where The Carpark Ends“ and finally a dub version of Red Rum Raid, with which the band really succeeded a big surprise.

OW

Also live on stage: TALCO, HOTKNIVES, THE BUTLERS, MOSKOVSKAYA, WILDCAMPING, THE KLINGONZ, BAD SHAKYN, RAFIKI and JUMP THE SHARK!!

21

Mobster (Sweden)

Jan/Feb

review Master & Servant (Single /Amty records)

2011

The title says it all: Mobster seek help from Depeche Mode and their chart buster „Master and Servant“ from 1984. The swedish interpretation differes not much from the original. Let‘s say they have dug into their old vinyl boxes and selected a song from their youth in order to transfer it to their own rhythmics and style. And of course the political and certainly sexually interpretable message of the song has not necessarily lost its relevance. But I am not sure if we need the song as a skaversion at all. In addition to the song they published „Sugar & Ice“ again, which we knew from their last album yet and is also added as a „Club Mix“ called „Painted Jeze-

Mobster (Sweden)

Jan/Feb

review Rough & Ready (Amty Records)

2011

And while we are already reviewing one of the longest-serving Swedish Skaband, we also listened to their album which was released in 2010.

What can I say. Mobster still embody the variety ska bands, which determines the Ska in Europe for a long time. „Rough & Ready“ describes it rather good. And they still play this at a really good level. I would recommend to listen to „Riot Tonight“ and „Rock Steady In The Jungle“.

The absolute highlight of the entire cd is again „Sugar & Ice“. So Mobster added it once more on their single for good reasons. And then there‘s the song „Bored. „ That affects my mood most when i listen to their sound and if I would be really malicious, I would quote its lyrics here as a review. But no, it‘s not that bad. I guess it‘s just not my cup of tea. And again it is a simple decision: If you are looking for another slice for your 80s Skaparty, you striked it rich . Otherwise, I‘m quite happy that there currently are sufficient disks of contemporary ska which interact at a much more interesting way.

OW

bel“ which convinced me more. For those who are still attached to the 80‘s and prefer ska to electro-pop the purchase order may be a good choice. All the others dispense with it. Mobster should at least tell us, who within the Swedish band has forced his personal preferences into a ska-corset? „Let‘s Play Master and Servant“ OW

The World of Ska

coverstory a r o u n d t h e w o r l d...

So great as 2010 has ceased, so brilliant begins 2011. An outstanding publication follows another, through all facets of ska and reggae music.

And as far as we survey this already, there will be much more great releases this year.

The smartest album of the old year reached us in the nick of time and is from the Red Soul Community. The most successful EP 2010 including its faboulous artwork is done from The Penguins. The most trendy release is from The Spankers from Prague, who deliver a brilliant achievement and outclass the early No Doubt. The most auspicious album of this issue with the promising name „See You In Hell“ is the absolute masterpiece of the Australian Ska

Jan/Feb

2011

Rockers „The Resignators. With Alaska from Switzerland, I‘ve found a first nominee for the best album of the year in 2011. The Hotknives got a new one, The Spicy Roots as well.

Askatasuna from Italy have sent a very joyous disc. Kalles Kaviar sent one. I just say: Ooh Ooh Yeah! Yeah! Then there are The Slapstickers, The 2Tone Lizard Kings, there is a new and faboulous record from the Smooth Beans and one we long waited for: the new work by Roy Ellis - THE BOSS IS BACK! And so on!

Also there is a special treat which we have opened up for you in the Ukraine. I guess most of you know the great punkrock-rockabilly band Mad Heads. But the fact that the gentlemen

from Kiev produced finest ska as Mad Heads XL in recent years, may suprise some of you. A picture speaks louder than words. Look at their brilliant videos and you`ll be blown away.

I promise!

Tereza Krippnerová - The Spankers

Mad Heads XL Portray Punkabilly Goes Ska!

23 Jan/Feb

2011

Their concert on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the square of independence in the center of Kiev was exemplary. With a contribution to the compilation „Songs Of Ukrainian Orange Revolution“ they set out for a change strongly together with Ukrainian top artists.

But the desire for change was not only politically. But also musically the Mad Heads investigated new ways and formed as Mad Heads XL since 2004, supplemented by a horn section. A small change in the name, a big one for their music. And even if the punk attitude still stucks in them and they keep the „billy“ in their hearts, they have developed their sound towards ska music, and demonstrate their outstanding talents brilliantly, even after changing the genre.

