Night Two of the 2016 Seattle Ska Fest. The first band I saw was already on stage. The Mean Threes, a trio from Vancouver, BC, reminded me of a lot of sixties folk rock with provocative poetry and a reggae beat. Not a lot of on stage energy in this band, just laid back stuff you need to close your eyes and absorb. They were a great band to start warming things up.
The next band on stage was the Bandulus. Hailing originally from Austin, TX, but now claim Portland, OR as home, these guys combined a lot of roots rock and soul all wrapped up in a pretty little ska/reggae package. Their sound was so authentic I almost felt like I was in a smokey 1960s night club. Gutsy vocals, powerful guitars and a mean sax are just part of what makes this band what they are. They have great energy on stage. The Badulus are so full of intensity and talent I hope I have the opportunity to see them again some time. The Bandulus are, Jeremy Peña vocals, guitar, Curtis Irie- Bass, vocals, Morgan Smith – Drums, vocals, Emma Bitter – backing vocals, Anthony Cotham – Organ (who looks eerily like Radar O’Reilly), Blake Hoshibata- guitar and the aforementioned mean sax, Tadd Enright.
Up next was the Sentiments. Fitting this ten-piece band onto a postage stamp sized stage was a miracle in itself. Vocalist Erin Wallace could belt out songs one second and croon the next with a sultry provocative voice. This band also boasted a female sax player (Abby Bohannan). I love to see women taking on instruments most often played by men. She was most definitely up to the task. The Sentiments had a five-piece horn section.
For about two or three songs, Curtis Irie from the Bandulus joined them onstage to play some harmonica and another Bandulu, Blake Hoshibata sat in with them on guitar that night. These
guys played a lusty upbeat brand of ska. Members: The other members of the Sentiments are, Ryan Bassie (bass, guitar, vocals), Tadd Enright (guitar, sax), Mike Birenbaum (piano/organ, vocals), Christian Lyons (trumpet),, Paul Howard (sax), Mike Anderly (trombone), Newel Briggs (guitar, but not performing at this show), Matt Griffin (drums)
After the Sentiments, the Kings took the stage. These guys are tons of fun. Ryan. who sings lead and plays keys, is the zaniest of the group. Sporting dark glasses, scraggly hair that often covered his eyes, a ripped open shirt accented with a blue bandanna, he was a sight to behold. But none of the members of this band stay in once place for long. You’d think the stage had been made of hot coals. These guys are an even mix of ska and straight up rock and roll with a heavy punk overlay. There was no more proof of that when they ended their set with Fear’s I Love Livin’ In the City. The rest of the Kings are, Jack (Drums), Jens (Guitar),, Ziko (Trombone), Shawn (Saxophone) Andrew (Bass) and Adam (Trumpet).
At last Seattle’s own Natalie Wouldn’t came on stage. I could be wrong, but I think Natalie Wouldn’t is the only band to do a ska cover of the Spider Man theme. I also don’t know where they get their energy as most of them played both nights with other bands and they were just as full of energy for the finale. Mike Ayer, the only barefoot trombone player I know of, along with Ric Pentella (tumpet) have overflowing charisma as they dance about the stage constantly when they aren’t blowing their horns or banging triangles or other assorted instruments. One of the highlights of their set was when they played their song Big Guns and when they repeated the word down several times, the entire dance floor became a sea of crouching dancers.
Besides the aforementioned, Natalie Wouldn’t consists of, Rick Dybvad (Guitar and Vocals).
David Trump, (bass) Sean Jensen (sax), Shawn Brockman (sax), & Michael Fanning on drums.
Finishing the night was a singer with an acoustic guitar called Chris Murray. Hailing from LA, he sounded eerily like Bob Marley. Much of the crowd had dwindled by the time he came on stage and I also left before his set was mover. I wasn’t feeling well, I lost my spare camera battery so couldn’t take pictures and I was devastated that all the pictures I’d taken that night had disappeared from my memory card. As I write this, my battery is still missing, my cold has not left, but a kind soul managed to retrieve my photos. I’m bedraggled and exhausted but still very much on a high from two nights of glorious ska bands.
– Holly Homan
Natalie Wouldn’t
The Kings
The Sentiments
The Bandulus
The Mean Trees
