Word: bande
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
With the recent popularity of bands like No Doubt, Sublime and Goldfinger, the ska scene has seen its music, or at least a kind of diluted derivative, vaulted into the radio spotlight. Goldfinger's "Here In My Bedroom" deservedly broke through to the mainstream with its undeniably infectious intro melody and catchy chorus. The song's radio air-play was probably what packed the sold-out show at the Middle East with a predominantly teenage crowd. Yet no matter what the listener's motivation, whether radio or devotion to a particular band, the audience was graced with two extraordinarily energetic...
...first band to play from the trio of California-based groups was the Blue Meanies. With a tenor saxophone and trumpet punching out a melodic complement to the solid rhythm section, the Blue Meanies succeeded in getting the musical juices flowing for the bands to follow, but failed to do anything more in terms of excitement. A notably captivating aspect of the set was the manner in which the lighting was modified to the tempo of each song. Manually operated, the multicolored stage lights were switched on and off faster during the upbeat songs while the slower, drawn-out rhythms...
Reel Big Fish, on the other hand, was louder, dorkier and animated, making it the highlight of the afternoon. The personality of the band, even without playing music, gave the impression of incoherence and misfit randomness. Two pairs of brass instrument players, using trumpets and trombones, donned an array of sweaters, T-shirts, jeans and slacks in a piecemeal collection of colors and fabrics. As the dark-dressed bass player crouched near the drums, the lead singer/guitarist burst on stage with a screaming electric blue Hawaiian shirt, checkered rim sunglasses and a blinding smile...
...lack of uniformity gave any inkling about the band's music, it showed how each of their individual talents could blend into a beautiful performance. Once Reel Big Fish hit the first note, there was no stopping the unrelenting in-your-face power of the horns and vocals backed up by a classic ska rhythm and background harmonies...
...band covered a gamut of themes like an ex-girlfriend's new-found popularity, the greedy economics of record companies and beer. Members playfully attacked each other and the horn players danced around stage while the lead singer bounced in place with his gaudy clothes and unrealistically large smile, never missing a beat. Midway through the set, Reel Big Fish pleased even those audience members unfamiliar with its music with a cover of Operation Ivy's "Unity". The band's unique capability to appeal to newcomers was what made it successful; it didn't let a minute go by without...