As Mad Heads, the Ukrainian band around frontman Vadym Krasnooky are well known in the punk, psycho- and rockabilly-scene.

Experts out of the scene from all over Europe love this band and celebrated their international success.

and share them with their country‘s most popular musicians. While the international breakthrough of the legendary local heroes didn`t happen yet. First steps are done again: big festivals in the Czech Republic, a club tour in Russia, a single in Germany and so on.

2004 then the break. Mad Heads are grown and added a XL to their name. The band expanded its cast with a horn section and has done ska with influences of swing and Ukrainian folk music from then on. Similar to Athena in Turkey, Mad Heads XL are really big in Ukraine today. In both bands two brothers set the tone, but in the rest of Europe they cannot establish theirselves much. This may rest upon their singing in their native languages and maybe on the folkloric elements which are important for both bands, Mad Heads XL and Athena as well. Musically there is no reason, not to name them on the toplist of the global skascene without hesitation.

In their native countries that‘s already happened and much more. Large halls, large festivals, excellent music. At home they play on the most important and biggest stages

Thereby they were well established as Mad Heads without brass in some European countries. The German label Crazy Love Records released their acclaimed debut „Psycho Lula“ in 1996. Followed by „Made in Ukraine“ (1998) and „Naked Flame“ (2002). At least now they had been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the European Psychobilly scene. Not to mention their position as no. 1 act of the Eastern European music scene.

With „Nadiya Yea“ (Надія Є / The Hope Is Here; 2005), Naykrascha Myt (Найкраща Мить / The Best Moment, 2007) and the latest album Forever (2008), they climbed the highly raised bar with surprising facility and created a stunning and great ska, which style they live in every detail. The insistence on their own language may irritate at first blush, but after a closer inspection it proves to be consistent.

The language backs both, lightness and melancholy in their music and is on that score an important support for their own, distinctive style and the whole appearance of the band.

This can be seen not only regarding their

- Anzeige -

So we have to claim credit for them for their decision to release the first native language album „Контакт“ in 2003, with which they wanted to do a great deal for their own country. Just in time to be active within the „Orange Revolution“ right from the start.

Mad Heads XL Video

Dobre (Добре)

Jan/Feb

2011

sophisticated appearance, but especially in their professional videos of which we can`t get enough.

Discography: Mad Heads XL 2005 - Nadiya Yea (Надія Є/The Hope Is Here)

2007 - Naykrascha Myt (Найкраща Мить/The Best Moment) 2008 - Forever

Mad Heads 1996 - Psycholula 1998 - Mad In Ukraine 2002 - Naked Flame 2003 - Kontact (Контакт)

„In 2011 we are going to release two albums (one is best of our songs converted to English, another is a selection of Ukrainian folk songs arranged and recorded in our style).

We are going to tour the USA, Canada, Europe, maybe Brazil and of course Ukraine.“ (Vadym Krasnooky)

Various Artists

Jan/Feb

review Tribute to a reggae legend (Exil/Putumayo)

2011

One Love! „Tribute To A Reggae Legend“ is the title of this global compilation that`s dedicated to Bob Marley. It is an international 12-song reference of reggae and the popular Rastafari. For a long time they were synonyms, the world applauded the musical rebel who gave Jamaica‘s music a new identity. „Three Plus“ from Hawai start with their greetings from island to island.

They added their groove on their interpretation of „Is This Love“. Canada is represented inter alia by the female duo Caracol who give „Could You Be Loved“ a thoroughly feminine touch. The latin-nominated singer / songwriter Céu from Sao Paulo, Brazil arranged „Concrete Jungle“

Ronny Trettmann & Ranking Smo review ( H e c k e r t E m p i r e/B r o k e n s i l e n c e )

Jan/Feb

2011

With „Der Sommer ist für alle da“ the Saxon Reggae-/Dancehall-artist Ronny Trettmann reached the German single charts in 2006.

Since then, he did numerous productions and cooperations and humourus gave lots of topics for a vital conversation among fans and media. Since 2008, the near Chemnitz derived Trettmann runs his own label Heckert Empire, on which he released 24 tracks - including intro and outro - on the CD „Zwei Chlorbleiche Halunken“ recently. Although the majority of his German Lyrics (still) does not reach the depth / seriousness of Nosliw, Gentleman or Patrice,

The Hotknives (U.K.)

convincingly and modernized this Wailers-song from 1972 in a idiosyncratic and contemporary way. Reggae-size Rocky Dawuni from Ghana rendered „Sun Is Shining“. Freshlyground, who stepped into the limelight since the 2010 World Cup, did a sunny pop version of „Africa Unite“.

