Ska 4U » skanking

The Specials Lynval Golding Talks About Lily Allen

Cynthia — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:26:45 +0000

The Specials’ guitarist explains why Lily Allen played a big part in the band re-forming, in The Guardian UK.

Moose Goes Postal 4 Ska!

Eric Din — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:06:49 +0000

Musashi “Moose” Lethridge, Uptones guitarist and builder of the world’s first Ska Shrine, recently demonstrated Proper Shrine Use and Etiquette, to help publicize the Ska Shrine Ska4Ever Postage Stamp. On hand to witness the first Solo Ska Shrine Skankfest, were Official Ska Shrine Videographer Jake Small, and assistant Shrine builder and Ska Music DJ Eric Din.

After a solemn entrance, Moose called out tracks from the Uptones’ Skankin’ Foolz Unite CD and suddenly went into an all out skanking frenzy. His gravity-defying moves tested the physical limits of the Shrine, but it held together in all its two-tone glory even at skanking speeds of Mach 2 and beyond. Several spectators who got too close had to be carried out on stretchers, giggling uncontrollably.

Proud Ska Shrine architect Matthew King Kaufman also witnessed the events, describing them as “uncanny” and “paranormal.”

Afterward, we all sat cross-legged around the shrine, wrote letters to friends around the globe, and proudly sent them off using Official Ska Shrine Ska4Ever Postage Stamps. We encourage you to purchase a sheet of these beautiful, self-adhesive stamps, to help spread the word about Ska Music and the Ska Shrine, far and wide.

The Uptones are all very grateful to Moose, for his exskaordinary and inspiring efforts to spread Ska Music and make the world a better place.

Skank you very much.

Skanking Miles Creates A Second Ska Shrine!

Eric Din — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:43:35 +0000

The “Ska Shrine” trend continues to grow

Skanking enthusiast, Miles Gehm has built a Mobile Ska Shrine in San Jose, California. He skanks at this Ska Shrine to “Ridiculous”, a song coincidentally, written by the original Ska Shrine’s builder Moose Lethridge, and performed by The Uptones, the first band to skank at the Ska Shrine.

Here’s a video of the remarkable first roadside application of The Mobile Ska Shrine.

Peps Skanks At The Ska Shrine!

Buster the Ska Doggie — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:10:29 +0000

This just in! Famed concert Promoter Peps Jara was joined in mad skanking revelry at the Ska Shrine by Radiation Boy and Uptones guitarist and Ska Shrine builder, Moose Lethridge.

The spectacle was documented by cinematographer Jake Small, with assistance from noted skanking fool, Matthew King Kaufman.

Uptones Skank at the Ska Shrine

Cynthia — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:03:43 +0000

The Uptones – Skanking Foolz Unite – Reviewed for iTunes by Rob O’ Connor

Cynthia — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:43:07 +0000

Upbeat without forcing the party, Berkeley, California’s ska-veterans The Uptones return with their first studio album in decades, nailing down a bottom end that cements the groove with horns that reach for the stratosphere. The years have betrayed them none. Four original members augmented by an additional fantastic four, the eight-piece cruise with neither nostalgia nor a rusted gear. Initially, the studio might not seem the place to capture a definitive live act – their most noted_ release being the concert album The Uptones Live!! 924 Gilman – but one spin of “Ridiculous” and its spirited bleeps and yelps and it’s obvious this band will produce for a party of one if it must. (“Too Much Pressure” is credited as “Recorded Live at iMusicast” in 2005.) The added fidelity a genuine recording studio provides means bassist Bennie Wood and drummer Tim Carter aren’t left in the sonic dust. With three horn players – trombone, trumpet and tenor sax, for those at home keeping score – the blare is most obviously attention getting, but Eric Din’s vocals lead the troops with the same spirited play that made the Clash sound like revolutionaries.

Virtuostic without enslaving itself to technique and incorporating elements of punk, jazz, ska and reggae, it’s obvious how and why the Uptones became a major influence on the ‘90s ska-punk scene that followed them out of the Berkeley ghetto. But while Operation Ivy, Rancid, Sublime, Green Day and countless others sport the group’s influences and inspirations, nothing replicates The Uptones melodic heart. These aren’t just festive jams but terse, tough shards of song. Whether it’s the suspected tenderness of “Not From Here,” the charmed pop life of “I Don’t Know Emilie,” or the instrumentation breakdown of “Radiation Boy” where the band appear to be playing sideways, the Uptones now exist as seasoned pros who never lost their mojo in the grinding machinations of the music business. If anything, the years have made them stronger, more determined to wring life from every rhythm, to deny defeat at every chorus. Long may they skank.

The Uptones
Skankin’ Foolz Unite!
(Fun Fun Fun)

–Rob O’Connor

SHRINE DEVOTED TO SKANKING!

Buster the Ska Doggie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:36:54 +0000

After watching Moose and Din build a Ska Shrine, I keep dreaming about dancing on the black and white. What a brilliant way to appease the Ska Gods!

What’s with the shoes?

The BiG: Ska Band From The UK

Cynthia — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:30:02 +0000

The Big. Band from the UK. That’s all I’m gonna say… -listen to The BiG-