SB6: new album news soon..
Posted by jamie on May 10, 2012
Exciting news from the Sonic Boom Six camp. The guys are out and about playing shows in the UK and in France this weekend, and, at the end of thier email, it says this:
p.s. Album news is just around the corner. Maybe even as soon as this weekend. We don’t want to speak too soon… so we won’t. But it’ll be worth the wait!
For the Kids of the Multiculture is on Rock Band 3, and all the dates are posted here.
Dead excited. Please let us find out more soon..
Gecko: playing Boardmasters! Main stage!
Posted by jamie on Apr 25, 2012
This exciting Gecko news came straight from the Lizard’s mouth. Well, it came form Will, but you know what I mean. Thanks, boys. x
Hey bro
Could you possibly share this exciting lizard based news pretty please:
-We are absolutely thrilled to announce we will be playing the MAIN STAGE at Relentless Boardmasters in Newquay on August the 10th alongside Dizzee Rascal, Ed Sheeran, The Ting Tings, Maverick Sabre, Zane Lowe and more!
Hope you’re well
Lotsa love & Bananas
x
BTRL / M3L / David Cameron Diaz / 7 Day Conspiracy
Posted by jamie on Apr 24, 2012
Our dawgs at Shufflecore have told us about this show they’re putting on. It looks ace!
Anyway, just letting you know that I’ve got another gig coming up with some quality ska punk - Beat The Red Light, 7 Day Conspiracy, My Third Leg and David Cameron Diaz are playing on Friday 4th May.
Leo says:
Pretty excited about this one, would you be up for sharing it through bananatown? I’d be really grateful if you could!
No problems, dude. We’re here for all good DIY promoters.
Artwork: the wonderful AnaSera Chambers
See it on facebook here.
Like Bananatown on facebook here.
Chris Murray: UK dates 2012
Posted by jamie on Apr 19, 2012
Chris Murray is over for a few live dates before his appearance at the London International Ska Festival. He’s absolutely lovely and not to be missed in concert.
April 2012
TU 24 Nottingham - Old Angel
WE 25 Leeds - Santiagos
TH 26 Manchester - Star & Garter
FR 27 Bristol - The Croft
MO 30 Glasgow - 13th Note
Reading and Leeds: Lock Up line-up released
Posted by jamie on Apr 17, 2012
Announcing the line-up for the Lock-Up Stage has improved this year’s Reading and Leeds festivals no end.
Highlights ought to be:
- Social Distortion and Random Hand (Reading on Friday, Leeds on Sunday)
- The Skints, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and Less Than Jake (Leeds on Friday, Reading on Sunday)
You can get tickets here.
Smokey Bastard: on tour
Posted by jamie on Mar 29, 2012
The lovely Smokey Bastard are at Scorpio’s Bar in High Wycombe on 6th April. Worth a look if you can get there.
Claypigeon and Jump the Gun support. Smokey B are on tour around the UK and well worth watching.
Popes of Chilitown: UK tour 2012
Posted by jamie on Mar 29, 2012
Our bonkers mates the Popes of Chillitown hit the road for Kidderminster on 30th March, and they’re going to stay on tour until April. You should go and watch them and have fun at the same time.
Full dates here:
Sick Mosh promo: killer London show
Posted by jamie on Mar 29, 2012
Our hombres at Sick Mosh Promotions put on Detached and Slovenia’s (amazing) Elvis Jackson as just part of a massive bill in Hackney tomorrow night. Go east: life is peaceful there.
See it on facebook here.
Like Bananatown on facebook here.
New Riot: need a new bassist
Posted by jamie on Mar 27, 2012
The lovely lads in New Riot are looking for a new bassist. Go here to find out more and apply.
If you don’t play bass, you could still help by sharing this post. Thanks.
The Skints: Part & Parcel - reviewed
Posted by jamie on Mar 26, 2012
The Skints
Part & Parcel – Bomber Music, 2012
21st March, 2012
Jamie
As the Skints wowed another spellbound, sweaty room, I could only nod, when one man leaned over to whisper in to my ear: “these guys just get better and better”.
It wasn’t just that it was so succinctly put: you couldn’t argue with the words, but the tone, conveying joy and disbelief at the sheer quality of what we were witnessing, and the speed at which the Skints’ star was on the rise. They were getting so much better, so fast, that it actually was difficult to comprehend.
That night at the Highbury Garage was in 2009 (!) and, since then, the Skints have just gone on getting better and better as they get bigger and bigger.
Ahead of its official release on 9th April, their second record, is, in all probability, the single most anticipated reggae album in the UK right now, and, to meet burgeoning expectation, had to be something special.
Part & Parcel goes way beyond that - it’s incredible: bravely standing astride genres to create a uniquely distinctive, and current sound that’s at once credibly, authentically faithful to the Skints’ reggae roots and yet also bravely, proudly, urban - effortlessly epitomising London in 2012 and redefining Jamaican music for the inner city in the twenty-first century.
Enjoyed in its entirety, Part & Parcel is that good. From start to finish, it oozes quality in the arrangement and execution of the boldly diverse collection of excellent songs. Confident, mature, and polished in its production and in the performances across a plethora of instruments that proves the Skints’ musical courage just as much as it does their musical prowess and across all the elements of their sound, it’s packed with wonderful moments.
Of course, not all of these songs are new, even at the first listen: Can’t Take No More has been a live staple for a while, but here, in contrast to the ubiquitous Hush TV acoustic performance or the full-on live renditions, is a stirringly soulful, reggae jam, embellished by melodica and soothing vocal harmonies.
Ratatat, before it, has also popped up all over the place as a music video, but, of course, is absolutely stunning, it’s filthy bassline and quick fire raps over sampled sirens are eerie but instantly infectious.
That the two songs are so different, and yet complement each other so perfectly, is testament to their quality and the strength of the performances and production on show here, but doesn’t go far enough to emphasise how broad the Skints’ range has become: Part & Parcel effortlessly fuses reggae and rocksteady with a punk rock attitude and glorious pop hooks and choruses, and then turns the bass up to twelve.
Once you’re done marvelling at it, it must, surely, be perfect for the dancefloor: the ska guitar parts and sun-soaked keyboard lines to the wonderful Ring Ring, for example, are infectious, first for your hips, and then, once Marcia’s vocal drops, for your heart. The lovable, peppy, poppy skank of Lay You Down, of course, is a proven live hit, instantly danceable, and, if it’s not too bold a claim, the best melody on the record. It’s also got a killer sax solo and a proper reggae drop-out.
Part & Parcel is an absolute feast for reggae fans: the sound of one of the UK’s leading underground bands growing to a new level in stature and confidence to deliver a powerhouse of a performance.
It hardly seems feasible, but the Skints have managed to raise the bar again. Amid all the clamour, just remember that this is an extremely accomplished performance of an excellent collection of songs. It deserves to be remembered as one of the very best records of its kind.
Stand-out tracks:
Can’t Take No More
Live East Die Young
Lay You Down
Sunny Sunny
Soundboy