Other artists and groups like Northern Lights from the U.S. contributed, before the international collective Playing For Change did an appropriate final for the musical `immortal` Bob Marley with „One Love“.

Frank Keil

there is some significant development in tracks like „Großvater“ from 2008. The artist who has chosen to live in Leipzig on his debute worked especially together with the producer Ranking Smo, who is known for his works in the hip-hop scene. Also there are influences from pop, dub, electro and RnB in an equal measure. So finally tracks like „Das Ist Wie Gangster Ticken“, „Kindvater“ or „Aufstand“ have been recorded with a well developed hit potential. Especially younger dancehall fans will love them.

Frank Keil

Jan/Feb

review About Time (Sunny Bastards/broken silence)

2011

Ten years after the last CD / LP „Screams, Dreams & Custard Creams (Grover Records) the quartet from the English seaside resort of Brighton released a new, compelling album at last. Drummer Nigel ‚Clem‘ Clements, singer / bassist Mark Carew (also known by the Long Tall Texans and the Astro Zombies), guitarist Stuart ‚Stu‘ Brown, and keyboardist Richard ‚Bosky‘ continously developed their distinctive mix of ska, reggae and britpop. With a total of 13 tracks like the opener „Harsh Reality“, „Good Decision“, „Singing To The Moon“ and „Translation“ they proceed their successes of the past 26 years since the

band‘s inception in 1984. And even when family life and professional activities don`t permit fulltime Hotknives anymore today, they remain one of the most influential and successful bands of the scene, live as well as with the album „About Time“ (2010), produced by King Glover in Cowfold. Their sustainable sense for radio-friendly songs is unique and is proven again, not only with the catchy hit „Doing Alright“.

Frank Keill

Spicy Roots (Germany) review

Just in Time

27 Jan/Feb

2011

The septet, founded in 1994 in the swabian Schwieberdingen published the twelve track containing cd „Just In Time“ on its own recently.

On their third full-length album, the musicians around mastermind Manuel Mack keep their authentic mix of ska, rocksteady and reggae, and add stylistic excursions to pop and soul to provide a diverse variety. The half-year‘s work in the studio has paid off audibly, and also their years of stage experience in Europe and Japan contributes to the unbroken enthusiasm of songs like „Conquerors Time“, the love song „Sky My No.1“ or „No Compliments“. Firmly established in

Askatasuna (Italy)

the global ska scene, the Spicy Roots linked to their successful album „Get Ready“ from the year 2006. In addition to the already long ago proven titles like „Stuck Together“ and „Just A Man“ there are more songs to discover. With „Just In Time“ the Spicy Roots proved also to all critics that the band, despite some line-up changes in recent years, don`t need to fear most of its Anglo-American colleagues with their current cast musically.

Frank Keil

Jan/Feb

2011

review con sentimento

Askatasuna? I must confess, I did not stumble upon this extraordinary Italian ska band previously. Too bad! After listening to the album for the very first time and even after multiple listening, it`s still a delight. Our hearts leap up, the sun shines and the little bit of social criticism, we treat lightly while we still recognize the seriousness of their messages: On the band name that was chosen after a Basque Party, which has been banned since 2009 and on the cover of the albanian artist Gerta Rrezhda that represents a scene in the occupied territories of Palestine. A little boy with a slingshot targeting against the sun, into the invisible. A serious scene for an incredibly cheerful musical work. In such a stringency we know this only by John Lennon, for whom it was really im-

Red Soul Community (Spain) review what are you doing? (grover / Cargo)

portant to print some photographs of mushroom clouds in his booklet. The comparison, however, falls short: At least this album reminds us of the best soundtracks in the italian film history. If there would still be shot films with Bud Spencer or Adriano Celentano, Askatasuna would be the first choice for the soundtrack. The men from Bergamo celebrate there music at a high level in every detail. One song is better than the other. Con Sentimento is a direct hit at all, for which I can only say thank you, and once more for the fabulous clarinet, which is used much too rarely in ska.

