Syracuse Ska Forum

I was looking through the syracuseska old shows thingy. Saw a few that stuck out in my mind that I remembered.

Sat, Dec 16, 2000
STRAIGHTER THAN PETE (Syracuse ska-punk), STU (Oneonta pop-ska), JUST PASSED (Syracuse punk stars), THE RON JEREMY HORN STARS (Syracuse pop-ska composed of members of the Pink Cheetahs and Straighter Than Pete), COMMUNIST DAYCARE (Syracuse socialist punks) at the Westcott Community Center. All ages, $5 cover.

Sat, Oct 21, 2000
SKARMY OF DARKNESS (Western Mass ska-metal-fury), STRAIGHTER THAN PETE (Syracuse ska-punk), AGENT DOUBLE O ZERO (Ithaca ska-swing), PINK CHEETAHS (Syracuse all-grrl pop-ska debut), BURSTING MOSQUITOS (Syracuse psycho-ska) at the Westcott Community Center. All ages, $5 cover. This was the first attempt at a monthly ska series and everything went extremely well, setting the tone for future shows. Beginning of the "Experiments in Ska" series.



Makes me feel sorry for you old dudes out there, seeing me "remembering" shows that really didn't happen that long ago.

Sat, Dec 7th, 2002 -- CATCH 22, RIVER CITY REBELS, STRAIGHTER THAN PETE (Syracuse ska), THE BUDGETS at Bridge Street Music Hall at Ironix in Syracuse. All ages, $10 cover, doors at 2pm. After Dark Entertainment.

i was so mad i didnt go to that, i was a freshman

It ended up being a strange show. Only like 150 kids, partly because it was a Saturday matinee. And those kids there didn't dance much, in part because there were so few in such a huge room. Rylan from RCR asked me why it wasn't at 505 instead and I had to explain it was because Chris Ring from Buffalo booked it. He put his band The Budgets on it too instead of another local, which could have only helped the turnout.

That's also the show where several kids came up to me to complain that there was only hot water in the bathrooms, which was an obvious ploy by the management to force them to buy bottled water at inflated prices from the bar (c'mon, since when does the cold water fail in a bathroom?). I had to explain that I had nothing to do with that show and that they needed to complain to Matt Dunn, who was supervising the show for Chris. Hate to say it, but that venue deserved to die, honestly.


Even though many of the shows since those are a blur to me (booking 80+ shows in 5 years will do that to you), I recall those 2 shows quite vividly and with much fondness. That first EIS show w/ Skarmy was an innocent leap into the great unknown. We only needed like 32 paid to break even on it, but honestly, we had no idea whatsoever if we'd actually get that many or not. I think we ended up with like 75 paid and by all accounts, it was a smashing success. And thus started a new chapter in our local ska scene history.

BTW, I'm still gratified to see faces at local shows that have been in the Syracuse scene longer than myself, which might surprise most of you (and I won't embarrass anyone by pointing them out). I merely stepped forward when the torch was left lying on the ground, because no one else was picking it up. But I'll always be eternally grateful to Noah, Bruce, Bill, Brandon, Jeff, John and others for passing along a great legacy worth continuing.

Syracuse Ska: Respect the past, represent the future.

I remember Skarmy of Darkness just being so energetic. I remember the trombone player just going everywhere and it was just exciting. This was the times of going to ska shows as opposed to just punk shows.

Anyone remember a show, I don't know who played. I think someone out of town and they brought like tons of these cheezy ass heavy metal trading cards? I actually just found a bunch of em. I wanted to say that was Skarmy as well but I don't think it was.

Last Skarmy show in Syracuse, I arrive way early, so I mill around outside Westcott. The trombone player from Skarmy comes up to me and asks if I'm playing in a band tonight. I say no, but we go up Westcott St for pizza and beers. Afterwards they play an amazing set, and cap it off with a bittersweet goodbye.

It's one of those nights that feels a million years long and still doesn't last long enough, when you know it's likely you'll never see these people again, and even if you did, it just wouldn't be the same.

Damn I love those nights..

Oh em gee, remember the Know How show at Waterstreet? And then Jay's afterwards?

i cant wait until i can look back and say i remember a show that happened a while ago, and be able to miss a band that isnt around anymore. kinda dreading it though, so i enjoy what i got while i got it.

Yeah.

That was definitely one of Those Nights.

What was everybody talking about at Jay's? I was too preoccupied counting out the STACKS OF CASH.

's weird. I remember freaking out beforehand, 'cause I was worried we weren't going to get 50 people, and I was guessing how to put things together.

Wheeling into show #3, it's so much smoother. Tickets are printed up, and I'll have flyers copied and chopped before the night is done. Type up press releases, send press kits out, hit the streets and talk it up. Easy peasie.

I miss Jay's.

It's not really that exciting. Sometimes, in fact, it's depressing when you realize that bands you saw (and were awesome) are now largely ...



well ...



dead.






And the shows are always fun to talk about, but they get built up over time. You've probably already been to ones like that (or if they're not yet, they will be).

Yea, completely. It's just something that gets etched in your memory and every year that passes it becomes more fun and fun a time you had at the show. It's sad to think about all the bands that you've seen, some good some bad, some went on to become huge, some faded into nonexistence.

It's nice sometimes to wander down Memory Lane, but I don't get too hung up on it and I'd encourage others to limit their travels down that avenue too often as well. Hanging out on that block tends to keep you from noticing all the cool new bands forming all over, right under your nose.