SkaFest Victoria

Now I know you wouldn't take me for a Ska girl.... and normally I wouldn't think I was. But low and behold I decided to check out the Victoria SkaFest finale concert....and wouldn't ya know it, but I liked it!!

First, I have to mention the Eves of Destruction RollerGirls. I didn't even know we had roller derby in Victoria, let alone a whole troop of these kick-ass women. They were the primer act before the concert started and seriously, I would have been happy to watch them all night. Dude, if I wasn't such a sissy I would totally get so into that!!!

The concert consisted of five bands from around the world (well, a couple of countries anyway). I hadn't a clue who any of them were, but I had at least heard of one of them. The show opened to a fairly light crowd with The One Night Band (featuring some dude known as JFK.... he had a good reggae voice, but looked like an accountant or something). They were a fun band with a focus on saxophones and cover tune remakes. Good music for having those first couple of beers.

They were followed by The Sainte Catherines from Montreal. Not sure how these boys got onto the play bill, but they were really fun. Not Ska by any means though....punk all the way. Loud, gravelly, screachy and funny as hell. Lead singer was not a small dude, but played half the set running around in his boxer briefs with his studded leather belt and green plastic 80s sunglasses. Oh, and they said fuck a lot.

By the time The Real McKenzies took the stage (these are the ones I'd actually heard of), the crowd was in fine form, with full on crowd surfing and moshing. Being from Vancouver, this band has played Victoria a lot and they have a dedicated following. Their hot lead singer (think Henry Rollins in a kilt) storms the stage shirtless (*drool) as does most of the rest of the huge band (not so drool). They are very Scottish, very punk, and very Ska. Amazingly fun and talented band.....and who doesn't love a rock band with a bagpiper?!

The band my friends had convinced me to go see was Mad Caddies. I get the impression that I may have been the only person in the room that didn't know who these guys were. They sold a lot of T-shirts that night and the crowd was bloody ecstatic when the band took the stage. I can only describe them as a cross between California surfer rock, Ska, reggae and even some pop in their newer songs. Great horn section (because that's what it's really all about!) and a versatile lead singer that apparently can appeal to pretty much any style of music. I'm in the process of downloading some of their music right now....I loved it that much!

We skipped the headline act (Neville Staple) as I am too old for standing on a concrete floor for 5 hours and my back was killing me. I can't remember the last time I was so happy to sit down. LOL. It was totally worth it though... It's good for me to expose myself to something other than the local modern rock radio station.