'Scuse Us While We Kiss the Ska

It may come as a shock, but Arizona has something of a vibrant ska scene. Granted, it’s not as expansive or off-the-chain as our state’s hip-hop or rock communities, but we can think of almost a dozen different ska bands that have been unleashing Rude Boy and 2-Tone beats around AZ in recent years. A decade ago, there were only a handful of (since defunct) bands like Kongo Shock and Warsaw; these days, local venues regularly host such skankmasters as Abraham Drinkin’, 2 Tone Lizard Kings, and Troy’s Bucket. If you wanna get hip to the rocksteady beats, peep the monthly Ska Shock showcase at Clubhouse Music Venue, where local rudies do their thing. This month’s gig features performances by 2 Week Notice and Soulafide, as well as SoCal’s La Banda Skalavera, which pushes a Latin-tinged vibe.
Thu., July 3, 7 p.m., 2008