Welcome Rudeboys and Rudegirls!

August 9, 2010 - Ten more days and the tour begins. Which tour?  Glad you asked.  My tour!  August 19th starts off with Less Than Jake's first NYC booze cruise around New York Harbor.  Since the summer cruises are always my favorite time of year (and a really good excuse to get trashed), I try to never miss these.  I thought about going to see LTJ the next day in Vineland, NJ, but its going to be a very valuable day of hangover recovery and a well-needed break before touring with the Bosstones from August 21-28.  I know, I'll give myself a swift kick in the ass for saying I need a break from ska, but after touring with LTJ and RBF 3 summers ago for the Shout It Loud tour, I went to the emergency room sick from overexertion.  I don't want to end up there again.  So, lesson learned?  No, not tour too much when you're not in a band.  The lesson learned here is to find a way to sneak in the storage area under one of the tour buses.  That way you don't have to pay for a hotel, no one will bother you, and you don't have to do any of the driving!  On the down side, you'll probably be upset for not having a freezer to keep ice cubes in for your scotch on the rocks.  

July 26, 2010 - Summertime is ska time.  There are so many shows all over the place that I try to make as many as possible...and I do make most of them.  I actually bend over backwards to make some of them.  One of the most notable being Warped Tour 2 years ago when I rode my motorcycle to Scranton and thought as I crossed into PA, "That black cloud in front of me can't be THAT close."  Within minutes after saying that I got hit in the torrential downpour and scurried as fast as possible under a bridge. I looked up the radar on my cell and I was riding straight into a red cell. Well, I didn't find that bridge fast enough and by the time I stopped I was soaking wet: my undies were soaking and I could wring my socks out.  I was cold and miserable...AND I still had to ride all the way back to NYC...in the chill of nightfall.  Greaaaaat.  The rain cleared 2 hours later and instead of going to the show, I took a detour...to the mall.  I bought all new clothes to wear and then resumed going to the show.  I missed seeing Reel Big Fish (and the entire Warped show for that matter), but was rewarded eventually when RBF played a private show for the other bands at Warped.  No one was really there except for a handful of real fans watching were me, my ska-punk friend in crime Ray, and Cary and Pires from Last Martyrs of a Lost Cause (a now defunct ska band from Philly).  They played an all-request set from us for us.  Best show ever.

Well, this summer I again headed for PA to see RBF in Allentown.  I've done this drive before so I was okay making this drive. I had a friend who had never been on a motorcycle before agree to "ride bitch" (meaning behind me) for such a long trip.  Well, we did okay until she asked to pull over one exit before crossing over into PA.  Said she felt a migraine coming on.  Uh oh.  I said we needed to sadly hurry since there was a 10% chance of rain and apparently it was going to treat me as if I was lucky.  As we jump back on the bike, we pass through the toll into PA and a car honks at us and points to the bike.  Uh oh, this can't be good.  I immediately pull over and my saddlebag is on fire!  Using the only thing we had sharp, we used nail clippers to cut it off and I put out the fire.  If that wasn't bad enough, my friend throws up from the migraine.  After the fire dept came to my rescue and then dismissed me, we were on the road AGAIN to get to the show, when that damn black cloud was in front of me again.  Uh oh.  Get the hell out of the rain NOW before getting that soaking!  I found salvation quickly and stayed dry...as my friend continued to throw up another 3 times.  We were there for 2 hours and finally decided to call a cab to get us to the show that was now just 15 mins away (I'm hardcore like that. I know, right?).  The cab takes nearly an hour because it drove past us and "she's new." We finally get to the show, hungry, thirsty, and in some serious need of ska.  We made half the set, but MAN was it an ADVENTURE!!! 

I have just posted the pics from that show as well as Badfish, Dave Hillyard's Rocksteady 7, and Sublime with Rome.  Go check them out on the Ska Photography page and kids, do as I say, not as I do. 

