Value Every Day
Always appreciate the time you are given and every day you get to enjoy life. The Steady 45s on their way into Phoenix unfortunately had an incident with a drunk driver, who rear ended their trailer into their van at around one hundred miles per hour. Luckily no one hurt, but unfortunately their trailer was taken down completely with their equipment. So at the top of this, if you have a little to spare head over to the GoFundMe set up to help them as they are only a couple days into their tour. Despite all of this, they managed to play and as did four amazing bands too.
Opening up the night was Mr. Incommunicado. This five piece band plays some excellent ska and one of the only ska bands locally to have the standup bass. Another cool part of their set is they have the three piece harmony on vocals for some songs, including their drummer Billy. In addition, we have two saxophones with a less common in our scene Bari Sax. Through the set you will find Barton and Bradford skanking as they play. Mr. Incommunicado has a lot of unique things that combine for a great and unique ska experience here in Phoenix.
Following them was another long staple of our ska scene, Liam and the Ladies. While they played more of their ska songs tonight, as Liam informed the crowd last night, they are moving away from ska. That is a shame, as Liam and the Ladies have always been one of the best here in Phoenix. Don’t fret, however, because the new stuff they played still has a great quality and energy to it. It just isn’t quite ska anymore. An entertaining set as always from them tonight.
Third was the first half of the touring bands, out of Oregon, the Bandulus. These guys and a gal have more of a two tone sound with their ska. It gave me an Aggrolites and Slackers vibe on style and on listening to them. The Bandulus had great vocals on the songs, including, at points, having a trio on vocals for portions of songs. They were appreciative of the audience, and kept throwing out support for their tour mates, the Steady 45s, who had the accident earlier in the day. I hope they roll through again soon.
This next band is one that makes me happy to have this website to shine a light on, and that is Keith Okie and Rebel Sol. It is a band I don’t think as many people in our local scene know about, but should know from Cottonwood. They are a ska and reggae band. Keith I’ve been watching perform since I first saw him in his previous band, the Cultivators. He is one of the nicest people I’ve met in the scene and one of the best I’ve watched play a guitar. The rest of the Rebel Sol is right up there with him in talent. Let me not forget mention that his drummer pulls out the trumpet from time to time during a set too. If you haven’t caught them yet, I hope you can make it to one of their next shows.
In a happy moment of the night, we had the Steady 45s get to play a good half hour set. It seemed to put them in happier spirits and their set showed it. Borrowing some equipment to do it, they made some of the best ska music to rock the Trunk Space. Joe, lead vocals, has an amazing voice that made every song sound just that much better. They closed out their set with the brass section moving around the Trunk Space for the festivities of the night. What a fun night and happy that no one was hurt in the Steady 45s from the accident. Again, hit the link in the top paragraph if you can contribute to help them as they try to continue on with the tour.
