Skazette, 01/02 1996

Fresh From Moon Ska!

The Moon Ska Skazette is published on a monthly basis and is written designed and edited by Steve Shafer with lots of help from Cris Q. – and Jenny B. who proofreads for me. Subscriptions are free to radio zines and stores fans should mail us a business-sized SASE each month. Feel free to reproduce any part oft this newsletter, but please give us credit. Thanks.

Laurel Aitken is the “Godfather Of Ska.” and that ain’t hype, either – he practically invented the genre of ska music!! Laurel cut his first ska singles in the late ’50’s and hasn’t stopped skankin’ since! : “The Bluebeat Years” is a stunning retrospective of thirteen of Laurel’s hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – and Moon Ska is incredibly happy to release this cd! All of these hits (many of which were first recorded with the legendary Skatalites) were recently re-recorded as many of the masters have been lost either to time or thievery) with the superb House Of Rhythm‘s backing. Laurel Aitken is the living history of ska music (much respect!) — and he sounds fantastic! you don’t know squat about ska music until you have given this disc a spin!

Let’s Go Bowling’s second release on our fine label – “Mr. Twist” – finds the band continuing its excellent tradition of serving up tasty ska beats, catchy horn riffs, and melodic, hook-filled tunes (this ain’t no! ska-core). This is music that demands that you skank along! If you are familiar with LGB’s first cd, “Music To Bowl By,” or have caught the band’s brilliant live show when they passed through your town, you won’t be disappointed by this cd. In fact, you will probably come to the same conclusion that we at Moon Ska have come to: Let’s Go Bowling is one of the best ska bands – ever! Do yourself a favor and pick up this disc. Really. We’re not foolin’. Don’t be a chump.

Skavoovie & The Epitones‘ “Fat Footin’” will rock your world. Their sound is strictly old skool ska – yet it’s really loose, shows it’s jazzy, big band roots (horns, baby, horns!!) and is (ska) groovy! Most people probably know about the band from their track off of the “Skarmageddon” compilation, well, if you dig “Nut Monkey,” these will blow you away! Skavoovie & The Epitones are where it’s at. So get there!

Moon Ska News!

The Toasters are entering the studio this February to record their sixth release for Moon Ska. For a sample of their new tunes check out their new single, “Chuck Berry/Maxwell Smart” which is now available from the Moon Ska Storefront or through mail-order on numbered, limited-edition clear vinyl! The Toasters are also hitting the road again after a much-needed X-mas break (check out the tour section for dates!). The Allstonians are busy gigging and preparing to record their second CD for Moon Ska! The tentative title of this release is “Big Alcohol Floor’- and it should be in stores by the end of this summer! Check out the Allstonians WWW site (http:/www.profane.com/allstonians), as well as their funny and informative newsletter. Allstonians/ Studio Nun, 599 Cambridge St. No. 3, Allston, MA 02134

The Porkers have checked in after touring Germany this past December. It appears that the boys from down under were deservedly well-received and wasted no time by playing ten gigs in ten days. Pete Porker reports that they were able to hook up and play dates with Germany’s Skaos and France’s Skaferlatine – and headlined a New Year’s bash in Berlin in front of 1,000 revelers! The band then headed back home – and to much warmer temps to hit several shows/festivals. Their gig in Sydney was attended by Matt and Tim from Rancid, who asked The Porker’s horn section to play on some demos they were recording later that week in Sydney (they did, of course). The Porkers are currently preparing for the release of their new CD, which is titled “Not Bad Pretty Good Not Bad!.”

Chris Murray (of King Apparatus fame) is gigging out in California (escaping the harsh Canadian winter) as Venice Shoreline Chris. He’s solo – kind of a “ska unplugged” – and is really good! Moon Ska will be releasing his CD soon…

Contact

• MOON SKA NYC, PO Box 1412, NY, NY 10276 USA
• Moon Ska Store front: 150 East 2nd St. (off Avenue A) is open Monday through Saturday, 12pm – 7pm.
• Storefront: (212) 673-5538/phone, 5571/fax Brett/Warehouse: (201) 857-0678 phone or fax Bucket: (201) 857-7044/phone, 7160/fax
• Steve/Promotions: (212) 860-0300 phone or fax
• Chris/Moon Espanol: (212) 216-8324
• Grant/Boston – New England Rep: (617) 536-0969 phone or fax
• Nicole/St. Louis – Midwest Rep: (314) 752-3752
• Moon Ska E-mail: moonska@pipeline.com
• Promo E-mail: moonprop@pipeline.com
• Moon UK, c/o DM Hingley, 7 Essington Close, Exmouth, Devon EX8 4QV, England