Summer Ska Set

Back in action, here's what's coming up in the ska scene for the rest of the summer/fall:

Radioactive Snowshu: Homegrown punky ska. Sounds like the Ramones with a horn section.
The ROC (Camp Eastman)- 8/7

This is a stick up: Basic ska undertones with a hardcore finish. Bad Religion-y guitars.
Albany- 8/16
Naples- 8/16

Mrs. Skannotto: Pure and simple party ska. The stuff pogo-ing was invented for.
The ROC (Montage)- 9/11

The Toasters: All about the horns. Bleating, honking, sweet, sweet horn section.
Buffalo- 11/11

Punk ROC

This story began in 1994 with my middle school-age introduction to third wave ska. Goldfinger and Mighty Mighty Bosstones changed my life at a tender age. For the next decade and a half my love for alt. rock grew and spanned many genres. But, outside of merely singing the praises of punk’s* merits, I had no way of sharing the art, music, people, and lifestyle of it all with a vast audience. My friends became sick of hearing discussions about which band had the best horn section.

Years later, the catalyst arrived while standing in the pit at the opening concert for the Lilac Festival watching MC Lars perform. The setting sun caught on the mohawk of a female concert-goer as she sat on the shoulders of a friend. I knew then and there that it was time to share the beauty and excitement of the punk scene in Rochester. Please enjoy, criticize, comment and feel free to turn up the jams and rock out the skank.



*Ok, we realize that using “punk” as the overarching genre of alternative rock music generalizes the stylization of the tunes and groups. You’re over it. Whether it’s ska, garage, boho, rockabilly, hardcore, new wave, or other as-of-yet named genres, we’re all about DIY ethics, awesome aesthetics and keeping it real.