| This event was a rather special one. Not only were The Skatalites celebrating their 40th year as a band, but also the support band for the Quattro show, local unit The Ska Flames, were approaching their 20th. So the mood was high in both camps. And it also spilled over into a power-house opening set by new local outfit, The Boldies, fronted by King Nabe - the original trombone player for The Ska Flames. |
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Not only were we treated to a non-stop hit parade of ska, we were also treated to something of a hat parade. Pork pies and Panamas are as much a symbol for ska as beanies are for reggae. And funnily enough, members of both local outfits tended toward the former two and the Skatalites the latter. Looking good in a hat appeared to be as much a credential for a Japanese ska band member as a love of the music and dexterity with an instrument. |
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The Boldies blasted onto the stage - guitars going for broke and energy to burn. The skin-headed and happi-coated King Nabe looked like a guru in the middle of seven wiggling and writhing twenty to thirtysomething deciples. Sax, trombone, trumpet, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards - all the basic ingredients for ska, but with two guitars they ripped through a rocking set. And they also treated us to a cover of Charlie Chaplin song "Smile." You know the one: "Smile when your heart is aching..." 
Next up were The Ska Flames, who are now such old pros with the genre that they appeared to slide through their songs on silk wings. They were down a keyboardist for this show, but definitely up with three saxes (two tenors, one alto), Aki on percussion (breaking into a Djembe solo on one song) and Shigaki's twangy lead guitar lending a unique edgey sound to an otherwise classic ska set. All in all, very smooth. And definitely the best collection of hats. We were all totally primed - and dripping sweat from dancing - by the time The Skatalites hit the stage. They started, as always, with the countdown to ska. 10, 9, 8.... 3, 2, 1 and "Freedom!" From there they hit us hard with all their classics, like the "Guns Of Navarone" and "Phoenix City," and covers like "I Should Have Known Better" by the Beatles. I already thought it was one of the sweetest shows I had witnessed by The Skats, when Doreen Shaeffer walked on stage and started crooning classics like "Sugar, Sugar" and "Nice Time." They closed with a medley (starting with "Rivers Of Babylon") and the classic countdown ending to "Occupation." The Skatalites never have a set list, so the above is mostly from memory (no way for me to keep a notebook dry at a ska concert) and with a lot of help from The Skatalites tour manager, Chris Kurisawa. Thanks for that Chris! And thanks to all three bands for a classic night of ska... |
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report by sister chill and photo by hiroqui |
 mag files : 現在進行形の伝説 (04/09/20 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by imakaz, photo by maikokkophoto report (04/09/20 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photo by maikokko「ジャジャジャジャジャー!ラスタファーラーイ!」 (04/09/19-20 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by ryoji, photo by hiroquilive report (04/09/19 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by sister chill, photo by hiroqui裏道りは、メインストリートへ繋がる (04/09/19 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by taiki, photo by hiroquiphoto report (04/09/19 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photo by hiroquiskatalites号発進!! (04/09/16 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : review by yohsuke, photo by ikesanphoto report (04/09/16 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : photo by ikesan幸福のグルーヴと旋律がついに響き渡る (03/10/03 @ 札幌 XANADU) : review by YSMZ, photo by q_taWHAT A WONDERFUL GIG!!! (03/10/01 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : review by yohsuke, photo by ikesanphoto report (03/10/01 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : photo by ikesanphoto report (03/09/30 @ Shinjuku Liquidroom) : photo by mariMOOD FOR SKA-TALITES!!! (03/09/30 @ Shinjuku Liquidroom) : review by imakaz, photo by mari |
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The official site of THE SKATLITES is; http://www.skatalites.com/ The latest album  "From Paris With Love" ( US import / UK import ) |
The first re-union album  "Return Of The Big Guns" ( domestic )
previous works ;
"From Paris With Love" ( US import / UK import ) "Lucky Seven" ( US import ) "BASHAKA" ( UK import ) "MUSICAL COMMUNION" ( US import ) "Ball of Fire" ( US import ) "HI‐BOP SKA" ( 国内盤 / US import ) "Ska Boo-Da-Ba" ( US import ) "Skatalites & Friends at Randy's" ( US import ) "Foundation Ska" ( US import ) and more... check the albums? |
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previous works by sister chill  2004blessed to witness this show... : Ben Harper & The Innocent Crimiinals (5th Mar '04 @ Shibuya AX)2002Rock wo suru... in Shinjuku : Joe Strummer &The Mescaleros (1st Oct '02 @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Elvis Costello (7th Jul '02 @ Shibuya Kokaido)2000Old Fela's Son Shines Bright : Femi Kuti And The Positive Force (14th Apr '00 @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)Double De Dub... : Adrian Sherwood and Scream Team DJs at Aoyama Cay (11th Feb '00 @ Aoyama Cay)Captive in the casbah... : Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros (18th Jan '00 @ Akasaka Blitz) |