Pennsylvania Ska News

• Mark from Carbondale (around the Scranton area) plays bass and is looking to start a ska/punk band. Email loserofasort@yahoo.com if interested.

2003:

• Ruder Than You will be doing a show at the North Star Bar (27th and Poplar in Philly) on June 28th!! This is a 21+ show. An all ages show is being worked on for the summer. Check it out if you can.

  RTY 2003 Lineup:
  Freddie Weaver - Vocals
  Doug Dubrosky - Tenor Sax / Vocals
  Chris Klimchak - Trombone
  John Woodman - Drums
  Don Pancoe - Bass
  Rod Martino - Guitar
  Dubside - Sound & Dub
  

Pre Summer 2002:

• Six Foot Smurf is trying to put together an all-ska show in Malvern, PA. They is looking for PA ska bands to help out. If interested in helping, please email SFSContact@aol.com.
• A "fairly established" New Jersery ska band is looking to book some shows in Pennsylvania for July and August 2002. They have a press kit and they'll play for next to nothing. If you can help them get on local shows anyhwere in PA, please email Matt at allfuqtup@yahoo.com.
• Jacob from Slightly Askew is organizing a Pennsylvania Ska Fest 2002 to be held at Mansfield University on September 14th and 15th, 2002. It will be outdoors in the south hall mall of Mansfield University. He'll be accepting press kits with demos soon to book PA ska bands for it. If interested, get in contact with Jacob at breakfastschmrekfest@hotmail.com.
• The Jabsco Project, a NJ ska band, is looking for shows outside of NJ, especially in the Philadelphia area.
• The PA ska/punk band Slightly Askew is planning on releasing their second CD over the summer. It should consist of 10 - 14 songs and will be on sale on their website and at a few local CD stores and also through the RugRubber Records website.
• The Citizens have released a new live album entitled "Harder than You're Used To." It can be purchased from http://listen.to/the_Citizens.
• Agent Double O Zero, a band from Ithaca, NY is looking for some shows. If you can help, check out their website.
• Space Ate Mafia, a ska band from King of Prussia, is still together. I had moved them to the inactive bands list because I hadn't heard from them in a long time, but I was wrong. They have just changed their name to Space 8. They are working on a CD that is looking at a May release...a CD that was produced by Vic Ruggiero!
• The Mansfield, PA ska band Slightly Askew is planning a two week mini-tour in May and are looking for clubs in PA, NJ, NY, DE, CT, and anywhere in the northeast. Check out their website and contact them if you want them to play a show in your town - http://www.dawenet.org/sa.
• The 2000 Penn State Ska Fest did *not* happen October 27th and 28th of 2000. It was postponed for an indefinite amount of time. The lineup for the October weekend was totally confirmed and it looked to be the greatest show this state has seen in quite some time. The lineup was:

  Friday, October 27th
  The Sellouts
  Big D & the Kids Table
  First Grade Crush
  Subb
  No On 15
  Hot Stove Jimmy
  The Pietasters
  
  DJ Chuck Wren...spinning inbetween all sets both nights!!

  Saturday, October 28th
  The B-3s
  The Articles
  King Django
  Deal's Gone Bad
  Eastern Standard Time
  Justin Hinds & the Dominoes
  
  As I said, the lineup was confirmed, but the venue backed out at the last minute. There is currently no location in State College willing to host the show. Watch the page for any Ska Fest updates...you never know when a ska fest could pop up!

