When I arrived It Gets Worse was just doing their soundcheck. I turned on my camera only to realize I’d left my one and only memory card plugged into my computer. ARGH! Okay, Rite Aid right across the street. I can be back in five minutes. Rite Aid was sold out of memory cards. Double ARGH! Walgreens was five blocks south so I hoofed it as fast as I could and not only found a 32G card, it was half off so I paid about half of what I would have had Rite Aid had them in stock. The ska goddesses were looking out for me. I returned in time to see most It Gets Worse. Of course they didn’t disappoint. They haven’t yet. Front man James Sweazea- (Bass, Vocals) was in top form as he whipped his long strands about like some 70s rock star. He was all over the stage literally with leaps and bounds. Sax guy Frank Smith at one point attempted to play while standing on one foot, a la Ian Anderson. The highlight was their final song, a cover of Screeching Weasel’s Cool Kids. The other members of IGW are, JR Sorrells- Drums Eric Stallard- Lead Guitar, Andrew Adams- Trombone, and Peter Fink – Trombone. Suffice to say, the only thing getting worse this night was my cold.
After It Gets Worse left the stage it wasn’t long before one of my long time favorites, the Skablins. This is a band where you don’t know who to watch as any one member is always doing something crazy at any given time. Front man/singer Gordie Whyte had to have been born with the stage floor glued to his feet. He never stays in one place very long as he leaps about, emoting at every opportunity or just hamming it up with other members. Baritone Sax player Heather Beck not only blew a wicked horn, she flipped her blond pig tails about, often dancing a pas de deux with Gordy or one of the other horn players. They played their obligatory ska version of the Kinks’ Come Dancing among other favorites and left the stage looking like a smoldering cauldron. The Skablins are, Gordy Whyte – Vocals & Lyrics Heather Beck – Bari Sax, Backup Vox Kevin Eyre – Guitar, Backup Vox Anton Beck – Bass Guitar Morgan Williams – Drums Ben Curley – Organ, Keys, Backup Vox Patrick Smith-Trumpet Michael Turner Anderson (MTA) – Tenor Sax, Backup Vox Josh Berglund- Trombone, backup Vox.
It wasn’t long before the stage cooled off and Seattle’s the Push came on. The Push have been around a long time but have been dormant. This was their first performance in ten years. Although this was not obvious. They were smooth and tight. Kyle Coberly on guitar/vox was charming to the last, The Push is a great band to just chill out and slow dance to and everyone.did just that. Besides the aforementioned, the Push are, Austin Sousa on drums/vox, Henry Rose on trumpet, JJ Cooper on Trombone, Perry Sutton on trumpet, and James Sweazea on bass/vox + Frank Smith on tenor sax from It Gets Worse helped them out this gig too.
Next up were the Georgetown Orbits. This time they were minus their lovely and talented singer, Brigid Roney. Apparently she’s about to have baby number two and has given up fame and fortune for motherhood. We wish you well in your new endeavors, Brigid, but don’t blink as they’ll be off to college before you know it. Mike Ayer of Natalie Wouldn’t fame (AKA the barefoot trombonist) joined the fray, his charm firmly in tact. He often shared bops with trumpeter Adam Bruno along with assorted screams. They put on a great show, but I have one recommendation, bring Darryl Grandison (their original vocalist) back. Many of us miss him.
Finishing off the night was Easy Big Fella, who also share some musicians with Natalie Wouldn’t. Rick Pentella on trumpet almost stole the show. His non stop dancing and non stop emoting made him a lot of fun to watch, so much so I often found myself ignoring everyone else.
The highlight of their set had to be their ska version of Devo’s Uncontrollable Urge. I never would have dreamed this punk anthem would lend itself so easily as a ska song, but Easy Big Fella pulled it off so beautifully I almost felt like I was back at the Paramount ca 1982 seeing Devo play live.
That concluded the first night of ska fest. Stay tuned for a review of night two.
– Holly Homan
It Gets Worse
Georgetown Orbits
Easy Big Fella
The Push
Skablins
