FORT! The Last Show: July 10th Show at Middle East Club to be the Band’s Last

fort promo

In a blow to those of us who like to party in basements with their friends, the Allston based FORT! The Band announced their last show via their Facebook Page on Sunday:

It was 6 years ago when a few art students and childhood friends found themselves in a basement on Mansfield Street, in Allston, Massachusetts. Through mutual appreciations for certain forms of art and entertainment they recognized a mutual interest in starting a band. They named themselves after a joke. With a bit of practice and thought, they soon enough were debuting their efforts in that very basement. Two other bands, Detonate, from Texas, and Marx Revolution, also played this show. If their self written biography is to be trusted, over the six following years, and through various incarnations, FORT! the Band brought their “rash, eclectic electricity to stages across the northeastern United States.” They made ten albums and went on three or four real rock and roll tours.

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CONTEST: Win Tickets to The Specials Pre-Party with King Django and Version City Party

King Django’s Version City Tour provides the pre-show festivities for The Specials on Thursday night at House of Blues Boston. Win a pair of tickets from Boston Ska (dot) net!

The Selecter Play Paradise Rock Club September 21

the selecter

We owe the biggest tips of the hat to Marco on the Bass for sharing news of upcoming east coast tour dates for two-tone era British ska bands The Selecter. Talk about the bucket list! Here’s another band I’d comfortably filed under “never see.” But sure enough, they scheduled a few west coast dates, played Coachella, and I thought, “this could happen!”

Just months after The Specials play the House of Blues, The Selecter will grace the stage of Paradise Rock Club on Saturday, September 21st. This is an 18+ affair. Tickets will run you $26 and they’re on sale now. Does it feel like a two-tone revival is happening? The English Beat gets as close as Natick July 18. I’m still holding my breath for Madness (I’m convinced I’ll be flying across the pond for that one).

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Poor Jeremy Teases Debut EP, Spare Change; Record Release on July 14th at the Midway Cafe

It wasn’t too long ago that Poor Jeremy seemed like the newest ska-punk band in town. Forming in the early part of 2012, they started playing gigs at the end of last year. In the six or so months since, they’ve really  hit the stage hard. Watching their stage presence evolve over that time, I am more than excited for the debut EP, being released at the Midway Café  on July 14th.  Joining Poor Jeremy on stage is Maine’s favorite band that Just Won’t F%$#ing Die, Sonic Libido. Watertown’s youthful punk-ska powerhouse, The Rolling Coasters will be putting their energy on display. Rounding out the bill, Boston’s The New Limits will be setting the mood with their sweet brand of ska, rocksteady, and soul.

Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain
Sunday, July 14
8pm doors, 9pm show
21+, $5 at the Door
Facebook Event

UPDATE 7/14/13: The Poor Jeremy EP is now available on Bandcamp.

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A Guy Named Guy Returns Home from Tour; Presents Local Showcase at Middle East

a guy named guy may 2013 tour

a guy named guy may 2013 tourEarlier this month, Boston’s own A Guy Named Guy set out on a three-week tour across the Northeast and Midwest USA. I can’t think of any other Boston ska bands that have done any serious touring recently (save for Big D heading out on Warped Tour this summer), so let’s give these guys some respect; touring isn’t easy in the slighted, especially for 7 or 8-piece ska/punk bands. Their first show kicked off in Allston so it’s only suitable that they circle back and close out the tour in Cambridge. Touring can be strenuous, so it’s nice to start and end with fans and friends.

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The Regulars: Rude Sounds Monthly Early Reggae, Ska & Rocksteady DJ Night at Zuzu

rude sounds third thursday zuzu 2

rude sounds third thursday zuzu 2While we all fancy ourselves Spotify and iPod DJs, sometimes you just need the real thing to get the party going. At Rude Sounds, these DJs do just that.

Once a month, you can swing by Zuzu Bar in Central Square to catch Selectors Nate EaseUp and Dandy Dan spin early reggae and classic ska. With plenty of room to dance and a little bit of seating, you can definitely unwind from the week to the tunes that got this whole ska thing going.

There’s no cover and the drinks are reasonably priced. Swing by after the show at Radio Bar! That’ll be my first stop tonight. Here’s the Facebook Event for tonight.

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Roadtrip: The Apple Stomp Two-Day Ska Festival in NYC, May 31-June 1

We’re clearly going to The Apple Stomp, a two-day ska festival at Irving Plaza in New York City. The bill boasts a handful of the strongest current touring ska acts, but the real treat is the reunion of many defunct acts from the late 90s.