The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Western Standard Time – The Interrupters – at The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

On a hot and muggy Saturday evening, Hollywood and The Fonda Theater would be treated to something refreshing. First to quench the musical appetite was Los Angeles natives, The Interrupters. Alot of the talk going into the evening's show was centered on The Bosstones, understandably, but the same couldn’t necessarily be said at the end of the night.

The Interrupters are a four-piece Ska/ Punk band with all the grit and attitude Hellcat Records have been known for. With Aimee Interrupter and her smooth but tough as nails voice and lyrics covering all things from family, to shitting on the Police State. Flanked by the Bivona Brothers: Kevin, Justin and Jesse, The Interrupters sound is fast, aggressive and churned perfectly with Ska’s up-tempo rhythmic scratch and energy. Song after song The Interrupters established themselves amongst some of the young and brightest to emerge in the local music scene. Bands like the Bosstones have made a career off of wonderfully mixing the two elements but The Interrupters have given it their own personality and flair, tunes like “Judge Not” take the classic Robert Nesta Marley song about A individuals right to expression and give it a set of liberties and tattoos. Its that good. With a brand spanking new self titled album just released on August 5th via Hellcat Records, its no surprise that the word is out on The Interrupters. These Cats are definitely worth keeping one good eye on; keep your other eye out for a review of their album coming real soon. To get your copy of The Interrupters newest album, go to Hell-cat.com

Up next to the legendary Fonda Stage: Western Standard Time, a 20+ piece Ska/ Jazz orchestra comprising former members of The los Angeles Ska scene including The Aggrolites, Hepcat, and Yeska. WST specialize in the mastery of traditional Ska music and in particular a magnificent, one of a kind big band tribute to The Skatalites. WST has made its name in Los Angeles as the only Ska Orchestra to give the catalog of The Skatalites the justice it deserves. With only one founding member still with us today (Lester Sterling) The Skatalites music is one to be cherished and revered,WST got The Fonda Theater as close to seeing Tommy, Roland, Don, Lloyd,Lloyd and Jackie as humanly possible. Wasting no time, Long time Orange County Ska personality and radio host of “Ska Parade” Tazy Philips, greeted the crowd and introduced them with a familiar backwards countdown from Ten to One..Freedom! And so the Musical onslaught began. Pulling from all parts of The Skatalites catalog, WST delivered a heavy, precise masterful performance.

Oozing class and talent from every instrument and corner of the stage, but there’s always room for more as made apparent by the surprise guest performance of Alex Desert and Greg Lee of LA third wave trail blazers Hepcat. Alex and Greg’s vocal harmony echo out with style and class that very few can even compare to, and paired with WST, it’s a match made in heaven. As the two launched into ‘Bobby & Joe’ and ‘No Worries’ fans could be overheard in the front screaming “We’re not worthy!” all the while Greg and Alex put on a dancing Clinic we here in Los Angeles have been lucky enough to see over the decades.

With their set expertly maneuvered and executed, fans may not have been given enough time to fully applaud and cheer on Western Standard Time as the curtain descended too early from the rafters,but nothing has stood in the way of fans rushing to social media to follow the band, As you should too.

The wait was now over for the predominantly Mighty Mighty Bosstones crowd, as Dicky Barrett and the boys from Beantown made their way to a deafening roar from their loyal fan base. Making their name in the early 90’s the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have reached all levels of success in the music industry and popular culture as seen and heard in such cult classics like the 1995 film ‘Clueless’ and 1996 film ‘Kingpin’.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have over ten studio and live albums under their hat and on Saturday August 16th  they touched on damn near all of them. Even getting a helping hand from Western Standard time’s Eitan Avineri on Trumpet for a couple songs including ‘The Impression That I Get’all the while the dancing enigma that is Ben Carr “Bosstone” never missed a step. Fans were treated to other classic songs like ‘Dr.D’‘RascalKing’‘Someday I Suppose’‘Hell Of A Hat’‘Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker’‘Toxic Toast’‘The Pirate Ship’‘Wasted Summers’ and for good measure,a sick rendition of The Clash’s ‘Rudie Cant Fail’ with Kevin Bivona of The Interrupters on guitar.

All in all, the night went down as another LA-Boston mash up but this time without the Kevin McHale cheap shot clothesline more like a Kobe Bryant 5th championship ring, because after all, This is LA not Boston.

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

 

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