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Local Stuff You Should Know #3

Ska is still stopmin' in AZ whether you like it or not.

Acecentric • Monday, May 18, 2009 • 11:50 AM

Many American ska bands, both past and present, have been majorly influenced by punk. In fact, the music of some of the "ska" bands that have been more widely accepted has been considerably more punk than ska (think Less Than Jake, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, etc.). Historically, Arizona has had one of the better ska scenes in the country, believe it or not. In the mid to late 90s, ska bands could be seen at venues almost every night of the week. One of the more popular weekly ska events being Moonstomp Wednesday's at Boston's in Tempe. This was the epitome of ska's thriving metro-phoenix scene in Arizona during the late 90s. While the popularity of the music has waned over the years, and the size of the local ska scene has diminished, bands continue to record and perform the music all over Arizona.

2 Tone Lizard Kings

2 Tone Lizard Kings

Formed in 2004, this "keg party with horns" has rapidly become a fixture in the AZ ska scene. The 7-piece group from Tempe, AZ has shared the stage with many of the legendary bands that have influenced their music including The Toasters, The Slackers, and The Pietasters, just to name a few. 2TLK plays regular high-energy shows and regular parties. The incredible performances always please even the toughest crowd. To follow up their 2008 release Bombs Away, the 2 Tone Lizard Kings are working on a new album and planning a west coast tour.

Ska City One

Ska City One

If you're looking for roots music in Tempe, AZ, this is your band. Ska City One is a traditional ska ensemble made up of members of The Upsteadys, Kongo Shock (remember those guys from back in the day?), Soulafide, & the 2 Tone Lizard Kings. Complete with upright bass, Ska City One's traditional sound is a breath of "fresh" air to the Arizona ska scene. For those wanting to purchase music by this band, you're out of luck. The band has recorded music at various points, but they have nothing available for purchase. Ska City One's performances are always a treat, but sadly, the band's performances are rare.

The Braskies

The Braskies

Hailing from Cottonwood, AZ, The Braskies are fairly new on the scene. With only a couple years under their belts though, they just might play the most shows of any AZ ska band. Not limiting themselves to the not-so-bustling town of Cottonwood, the band frequents the Phoenix-area, and it's not uncommon for their show schedule to contain performances in both southern and northern Arizona. In a very short amount of time, the Braskies have built up an impressive following, and they have found their way onto some impressive bills. Their current schedule has the band sharing the stage with such acts as The Aggrolites, The Aquabats, and Mustard Plug.

And just in case you're looking to expand your music selection, you should check out these non-AZ bands too:

• La Banda Skalavera (SoCal)
• Monkey (Cupertino, CA)
• Starpool (Anaheim, CA)
• Westbound Train (?)
• The Debonaires (Riverside, CA)

Check out and ArizonaSka.com for the latest ska-related happenings in AZ.

If you have a list of local punk shit that you want to share, hit us up in our contact sectionAZPunk needs your participation! and let's talk. We definitely can't cover all these angles alone.

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