WHAT THE CRITICS SAY...
Posted on Birmingham City forum December 2006 -
"Many years ago on the banks of the Two Tone river on the outskirts of Xanadu, Punk met Reggae in the back seat of a Ford Cortina and 9 months later, Ska was born.
Last night The Incredible Skank Brothers (or as I prefer to call them... 'The Incredible Skank Brothers') performed a gig of sublime quality at the Plough pub in Gateshead.
All the old greats were recreated from the back catalogue of 'The Specials', 'Madness' and 'Bad Manners' to name but Three, in fact when the opening notes of "Lip up Fatty" began to waft bouncily across the room,
it was almost like a goal going in at St.Andrews, bouncadelic!
They also did a couple of Jam tracks, 'Going Underground' and 'Town Called Malice' getting the Ska treatment for our own benefit.
The iconic Specials hit 'Too Much Too Young' was just too irresistable for myself and the Lady to erm... resist, and a jolly good bounce was the only remedy.
Bouncing home we commented on the excellent high energy, and most delightingly of all, FREE performance, and wondered if this gig would be better than tonights paid for performance
by the Human League at the Newcastle Carling Academy? I have a feeling it just might, but then isn't that so often the way?"
Published in the March-April 96 issue of "THIS", Hartlepool's number one Arts Magazine -
"....IS SKA DEAD?
...Not according to the new up and coming band "The Incredible Skank Brothers". Since they formed in June '95 they have played gigs around Hartlepool and Newcastle to audiences of all ages...."
"....Listening to them rehearse was just heaven, I could imagine myself in the Ten Four Cafe with all my friends, dancing away to Madness, The Beat and The Specials, even though the band do a lot of ska, they do write their own music...."
"....So, if you're ever in the neighbourhood, and they are playing in the pub down the road, go and see them because you won't be disappointed.
So the answer to my question "Is ska dead?"
No, it's still alive and kicking and alive in everyone...."
OLD REVIEW...
An interview with HMS Sid Skank from the new and brilliant zine ABSOLUTLY PISSED, which also contains interviews with Blanks 77, Wretched Ones, Skinnerbox NYC, Broken Heroes, The Business, The Selecter, Eastern Standard Time, Las Naborias and Magadog among others.
ANOTHER OLD REVIEW...
An article about The Incredible Skank Brothers, from Oi/Ska zine THE STREETS.
Printed in The Hartlepool Mail, August 96 -
"....Hartlepool's music scene is enjoying a resurgence...
....and has one of the most vibrant music scenes in the North East of England - just look at the success of Carnival Rock...
....which brought together some of the town's top bands, including ska band The Incredible Skank Brothers...
....who demonstrate that there are a lot of great bands out there that are beginning to put Hartlepool musically on the map."