The Pietasters Electrify Seattle’s Tractor Tavern With Their Upbeat ska while Georgetown Orbits and Skablins Ignite the Spark, By Holly Homan

When I learned there was going to be a fabulous ska show on the same night my hero, Ray Davies was playing, I was caught in a real dilemma. Of course I couldn’t NOT see my god, but the ska show was The Pietasters with Georgetown Orbits and Skablins opening. Solution: Pay for a choo choo and cheap hotel and see Ray in Portland the following night.

I had only vague familiarity with The Pietasters, but I have yet to hear a ska band I didn’t like and the few songs I heard off KGRG’s Skawesome Sundays show were enough to sway me. By the end of the night, I knew I’d made a wise choice. The Pietasters are fronted by Steve Jackson, who looked more like a politician than a singer in a ska/rock band. He sported a dark suit and graying, neatly cropped hair. I supposed this was fitting seeing how the band hails from the other Washington, (D.C.).

Jackson is a very dynamic performer who moves around the stage in robotic motions while clowning with other band members.

Besides Jackson, the nine-piece Pietasters consist of Dan Schneider – Organ, Toby Hansen – Guitar, Carlos Linares – Trumpet, Alan Makranczy – Sax, Jeremy Roberts – Trombone, Andrew Guterman – Drums. Although Jon Darby was more a guest musician, having left the band some time ago. Whenever he was on stage he almost stole the show. Looking like a cross between Davy Jones and Mark Hammil, he shook his head around, making his mop of blond hair flop about, crashed to his knees, leaped about the stage and never stood still. He has to be one of the most energetic bass players I’ve seen.

Meanwhile, Jackson charged up his performance more and more as the show wore on. He leaned into the audience and stuck his mic into a crowd of about half a dozen who’d surrounded him, and let them sing. I was surprised so many in the audience could shout out the words to the songs. This is not a band that has received ample airplay. I am heartened to see that ska is popular in Seattle.

Like the Energizer Bunny, this entire band kept picking up speed as the show progressed. They kept going and going . . . They actually outlasted the batteries in my camera. Fortunately I brought spares. These guys were non-stop fun! For the finale, guitarist Toby Hansen, dropped flat on his back while trumpet player Carlos Linares tried to revive him by placing a horn on his chest as if performing a cardiac shock.

Including the encore, the Pietasters played a two-hour show. Even after they left the stage, there was still so much electricity in the air from their performance, I was sure it was them that caused our recent electrical storms. In fact, driving home, I was sure I saw a flash of lightning, bolstering my suspicions.

Preceding The Pietasters was Seattle’s own Georgetown Orbits. This is my fourth time seeing The Georgetown Orbits and they have not disappointed me yet. Front man, Daryl Grandison is the epitome of showmanship. He clasps the audience into the palm of his hand and doesn’t let go. His charisma knows no bounds. However, Grandison’s charisma is now rivaled by a new member, Bridgid Roney. Her voice is as smooth as Grandison’s and she oozes charm and is definitely the cutest member of the band. She sang backing vocals and even did duets with Grandison. The Georgetown Orbits may escape the boundaries of charm, but they also break the boundaries of music, with elements of reggae, swing and jazz. As usual, they were very well received by the packed crowd.

Starting everything off was another Seattle area band (Arlington, WA), The Skablins. I don’t know if it was intentional to have all the opening bands have a D.C. connection either in name (Georgetown) or area of origin (Arlington) or if this was a mere coincidence.

The Skablins are a nine-piece band with the uniqueness of having a female sax player (Heather Beck) and a guitar player who isn’t even old enough to be in a tavern (Jacob Wiken). The Skablins are definitely a horn driven band with two sax players, a trombone player and trumpet player, but balancing the sound are a drummer, two guitarists and a keyboard player. The Skablins is a band that obviously loves playing live. For the finale they performed a version of “Hell” and I didn’t see anyone who resisted the urge to dance along. I am beyond excited that I have discovered another ska band in the Seattle area and they are The Skablins.

I am even more excited to finally see ska take ahold in Seattle. I can only hope that it doesn’t fizzle out before it blossoms. I’d hate for Seattle to become just a city where the big bands used to come and play.

– Holly Homan