SKA DANCE CRAZE PRESENTS...RODDY RADIATION & THE SKABILLY REBELS @ THE BONGO CLUB, EDINBURGH DEC 5TH 2008
There is a song by Roddy Radiation that features the line "It's a long, long road before you get back home." and that was certainly true for The Skabillies on Friday. It took a 7 hour drive from Coventry up to the Ska Dance Craze club night in Edinburgh, Scotland for their much anticipated gig at The Bongo Club. Doors opened at 10pm and a steady stream of people filled up the venue. The diverse audience were first treated to a rousing performance by great support act Big Fat Panda. Fronted by the larger than life Big Andy, their driving ska and catchy original material was a superb opener and the perfect start for the gathered throng. This paved the way for the Skabilly Rebels, who entered the stage to a packed house. With new bassist Mac in tow (previous player Lee has left to be more at home with his young family), the Rebels blew the top off the venue. Tight is the word, their performance was honed to perfection. The crowd first danced, then rioted, then went berserk - for the first time we saw a Skabilly mosh pit and crowd surfing!! As the crowd showed their appreciation the band responded by cranking up their action, with Roddy climbing on the monitors and Sam Smith almost playing in the crowd. Musical mayhem at its best. The Skabilly tunes sound fantastic (roll on that album) and Roddy's Specials creations were thrown in to good measure as were 'Gangsters', 'Do Nothing' and 'Little B-i-t-c-h' (which makes a good rock-a-billy song). Every so often you get THE perfect gig and this was exactly that. Sax player Drew Stanstall added to the cool rockabilly edge as the crowds enjoyed the likes of 'Bonediggin'', 'Man With No Name', 'Forgive & Forget', 'Black Zodiac', and the brilliant 'Blues Attack' plus a rip roaring rendition of 'Johnny' before the set was closed by the blistering 'You're Wondering Now'. The crowd showed their appreciation with a long standing round of applause. The night was completed with aplomb by the resident SDC club band 'This R 2Tone' belting out 2Tone classics including the compulsory stage invasion during 'Longshot Kick The Bucket'. They lapped up the atmosphere and played a cracking show to the appreciative audience. With plenty of bounce and enthusiasm they bring the 2Tone experience to life.
The Skabillies are now on top of their game and its a great time to catch them, they have dates in Jan and Feb 2009 so make it a new years resolution to seek out a gig.

"...... The rain had poured down all day in the North East so the mood was somewhat dreary as we ventured to The Studio in Hartlepool. The Studio is a very intimate but cracking little venue, with superb stage and sound. With a big ska event happening just up the road in Newcastle we were pleased that there was a generous crowd to greet The Skabilly Rebels onstage.

I have seen the band a number of times since its creation and can safely say that the current outfit recruited by Roddy Byers are without a doubt the tightest. The set, which consisted of plenty of original Skabilly material from the much awaited debut album, interspersed with a number of Specials tracks, was definitely the best I've heard and seen and drew many accolades from those attending. A powerful blend of Ska, Rock, Country and Blues were blasted out to perfection and were relished by one and all. Skabilly classics such as "Man With No Name" (A truly fantastic track), "Blues Attack", "Blue Angel", "Johhny" , "Forgive N Forget and "Black Zodiac" were played at full tilt and greeted with hearty cheers from the up-and-dancing crowd. "Keep On Learning" and "Tears In My Beer" from the 90s Specials days and of course the Radiation legends of "Rat Race", "Concrete Jungle" and "Hey Little Rich Girl" sounded great alongside versions of "Little Bitch", "Gangsters" and "Do Nothing" which the Skabillies have tweaked with their own unique stamp.

A combination of good band-to-crowd banter, a warm Hartlepool crowd and the swilling of copious amounts of beer made an intimate gig and rocking night out. The band are flying at the moment and long may it continue. Forget the tribute night down the local, get out and see Roddy and the lads - real music by real musicians, moving forward...."


