I might run one more (all-local) show this summer, but the fact is that I am burned out and need to take a break.

Organizing shows is fun, but lately it's more headaches than I care to deal with.  When I come back, it will be on my own terms and there will be a bunch of irritating rules and guidelines for the shows I run.

I do way too much work myself, and I'm terrible at delegating.  I'm tired, and don't want to go on like this.

So I'm going to stop, catch my breath, and develop a plan so that the labor is better distributed, everyone knows what is expected of them and how they stand to benefit.

So I'm off to make a better way.  Until then, don't call us, we'll call you.

Be seeing you.

-Twitch

Admission is $15 the day of the show, but advance tickets are only $12.

They're available at the Brew Haus - (585) 621-1480 for info
Skannotto and the BurTones have tickets as well, plus the Record Archive and Lakeshore Record Exchange also have them on sale.  Room 30 will have tickets soon, and more outlets will be announced.

The price is $12, regardless of who you buy them from, so show your support for your favorite band or record store, then come check out a cool night of tunes.

Be seeing you,
Twitch

Belated congratulations to The LeVar BurTones for rising above the tide of ____-core bands to win the grand prize at the 2006 Water Street Battle of the Bands!

And last night, Williamson ska upstarts Kevin Jones and the Other Tones, in their first big gig, advanced to the finals of the BOTB at California Brew Haus!

Well done, guys; if we keep this up, ska will rule the world again in no time.

So get up offa that thing and skank 'til you feel better!

-Twitch

I got into this business to rock the hell out of every show we run, and it's about time I threw some weight behind that conviction.

I book bands that kick ass and venues that are fun to be at.  If you come to a show and you don't agree, if you don't have a good time, tell me what needs to change and I will give you your money back. (DON'T ask the door guy for your money - his job is hard enough as it is.  I will pay you out of my pocket.)

I want my shows to rock your face off.  If I can't do that, I don't deserve your money.  It's that simple.

-Twitch

You probably noticed the 585 SKA banners that are spreading across Myspace, and you may be puzzled. I'll get to that in a moment.

I'm gearing up for the first full round of merch - 1" pins and back patches in addition to the stickers and 2.5x3" patches from last time.

So the question came up - do I stick with ROC-SKA, or do I use something different?

I went with 585 SKA for a couple reasons.

1. (the not-so-obvious reason) 585ska.com is easier to remember. I figure more than a few would-be fans are bedeviled by that sneaky li'l hyphen.

2. (the more obvious reason) Not all the ska shows around here are in Rochester! (blame that oversight on yours truly - I live in the city, and I naturally tend to focus on my immediate surroundings.) Plenty of shows are coming together in Avon, Gates, Charlotte, Fairport and Williamson, to name a few new hotspots.

Anyway, here are previews of the new merch:



With luck, they will be on sale at the Taj Motel Trio show before the end of July, along with patches in two sizes - 2.5x3" and 8x10"

(but don't throw away your ROC-SKA stuff! The domain's still active until 2008, and now the original swag is "limited edition"! :P)

...if you make me happy

You want a show? I want a press kit. Here's what should be in it.

SHORT band bio (1-2 paragraphs, under 150 words.)

phone number to give the press (should they decide to interview you)

cell phone number to contact you on the road (at least one, more is better.)

press photo(s) - at least 1500 pixels wide (at least one, more is better.)

music to post on our myspace profile and to send to local music journalists (mp3s preferred, 3 minimum, more is better.)

band logo for flyer design (graphic should be minimum 1500 pixels wide, font preferred - go pick a free one out!)

gear you use (specs and dimensions) plus tech/sound needs (I like to make our sound engineer happy, too. Floor plots are awesome. :D )

Technically not a press kit component, but tell me how much money you want. This is not a bid, it is not set in stone. Just give me a ballpark figure. (And if you want $100 or more, give me compelling reasons to go with it.)

Send your press kits to kits@roc-ska.com

If all goes well, I will run three shows between June 21st and July 17th.

Mike has one on the drawing board.

Laura of Just for Kix wants to put one together as well.

There are a couple other people setting stuff up too.

There may be as many as eight all-ages/16 ska and/or punk shows in that 27-day period.  That's an average of one show every 2-3 days

I'm concerned about overlap and stretching the audience too thin. This is your fair warning:

I DO NOT WANT A BAND ON ONE OF MY SHOWS IF THAT BAND PLAYS ANOTHER SHOW IN MONROE COUNTY WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF THAT DATE.

If I have a choice of a local band that's playing a show six days before or eight days after, and a local band that doesn't have anything going for two weeks either way, I will pick the second band, because they have less going on.

If I book your band on a show, and you're offered a show date within ten days before or after my show, you have to choose.  If another promoter asks you to open for Reel Big Fish or Streetlight, more power to you, but I have to look out for the musicians and venues I've already committed to.

It's that simple.

This may or may not become a permanent rule for Huckleberry Promotion.  But it will be in effect for JUNE and JULY.

Please keep this in mind.

-Twitch

EDIT: This guideline is permanent until further notice, and in effect for all Huckleberry Promotion bookings, regardless of genre.

Manoman, what a great show!  Skannotto was on point, and they brought the heat!  The Flour City Knuckleheads tore it up with their triple-guitar assault, and surprise guests The Tossers made a big impression with their beer-soaked blend of Irish folk and punk.

When the Pietasters took the stage, there was no doubt who was in charge! Their ska-soul-rock'n'roll style sent the crowd into a half-skank, half-mosh frenzy.

Definitely a show I'll remember for years to come.  Thanks to everyone who came and rocked out with us!

I dropped the ball on one thing, though - no camera!  Anybody who took photos, send us a link to your photo album, or better yet, share your favorites on the Rochester Ska Forum or Upstate Stomp.

-Twitch

Click Here To View Event
Hosted By: Ska Danny
When: Thursday Jan 05, 2006
at 6:00 PM
Where: UCF Underground
512 Westcott St (Entrance on Beech Street)
SYRACUSE, NY 13210
US

Mrs. Skannotto (Rochester's rising stars of ska-reggae-rock)


The Stereo-Types (Kansas ska-core)


RazSum Unplugged (Derek & Mike play acoustic)


The Secret Ions (new Syracuse ska-punk)


All ages, admission $7, 6-10 pm
Presented by Kingston Beat Productions