Shows In Review

1/17/99-Ska-O-Rama 4

Bands, Bands, and more Bands. This was the first ska o rama for me because the other ones fell on breaks when I was home in Chicago. But i had no excuse for this one. I really liked the non stop band thing. Not having to wait for set changes is good. The bands seemed alright and to make a comparison to new Chicago ska bands, St. Louis is much better. Deals Gone Bad are bad. I saw them last summer in Chicago when they opened for skapone and they were horrible. I also was at a show when they headlined over xmas break and it was funny to see most of the 1100 people in attendance leave when it was there turn. There are much better ska bands from chicago(I'm not talking about the eclectics) that should of came instead of them. A big surprise was how much I liked the kickbacks. I hear they don't play to much because they are in school. I hope to see them again. Most of the other bands seemed to blend in my mind but a good blend. So when is ska o rama 5!!

12/12/98-VooDoo Glow Skulls/Buck O Nine/Link 80

Well I didn't have to much anticipation on going to this show. The main reason I went was because i have a couple of VGS cd's and thought I better check them out. First Link 80 seamed pretty hardcore to me. It was mainly screaming and hard music. Nothing i would go see agian. Then Buck O Nine came on again and this was my second time seeing them. I finally realized that they peaked about a year and a half ago when I saw them. Nothing really got me going about them like the last time I saw them. Then VGS came on and what again seemed very hardcore to me. The singer and the band just didn't seem like they wanted to be there. The singer actually made fun of the people that came to the show to see them. Saying how people out grew them years ago and asking why we haven't. So all in all I though the show stank. Which is sort of a rareity for me.

11/13/98-Less Than Jake/All/Mad Caddies/Ann Beretta

This was a great show. Ann Beretta was an emo/punk band that has maybe one song i like but thats about it. They were good. Plain and simple. This was my 3rd time seeing Mad Caddies and it always seems like they are getting jipped of show time. They have some crazy ass music and some great stage presence. Then ALL came out with some great music. Almost the decendents, they are all about rocking your world with some hard punk. I got to sing for everything sucks. Then the band that I have seen 5 times this year alone, came on with toilet paper and all as usual. They threw out posters,tapes, and cards with a phone number for band updates. The call is not a local number but the long distace call procedes go to help charity I think. They played a lot from the new album and a bunch of classics. I also got to sing which i think is rare cause they never give the mic to people. I saw this tour in chicago to on holloween and they didn't do it their. So who knows. Over all though they are still about putting on a big show for low dollers.

10/29/98-Toasters/Skoidots/Slow Gerkin

I would call this show the "Mysterious Opening Band Show." You ask why? Well because there were so many rumers to who was going to play besides these three. First Voodoo Glow Skulls, Then DR. Manette, and finally the Secrateries. But turns out that the Secrateries didn't even know they were suppose to play. Anyways Slow Gerkin again rocked my world. This is my second time I have seen them in St. Louis(how many of you can say that). Their stage performance is still awsome and they have really worked on their sound. Its awsome. Then the Skoidots came up. I have to say that I have saw them on MTV and thought it might be interesting to see these guys. They were pretty clean cut but I have heard that they like their beer if you know what I mean. One stand out was during their last song they stopped and all of them slammed all the beer that was around them. It was funny. Then the Toasters. First, There was bearly a crowd their. I was really surprised. Maybe 150 but I think that pushing it. They played their great songs of course but nothing to special about their performance. They were sometimes cought up in the Star Trek episode that was on the big screen. But thats about it. In a sence it was a real personal show since their wasn't that many people.

5/1/98-Ska Against Racism(In Chicago)