Paul Willo
SF Promotions

More Info www.myspace.com/skabillyrebels1

"..THE STEADY BOYS - THE BELVEDERE , BISHOP AUCKLAND

SATURDAY 12TH APRIL 2008

Twas a night of ska, punk n oi on the cards at the Belvedere club in Bishop Auckland for this event, which saw Darlington's GMen as headliners. The couple of Oi bands that began the night were pretty much run of the mill and failed to impress me, but one of the support acts were the Steady Boys who hail from Bishop Auckland. I was instantly taken by the band. Think The Specials meet Rancid meet the Clash, throw in a bit of Spunge and youve got a real eclectic mix. They really pulled it off. Their boundless energy (they are young lads mind haha!) goes with the quality of their original material which is expertly crafted. Their sound is well honed and delivered in their own inimitable style. There are many bands out there in the same mould but for me these guys stand out and are destined for bigger things.

The singer has a distinct air of Joe Strummer about him, in his voice as well as his mannerisms.They played a cracking set, full of driving rhythms and their tunes were well received. They played a couple of covers, a well rendered "Rat Race" by The Specials with their own heavy guitar and skanky twist; "The Prince" by Madness (not so well done but it got the crowd up and dancing!) to top a great performance. Their own songs are stomping good tunes and well worth a dance! 

These are a must see but don't sit and tap your foot to em, get up and skank. Superb.

CD Review

"1969" - THE STEADY BOYS

This is the new CD from Northeast Ska punkers The Steady Boys.

If you like your music loud, thrashy, skanky and well performed then this 6 track CD is for you! Litterd with echos of The Clash at their best and provoking lyrics reminiscent of The Specials, the collection rallies through at an unrelenting pace, with great guitar work and foot tapping ska rhythms.

The sound of the angry young man, the top track for me is "Rewind the mess".

Its a great recording and believe me the band sound just as good live.

Keep ur eye on this band, if they keep it up then they have a big future!

Track Listing-
Run To The Guns/ Dead End Jobs / Proper Education / open Your Mouth / Rewind The Mess / North By North

Check them out at-www.myspace.com/thesteadyboysuk

Paul Willo- Street Feeling Inc.

This gig saw the first ever appearance oop north of those late 80s UK ska legends The Hotknives.The gig was made more interesting by the fact that the support band were the one and only G Men- local to Darlington and reformed after a 5/6 year abscence and this was their returning debut gig so we were guaranteed a quality night and both bands didnt fail to deliver.The night was a great high-tempo affair,just what the doctor ordered.The G Men ,a 9 piece ensemble,were first up and to be honest,you’d think they hadnt been away.From the off,the band,eager to impress, did just that and whats more they played their own fine array of original material to boot."Freedom Train",a personal fave of mine was first off and a fantastic skanky train-like rhythm to start.With lead man Andy Dinsdale rolling back the years and the astute prescence of the bowler hatted vocalist the Reverend Sausage (aka Chris Wardell aka Dell!!),the show trundled on at a smooth pace as tune after tune was played out in a very cool polished style.The crowd responded well and filled the dance floor before the raucous finale of "Inner London Violence" brought the curtain down on a fine debut gig.The band have obvious talent and the only way is up from this great start.

Set list - Freedom train/Shout Out/Tory Girls/Valley of The Kings/Sunshine Boy/Wrong with it Johnny/Pink Panther/Victims/Teenage Nightmare/Time Bomb/The Snake/Stop The Clock/Bottle Of Dog/Inner London Violence

The Hotknives were next and it was hig octane ska all the way with their superbly crafted kitchen sink drama tunes belted out for all to enjoy.The band were spot on and professional and endeared the crowd with good time banter.Lead man Mark Carew sounded very close to former front man Mick Clare (now with Squid 58) and delivered a superb personal show as in essence did the rest of the group. Simply ,no one else sounds like The Hotknives and their unique style was a winner here in Darlington.They burst in with the hi -energy "Locked Away"and from there it was non stop,no- pausing- for -breath  ska and a great night was capped off with their "Holsten Boys" encore.The Hotknives are up there with the best of the UK ska acts-catch them if you can.

Set List- Locked Away/Doin Alright/Papers Today/Man In The Cellar/Bad Boyz/Another Day/Trudis Kitchen/Bedsit Land/Accidently Human/W.L.N./Julie Julie/Singing To The Moon/Home/So Blind/You Again/In My Dreams/Driving Me Mad/Dave N Mary/Crying/Holsten Boys/Dont You Go Away