Monkey – La Pobreska – Jokes for Feelings – Bobby Adopted and the Self Inflicted Wounds – at 924 Gilman – Berkley, CA

I'm somewhat ashamed and embarrassed to say that I had been living in the Bay Area for about 9 months without making it to see a show at the infamous 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley. For those of you who have been living under a rock, 924 Gilman is a non-profit, all ages club dedicated to music, mainly Punk, ska, hardcore, and a variety of other genres in that realm.I finally made it out to Berkeley for what they coined as "Ska Night"; the small venue was covered in flyers, graffiti art, and scribbled quotes on the wall that contributes to the venue's laid back and DIY environment. The night's line-up consisted of Aught 7, Bobby Adopted and the Self Inflicted Wounds, Jokes for Feelings, La Pobreska, and Monkey.

Unfortunately, I just missed August 7 by the time I arrived at the Gilman, meaning Bobby Adopted and the Self Inflicted Wounds's set was just about to begin and commence my night of Ska filled tunes, even though Bobby Adpoted were the only straight up Punk band on the bill. From the beginning of the set, a pit full of enthusiastic skankers formed, giving there immense support for the band. However, one particular man in the crowd kept consistently heckling the band; at first, it felt as if they were friends messing around with each other but as their set progressed, the taunts continued and became more serious. Despite the prick, Bobby Adopted and the Self Inflicted Wounds carried on to perform exceptional set.

Jokes for Feelings arrived on stage next. Before they could even begin their set, you could feel the excitement and eagerness for their performance in the room. The pit formed immediately, which was easily the biggest of the night and contained the most energy. With the crowd putting their full effort into dancing, and the band performing their hearts out, they could have easily been the headlining act that night. Their set included songs such as "Jolly Roger" and the sultry tune "Naughty Girl", which has proven to become a favorite at their shows. Jokes for Feelings also treated the audience with a few new and never-before-played songs, which the crowd showed appreciation by skanking with tons of zeal. They expressed gratitude for everyone who came out to support them and the rest of the bands performing, and ended their stellar performance with the hit "Welcome to the Show", causing the crowd to break a sweat and create chaos on the dance floor.

One of the things that stood out the most to me about La Pobreska was the fact that they were from Los Angeles, and classified themselves as "LA Skacore". Due to the fact that most of the songs were performed in Spanish and that a few of the band/crew members were sporting Dodgers apparel, I felt right back at home in Los Angeles. Although the pit wasn't as large as it was for Jokes for Feelings, La Pobreska's proved to be much more combative. The band combined Ska-punk style with hardcore and metal elements, bringing a refreshing and unique sound that the audience embraced and enjoyed.

Last but definitely not least, Monkey finally emerged onto the stage, sharply dressed in all black with a slender red tie. Most of the people had left at this point, leaving an incredibly intimate crowd of approximately 25-35 people. Lead singer Curtis Meacham invited the small crowd to gather as close as they could to the stage to truly participate in the Ska music they were about to play. The third wave Ska group's music also consisted of heavy Reggae influences, reminding one of bands such as the Skatalities, Fishbone, and the Slackers. The very same heckler that was present during Bobby Adopted's set was causing trouble once more and became a prime victim for the band's jokes; he eventually was thrown out and Monkey gave the audience permission to applaud and turn the heckling onto him. Monkey created a fun and laid-back environment, with almost everyone in attendance skanking in harmony to the beat of the Ska music. The band ended their set, thus ending the Gilman's night of extraordinary Ska melodies.

The small and hospitable Gilman proved to be a perfect venue to host such a great night of Ska, and I can safely say that I picked a perfect night to experience my first show there. The variety of Ska bands,from Skacore to Ska infused with Reggae,proved that no matter which type you prefer, everyone can unite and skank for something everyone can agree on- their love for Ska music.

-Sarah K.-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

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