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

After two very inviting EPs the Red Soul Community have recently released their long awaited debut album, a delivery that directly climbs the peak as the smartest album of 2010 within the last second. With „What are you doing?“ they prove that they`ve got soul, not only in their name. Early Reggae meets Soul might describe it quite good, what the spanish band, led by Isa Garcia and Carlos Dingo as well as Labase Martinez, offers us. And they remind me of The Adjusters who also experimented in this direction, but the sounds of Red Soul Community are much more independent and matured. It soon becomes obvious that the twelve songs are well prepared, arranged and produced. Thus, the absence of a brass section

is repealed with minimal organ and grand guitar deposits, well-arranged bridges and polyphonic singing. Whereby after The Caroloregians and The Magic Touch another album without brass was released by Grover recently, proving convincingly, just as his predecessors, that it‘s possible.

Cause the soulful reggae songs of the Red Soul Community lacks nothing. Quite the contrary, they are presented very convincing and make you want more. Good that they will soon be on stage in the german-speaking countries. Cause it must be pure fun to listen songs like „That Groove“, „What Are You Doing?“, „Lost In The Ocean!“ and my favorite: „Anymore“ played live.

Mr. T-Bone & Friends

Jan/Feb

review Instrumental Session Vol. 1 ( Jump Up )

2011

If a good idea encounters good, dedicated musicians, a good album must necessarily arise.

Mr. T-Bone, so to speak, invited himself to dress selected instrumental numbers of selected bands like: The Soul Captives, The Heat Makers, The Bullets, The Forth Rights, The Ratazanas, The Moon Invaders, The Slackers, The Caroloregians or Mr. T-Bone‘s Allstars in new arrangements and to unite them to an album. „Pimp my instrumental!“ one might say, is the basic idea of the italian trombonist who has gained a reputation in the entire ska scene since years.

Like all the bands and musicians who are heard on the instrumental album as well. Although the tracks are qualitatively different, the disc keeps a high level. Mr. T-Bone rearranged the chosen

Kind Of Blue - Reggae Interpretation review S e c r e t S ta s h R e co r ds

tracks really carefully, so the album became a really good business card for himself. For me personally, that`s really delicious, the best soloist on the instrumental album is King Django. To feature him this way means for Mr. T-Bone to be featured heavily at the same time. So it was very clever to make him toast on the first song. But of course the fills and packages as well as the solos of the musicians are all very good. No wonder, the disc is a kind of volume 1 of the Who‘s Who in the worldwide skascene. We want more - the show must go on!

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

No, this album is not really new, and even its recordings are from 1981. Directed by Jeremy Taylor, professor of music at NYU then, Jamaican studio musicians came together in New York City and recorded this awesome interpretation of „Kind Of Blue“. The vinyl-only label Secret Stash Records, known for its untiring search for musical treasures worldwide, has tracked down the disc in 2009 and pressed the reggae version of the best-selling album in jazz history into vinyl. Unlike the original, which offers only one Second Take, the Secret Stash producers, who are the first who completed the mix of the album, have packed a dub version of each track.

And overall the Jamaican version is somewhat

slower. For fans of reggae music it is also much more charming. The Jamaicans manage the access to the music of Miles Davis without any problems. Their interpretation is a pure listening pleasure. The plate is a clear must for fans of Jamaican jazz music and with some luck you understand the mystery of Jamaican music, which Jeremy Taylor wanted to show his colleagues, after he was on a trip to Jamaica, where he was deeply impressed by the quality of the musicians over there.

OW

Loui Vetton (Germany) review

postreggaeprecore (Abandon)

29 Jan/Feb

2011

The title of the album of the five guys from Hamburg makes it clear right from the start.

Loui Vetton are hurling melodic punk rock with an emphasis on the two and the four towards our heads. And there are only two alternatives.

Either to go along or to turn off. We opted for the former: „Welcome To The Show“ and have no regrets. Drenched in sweat cause of pogo throughout the entire living room, hoarse from our loud sing along and stopped by the police, which was called by the neighbours: „They Can not Bring Us Down“, we can promise, it won`t be boring with this CD: „You make me want to sing along“. And only after the third or fourth

Skaputnik (Austria)

intervention by The Old Bill: „The Bad Guys Are Back In Town“, and a small high-quality discourse „Fuck You, Eat Shit“, we had to calm down, not only because of a lack of fitness: „We`ve Been To Hell“, but to recharge our tired bodies for „Postpogopresex“ for the second half of the night: „Kiss Me Make Love“. Those who wanna buy a good punk rock disc and like harder guitar riffs and good horn arrangements, won`t be able to find a better one these days.

