Last night was the culmination of the holiday weekend, and what a way to end the season – first the dramatic overtime victory for the San Diego Chargers over the Indianapolis Colts, and then a ska show at San Diego’s famous Casbah.
Opening the show were San Diego locals, Self-Made Men. The band features local ska fixture John Roy performing vocals and sax. The band plays a dynamic mix of traditional ska, reggae and calypso-influenced songs and flexes its musical chops across all styles. They definitely got the crowd’s attention, and I think that SMM will be building a strong core of supporters as they continue to gig and record.
Next up were San Francisco’s The Impalers, who showcased their brand of skinhead reggae, highlighted by the strong vocal performance by lead singer Cindy Chi. Fans of The Aggrolites and rocksteady/reggae will definitely want to check out this band. Judging by the packed dance floor during their set, The Impalers are well on their way to establishing themselves in the United States; having already toured Europe.
Finally, headliners and ska veterans The Slackers took the stage, and with the opening notes of their set, brought everyone in from the cold patio and back bar to pack the main room and dance floor. I’ve seen The Slackers several times before, but usually in an outdoor or festival-type setting. It was really nice to see them in the confines of a more intimate venue such as The Casbah, where they really took command of the room and put on a powerful performance. The energy level was high, the musical arrangements tight, and the crowd ate it up. All around the room people were dancing, swaying, and bobbing heads, all with smiles on faces. Whenever you have a strong lineup of bands like last night, you wonder if the headliner will be able to rise above the rest, and The Slackers certainly did that. Maybe it’s just experience, confidence, or longevity, but The Slackers showed why they have been main-stays of ska scene for so long and have maintained the status among top American ska bands throughout all the ups and downs of the ska music world for many years now, and hopefully, many years to come.
Tags: Ska Reviews by admin
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