Skanky Bones
A night of ska, that’s what my Friday night was. I arrived to hear that a band dropped off, and it would be longer sets for two of our local ska scene offerings. I’ve been going back and forth on this, but I’m starting to believe we have a growing and blossoming ska scene in Phoenix again. The offerings are of a great quality too. Tonight two of our best, Mr. Incommunicado and the 2 Tone Lizard Kings were what I got to take in.
First up is one of our most stylishly dressed, Mr. Incommunicado. They wore matching sweaters on stage, adorned with a capital “I.” The only differences would be the color of the sweater. The other excellent thing that I love about Mr. Incommunicado is there enthusiasm up there to skank and move as they play. For one, this reflects that the musicians, in any band actually, love what they are playing on stage. For two, this tends to be infectious and get that crowd moving.
They spent a good hour moving up there, and the crowd responded. Mr. Incommunicado’s humor is another great point. When playing songs about Julia, they tried to find someone in the audience with the name. My nickname was improvised into a song too. Barton alternated between his standup bass and the cool looking electric one throughout. They brought that 2 Tone sound for another great set of music to my ears.
The other band that put the 2 Tone in Ska on this Friday was the 2 Tone Lizard Kings. This band is probably our most popular ska band in the valley and well deserving of it. Like Mr. I earlier, they like to move on that stage too. Less in the feet movement, but a lot more in the arms and upper body dancing as they play. Dallas and Jayson animated as they jump between the brass and the microphones for vocals. Gary and Bill smiles as they jump on that microphone for their vocals too. Not to be outdone by Adam, of course, who will move around and point at whoever is doing that fantastic solo or singing.
The 2 Tone Lizard Kings brought another amazing set, and like our first band, it was an extended to make it an hour and a half. It was only helped by their enthusiasm and vigor up there, the crowd caught on with a skanking pit and dancing around the Yucca floor. I included, as I have decided having a camera and skanking is part weight training. Stephen DeRosia, of Bowcat and one half of our ska DJ’s for the night, jumped up to sing a song. The set was long enough to get in a song Rick has been requesting for a while, “Release the Hounds.” It was a great night of moving to that 2 Tone beat, and can’t wait to do it again next Saturday.