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

review Skaputnik

Austria often is forgotten on the map of the european music scene. Whereas it surprises us with its young, dedicated bands again and again. Skaputnik is such a star again which has now managed to become known beyond the boundaries of their small country. The young musicians from Wels won the International Live Award in Vienna in 2009 for a good reason. For it is not only the musical level, that‘s fine here. Also the arrangements are varied and with humor, the voice impresses with German lyrics, that put the lid on the specific features of Skaputnik.

Some english songs prove the international approach of Skaputnik, while they remain sufficient courage to sing in their own dialect as well: „raz dwa tri“ It is not pure ska at all. But

Alpheus (U.K.)

we want to allow them to go beyond the limits, as long as their crossover mix seems so diverse as on their self-titled album Skaputnik. For just five years of the bands history they did a great album. So we agree with the decision of the jury of the International Live Award and hope that the band will soon create an international breakthrough. If they play live as good as their debut promises, it should not be a problem at all

OW

Jan/Feb

review from creation (A-Lone Productions / FAK)

2011

The ancient heroes of our favorite genres are not much anymore and there is nobody following them anymore, one would agree? Error!

Alpheus, who admitted his debut „Quality Time“ in 1999 as an artist of the latest generation of the Studio 1, and a second album in 2007, found with Roberto Sanchez of A-Lone Productions in Spain a congenial producer for his brand new album „ From Creation“. The trade press has been convinced finally. His roots refer to the entire history of reggae and this means a very different way than we currently know from the most Jamaican artists, who often remove far from their musical roots to perform the contemporary dancehall styles. The London-born singer has got jamaican parents and reconnects with its

roots with working out the musical reference with a great album again. And thereby his compositions convince in all musical facets.

Whether Roots Reggae, Rocksteady or Ska, he writes songs and performs them at a high level with an incredibly soulful voice that we are used to from listening to big Jamaicans like Roy Ellis, Winston Francis, Ken Boothe, and Pat Kelly. It is time that Alpheus will be recognized for what he is: A Jamaican original, at least on stage. And so we want to see him live on the european stages in the near future. There is a new chapter of the history of ska music and Alpheus is its protagonist. Respect!

OW

The Resignators (Australia) review S e e Y o u I n H e l l ( C a r e F a c t o r )

Jan/Feb

2011

It is a pure party! Strong guitar riffs are served on Skapunk tablets, the horns blow storm signals and the rhythm section pushs us throughout the living room - a fight for life begins. The Resignators set course for hell. And their audience is invited to part: „Go direct to hell, do not pass the GO, don`t collect salary anyway“. The Resignators play purest rock`n`roll with smashing offbeats on their own party at the hottest spot of the afterlife. And probably it was the devil himself at the mix boards. Forget Rancid and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, here comes the real „Ska´n‘ roll.“ With polyphonic Street punk anthems a la Cock Sparrer the probably best Skapunk-troop of Australia spread party atmosphere to the bitter end. Who has not immediately got difficulty in breathing after the ten tracks (7 new songs

and 3 rerecorded) on „See you in hell“, is either an athlete or already dead. Or he has used „Train Robbaz“ for a well-earned break and let hisself carry away to the sunny hills of reggae music from the trumpet with that mexican flair for a short time. Just to have a relapse in „64 reasons why“, when we are ramping and raging on the couch and armchairs again like a circus band on speed until we are complete exhausted.

Something like that the Stomp Records producer Alex Gigure (The Beatdown) must have felt while producing the longplayer. It is the supreme mix of punk and ska with polyphonic vocals to fall in love with and a band on the go to great success.

OW

The Spankers (Tschechische Republik) Jan/Feb review B o o m B a n g!!! P o w

2011

The classification of No Doubt into the ska drawer is an old dispute. In their early years everybody agreed with this. But the more musical evolution the band made, the less we were inclined to see it as ska band and at some point this musically did not fit anymore.

Such a dispute, we may also run in terms of the trendiest pop-reggae publication since a long time. The Spankers are open and put together many elements to a very enjoyable sound that I would describe somewhere between No Doubt and the B-52s. Where is their link to reggae then, you might ask. Nowhere! But the Spankers got it.

They remain true to the offbeat and put glaring horns, soulful rhythms and pop-melodies on it. While sometimes they suddenly sound like The Skatalites. And they do not rank behind

their successful predecessors anyway. Quite the opposite: the musical level of the band is excellent, their mix of styles always succeeded.