Due to Finals, I could not make the St. Louis stop on this tour. So I saw it in Chicago. I figured it would be pretty close to what it would of been here. The first band to play was Kamuri. They had a definate stage presence but their music really didn't get me going. Very punk ska. Then came MU330. They had Mike Park playing sax for them through out their whole set. It was most unbeliveable. I have never seen them so energised you could say. Then what I thought was the weakest part of the whole night were Five Iron Frenzy. Dont get me wrong, I like some of their stuff but they were pretty drull compared to the acts that played that night. Then the Blue Meanies played and it was their last stop on the tour. They played a few songs and then they played Pave Pave the World and almost all of the members of every band came out to sing along with the crowd. I felt so tingly inside. I know the Blue Meanies were not in St. Louis but it was such a great scene that i just had to tell you. After then was Mustard Plug. They played their good songs and thats about all. Nothing really new about them. After that was the Toasters. When they first came on they said they were all about the dancing and that their should be no moshing and body surfing. To my surprise and disgust only a Quarter of the people cheered which was including me. I was the only person in my area to be cheering. I was soo disgusted. But as usual the TOasters were unbelievable and i just could not stop dancing. I haven't seen them in about a year and 1/2 and they still rock my world. Then last but not least Less Than Jake. They did their usual crazy stuff and played their good old fashoned music. Their last song brought out all the members of all the bands out again to say good bye. On an end note during the whole show, memebers of diferent bands played with differnet bands. Really awesome!!

4/11/98-Son of Ska-O-Rama

I am really disappointed that i will not be able to make this show due to fact i don't have a ride. i am sooo mad. Tell me how it went!

4/6/98-Save Ferris/Hagfish/Homegrown

The Galaxy was about half full for this show. Homegrown was an alright pop punk ska band you could say. i knew a few of their songs from comps that I have but thats it. Hagfish seemed to have some sort of following but totally made fun of ska with their punk band. Alright stage presence and their drummer was pretty cool. Then Save Farris took the stage and got everyone dancing by playing just about all of their songs. Mo (The singer)was either pregnet or just getting fat. She seemed pretty curvy then when she was in her video. But all together it was a good show.

4/1/98-Johney Socko/Readymen/Orange Tree

Two shows in two days, i must say am pretty proud of my self to make them both. First off Orange Tree did their thing and no one readdy got into any dancing or anything except when they played their famous spice girls toon. The Readymen from the upper northwest put on a better show then I figured. Their music was just mainly Ramones punk with a hair ska beat but nothing to go run about. Johney Socko then played and the whole place went up to the front to dance it up. Their were about 100 people there but i thought it shood of been more. They played for quite a while too. Another very danceable night.

3/31/98-Slow Gerkin/Rabies

First off, the Rabies didn't show. I talked to Slow Gerkin and they said that the Rabies called in because of suicidal problems. I have no clue why they said that but I will find out because I booked the rabies to play at SIUE which is April 23. Ok now on to Slow Gerkin. There were nine guys in the band and nine people in the audience. I was very disappointed witht his because they are such a great band. There name is just not known. When they come back to St. Louis I urge you to go see them. They put on one of the best shows ive seen in a while with only nine people in the audience. There music is a touch 2-tone with a fast soft punk you could say. It was very danceable. They played at Cicero's which rarely ever have those kinds of shows and I think thats why no one was there.

3/24/98-Skinnerbox/Kinetics

The crowd was small for some odd reason, but they were really rowdy. It was kinda funny, though, because the bands didn't seem to mind. When The Kinetics took the stage, it was just incredible. Dave Olson from The Red Stripe All Stars got up and announced for them and sang with Christie on the first song. The sound lady was being stupid and so Selena (trumpet) had to use the tenor sax mic which was way too loud so it all balanced out. When Skinnerbox took the stage the crowd seemed to have thinned out, but it was only because everyone had moved to the front. Aaron from The Kinetics did leave after he got done packing up, but he reappeared in the middle of Skinnerbox's set. When asked where he went, he just said, "Wind Ensemble concert at school. Had to play, so I did and came back." Skinnerbox was great and The Kinetics were hilarious, but they still need some time to grow as musicians.(thanks elliot for the review)

2/24/98-Blink 182/Aquabats/Fern

Ok Here it is strait at you. Fern was a completely dumb band and should not have been there. They were this point bandish with soft rock. It sucked. Then one my most favorite live bands took the stage in there orange jumpsuits and there non stop energy it was the Aquabats. They mixed things up since their last show here with Real Big Fish. There sound didn't sound as good as before but they had all there stuff. No new songs either were played. Again because of their crazy stage performace it completly took away from Blink. Blink played but their vocals were horrible and the audince iwas one of the worst i've seen in years. It all goes to show what radio does to the music. They played their popular song in the middle of their set and guess what..... a bunch of people left after that. Those must of been the true fans huh? But definatly not worth the 14 bucks you had to shell out.

