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GADJITS |
HEPCAT |
St. Petersburg, FL 2/14/98 |
| Ska has a history at Janis Landing, many bands have performed and promoted their sound in this small theater set outdoors which provides an opportunity for the music to be loud and clear, plus give you a sort of backyard feeling. On this night it was the Slackers, Gadjits, Mustard Plug, Hepcat and Skatelites that let us get up and close personal with the bands The crowd was average in size, but filled with long-time ska fans. Many had Skatellite shirts on as to show respect for the veteran band of ska, as well as well as expressing interest in the Gadjits, the new kids on the block, no disrespect, if you know what I mean. |
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| The concert opened with the "Slackers," a seven piece band
including Victor Ruggiero (vocals/piano/Hammond B-3), Marq Lyn (Q-Maxx 420/vocals),
Jeremy Mushlin (trumpet/vocals), David Hellyard (saxophone), Marcus Geark
(upright and electric bass), Luis Zuluaga (drums), and T.J. Scandon (lead
and rythym guitar), set the tone for the night as they opened with, "Cooking
For Tommy," a tribute to the "Skatelites" legendary tenor
saxophonist, Tommy McCook. Latin-goes-ska immediately established the energy
and quality of ska to be produced for the night. The "Slackers," based out of New York, are promoting their new album, "Red Light," from Hellcat Records. The title track was the second song, setting the reggae mood with Vic's vocal talent romancing the crowd, while David and Jeremy were blowing hard and pumping up the volume. The band played, "Married Girl" and "Fried Chicken/Mary Mary," which ignited an "Animal House" mood - taking you back to the sixties and visions of the hell raising parties of which only breakage, doobage, and trimmage meant a good time. The "Slackers" were rockin' the house as they broke into "Rude and Reckless." Vic led the way with a my father used to say, "A thinking man don't do too much/ Know what you're doin'/ Do as you must/ You have to be rude and reckless/ Don't make a fuss/ It will make you a man." This was my personal favorite, a suave, bad-boy track with a reggae beat and rock steady groove, about growing and becoming a man. Jeremy Mushlin stepped up front and sang "She Wants To Be Alone," a tale of heartbreak told in ska about emotional abuse, a topic often found in the lyrics of many of their songs. The band closed with "Tin Tin Deo and Come Back Baby," using reggae, and acoustic bossa nova to provide a smooth transition to the next band up. |
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| The "Gadjits" are young talent, fresh out of the backyards
of Kansas City, MO. A four member band including Brandon Philips (vocals/guitar),
Adam Philips (drums), Zack Philips (bass), and Heidi Blowbaum (keyboards),
began with Adam hanging out in Middle School, Zack a High Schooler, Brandon
a Collegiate Stud and then Heidi joining the mix! Could this be the "Hanson"
of ska? I don't think these three brothers are interested in that kind of
image, since Brandon started the band to pick up some punk rock babes he
knew at school. The "Gadjits" were a fresh twist from the "Slackers,"
as the young folk tried to get up front and do some crowd diving, but security
immediately shut that notion down. Their performance didn't represent their
experience, as they have progressed from punkdom to ska and seem to enjoy
the niche they've found promoting their third recording, "At Ease,"
from Hellcat Records (founded by Tommy Armstrong of Rancid, who the Gadjits
had idolized for years). Brandon stated, "We got interested in ska
because it's the easiest and most fun to dance to." This band opened with "Bullet From A Mattress," an up-beat song with Adam setting the pace, and Brandon displaying his vocal prowess, using a pop-ska sound.. They continued with "Tell Yourself" and "Traffic Tickets," both telling teen stories about self esteem, dealing with the cops as young cocky kids and maintaining their cool. "California" really kicked in the reggae mood, and Heidi, using the keyboards to their fullest potential, moved in with the first traditional relationship to ska. They picked it up again with "Party Girl," with the lyrics "No, I'm not a slut/ But I'll fuck you in the bathroom!" Whew! The boys really get blunt. But their insight into teenage behavior is pretty realistic. "Holes In My Shoes," "Mustang Sally" and "Beautiful Girl," all gave a 60's feel with a ska flavor, which sent the young crowd hoppin' and screamin'. My personal favorite was "Need Yo' Luv," a fully energized jam that gives you that "Great Balls Of Fire" feeling, and you can't help wanting to get up on stage and jump right in. The "Gadjits" were short and sweet, but put on a stellar performance for their limited experience. |
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| Next up, "Hepcat," with Greg Lee (vocals), Deston Berry (vocals/keyboards),
Alex Desert (vocals), Dave Fuentes (bass), Efren Santana (sax), Kincaid
Smith (trumpet), Aaron Owens (guitar), and Scott Abels (drums), promoting
their "Right On Time," album from Hellcat Records. When Hepcat
came onstage, the band oozed with class and cultural wisdom. Dressed in
suits, clean cut and ready to jam, "Hepcat" is the nineties version
of the "Skatelites," taken one step further. "Right On Time" is an album that has taken many years to put together, and gets its strength from the quality of the music alone, with thirteen tracks of authentic-sounding ska, reggae, rocksteady, R&B, and jazz. Their sound is transcendant, with a universal flavor celebrating many cultures in their suave style. "Hepcat" brings "feel good" back in the finest traditional ska I've heard live. Their music was so fine tuned when they opened with "I Can't Wait." Greg Lee is smooth, and seems to flow like Jamaican waves at sunset - romantic and humble. God, the women gotta' love this guy. He is too smooth. "Goodbye Street" is a hypnotic and truly romantic melody that has keeps you swaying to the beat. If you haven't found a woman to dance with yet, this'll make you look for one, like immediately!. Wow! "No Worries," was the feel good song of the night, traditional ska with words of wisdom "Leave your troubles behind/ leave your problems behind/ Tra la la/ Do the ska/ Jump, dance, laugh and sing," and "All the wonderful things in life you can't buy/ They all can be yours with the right frame of mind/ Just look and you'll find/ No run, nolie." The whole scroll of honesty which the band bases their music on teaches lessons about facing your problems. "You will always find a way to solve them," is from "Mama Used To Say." "Hepcat" was able to keep the crowd aroused even during their instrumentals of "Pharaoh's Dreams," "Tommy's Song" and "Baby Blues." "Baby Blues" had a great jazz flavor that I was attracted to at this point. The horn section really displayed their poise and endurance, with a smooth groove and mix of instruments. Overall, "Hepcat" was a tradional, cultural, expanded lesson in ska, with unlimited talent, able to mix soulful harmonies with swing and reggae, while touching and attracting an unlimited audience. Ska is still alive with such variations as the "Slackers," "Gadjits" and "Hepcat." They almost seem like three generations of ska - the young, the restless and the wise. "Hepcat" has brought ska to a new level, and maybe the "Gadjits" will grow to do better. Until then, we can only hope that these bands will continue to regenerate and rejuvenate ska through the next generations. |
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Artist: The Slackers Album: "Redlight" Label: Hellcat Records Reviewed By: Jim Jehs Rating:  |
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Artist: The Gadjits Album: "At Ease" Label: Hellcat Records Reviewed By: Jim Jehs Rating:  |
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Artist: Hepcat Album: "Right On Time" Label: Hellcat Records Reviewed By: Jim Jehs Rating:  |
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