Music Review
by Jeff DeModna
The New Jersey Ska Scene has been red hot the last couple of years with veterans Catch 22 leading the charge. The tables have turned for the band whose 1998 included being signed as the only ska band on Victory Records. Victory, which was strictly a hardcore-based label, signed Catch 22 along with OS101 and N.J.'s finest Fury of Five. The band grew from their 1997 demo, The Ruler of the Game, where they added nine new songs to their profile. They matured musically playing along with peers such as Inspector 7 and One Cool Guy. They have also played along such mainstream bands as Buck-O-Nine and Moon Ska's own Mephiskapheles. Their diverse mix of hard driven punk riffs with catchy upbeat ska chords has made them a favorite in the ska community.
Last summer the band was riding high on the release of their first full-length album, Keasby Nights. The album was a hit in N.J. and surprisingly, throughout the Midwest. Oddly, after all this success, the heart and soul of band, singer/guitarist Tomas Kalnoky, left the band for reasons unknown. With his absence the band has made some major changes. The lead singer and guitarist from another local ska band, the Derringers, has stepped in for Kalnoky during his leave.
Although Catch 22 is in state of turmoil, their live shows are still upbeat and energetic, while Keasby Nights is still selling albums. The N.J. Ska Scene will never falter because bands like Catch 22 always bounce back and if they ever do fall, the abundance of talented bands in our state will still shine. With albums coming up in later weeks, the Royalties and O.C.G. will carry the torch for all N.J. Ska bands.
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