Blog
New Album from Big D Out July 7th
Big D and the Kids Table is releasing a new album to coincide with their stint on the Warped Tour. Fluent In Stroll is described as being "a mix of hopscotch, double dutch, soul, ska, and reggae". It is supposed to be closest to their sound on Shot By Lammi. The album drops on Tuesday, July 7th.
JD McGillicuddy's Reggae Night Kickoff
On June 24th, PhillySka.com kicks off a weekly reggae night at JD McGillicuddy's (formerly Whiskey Dix). Every Wednesday starting at 9pm we'll be hooking you up with DJs and bands to enjoy with NO COVER.
Yours truly, DJ Go Feet, will be up this week. Please come out and chill with us. There is food and of course drinks. The specials are:
- $3 island brews
- $5 margaritas
- 5 tacos for $4
- $4 Jim Beam black drinks and shots
Ska Favorites of 2008 (Part 2)
We are quickly approaching the halfway point of 2009. The passage of time allows us to reflect upon music in a deeper way. Sometimes our affections grow as we listen to and process music over an extended period. Other times, we may grow tired of music that once excited us.
In part 2 of this series of posts (click here for part 1), I present some more of my favorite ska releases of 2008 that have thus far withstood the test of time. Hopefully this may turn you on to some gems that you may have missed. You are encouraged to chime in with your thoughts and your own nominations.
RTY Videos - New and Old
Ruder Than You has posted videos of their entire 20th anniversary show set from May 8, 2009 which are split up by song.
Additionally, they have posted 5 retro videos. These are from 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1997. Check out what they were like back in the day.
v4 of PhillySka.com Is Now Live!
Though it's staring you right in the face as you read this, I am happy to announce that the new PhillySka.com is now live. This is the fourth version of the site since it first launched in 2005. I've created a fresh, modern look for the site, worked to simplify it, and added some functionality. It is all part of my ongoing effort to push the boundaries of what a scene site can be.
Notable changes include:
- Overhauled the needlessly complicated user system. Now the log in/out, registration, password recovery, settings, and profile are all quickly accessible from the row right under the main navigtation bar.
- A completely rewritten Shows module with easy sharing of shows on social networks, a link to help you quickly add a show to your Google Calendar, tight integration with Google Maps including the inline generation of driving directions, and a cool new look.
- Some changes in the Blog got pushed out a little earlier, but they include a brand new comment system (to replace the crappy out-of-the-box one), easy social network sharing, and an RSS feed.
- On the Board, the template has been cleaned up. It now displays user profile photos (maintained in your profile) with posts.
More changes will come as I continue to tweak the site. This release contains the essentials.
As with any redesign, there are bound to be some bugs that have been missed. Please report them here on the Board. This site has been tested in Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3, and Opera 9. If you are using Internet Explorer 6 (or earlier), you are strongly advised to upgrade or find a modern alternative. If you need help, I'll be happy to assist.
PhillySka.com v4 Coming Soon!
Work on a new design for PhillySka.com is well underway. I'm holding on to the same backbone, but developing a new template. On top of that, I'm trimming the fat out of some of the existing modules to create a much simpler environment. While in there, I also have been adding some new functionality.
Overall, it's a much more modern look and experience. The template is pretty much done. I'm at the point of tweaking and adding functionality that is essential for launch. Expect to see it soon!
Aggrolites IV – First Impressions
With the Aggrolites’ new album IV due out in less than 2 weeks and a Philly gig following it on June 20th (at least for the 21+ crowd), there are surely plenty of fans out there dying to groove to some new tunes. They tease us now with 2 full-length tracks available for download: The Sufferer and Tear That Falls. Both show a lot of promise, but how has the entire album stack up?
Bringing a Little Sanity to Madness
For newcomers, it can be a daunting task determining where to start and later where to go when it comes to Madness’ extensive catalog of music. In all, the band has so far released 9 studio albums and 36 singles. On top of that there are live albums, 12-inch singles, and a plethora of compilations. This guide covers where a newcomer may want to start as well as where established fans my want to go as they delve deeper into the nutty sounds.
Deal on the 3 Latest Stubborn CDs
Stubborn Records has listed a deal which allows you to get its 3 most recent CD releases for the pre-sale rate provided that you buy them together. It comes out to $9 each. These include:
- Bomb Town - Interrobang
- Sic & Mad (Slackers side project) - Songs for the Revolution
- Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep
To take advantage of the offer, order direct from Stubborn here.
Ska Favorites of 2008 (Part 1)
We are quickly approaching the halfway point of 2009. The passage of time allows us to reflect upon music in a deeper way. Sometimes our affections grow as we listen to and process music over an extended period. Other times, we may grow tired of music that once excited us.
In this series of posts, I present some of my favorite ska releases of 2008 that have thus far withstood the test of time. Opinions may vary, so be sure to chime in with your thoughts and feel free to share your favorites. Hopefully this will help bring attention to releases that some may have missed.
