Welcome Rudeboys and Rudegirls!

Bits and Pieces from My Checkered Matter

January 23, 2012 - Yikes! I just got word now that New York Ska Jazz Ensemble has a show in NYC this Friday!!! Ya know, you guys would get a better draw than giving a 4 day notice. Jus sayin. Take a look at the Ska Show Calendar for more info for that show and while you're there, check out the dates for NYC's own Rudie Crew! They have 4 shows coming up to help support their new album Skaggae on Megalith's label.

Also, we (all the NYC scenesters) know that Less Than Jake is going to be coming around our area for their 20th Anniversary tour. They have 2 nights scheduled at the Brooklyn Bowl, but there are rumors that there may be ANOTHER show!!! From what I hear, it's going to be a small show and I'm sure a bitch to get into. I can't wait to hear what it is since I'd love to tack on another LTJ show in one week. Yeay for shows!

January 16, 2012 - See, if we always had 3 day weekends, we'd all be happy campers...and I'd pay more attention to ska. I'm funny, I know, right? Anywho, I just wanted to let you know that I added a few English Beat shows as they come around here on tour at the end of this month and the Slackers shows that will be coming around in late March.

Also, yesterday I was the proud one who got to announce that Inspecter 7's new album is ready! It's called ESCAPES & ILLUSIONS and will be released in the spring. Inspecter 7 is hoping to tour with some of our favorite ska bands this summer. If not, they will still do their own shows. Inspecter 7, It's great to have you guys back! Now if only Mephiskapheles would get their shit together (like they rumored that were going to back in October) then having those two play a show together would be a dream come true. See you at the show!

January 14, 2012 - Huh? When did it turn 2012 already? Just so you all know, this site is a place to share info I get when I have time to post it (which you notice hasn't been much lately) and I apologize for that. Okay, so it's really a place for me to brag, and bitch and moan about my obsession, but I know you know that by now. I'm still here and, probably to your disappointment, I'm not going anywhere. Most of you see me at shows anyway and mention "I've seen you before....at like EVERY show." You're damn tootin' right! I still update the calendar at least when I hear about more shows, so even if you don't see much here, I assure you I can't live without my shows. Neither can you.

You'll be glad to know that I've updated the ska calendar with a few shows in January and February. I have also added a discussion forum! Go over to your upper right...not that right, your other right...and click the link that says NYC SKASSIP. Ta da! Simple shit people, simple shit. Now you can finally tell me I'm a ________ ________ _________ who thinks she's ________ ________ _________. Don't worry, I didn't put a block on the swear words. I swear more than anyone else I know anyway.

So now down to the real news...what's been going on? Well in December The Mighty Mighty Bosstones released a new album called The Magic of Youth on Dec 6th. Somehow it leaked weeks earlier and all of us fiends went nuts. It was a great way to build up the excitement for the Bosstones annual Hometown Throwdown at the House of Blue in Boston Dec 28-30. Of course, yours truly made the trek and was there for all 3 nights. I loved that NYC's own Slackers opened on Night 2. I got to admit it was strange seeing them at that show. That was the 72nd time I've seen the Slackers and have always seen a full crowd get into the groove. This time there was only a handful of fans in the middle of the floor (not even in front since hardcore MMB fans owned it) that sang along and danced. I later had a chance to talk to saxophonist Dave Hillyard about it and he too agree it was strange, but seeing as how they weren't the headliner it's understandable for the lack of feedback from the crowd.

On the other hand, The Slackers headlined what seemed to be one of their greatest shows ever. On December 17th The Pietasters opened for the Slackers during the Slackers annual holiday show at Irving Plaza. It was the 3rd time those two bands played together at Irving and it was like old times....awesome crowd, lots of dancing and all the familiar NYC ska fans in attendance. The $9 mixed drinks can kiss my ass though [giving Irving the middle finger]. I'm proud to say that that was the 90th time I've seen the Pietasters, the most of any ska band I've ever seen. Man, I can't wait until my 100th. I'm hoping that night will be The Biblical Sense and not Drinkin' and Drivin'...if you know what I mean.

Now for the good stuff...no, not the stuff you find in someone's pants, but all the ska stuff to look forward to. First is starting off the year right with Westbound Train's 10th anniversary tour. Though it's a small tour (only 3 shows), I've already hit the NYC and Boston show, but dying to make the 3rd one in Philly for a trifecta. I think the band cares less about me making all the shows and more about my policy on ska tattoos. I told them back in 2006 that a band needs to put in at least 10 years before I will consider getting their logo. I'll let you guys know if that happens, but right now I'm 60/40 so there still is a chance. Congrats to WBT for all these years! Muah!

Second, it's great to hear that the baby-maker band Less Than Jake (drummer Vinnie and bassist Roger both had their first child born at the end of 2011...with their ladies, not with each other!!! whew.) is still doing their thing. This year makes their 20th anniversary and congrats to those guys too. They will be coming around the east coast in mid-February and us lucky bastards in NYC get spoiled with 2 of those shows. Whoohoo!

Third, interested in taking a road trip??? VEGAS, BABY, VEGASSSSS! For all you blackjack addicts like me, you should get your fix at the same time as VIVA SKA VEGAS! This brand new festival is on April 28th at the Henderson Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is an outstanding ska-punk line up will feature The Aquabats, Voodoo Glow Skulls, MU330, The Remedies, My Superhero, Tuesday After School, Monkey, Go Go 13, and La Banda Skalvera. Thank you to fellow concert photographer and show goer, Nick Karp, for the info. Go check out his page at RewriteTheScene.com which covers MANY different genres of music. Of course, I only care about ska info. Duh. Nick's page kicks my page's ass in timeliness.

Fourth, (too much news, I know, right?) you wanna be WANNA BE a face in my crowd? I thought I was one of the biggest Slackers fan around....until I heard about this: Interpunk.com has on sale Before There Was Hellcat USB Drive. That's right..they'll send you a flash drive with 72 song from The Slackers early years. It's $35, but totally worth it. Why are you still reading this??? Go buy it!!! Now!!! : www.interpunk.com

Fifth, in the fall David McWane, the singer of Big D & The Kids Table, was diagnosed with throat cancer. This forced Big D to cancel their east coast tour that was to happen at the beginning of this year. He had his surgery on December 15th and by the time I saw him on December 28th at the Bosstones Throwdown, you'd have NO idea that that ever happened. Dave sounds fine and looks fine and said it himself as well. He said that the cancer is completely gone and Big D will resume touring very soon. Way to go Dave!

Finally, If my timing works out right, I should be able to make another Rudegirl Tour, making this my 4th decent run! Starting on Thursday February 16, I should be able to make 7 shows in 9 days: LTJ, LTJ, Skatalites, LTJ, LTJ, Toasters, and LTJ. I can do it knowing in my past (bands listed were the main band I followed) I've seen 8 Pietasters shows in 14 days (1997), MMB tour of 8 shows in 10 days (2010), and last summer's mixed tour of 12 shows in 15 days (2011)...one of them was 3 shows in one day!!! Whew. And I'm not even tired of this.

Time for me to shut up....or as Madness says "Fuck art. Let's dance!" See you at the show!