Double treat for ska

Steve Kendall | Bendigo Weekly | 14-Sep-2012

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The Resignators
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SKA fans, get ready to skank.

NYC Toasters are on their way to The Palais at Hepburn Springs tonight, with support from local band The Resignators.

There’s original ska music, and then there was Two Tone from the UK, but the Toasters were certainly in the third wave.

What’s more this New York band is celebrating 30 years in the game.

Influenced by the Two Tone sound, the Toasters have since carved their own name and will spread the love in this, their first Australian tour.

Support band The Resignators have been around in one form or another since 2005, and today they boast their strongest line-up ever.

They are now a seven-piece with lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums, organ, trumpet and trombone. The band is more home spun than the Toasters, albeit with an American guitarist Steve Douglas who now lives in Daylesford via the US and the Bahamas.

“I learned my first ska tunes from Bahamien women in the 1960s,” he said. “It’s kinda stuck.”

“I was listening to Prince Buster just this week too.”

Steve came to a bluegrass festival nine years ago in Australia and was hooked.

“I met a wonderful Australian lady Stacy, and took to the more relaxed style here.

“Two years ago The Resignators were looking for a guitarist, and Stacy plays keyboards, so we both auditioned... we both passed too.”

The tour takes in some capital cities but Hepburn Springs offers a venue of some style.

“Ska fans will have a great time on the sprung dancefloor,” Steve said.

He said The Resignators are third wave, perhaps fourth wave ska, and explained the band had plenty of styles on offer.

“We have edges of rockabilly and punk in there too,” he said.

“But you’ll certainly hear some influence from Two Tone.”

”We cover a lot of sounds, and we certainly love the horns.”

Steve said he likes to show touring artists what Australia has to offer, but is no stranger to the place himself.

“I have been on four or five... or is it six tours of Australia.

“We also went on a 28-day 26-date tour in continental Europe that was great.”

Steve said the band was true to the sound.

“We’re honouring the old... and pushing it further.”

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