Thursday February 13th, Valentine’s Day Eve, was a day I looked forward to for a long time. The Mad Caddies, one of my favorite ska bands was making a triumphant return to Seattle. If memory serves correct, it’s been about eight years since Mad Caddies played Seattle — way too long. They did not disappoint.
The minute they hit the stage and lit into their first song, I was immediately crushed against the stage. I felt like a pin ball as I was slammed back and forth repeatedly. To make things worse, some very corpulent dude decided he was going to get a spot right against the stage and didn’t care that he was crushing me in the process. There was no way I was relinquishing my coveted spot and I have the bruises to prove it. I was surprised my legs weren’t chopped off at the hips. This should give you a good idea of the energy in their show.
The Caddies played all their best songs, Back Yard, Coyote, Weird Beard, and Monkey, and Lay Your Head Down, plus some from their new album coming out this April. Front man, vocalist, Chuck Robertson oozes charm from every pore and Eduardo Hernandez, trombone player, played part of the set from the adjacent bar.
They played for just over an hour, plus about twenty minutes for an encore and even played my favorite song (Riding For A Fall) at my request.
No one can say Seattle doesn’t love the Mad Caddies. The tiny Chop Suey was packed to the rafters with very raucous fans who all knew the words to the Caddies’ songs. I hope I don’t have to wait another eight years to see the Caddies again. Mad Caddies are, the aforementioned Chuck Robertson on vocals and guitar, Sascha Lazor, guitar, Keith Douglas on trumpet and vocals, Eduardo Hernandez on trombone, Todd Rosenberg on drums, Graham Palmer on bass and Dustin Lanker on keys.
Preceding the Caddies was IllScarlett from Toronto, Ontario. I think I deserve an honorary scientist degree because I have solved the Big Bang theory. IllScarlet created it and they provide the energy that keeps the universe expanding. They came on stage like a raging inferno and never let up. Their music is mostly punk with a heavy smattering of reggae and some rap. They even ignited a couple stage divers during their energy driven, sweat infused set. IllScarlett come highly recommended.
Opening the whole night was Seattle band Positive Rising. Positive Rising is fronted by the very charismatic Ian Ayers, whose voice sounds eerily like Bob Marley’s. A song called One Man Army was the final songof their set and Ayers set down his guitar and became one with the mic and with the audience. Positive Rising is mostly reggae, but with more energy than the traditional reggae that tends to be more appreciated by those stoned out of their brains. Besides Ian Ayers, Positive Rising is comprised of Billy McInyre on bass, Tyler Petersheim, lead guitar, and the appropriately named Mike Drumma on drums. Definitely check them out. I at first thought they would be a monotonous reggae band, but was pleasantly surprised. Positive Rising if full of energy and put on a fun show.
This was one fun night.
