I'm excited to finally announce that my fellow New York City-based ska blogger Duff Guide To Ska (Steve Shafer) and I are teaming up to present monthly ska and reggae shows at Characters NYC, a midtown Manhattan Irish pub with a big back room ideally suited for live music.
We are calling our joint venture Electric Avenue after the powerful Eddy Grant song that name checks the main street that runs through the Brixton section of London (it was the first street in London to be wired with electric lights). Ostensibly about the Brixton Riots of 1981, Electric Avenue is also where Caribbean and European cultures come together on market day. It was this idea of the mixing of cultures that inspired us to try the same thing with the many different ska, reggae and rock steady bands playing music across the Northeastern U.S.
Electric Avenue is our attempt to have some fun, support the ska scene and most importantly, bring ska music back to Manhattan, where it was born with The Toasters, Beat Brigade and N.Y. Citizens in the early 80's. Electric Avenue is a non-profit venture--all of the $7 cover at each show will be split equally between the bands. We don't plan to take a cut, nor does the venue, so you can be assured that if you come out to see a show, the money you pay will directly support the band's playing that night.
Speaking of the bands, we are kicking off our first show on Saturday August 4th with two of the best purveyors of dirty reggae -- The Hard Times from Brooklyn and The Snails from Philadelphia.
The Hard Times - Fattie Fattie
The Snails - Live From The East Room
Our second show on September 15th will be one for fans of old school New York-styled 2-Tone with The Beat Brigade and my band Bigger Thomas.
Our third show on October 13th will feature Boston-based reggae band Destroy Babylon and a special guest.
We also plan to have guest DJs and selectors at each show spinning the best in ska and reggae.
We hope to see you at one of our upcoming shows!
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