The potential of their reggae-pop great. And with their singer Tereza Krippnerová they have found a versatile, powerful woman with a great voice, which will help The Spankers to reach lots of attention very soon. You should listen to the potential hit „Superman“ (compare video down below), to „Ulala“ that soulful groove that Gwen Stefani wouldn´t have sung better, and for those who prefer the reggae style of the band from prague - just listen to the tracks „Gimme Just A Moment“, „Destiny“ and „It Is Alright“.

OW

Roy Ellis (Switzerland) review The Boss is back

( Liquidator / Broken Silence) )

31 Jan/Feb

2011

The Boss Is Back is the obvious title of the new album by Roy Ellis a.k.a. Mr. Symarip. And in fact, there is no need to write much about it.

Cause you can buy an album of him without any risk for sure. For those who need to know something about it, here are some impressions.

He manages to link with this album to the old days easily. With „One Way Ticket To The Moon“ the first song on his new cd is a blast like his „Skinhead Moon Stomp“. Moreover a bluesy and soulful Roy Ellis proves to be one of the best voices of the skahistory again. The whole album has succeeded without exception. The songwriting could hardly be better. And it is probably one of the few longplayer of jamaican music

The Penguins (Spain)

that was written and recorded today and offers the authenticity of the golden days of ska in the past. The exceptional artist from the switzerland takes account of his love of soul music, while adding a fabulous piece of Northern Soul to the album. With the cover of „The Rose“ the native jamaican creates a ballad, which will soften the hearts of the skins and gives it an absolute Barry White-kick with a spoken word contribution with an extremely deep voice. Finally, he also plays the trombone on the album himself. And so on and so on! BUY!.

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

review Arc tic Jamboree

I‘ve rarely seen such a sophisticated EP, with which The Penguins present theirselves to the european skascene. A really nice artwork: A news clipping from the Arctic Gleaner replaces the usual standard booklet, also a very nice retro logo and the CD with the vinyl look. Using a fine detail, the Arctic Airmail sticker which is the icing of the cake. Even before the CD is in the player, the guys from Barcelona whet your appetite.

The eleven musicians do beautiful, balanced and traditional vintage sound with a continuous swinging walking bass. With a four-member horn section with a compelling presence, even when soloing, and the polyphonic singing The

Smooth Beans (Spain) review At Low Fyah! ( Liquidator / Broken Silence )

Penguins impress continous, with the exception of the second track, which proves that the band is also absolutely convincing in playing instrumentals. Roberto Sanchez from Lone Ark Productions must have lots of fun during mixing this awesome music. It will not last long until, in addition to the famous Doo Wop group The Penguins, who celebrated a No. 1 hit with „Earth Angel“ then, even the ska act The Penguins will be well known. Cause even their first few songs are really catchy tunes.

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

How do we imagine the sound of an album titled „At Low Fyah“ by a band called „Smooth Beans“? Right! A little quiet, not so fast but groovy. The Smooth Beans are the best proof that good reggae does not depend on speed, if it is so well done and the band believes in their music. Clever arrangements around a truly soulful, excellent voice, warm organ sounds and backing vocals and a crisp reggae guitar invite us for a ride on their train („Our Train“) to Reggae Town. And in the first song a defining stylistic device is introduced: a warm chorus, first symbolizing the train, but then is used to support the fantastic backing vocals throughout the entire album. Rudy King has created a nice

variety of songs which became a musical delight throughout the well-made production. With „Still Rolling“ and „The Road to Cherokee“ the train rides on. With „To The Mount“ and the title song „At Low Fyah“ as well as „The Dub of Cherokee“ the journey continues. At all the album sounds as if someone recorded a soundtrack for a jamaican „Western“: „And my heart is burning like the sun ...“ This great work is my second nominee for the best reggae album in 2011.

OW

Kalles Kaviar (Switzerland) review o o h o o h y e a h y e a h ( l e e c h R e co r ds )

Jan/Feb

2011

The new disc of Kalles Kaviar is rather selfexplanatory. „Ooh Ooh Yeah Yeah“ is the well chosen claim for their fine and clean interpreted, amazing sound. The call to „Put On Your Dancing Shoes“ follows immediately. Then there is „King & Queen“ with the hook: „I need some more“.

There is no better way to describe the disk: music to cheer by, music to dance by, just royal ska. And the remaining 12 songs brist with traditional, matured and authentic Sixties Ska, as I personally love it. If I could choose, in which band to play, I would like to join Kalles Kaviar.