2/14/98-Lets Go Bowling/Kinetics

Things started off with the Kinetics. They are another sort of new band that are making there way around St. Louis. Traditional with some what of a fast beet. I guess you could compare them to hmmmm...Lets Go Bowling! They were good though but still need a little work. Then to my disappointment there came LGB. What ever happened to the 4 band bills?? Just two bands played when there could of been more. It did give some more time though for a really good band called Lets Go Bowling. They played for about 2 hours and mixed a lot of new stuff with some of there old stuff. They just came out with a live cd out on Asian Man. I wasn't able to pick it up due to lack of funds but it is cheeper to just get it through the mail then it was to buy it at the show. They will be in town again soon. One good plus to this show was that there was no stage diving of body surfing like every show that I have been to at the galaxy. But I did have my dancin groove on and it was sad to say that I didn't have some one special to be with on this valenties day. But Over all it was a good show.

2/5/98-Less Than Jake/Limp/The Rabies

This was my first time at Mississippi Nights and what an experience! The Rabies started things off. Nick the singer(ex MU330 trumpet player) really got things going with his good stage performance and crazy songs. For just starting off i give them a thumbs up. They do need work but I see a good future for them. Very punk music more than ska but a definate check out. Limp took the stage next with there pop punk style. This is the second time that I have seen them and for some reason you get attached to them. It was there third tour and I have seen two of them and their all the way from California. That is teh only reason why i though there music was alright. Then LTJ came up with there crazy toilet paper gun, silly string, and freebee givaways which ranged from a masterbation kit to a boy being spanked bare ass for a shirt. Chris the singer was dressed in disco pants and a W.A.S.P. shirt. i got some damn fine pictures cause i was front stage center. But also being front stage center i took quite a beeting from the stage divers(them bastards). They played mostly all their classics and one new song which sounded good of course. Pete the trombone player from Slapstick was taking Jessica's place in a sence. I think that is why they didn't play some other good songs like dopeman. But i think every LTJ song is the best so what am i to say any thing. Over all a damn fine show (thats why I followed them to urbana!)

1/18/98-Mustard Plug/Telegraph/Special Guests

Well what I feared most, happened. Stupid frat boys stage diveing at a Mustard Plug show. The singer had a bad case of larengitis but he did pretty well handling it. There sound seemed a little different than last time I saw them in Chicago. But they did throw on a good show. Telegraph from Detroit was just as good as I expected them. They play a light punk sound with a good horn section. If they come around again i would check them out. I hadn't seen these guys for about a year so i wasn't for sure on how they were going to be. After the show my friend put them up in her place for the night so I hung out with them for a while. The Special Guests were alright I guess. They played just a plain old ska beat. Still a very young band but there possably could be a big improvement in the future.

1/31/98 Jamnesty at Rosati Kain--Reviewed By Elliot

It was a great show. There were seven bands there, most of them great. The First band, Miniskirt Fetish, was really bad and it was just punk. No Refund was very good, despite a lack of horns, which would really inhance their sound. Heterosexual and Ashamed played, and they know how to get a crowd roudy. They don't know how to play, but the crowd was pumped for the next band, The Hitchhikers. They have this totally new sound. You should see if they're playing anywhere around town and go listen; it's incredible to watch these guys play. The singer was a bit nervous and they had this guy skanking onstage (it only worked for a few of their songs, but he did it anyway.) That put a damper on their act, but it was good. The guys in The Suspenders said that The Hitchhikers were the best non-ska band there. After The Hitch (as they called themselves backstage) a band called Superfly played. I didn't enjoy their show. The music was a little too spacey. But next the Suspenders played. Despite the horns being out of tune, they were great. The last act was The Special Guest, and I ran and gave Jean Paul (trombone) my Fresca so I hung out with them for a while. All in all, it was a great show. The crowd's reaction was positive, however the cleaning staff's was not. (A BIG thanks to Elliot for the review!!)

12/29/97-Mega Ska Show

All I heard about this show was it was totally rad. Plus i heard that a lot of people were turned down. If Paul puts another one of these shin digs on, it will probably be even better.

