Excited for the New Year, a skanking battle between Rams Head Live, City Paper and 930 Club ensues. Baltimore’s City Paper has sworn to post their skanking skills by this afternoon. Our 930 Club buds however, well… they have yet to accept the challenge.
Post your videos and tag Rams Head Live and join us New Year’s Day for The Pietasters where you can join a sea of fellow skankers welcoming 2011 with this timeless choreographed tale of grace and rhythm!
Whether you were first introduced to ska because you had Bad Manners or wanted to be apart of complete Madness, whether you had The Beat, were hanging with the 2-Tone crowd or got skanky with The Toasters, if you were Just a Girl and had it up to here, ska has provided musical upheaval for every little girl and boy who hated rules.
It gives me butterflies to reminisce of the fist pumping (the kind that you did to express just how hard that down-beat shook you to your core, before that Jersey Shore nonsense), the stage diving (because you know someone will catch you), and the skanking (those powerful fist punches which required the oh-so-important running man legs in unison), on those warm summer nights where the air is electric.
Helping to establish ska and soul in the trenches of the D.C. dive-bar scene in the early 90’s, The Pietasters are a tight thread pulling together some of the most vivacious live shows in the genre at our area’s most notorious venues. If you’ve never experienced such an event, a Pietasters throwdown is the perfect way to dive into the scene.
So instead of bumbling about in the freezing cold, praying for the warm days ahead, you can come to Rams Head Live! on January 1st and be welcomed by a crowd who knows how to warm you to your core. Bring your best greeting, “skavoovie,” will do, and enjoy a night of local ska and boisterous shenanigans.
Now if you’re just diving in for the first time, we’ve provided a YouTube tutorial, sort of thing on Skanking like a pro. And if you think that sounds silly or maybe a little too “alternative” I can prove the legitimacy of the groove with this bonafide wiki entry.
Wiki Sanctioned-ness
This little diddy will play for you the Jams that NCAA Football was down with for their gaming soundtrack.
Also, catch this did of Pietasters Live with our homies over @ the 9:30 Club.
12.22 Wale - TONIGHT! - Support now announced! w. Fat Trel, Black Cobain, Mambo Sauce
Wale has been given plenty of shout outs for his role in reviving the DC music scene. So while he is bringing some of that street cred back to the District it’s no surprise that Wale’s enlisted some of the brightest local stars to add support on his national tour. Black Cobain and Fat Trel are two MCs makin moves of their own so check out the latest release from Black Cobain and a Fat Trel mixtape to get yourself up with the times before tonight. Mambo Sauce has also hopped on to the bill to open the night and just in time before they depart on their U.S. tour with SOJA. They’ve got a great DC anthem that you wanna hear so send a live request through their facebook page. Prepare for new, local and live music at it’s finest.
Hailed as the original DC ska-soul outfit, the Pietasters have embarked once again on a tour to help you party your righteous asses off. The boys are on the move to do a little of the old and a little of the new. Their latest work is an LP titled All Day. Bassist and songwriter for the band, Jorge Pezzimenti, says the record, “is a version of what a van ride with us would be like…” Intriguing as that might sound SPIN magazine chimed in with their own load of like-age noting early on that the band has the sound of, “an equal opportunity dancehall crasher — part ‘60s keg rock, part 2Tone and part Motown.” Bring on the dancehall!
This girl is R. E. A. L. real! We know Chrisette Michele has a flawless, Grammy-winning voice that could shake the foundations of towering cathedrals. Her vocals are soulful, aggressive and completely unapologetic but get ready for some rapping to accompany those vocals on the newest tracks. Chrisette has turned a new leaf with her latest album, Let Freedom Reign, and started staking a claim in some liberty of her own. “I used to be so afraid to say what I really think,” she says. “This album is about me just saying what I need to say, feeling what I need to feel, dressing how I want to dress and emoting how I want to.” And Michele, we ain’t mad at chew. We’re thrilled! And the outcome is a bold, 15 track record released by Def Jam this past November. Check out “I’m a Star,” “Goodbye Game” and “So In Love” feat. Rick Ross before you get to the show.
———————————————————–
03.04 24-7 and 98Rock present Rock on The Rise Tour feat. Rev Theory, Pop Evil, Hail the Villain, Black Cloud Collective Just Announced + On Sale NOW!
Introducing the most exciting up-and-coming bands in hard rock: The Monster Energy OUTBREAK Tour: Rock on the Rise features headliners Rev Theory with support from Pop Evil, Hail the Villain and The Black Cloud Collective for only $10 bucks!
I have to admit..I’m a little freaked out right now. Last week I spoke highly of Eartha Kitt in this blog and then she died. Hopefully… this is not the beginning of a “from-the-bunker” curse. But just in case… Pauly Shore.
On a lighter note, New Year’s Eve is almost over and it’s time to start thinking about 2009. We have several incredible shows coming up at Rams Head LIVE that may have gotten lost on you during the Christmas Crunch.
Coming soon: Scott Weiland, Thievery Corporation, The Black Keys, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mr. Greenegenes, Dropkick Murphys, Hollywood Undead, and a special January tri-bill featuring 3 of Ska’s best party bands; The English Beat, Bad Manners, and The Pietasters.
For info on dates and times, check out www.ramsheadlive.com but make sure you call before coming to the show because you never know which one of these bands took it from the curse.
Thanks, and see ya next week (hopefully).
P.s., we are not making light of Ms. Kitt’s passing… she was an amazing talent an amazing lady, and sooo much better than Lee Merriweather. (You better watch out Lee)
Posts
Sample
Mangold
Rams Head Group Tweets