Thanks East Bay Express!

BEST SKA BAND – The Uptones

American ska is far less celebrated than its Jamaican and English counterparts. Yet the up-tempo, dance-friendly genre has had considerable impact on pop culture, having influenced everyone from Sublime to No Doubt to Green Day. One of the first (and greatest) American ska outfits, however, was raised right here in the East Bay — the Uptones. Products of Berkeley High School and Cazadero music camp, the Uptones became a force to be reckoned with on the local live music scene in the early ’80s, skanking onto radio airwaves with their powerful anti-war jingle, “Out to Sea.” which led to a deal with now-defunct I.R.S. records (one of the tastemaking indie labels of that era). Despite massive amounts of critical acclaim — Crawdaddy called their Live at Gilman Street album the “best live ska record ever” while Rolling Stone exclaimed “this record rocks from beginning to end” — their I.R.S. debut K.U.S.A. failed to capture their live show. The band broke up more than two decades ago, although members continued on in Stiff Richards and Hobo. But the ska jones never left their bones. Earlier this year, the newly reunited Uptones released Skankin’ Foolz Unite on Fun Fun Fun Records and have been playing shows ever since, as if to make up for lost time. The Uptones’ philosophy is probably best summed up by the lyrics of “Skanking Fool,” which state: So don’t be surprised if you feel the beat/Don’t be ashamed if you move your feet/In an East Bay style that’s doctor approved/Nobody bounce back like a skanking fool.

SKA-T TAKES THE PLUNGE!

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCOTT BERTRAND AND THE SKANKING_FOOL

Fool: What is the purpose of ska?
Scott: To make you skank your ass off.
Fool: Here’s a tough one, is there more than one way to skank?
Scott: My personal research confirms there are an infinite number of ways to skank. But remember, all dancing is not skanking. Conversely, all skanking is dancing. Those facts alone take practice.
Fool: Who was the first trumpet player in the UpTones?
Scott: The Rev. Paul Jackson was the first, but he soon switched over to play his massive Organ.
Fool: Those are some big shoes to fill. Are you up to the gig?
Scott: I wear size 13’s. Big enough?
Fool: Are pelicans ska?
Scott: Of course, and so are penguins.
Fool: Is it true that in the UpTones new song, Ridiculous, you re-task the common household plunger and turn it into a mute? What’s your secret technique?
Scott: Fool, it’s all about the wrist. If you shake it just right, anything can happen. The key is in the timing.
Fool: Makes perfect sense. Scott, is it possible to play ska properly without a kick ass horn section?
Scott: No.

WELCOME DESMOND!

Desmond Beach Loves Ska

The entire Uptones family welcomes Desmond Alexander Beach,
Born: Saturday November 4, 2006 at 9:38 am. The proud sax playin’ dad Adam Beach and his lovely wife Erin King, announce that he is already learning to skank, albeit horizontally.

Adam started playing sax for the Uptones in ’85. You can hear him ripping it up on the Live!! 924 Gilman CD. After the Uptones split for a lengthy vacation in ’90, Adam went on to tour with Zulu Spear, the Square Roots and other notables. When we decided the band should reform in the spring of 2002, Adam was my first call. I knew Paul and Ben were in; Charles had just moved back from New York, and we all agreed on Adam. After bit of juggling and a cross country move, Mr. Beach resumed his post as reeds genius and resident musicologist in the Uptones. For a taste of his sexy sax playin, give a listen to Physical High and East Of A Western Bay from the Live!! 924 Gilman CD.

Cheers to Desmond, Erin, Adam, and all our lovely fans.

– Eric