Ska pioneers The Skatalites have the right to brag. After 51 years, the group of session musicians-turned-touring act are still going strong, and a new batch of tour dates confirm they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. A sobering moment occurs when you realize that a band that is still touring has been around for more than twice the years that you have been alive, like some sort of shamanic purveyor of ageless, dance-able tunes. What’s more impressive is when a band that has been together long enough that it could collectively be your dad (sorry mom) can still transcend the nostalgia and put on a solid show.
Lucky for us, one of the recently added shows is at Brighton Music Hall in Allston on Wednesday, May 6th. The Skatalites will be supported by the Chicago-via-Boston funk/dub/psychedelic Van Martin Gordon Band, and it will be the legendary band’s first local show since last year’s stop in Rhode Island during their 50th anniversary tour. The show is 18+, and doors are at 8pm. Tickets to the show are $25, and can be found on Ticketmaster. Given the group’s status and the relatively small size of the venue, I don’t see tickets to this show being available for much longer!
UPDATE 5/4/15 11:15 AM: We’ve known for a while but forgot to update this post! Boston’s own Riki Rocksteady will be opening this bill backed by the Thaddeus Merritt Trio. Join the Facebook event for more info.
Check out the full tour listings over at The Skatalites’ website, and as always check out the show calendar for more local events.
Below, watch a grainy video of the Skatalites playing at what looks like the Middle East Downstairs back in 1995, and really dwell on how this performance was already 30 years into this band’s career, while at that point the person writing this was still getting a good grasp on his fine motor skills (pun not initially intended):
Ska legends on a Boston stage! Not only did they assist in laying the foundations for Ska , but with the comings and goings of so many talented musicians over the decades have created a sound all their own. I am incredibly excited to see them live!
Thanks Boston Ska for announcing their show or I would have missed it.