Ska is Dead is back from the grave and ready to devour the Eastern half of the U.S.A., stopping at Metro in Chicago on November 7, 2009. Since 2004, The Ska is Dead Tour has been North America’s premier ska festival / tour proving that ska and all of its derivatives are very much alive. Previous incarnations of the tour have crossed North America three times, and the Atlantic once, to tour the U.K. Ska is Dead I, II, and III have featured the biggest names in the genre, selling thousands of tickets in some of North America’s best venues. The first leg of Ska Is Dead IV toured the western half of the U.S. earlier this year playing to packed venues from Denver to Hollywood. The upcoming tour is no exception and is quickly shaping to be the strongest lineup to date.
A BIT ABOUT THE BANDS:
MUSTARD PLUG– Since forming in 1991, Mustard Plug has established itself as one of the pillars of third wave American Ska-Punk music. The Grand Rapids, MI-based group, with the help of its label, the SoCal indie punk outfit Hopeless Records, has repeatedly toured the United States, Europe, Japan and South America, including such high profile tours as the Warped Tour, The SnowJam Tour, and 1999’s groundbreaking Ska Against Racism Tour. In 1997 just as ska-punk was moving into the mainstream, Mustard Plug sent “Evil Doers Beware” to stores. That record went on to sell over 80,000 copies and bring the band into the national spotlight. The same year, Mustard Plug quietly offered its take on The Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” for a charity CD. The song ended up receiving radio play on commercial radio coast to coast. However the band, not wanting to be forever known as a one hit wonder never commercially released the song, instead focusing on writing more of the ska- punk anthems it has always been known for, going on to release 1999’s “Pray for Mojo”, 2002’s “Yellow No. 5.” And 2007’s “In Black and White”. In conjunction with Ska Is Dead, the band is released its greatest hits album capturing the energy of its frenetic live show.
THE TOASTERS– The Toasters are America’s longest running Ska band. Formed in 1981 on the lower east side of Manhattan, NYC, they have carved out their own niche in history, amassing along the way an enormous catalogue of music, including twelve albums, a score of singles and ep’s, and innumerable compilation appearances. The band has logged a staggering 4,000 live concert appearances on stages all around the world. In 1997 Billboard’s front page dubbed them “New York’s Ska pioneers.” With their eclectic, instantly recognizable and idiosyncratic sound the group has been branded as “the Miles Davis of Ska” by the California press.
DEAL’S GONE BAD– Now in their 14th year Chicago’s Deal’s Gone Bad is touring extensively with its strongest and most consistent line-up in its history. With elements of ska, rocksteady, reggae, and American soul, DGB is sure to please on the dancefloor. Although the band draws its influences from classic Jamaican (Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Boothe) and American (Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, The Temptations) artists, the sound is a uniquely modern combination, unlike anything else on the scene today. Deal’s Gone Bad will appeal to fans of both soul and Jamaican music, as well as anyone looking for a turn on the floor or a song in their hearts.
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS– In their sixteen years of existence, the Voodoo Glow Skulls have an impressive list of achievements. Seven albums, one million records sold, appearances in exotic locations like Brazil and Japan as well as the creation of a record store, record label, recording studio and a music venue attesting to the remarkable creativity and energy of the band. Formed in 1988, Voodoo Glow Skulls meshed hardcore punk, traditional ska, tough guitar riffs and the Mexican music of their roots to create the prototype for the West Coast ska-core sound, influencing a wide range of bands from Sublime to No Doubt. Unflinchingly honest, their songs often used humor to comment on harsh political realities – from racial inequity to unrest overseas. Singing in both Spanish and English, Voodoo Glow Skulls’ bilingual musical tradition has been a hallmark of the band since they began.
For more info please visit http://www.skaisdead.com.
Saturday, November 7:
Ska Is Dead IV…
MUSTARD PLUG * THE TOASTERS * DEAL’S GONE BAD * VOODOO GLOW SKULLS * GREEN ROOM ROCKERS
$15 / All Ages / Doors: 5PM / Show: 5:30PM
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
Metro Box Office
Internet sales at www.metrochicago.com