Hardly any other band convinces more with its focus on traditional sounds. Their repertoire

Alaska (Switzerland)

OW

Jan/Feb

review Will that be enough (Leech Records )

Even if there were no plans to hype pretty every album that is published over here, there is no other opportunity, cause the recordings of Alaska make me speechless. We already knew that they have a great distinctive singer. Even that the band is a big entertaining crowd and focuses on traditional jamaican music, enriched with lots of Soul, with good reason is nothing new. But that they reach a promising place in the first league, next to bands like The Toasters, The Stingers, and the old Dr. Ring Ding stuff we did not anticipate anyway, even if already there last album was a good one. They had big plans and they did it. With fine organ solos and slide guitar arrangements here and there they added convincing details and with it they put the icing on the cake to their overall sound. At all there is plenty of soul on the longplayer.

belongs to some of the best traditional ska today. And the well-chosen cover versions have not been selected out of the most popular list of traditional ska, but proves to be chosen open minded and with good taste. And also the producer, Luc Montini (guitarist of The Scrucialists) and his One Drop Studio was a really good choice. The sound is almost perfect, the brass mixes are really awesome and amazing nice details complete the excellent performance. „Every little thing ... is gonna be allright now“!

2011

Listen to the first single „The City is Waking Up“, to which there is a very successful video. „Friend“ underlines the general character of the band unique: the blues with rock ‚n‘ roll guitar is just one example of Alaskas skillfully employing a variety of musical elements. The soulful vocals are really great. The same in „It ain` t easy“ enriched by the awesome backing vocals. „Will That Be Enough“ as an album title must probably be understood as a rhetorical question. Alaska shows like Kalles Kaviar, as the second band from Switzerland in this issue that good ska music don`t needs to be fast and rough. And yes ladies and gentlemen, sometimes one might think the Swiss have invented the ska. It is more than enough for the album to nominate it early in the year for the „Top Ten“

in 2011, it is more than sufficient to insist on international level and it is more than sufficient to attract big crowds to the live performances.

Chapeau!

OW

2 Tone Lizard Kings (U.S.A.) review Primeval Itch (Megalith Records)

33 Jan/Feb

2011

The punk influenced ska bands has evolved since its beginnings with 2 Tone persistently, reaching more or less popularity throughout the years. The 2 Tone Lizard Kings from Arizona flail there uptempo ska and 2 Tone Mix at its best with power and speed and with a noticable american touch. And their music benefits from that. Those who love fast ska, melodic, polyphonic and pleasant vocals, those who like crisp brass and who really love warm and vintage ska with straight drive, will love „Primeval Itch“ beyond all doubt. Because it‘s pure fun to listen to the 14 songs of the Americans. There is only one drawback. Anyone who listens to this

The Olive Branch (U.K.) review Political Jesters Single (Walt Jabsco Recordings)

review Sonic Island (Soulfire)

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

The album „Ska Fusion“ will be released on the 28/02/2011 at Walt Jabsco Recordings. In advance, the single „Political Jesters“ is available yet. An equally idiosyncratic and successful song that is really hard to describe. The music is dominated by synth-effects and Moog-sounds as well as a nimble beat, probably from the drum machine. Now many will throw their hands up in horror. But anyway - it sounds really good. Many thanks to Walt and the guys of The Olive Branch. I guess you innovate the skascene. The single definitely makes me feel curious regarding the whole album. It arouses

The Slapstickers (Germany)

record, wants to see the 2 Tone Lizard Kings live immediatley. Because the cd promises a live power similar to the performances of the Tokyo Ska Paradiese Orchestra, the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble or the Toasters. And I‘m sure their liveperformance will top their recordings, wich are done really great.

expectations and boosts excitement concerning further refinements in the renewal of the ska history. If the ska tolerates an avant-garde - Here it is!

OW

Jan/Feb

2011

Skanky like The Busters, melodious like The Hotknives, bombastic like a Big Band, popstyled like REM and a Dancehall-Affinity like The Seed.

Punky like The Toy Dolls, funky as James Brown, rocking like Bon Jovi and Latin as Santana. The Slapstickers are all this and much more. Sonic Iceland has no borders and no drawers. Here, everything is permitted, as long as quality is done. And the band with the logo of a baseball team did. They prove the effect of a long band history of a young band with much experience, which The Slapstickers share with their fans. In addition to the current long-player, there is a DVD showing 15 years of band history.