12/16/97-Solicitors/Magadog

This was the last show that I went to before i came home to Chicago which is were i am at now. The Solicitors are a very young band but have the talent to be better. it will just take some time and they should be alright. There was this one guy on stage for them that reminded me of Issic cause the guy really didn't do anything. But anyways Magadog played pretty well and it was a half way decent show. One thing that kind of sucked was that barely anyone was there. It seemed like there was more band members there from other bands plus the two that played then there were actual fans. a few people from the skalors were there and rob from mu330 was there too. But Magadog played some good tunes and I had a bit of fun considering it was finals week!

11/15/97--Pietasters/Bouncing Souls/Limp

The show to me was nothing to special. Limp and Bouncing Souls were just another good punk band. The Pietasters played some oldies plus what seemed to be alot of their new one's. The smoke machine was running full plast through the whole show. Nothing really stood out about the show except maybe the 10 doller cover charge at the door. They also came out for a short encore. I really cant think of too much to sy about the show except that it was pretty boreing. I did get some good pictures though!

11/8/97--MU330

If you didn't know it, MU330 played at a bar in Edwardsville. It was the bar's first all ages show and boy did it kick ass. The Gallery(bar) could hold some 400 people I would say. There was about 200 or so people but it really didnt matter. MU330 didn't go to europe cause of the death of dan's father and i believe it was their first show since the Galaxy. The show was just too cool. If anyone was there I was the guy being picked up and dragged by rob the trombone player. They were going through the song were they talk about WCW and rob just went crazy(probley had to do a little with the alcahol but who cares). Any ways it was a really good show that ranks up there with some of the best I've see. I also found out what MU330 stands for. I don't know if i am really that dumb but it stands for this class at my college. MU which is music and 330 is the class number which I looked up and it was jazz percusion(ska?).

10/29/97--Gwar/Mephiskapheles

There really isn't too much to say about this show. Sure Gwar isn't the skankinest band around but its just a show that you had to go to. The Mephiskapheles played earlier in the day at vintage which plobley would save you money if you didn't want to see gwar. They put on a good show as usual.

10/21/97--Regatta 69/TBA

This show cancelled due to the singer being sick. There wasn't much of a crowd there to see them and everyone's money was returned.

10/15/97--Spring Heeled Jack/Unsteady/60 Second Surprise

The show started with 60 Second Surprise. They seemed to be just another punk band with screaming vocals and the same beet. The singer is the trombone player for The Skalars(Formerly Isaac Green and the Skalars). The Calafornia band Unsteady on Asian Man played a Traditional swing you could say. I thought that were pretty good expecially there organ player! SHJ then came on and got everyone going. They put on a good show as usual and for 6 bucks you really couldn't beat it. Also at the show was Isaac and Jessica from the skalars plus Chris from MU330. Which I thought they were in Europe?

10/11/97--Isaac Green and the Skalars/The Articles

This was a must show to have been at. It was the last show were Isaac Green was proforming. Rumer has it he is still staying with the band but doing manager stuff. Now they are just going to be called The Skalars. I talked to Jessica on Monday at the SHJ show and found out that they will be in town for three months. They played extremly well and finished there tour with this show. The Articles started out the night with a 2-Tone blitz. I didn't think I would know of them going to the show but turns out that they was a lot of songs that I knew from them. The place was only half to 3/4 full but still a good crowd. Magadog was on the bill also but they dropped out in Georgia over trespessing charges or something like that.

9/27/97--MU330/Blue Meanies/Orange Tree

I arrived to see the last part of Orange Tree play. I had heard that they weren't to good of a band. They sounded alright but nothing to go run out and see. Next, was the astounding Blue Meanies. I had always wanted to go see them when I was in Chicago but something always stood in my way. There performence alone was worth the 5 bucks to get in the door. Look for them in Chicago for their annual Christmas show. Then MU330 had their famous clown come out on stage and give a little speech. I think they were doing this because they were recording the show to put on a cd. As the set went on they had a few of the members from the Blue Meanies come and play with them. Then in the crazy ending they had cheerleaders out on stage being cut up by gerry. They all had on Jason maskes while doing this. This had to be a hint that Jason would come out and maybe sing a song or two for them. But the Galaxy didn't seem to approve to what was going on and turned the lights on telling us to leave. Well the place was sold out and people cant move to fast to leave. Well then they yelled at the band telling them not to sell there merchandise. This led to a swearing match and a lot of hostility. But other than that it was a killer show to be at.