• Two NJ ska/punk bands would love to play your town. They invite you to check out their websites and listen to some MP3s. One band is called Folly, a "4 piece punkska/core band that will blow you away." The other band is called Adam's Not Funny, a "7 piece ska/core band with the power to make everyone go nuts." To book them, send a message to skaculator@hotmail.com with your show date - they will play all shows unless they are booked for that date.
• South 18 Entertainment/Rockin Records is looking for its first 2 to 5 artists. There will be a compilation in early 2001, as well. If interested in signing, please send Press Kit/Demo or LP, EP or whatever to South 18 Entertainment/Rockin Records,c/o Jonathan McCune,289 Sherwood Dr,Monaca, PA 15061. Email: rockinrecs@hotmail.com.
• The Royal Noise Brigade (centered in the Lehigh Valley) is looking for a trombone player with qualifications (some skill and soloing experience). Dedication is needed. If interested, get in touch with them at rnbrigade@hotmail.com.
• The Slick Olde Bishops released their 2nd full length album on El Nino Records at the BeeHive Theater in Pittsburgh on April 28th, 2000. The album, "Gettin Rowdy", was recorded at Version City Studios in NYC with Django tweakin the knobs.
• Joe from the band Duck 'N' Cover from Bedford, PA is starting a record company called Little Bus Records and is working on a compilation (They are also looking for new bands to sign and release CDs for). Any east coast ska/punk bands that might be interested can email him at duckncover@dellmail.com
• The Citizens are looking for shows any day between now and the end of August, except for July 18th. Email Jonathan at rockinrecs@hotmail.com for booking info.
• The Citizens headed to the studio to release a full length self titled album that was due out around last summer.
• The New Victim's full length cd "It's Your Life" became available on March 1st, 2000 and you will can order it through their web page.
• Space Ate Mafia's homepage has moved to http://members.aol.com/lobbybear. You can find information there regarding their lineup changes, upcoming shows and much more.
• Someone is looking for a band to play with in or around Philly. He plays trumpet, trombone, and alto sax. If you are interested, email Concrete_Rhythm@hotmail.com.
• Jim from Lansdale, PA is a trombone player in search of a ska band.
• High Beam Blue, a ska-rock band from Upper Dublin, said their new full-length CD would be available around June 5th, 1999.
• 8 Oz. Joe's first CD was released at Cafe Metropolis in Wilkes-Barre on June 26th, 1999.
• "Bob" came out with a CD around Spring '99 entitled "BOOM!" that was independently produced and is distributed by them and their friends at Big Angler Records. They have sinced changed their name to Short for Robert.
• Dan Nenstiel and his friend Barrett have started a new label called Vera Cruz Records. They are looking to release a cheapo compilation or two to start. Any bands interested should get in touch with Vera Cruz at vera-cruz@webtv.net.
• Looking for either a guitarist, bassist, drummer, or horn player to form either a ska, punk, hardcore, or oi! band in the Philadelphia area. (Willow Grove, Abington, Dresher, Hatboro Horsham) If interested, email Richie at skaguy@usa.net.
• High Beam Blue has a demo out and if you want a copy, just email GiSmily@aol.com.
• The Third Annual Penn State Winter Ska Fest happened on February 5th and 6th, 1999. It went well once again!
• 5PointO, a ska-punk band from Kennett Square, PA, broke up on December 19th, 1998.
• On December 11th, 1998 The Slick Olde Bishops released their first full length album entitled "Stomping the Corn" on El Nino Records and it is available at Brave New World and some other select locations around Pittsburgh and you can mail order it for $8 from the band. (or get it for $7 at shows).
• The Upstanders debut album "Waiting for the World to Catch Up" is out now on Reason Records. Go to their web site for info on how to get it. ($10/$11.50ppd)
• Jump Start Records released the Hitmen For Hire's 7" in late September 1998, and they had release parties in October 1998 in State College and Reading.
• Shrimp Skampi and the Skallops officially changed their name to The Blue Roots, and you can find them on Moon Records compilation Skarmageddon 4.
• A Pittsburgh based rocksteady/soul/reggae band is in search of a bassist. If interested e-mail Adam at skadaddie@aol.com for more info.
• Someone is starting a new record label in PA, named Under-Age Records. He needs some bands to sign. He doesn't currently have internet access so please get in contact with him at Jake Bidgood, c/o Under-Age Records, RR#1 Box 151A10, UnionDale, PA 18470, (717) 222-2136.
• The Ska Blazers broke up on Wednesday, July 8th, 1998.
• Two Thousand Flushes, who released a CD (that is now out of print) on Jump Start Records and also had a song on Moon Records Skarmageddon 3 compilation, broke up officially in May 1998.
• The ska/punk band The Antix from West Chester, PA have recently made a deal with Jump Start Records to re-release their self-released CD EP "Battery". The CD is out now!
• The ska/punk band from Altoona, PA that was known as 7/10 Split is now known as The Big'Uns.
• A girl named Dana (she can sing and write songs) is looking to start a ska band in the central PA area. She is from Altoona and is serious about starting a band. If anyone is interested, email her at ArtDana@aol.com or call her at (814) 941-3412.
• Check out Pittska, the new Pittsburgh ska page.
• NotchoMa recently released a CD called "Skamish". It was produced by Dave Ackerman, producer of The Allstonians. There are Guests on a couple of tracks including Rocksteady Freddie and Jack Ruby Jr from the Toasters and Dtrain from the Allstonians.

  If you know of other PA Ska News not listed here, mail me.