The Slapstickers got a totally unique sound on their seventh record, because they do their own thing without lowering their sights. Especially the polyphonic singing along attractive melodies and the high-quality, four-piece brass band convince. But also the rhythm section provides good variation. In most cases faster songs alternate with quieter ones, on the one hand there is some Ragga (Langkawi Iceland) and on the other hand very funky sounds (Vision). The arrangements are complex and more or less „ska“, but there is enough of it so that we can speak of a ska band without a doubt.

OW

Nina Alverdes (Deutschland) review Primary Necessity (Crucialbeat/soulfire)

Jan/Feb

2011

The album of the musically team Nina Alverdes and Paolo Mariangeli has become a solid work.

So solid, that really established musicians like Sam Gilly or Glen Washington contributed. „Music Is A Must“ for the two protagonists of the album. The combination of a soulful female voice mixed with pretty rough guitars needs getting used to. The sound does not simply represent these clichés of early reggae or even skinhead reggae, but the disc has many influences of contemporary reggae styles. From Ragga to singer / songwriter to soul, there is a bright variety conflating to a kind of unique sound.

Rocking Steady! Zapping News & Hints

a r o u n d t h e G lo b e

Read the news and information on selected activities, events, anniversaries, views and whatever in this new column: ZAPPING!

J e w e l s R e co r ds F r a n c e

The French label Jewels Records celebrates its 5th Birthday in May and invites three european top bands to join the stage in Rennes! The Upsessions, Soweto and The Loveboats share the stage of this „smart“ festival. The Jewels collec-

2011

Jan/Feb

F r o m Pa r i s W i t h Lo v e

In fact there are quite a few small-scale Ska radio shows that enrich their respective region or also throughout worldwide broadcasting via internet. One of them is „Rudies Back In Town“, the skinhead format from Paris, broadcasting on Radio Libertaire. Greetings to Anna, one of the charming voices of the Parisian ska show, which

Jan/Feb

tion grew with much finesse up to nine very lovely 45s yet - more to come. Many thanks to Jewels, please keep up your great work!

Rudies Back In Town Radio

2011

France once and Los Angele twice this time.

Check it out!

5 Jahre Jewels Records Label

Jan/Feb

2011

is named due to a song by Laurel Aitken. In most cases, the show has got a special theme and they are doing a good, entertaining mix of ska, rock steady and reggae, without any borders to everything else. Also guests are welcome in the studio. So switch on and listen! http://media.radio-libertaire.org/index.html

Sometimes it reminds of Joy Denalane, but with the important difference that the beats on „Primary Necessity“ are almost exclusively assigned to the reggae history. An album as we dig it. A pleasant, fresh wind in the reggae scene of today. Thank you!

OW

35 Reggae 69 Kickstarter

Jan/Feb

Reggae for the people

A really good idea, characterized by solidarity, support and Do It Yourself mentality has been messaged to us by Jason and the reggae 69 fan club. With kick starter, the masterminds from California created a kind of cooperative label and bring together fans of the genre as well as patrons, sponsors and buyers to finance a series of exclusive vinyl releases. Depending on the amount of donations, the community is offering some vinyl, free downloads and other special

What is the Reggae 69 project?

The aim is similar to tot one of jewels records.

It’s a new record club for the working class and vinyl junkies highlighting the best vintage ska and reggae artists of today and possibly yesterday too. They`ve reached out to all our friends in bands and that have labels. There are great releases coming out on vinyl and some really good bands playing a wicked old school reggae 69 sound. As fans of the era, of the music, and the style and fashion we’d like to see that supported and fostered.

2011

rewards. As an example of such a „goodie“, Jason provided the song „No Me Iodas“ from Irie Beats.

It‘ s just an appetizer for further selected music.

We recommend to give it a chance!

More info: reggae69.com and in this video below!

reggae69. com

Rocking Steady TV! Video

Nov/Dez

2010

Q & A S h o r tc u t s

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News, Interviews and Music Videos at tv.rockingsteady.de more Ska, more Reggae, More Music!

tv.rockingsteady.de Patrice - Interview

37

Vorschau Ausblick

M채r/Apr

. . . R o c k i n g s t e a dy ! e z i n e # 3

2011

Interviews : Alpheus, Susan Cadogan, The Aggrolites und mehr *** Ska & Design Vol. 2 *** unz채hlige Reviews *** DubSpecialu.a. mit Dr. Ring Ding & Born In Dub aus Kolumbien + The Senior Allstars-Dub-Album + Victor Rice *** Labelportr채t Pop-A-Top-Records ***

www.rockingsteady.de