The World Is New
When a band you listened to a bunch years ago announces they are coming back, that tends to get you excited. The one and only time I saw Save Ferris was in 1999 at the No Snow X-Mas Show. Back then, when you’re sixteen year old male and the lead singer talks about it being the “Year of the Vagina” you tend to pay attention. The band would break up a couple years after that, many of the former members forming Starpool. Flash forward to three years ago, the comeback is announced, excitement around the internet. However, it was a rocky comeback as it turned out that none of the original members knew about it, and it was Monique heading it up with a new backing band. There were some legal fireworks, which per my research have been settled with the old members. Tonight was the celebration of the new album produced by Monique in this new incarnation, and it was evident that she hasn’t lost a step in those years.
Opening up the show in the ska sandwich, with a soul, alternative rock middle, was the 2 Tone Lizard Kings. This was an enthralling set with their traditional quality of music for the crowd. They played some songs I haven’t heard them perform before, adding to the enjoyment of my night. However, this crowd seemed confused on the idea of dancing to ska despite Adam’s always charismatic approach to engaging the audience. A few were dancing in place near the front. Once I made my way to a space a few people back, I skanked it up hoping to get a few of the hesitant ones to do the same. That didn’t happen, and it certainly seemed the girl to my right was finding it entertaining. This was my first hint that this audience may not exactly be here for the genre itself. That is unfortunate, because they were watching one of the best ska bands in Phoenix with the 2 Tone Lizard Kings.
Following them up was a great set of music talent, in Vista Kicks, just not one for me. These guys dressed almost like the Ramones met the Beatles. The Vista Kicks play an alternative rock with blending of soul and jazz music. The detachment with the Vista Kicks was that the majority of their lyrics were about women and love, which was clear I wasn’t the target audience. Although, this did seem strangely appropriate for a Valentine’s Day show.
Following them was the band the crowd came to watch, Save Ferris. They played about a twenty song set, mostly older with a couple of the new ones in the mix. Their new EP and songs are solid, in line with the older songs many were familiar with. The song “New Sound” the standout with older Ska sounds to it. For such high speed and full of energy songs, I do wish more of the audience was the skanking and ska fan types. Never did a circle open up to dance. The people who did dance to Save Ferris moved in place for it.
The standout thing to me is Monique was what I remembered. She was unafraid to not talk about sex and swear, and embraced who she was. She tossed out the Vista Kicks branded condoms to the audience at one point. The other impressive thing is her ability to move in high heels, moving and skanking in ways I would have thought ankles would have sprained a couple times doing. The new make-up of Save Ferris was great, including some standup bass play in different positions. The new Save Ferris is a fun trip down memory lane, but I wish this had been more of the ska crowd than the nostalgic at the end of the night.
