The Ska sound is there, sometimes in it’s pants and vest, but more often cloaked and hooded.
The Ska sound is there, sometimes in it’s pants and vest, but more often cloaked and hooded.
After about 30 seconds of The Slackers set I want to be in a Ska band. Guitar, bass, xylophone, I don’t give a monkeys, I just want a piece of the action. After feasting on the pre-gig diet of old school (or is that skool?) Skank and Rocksteady the whole place was more than ready for some serious bouncing. And so it began and so it continued. The inherent familiarity of Ska and Reggae coupled with the enthusiastic, skilful, gleeful Slackers was an irresistible dish.
This is a natural band, they love and understand what they are doing and, as far as I can see, so does everyone else. Vic Ruggiero has obviously got more talent than one man should be allowed to have, spanking his organ like a little bongo monkey, and singing his simple, well written songs like Kevin Rowland from the Bronx. Glen Pine gives the impression of having an ego longer than his fully extended trombone, but so what? He’s good and he’s up there on the stage. He even gave us a little Blues Brothers dance routine with singer Q-Maxx. If you like a bit of Ska and Rocksteady, these guys bring their own flavours to the table without straying too far from the recipe. They even got called back to give us a second helping which doesn’t happen too often to a support act. They’re back in Europe at the end of the year. Go and see them.
You probably won’t be surprised to hear that Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra are not your average band. As all 10 of them file out, some on crutches, in matching, glittery-red suits on to a stage already crowded with equipment and a whole Hilton of fresh towels, you just know something is afoot. A broad smile erupts. When they start playing I start laughing. I also start dancing. I don’t know what I’m hearing. Is it Ska? Is it the incidental music in the Scooby Doo cartoon? The Pink Panther maybe? The answer to all of these questions is probably yes, and it’s great!
As the set unfolds more questions arise. Is the lead guitarist auditioning for a Whitesnake video? Did they really just play Frère Jacques? Do I give a shit? I’m still dancing and I’m still laughing out loud.
One of the brass section introduces a song with such venom and zeal that I’m expecting some sort of skamikaze Punk and instead we’re treated to a visit to the Bossa-Nova lounge at the Tokyo Grand Imperial Hotel. Ominous.
The Ska sound is there, sometimes in it’s pants and vest, but more often cloaked and hooded. One minute it’s the soundtrack to Kill Bill 3 the next it’s the Jamaican Terry and June theme. One minute it’s a disco in Majorca the next it’s Gary Glitter at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. After 45 minutes, my laughter has subsided to a somewhat bemused grin as they drift too often towards Bacharach Lite and noodly, cabaret Jazz.
There is no doubt that "Skapara", as they are known to their friends, are a seriously tight band of very gifted musicians. They’ve been around in one form or another for the best part of 20 years, they are a joy to behold and what they do is technically faultless and clever. But…………… (you knew it was coming) it’s just a bit too clever for me. The threat of Ska that brought us all together, was occasionally lost and with it went the bouncing soles of my Dr. Martens.
I never lost my smile however, and as they played their second encore, to me it was like the second theme tune that you get at the end of a film with long closing titles. While the majority of those around me were going silly and the band were obviously delighted and emotional at the response to the last night of their European tour. I walked away knowing that although I had enjoyed the movie, I didn’t really understand it.