Back with a new episode from Self Quarantine and with my first remote guest in the Concerts To Consoles history. This episode brings Duck, from Joystick, remotely on the show from NOLA. As we catch up with each other, talk about the band and quarantine activities, we try the trick or treating JRPG style of Costume Quest on the Xbox 360. Find it on YouTube, the Twitch archive, and podcast services now!
Read MoreMost of the year the amount of ska shows is not too concentrated. It usually lends to me making sure to support every ska show in hopes it will bring more. However, we had a strange week in July. There was a stretch of four ska shows in a five day span around Phoenix. That third show was the fun as hell bringing The Holophonics into town joined by Bowcat, Rundown Roommates, and Los Lerpes. Kicking things off first was a three piece Los Lerpes. Down a man, we saw…
Read MoreTours revolving around the anniversary of an album are one of the current trends. It is likely because a lot of the bands these days that we follow and love are sticking together longer. One of those bands just happens to be Streetlight Manifesto, who is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the album “Everything Goes Numb.” Along for the ride on this tour were, Kitty Kat Fan Club and Mephiskapheles. Up first is one of the newest bands on Asian Man Records, Kitty Kat Fan Club. The streak of great…
Read MoreSka has a long lineage of excellent music predating and inspiring sounds that would influence the genres of Reggae and Rocksteady. Most describe it as coming in three waves, the original out of Jamaica in the late 1950’s, the 2 Tone sound out of the U.K. in the 1970’s, and the third wave ska out of the punk scene in the late 1980’s. One of the most iconic bands to put the third wave ska on the map is the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They were one of the first to…
Read MoreIf you told me there would be a tour with Reverend Horton Heat, Fishbone, and Strung Out on it, I would have given you an askew response. I think highly of all three bands, but together on one stage I wouldn’t imagine. However, it makes complete sense after a little thought. There are a bunch of crossover fans from the three genres of punk, ska, and rockabilly. With that, we got fantastic performances plus a great surprise in the opening Los Kung Fu Monkeys. Entering the show I had a…
Read MoreIf there wasn’t a genre I did not catch enough of during the pre-Independence Day celebrations, it was Ska. Thanks to the actual Fourth of July, that was remedied. It had one of my favorite voices to hear sing in the Steady 45s and a regular staple of our local Ska scene, Bowcat. Plus Leigh, of Krovak, jumped on for some punk and folk acoustic songs to open up. To say I had a blast, would be an understatement. First, if you have never caught a Krovak show, you should.…
Read MoreThis was a Sunday night I was looking forward to for a bit. It had been about four years since I last caught Big D and the Kids Table. It was a fantastic time hanging with them at the Warped Tour bowling event. In addition to catching their set the next day, I ran into members of the band, like Ben and Derek, around Warped Tour throughout consistently. The interactions just cemented how great these guys and the Big D are. After that I was bugging their drummer Derek every…
Read MoreSka revival might actually be going on. As this year trudges on, it certainly feels like the genre is starting to flourish again. From both newcomers and the established greats, I know there have been more ska shows that I’ve attended this year. As my second love, only to Punk, in music, I am enjoying this extraordinarily. Tonight was the return of Viernes 13 to the Yucca Tap Room accompanied by a solid mix of ska and punk. Opening up was the one not skirting the border of the two…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreSpring is a time where the temperatures in Phoenix would be summer time for the rest of the country. Growing up here I’ve become acclimated to it, making it just a great time to get outdoors. With it brings the celebrations and the prom seasons too. This Saturday night was a combination of both for me, with a Spring Fling and taking in another annual Ska Prom. I made my way to the gorgeous Cave Creek for the first time for my friend’s, Jason, Spring Fling. This was my first…
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