July 23, 2010 - Ouch!  It's not good waking up to ska chest pains, but after reading an official statement (NYC's Village Voice stated they got from the Specials) says :

"The Specials' August Central Park Summerstage Cancelled.  Look for US Tour Dates in 2011.  The Specials will not be appearing at a free show on Sunday, August 22 at Central Park Summerstage due to visa issues. The legendary ska pioneers will, however, play their scheduled Toronto date on Friday, August 27 at Sound Academy and plan to return to the US in early 2011 for additional dates."

My life is about going to ska shows.  That's all I ever wanted to do and I feel like crap when I miss one.  It's not my fault when bands schedule shows in the same day in NYC, but then that puts my skills to the test to see if I can hit both shows the same day (which I have done plenty of times before).  This canceled Specials show in Central Park was also on the same day as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' summer tour, falling right into the middle of their week.  As I have bought every ticket for the MMB's tour (yes, thats 7 shows in 8 days from DC to Milwaukee) I was actually going to attempt both, but seriously, unless I rented my own car there was no way I could make it from seeing the MMB in DC one night, to the Specials in NYC the next afternoon, to the MMB again in Allentown PA that same night.  Yeah, thats insane, right?  Well, with this cancellation I don't feel so bad.  I still have tickets for the Specials' shows in Toronto and Atlantic City...let's hope those don't get canceled too. 

July 2, 2010 - Hey you!  Summer is here and its time for ska!  I mean, not like it wasn't before, but ya know...TIME FOR MORE!!  I just posted the Streetlight Manifesto show and Aggrolites show in the SKA SHOW PHOTOGRAPHY page.  I got a bit more work to do to get this discussion board working (this is where I start begging my techy friends for help in exchange for drinks).  Finally, Don't forget Warped Tour is coming our way in 2 weeks.  Gotta love that its perfectly time for the NYC area on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Yeah, NYC ska kids are so spoiled.  I don't deny it.  Have a kick ass 4th of July and remember to be safe with any fireworks...you don't want to blow that hand off since you'll need it  to look good for skanking. 

June 29, 2010 - Oh snap!  A month nearly gone by and I haven't done a damn thing.  Ok, lies...all lies!!!  Yes, I've been going to shows *hanging my head in shame*.  Since I last checked in I've been to see The Slackers at the Highline Ballroom in NYC, Badfish at Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA, and Streetlight Manifesto at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ...and tomorrow is the Aggrolites at the Highline Ballroom!!!  Speaking of ska shows a-plenty, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have announced a summer tour at the end of August!  Out of the 8 shows listed, I'm hitting 7 of them and still going to try to manage squeezing in seeing The Specials at Central Park's Summerstage on one of those days.  I hope the ska god is watching over me that week.  I have tons of pics to filter though and edit...so don't get your panties in a bunch.  They're coming.

May 30, 2010 - Do you want the good news or the bad news?  Ok, the bad news first: I'm too bored when there are no shows.  Now the good news?  I have all this time to keep improving this place! Check out my new blog!

May 23, 2010 - I'm back already.  You missed me, didn't you?  Just amuse me and say "yes."  Hey! Thanks!  Well I think I got this web design thingymajiggy working okay so far.  I've only yelled at my computer a few times and, trust me, that doesn't work.  I would have pounded on the keyboard if I didn't know every Mac addict out there would have a death wish for me for doing so.  I constructed a Ska Show Photography page featuring pics I took at the Specials and Spring Heeled Jack shows.  I'm glad I'm able to finally start finally dominating all things ska. Wishful thinking, I know.

May 22, 2010 - Hello and welcome to the new NYC SKA website.  I'm Michelle Ska and I'm here to torture you.  Haha, I'm kidding!  Ok, no I'm not.  Alright, the thought crossed my mind.  I going to do my damnest to get this thing in suitable condition for your viewing pleasure.  Just don't pleasure yourself with it too much.  Umm, yeah.  Anyhow, take a look around and in the meantime, can someone help me look for my scissors and glue? There is going to be lots of cutting and pasting to do on the screen.