by Derek Reyes

photographs by Apples

Sweaty tushy cheeked teens, veterans of the punk/ska scene, and a sprinkle of a few geriatrics made it out to the Hideaway Lounge last Tuesday night for a skatastic time with the Toasters and Liquid Cheese. I’d ask, “Where were you?” but there was quite a turn out I think.

Apples, Dozal, and I were tardy to the party due to some misadventures, but we made it just in time for some Liquid Cheese. I hadn’t seen them in ages. They’re a different band now. I understand your sound changes as you mature as a band, but I was expecting more of that upbeat ska band I remembered. That set the tone for me for the rest of the night.

Liquid Cheese did a pretty good cover of “Cisco Kid” by War that turned into “Chuco Kid” as it progressed. The Cheese is still an entertaining group of guys. Sammy, the ginger haired singer/trumpeter, still works the crowd and gets people’s feet moving and that tromboner is something else.

After Cheese played a healthy set, The Toasters took the stage. The Toasters have been around for over 25 years and are one of the most influential third wave bands.

I was pretty excited about it. I’ve seen the Toasters three times before and it had always been a fun time skanking the night away. This time was different though. Singer, guitarist, and the only original member of the New York based third wave ska band, Robert “Bucket” Hingley just seemed completely uninterested.

His face said it all and it seemed like he was just playing to get through the night. I noticed it and it made what used to be good times for me, into a chore. I went from really wanting to be there and write a great story about the night, into something stale and laborious. It’s hard to not have a smile on your face and not dance when there’s just such joyous music being played, but it happens.

The whole thing went sour for me during “Two Tone Army”, which is also the theme song for Nickelodeon’s off beat cartoon show KaBlam! I was standing fairly close to the front and I couldn’t get into the skankalicious sound. Sure they sounded great, but Hingley’s vibe sucked out the fun for me.

I attempted to get into the pit in hopes that it would cheer me up, but it was too crowded and slow moving. Fuck, am I getting too old? Am I just being a bitter crotchety old man? The only thing that made me smile was seeing all those youngsters dancing their asses off and having a blast.

I may not have had a great night but I saw a lot of people skanking with smiles that did, and that’s what the music and night was all about. Thank you to everyone who made the show happen, and thank you to everyone who made it out on Tuesday night.