MNSKA » Show Reviews

The Prizefighters show reviewed on Musical Occupation

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:48:21 +0000

Our friend Andrew Barker over at Musical Occupation took a trip to Chicago to see The Moon Invaders and the Caroloregians in Chicago. In his review of the show, he mentions the show’s opener, MNSKA’s very own The Prizefighters.

Barker says:

The first band to play was the Prizefighters from Minnesota. We walked in about halfway through the set. What I recollect is it being a two-tone influenced mashed with early skinhead reggae. They are still raw but one of my friend’s said “they have soul.” I’d have to agree with her and look forward to hearing more from these cats as they progress.

Way to represent MN sound, Prizefighters!

You can read the rest of Andrew’s show review HERE

Show Review: Green Room Rockers 4/17

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:22:08 +0000

This past Saturday was a busy day for me, but one I’ll never forget. The afternoon started with heading off to Citizen D’s (from Rude Radio) wedding, which of course was ska-themed, had reggae tunes pumping, and was officiated by his friend and cohost the Reverend Evan. After the wedding, I headed over to the West Bank in Minneapolis to The Red Sea where the big MNSKA ALL AGES show was already in full-swing. Talking with the bartender, I realized that their usual outrageous weekday happy hour special ($2.50 bottles from 4-9pm) was extended to this Saturday because they wanted to give back to the MNSKA crowd. I thanked him for the kind words about the website and for the extra special happy hour and headed into the club.

Already ripping through their punk-ska set was the dapper-dressed trio known as Midriff, who were making their MNSKA debut. They were in the “covers portion” of their set where they played technically proficient renditions of NOFX‘s “Linoleum” (see video) and The Suicide Machines‘ “New Girl” (see video). I wanted to load them into a time machine dialed to 1997 and have them play at my high school.

The club was packed and getting more full as the night wore on. Next up were MNSKA favorites 2 Tone Runts who kicked things into gear with “Cute Girls In Combat Boots.” This was the first time I had seen the band since they brought on new drummer Greg Futchi and had Lee playing trumpet on a few numbers. I think the extra touring this band has done in the past year has really enhanced their performing skills as they put on a very fun and groovy show. They tried out a new song simply called “Reggae Music” (see video) that I hope makes it onto their next release.

The first two acts were uptempo, causing the packed crowd of dancing fans to break a sweat. I grabbed a drink to cool down at the bar and talked with Chris, who lives in Fargo, ND, who made the special 4-hour trip for the show. He was drenched from all the dancing and the night was only half over! He was driving back immediately after the show, proving his ultimate dedication to the ska scene…what a trooper!

Now that the club was nice and hot, MNSKA rocksteady group The Prizefighters took the stage. I haven’t been to a Prizefighters show I haven’t liked, and this one was no exception. They ripped through a nice long set of songs including “Karma,” “Storms,” and my favorite “Hypocrite.” They also managed to get the entire club singing the chorus of their soul song “Outside My Window.” Big thanks to Aaron Porter from The Prizefighters for booking this already amazing show!

Now it was time for the main event! From West Lafayette, IN, the wildly popular soul-reggae group Green Room Rockers kicked into action and filled the dancefloor with fans old and new. This was my second time seeing them so it was an absolute treat to see them in such an intimate setting. They grooved the crowd with original tunes like “Northbound Train,” “Broke,” and “Conqueror” (see video). They also got the crowd excited with some old-school reggae tunes like “54-56 Was My Number” (see video) from Toots and the Maytals and the Symarip classic “Stay With Him” (see video). They closed the night with a pair of soul songs, including original “You and I” and the Etta James hit “I’d Rather Go Blind.” Despite the late night, the guys had to pack up the van and speed on home to Indiana so they could get to work in the morning. It was a great way to kick off the spring/summer concert season for MNSKA and we are so glad that the GRR guys made the trip up to MN. Can’t wait to have them back!

Show Review: The Aquabats at the Triple Rock March 13

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:06:38 +0000

Hey kids! This is Courtney reporting from the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, MN and The Aquabats show has just wrapped up for the night. Hundreds of loyal cadets filled the venue for an outstanding and wildly energetic show. I met a lot of new friends, enjoyed a few beers, and snapped some photos of some of the costumed superfans. MNSKA band The Prizefighters got the night started by playing their signature soul-infused rocksteady and the child-like hip-hop stylings from locals Koo Koo Kanga Roo had the entire crowd smiling. Earlier in the day, The Aquabats performed 2 sets at the Target Center across town, then motored down to the Triple Rock to play their third set of the day! It was a sensory-melting multimedia experience that allowed everyone to have a great time…except for the poor kid who left in the ambulence (YIKES!).

Anyway, let’s hope for more great MNSKA shows like this one in the near future. Check out our SHOWS page and get off your seat and strap on the dancing shoes…it’s time to PARTY!

Battle of the Bands article highlights Sajak

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:41:34 +0000

On July 24th this year, MNSka band Sajak played at the Cravings To Go Battle of the Bands 2 as one of the six finalists. Fox 9 and Cravings To Go have posted a blog entry detailing that crazy night. Here’s what they had to say about Sajak:

Donning alternating black & white dress shirts and ties, Sajak appeared all business while a straight faced band member quietly said “Sajak” into the mic.

The band then turned the somber mood on its head by kicking into some classic ska/punk music with a hyperactive brass section, upbeat chunking guitar, and singable choruses with no shortage of “Hey’s” to join in on.

The band kept their set fast and fun as the crowd responded accordingly by dancing to the infectious grooves. Sajak also did an excellent job putting the night into perspective by exclaiming “It’s all about pizza, it’s all about Taco Bell, but it’s also about music.”

To check out more pictures of Sajak and the rest of the blog entry, check it out here.

Sajak did not place in the top 3, unfortunately.

Show Reviews: Small Kitchen Appliances, Deal’s Gone Bad and Mustard Plug put on awesome show

Bari Sax — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:07:04 +0000

MNSka newcomer Bari Sax attended the big Mustard Plug, Deal’s Gone Bad, Small Kitchen Appliances show at the legendary Triple Rock Social Club last Saturday (September 13th) and was gracious enough to describe the experience in words. Check out his show review after the jump!

Last Saturday night, nationally recognized ska bands Deal’s Gone Bad and Mustard Plug came to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. MNSka band Small Kitchen Appliances (Skitch) was given the opportunity to open the show for these two talented bands.

Skitch got the show started with a bang and never backed down. Their loud, high energy music set the pace for the rest of the night; even as people continued to file in towards the end of their set, the number of people on the dance floor continued to grow with each song.

Deal’s Gone Bad came out next. The Chicago-based band’s blend of reggae, ska, and soul provided an interesting, cool contrast to the high energy punk blend of Skitch and Mustard Plug. The cool grooves laid down by DGB helped to get more people dancing, slowing the pace down a little but keeping the energy high, setting the stage for Mustard Plug’s set.

Mustard Plug, hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, proceeded to pick up the pace and put it back where Skitch had started it. They began their stage time with relentless energy that never faltered, even at the end of the show or during the band’s on stage bantering. The band really showed an appreciation for the crowd and the fact that all these people had come to see them; you could tell it wasn’t fake either, but really an honest regard for the fans. By the end of the show, most of the crowd had gathered right up near the stage, and lead singer Dave Kirchgessner continually got the crowd involved by putting the mike out and letting the crowd do the singing. On the last song, members of Skitch (notably their trombonist, Jimmy) jumped on stage and sang and danced along with the band; soon, a majority of the crowd followed. Even after the set was over, the guys from MP played a couple of encores to the crowd that remained.

The concert went off quite well, and everybody had a good time. At one point, there were so many people on the dance floor that there wasn’t any more room, a sign that attendance was quite good. I myself had a good time, and brought with me a friend who had never been to a ska concert before. He had a great time, getting to hear new bands and meet new people in the ska community. All in all, the night was a great success.

–Bari Sax