What the hell happened here?

Yeah I know I fell off the face of the planet, and you probably didn't really care.
But the reasons are simple

1) I got way to busy to worry about this blog. I transferred Schools and started my Musical education all over again. Its been wonderful so far; learned more then I could of imagined! But it takes a lot of my time, as it should.

2) I'm tired of this whole scene. Not only am I tired of the local one but I'm tired of the global one. I'm tired of listening to people piss and moan to each other and I'm tired of the lack of actual community cooperation...in a community that does nothing but preach for such cooperation. The music has grown stale with bands churning out albums only to sound like a previous hit; try a new progression for crying out loud! Getting a show booked is more about politics then it is about trying to keep the music alive; only to watch that show fail horribly with the blame being put on anyone but who is to blame. In a community where people should do something for each other just out of love for the music, it seems like you have to beg and bargain to get just about anything.

Anyway
This blog...I don't know, I have some plans but I'm not going to say what as who knows if I'll get busy with them or not.
If anything does happens it will not solely be a Ska music blog. Of course it will be about music but on a broad spectrum and will include art, rants, news and much more.

As for me I'm currently working on some small projects and trying to get some big ones going.
But mostly my education in Percussion is what I'm really busy with.

p.s. I forgot to mention! You can download my last acoustic album at Skaspot network. http://skaspot.ning.com/profile/kevinwska

An Update!!

OMG an update!

Ok so I'm going into my third week at the new school and I'm gonna get back to updating this thing. I was gonna transfer all the reviews to a new blog and leave this just for my music; but in short I'm not sure what I'm doing with my music so that idea is on hiatus. Thats all I'm gonna say about that for now.

Anyway! I should have some reviews coming up soon

Ska is Dead Comp
Buck-O-Nine: Sustain
Mad Caddies: Keep it Going

Hopefully sometime in the near future:
Mustard Plug : Black and White

and...whatever else I've said in the last few updates...

Peace!

Kevin Willingham's Full Length

Is Now Available to Purchase!

The total price for the entire CD comes to 8 US dollars. That is the cost of the CD and shipping! No adding is needed when you click the button its all set and ready when you click it.

Directions:

1. Click the button - Buy Now

2. If you are a Pay Pal Member sign in and follow the onscreen instructions. If you are not a Pay pal Member click the blue Continue link in the left corner that is buy the picture of the Credit Cards and reads: "Don't have a PayPal account?
Use your credit card or bank account (where available). Continue" Then follow the on screen instructions

You should also have an "additional instructions" field where you can tell me what color inserts you want; Black and White (as Shown) or Black and Blue.

Please be careful when entering your Email address and Shipping Address! I will use that email to hopefully inform you when the CD has been shipped.

If you have any questions email me at kevinwska@gmail.com

Full Length album to be released!

On July 28th!

Well for the most part my first full length album will be released on July 28th!
Let me explain this.
Taking a page out of Dan Potthast's book I am pre-releasing my album. I've both found interest in my album with an inability to press it and then the complete lack of interest; I guess thats just how things work!
So I'm gonna release it myself for the time being. I've made up special album art for this and there are some other surprises.
I'll be including three bonus tracks for this version of the CD. Two of which are "live" tracks (simple house party thing infront of friends) and then one other track that is for another project all together. One of the live songs has never been released in any form before; the other bonus track has only been available for online stream.

This album is basically what you would of been getting had a label picked it up; but with less pro cd pressing, different art etc.

What does this mean for the future? Well if this goes like I figure (only selling a few to keep shows going and such) then I'll be working on new tracks and redoing the previous songs possibly to get it ready for the attention I think it deserves someday.
If this goes over well and sells well I'll do a little of the above and take the cash and have myself give it the attention it deserves!

You'll be able to get it in two and maybe three ways. The first way is if you see my in a concert of course, and the day it is going to be released is being shared by the St. Louis Ska fest I'm playing at.
The second way is I'm going to set up a Pay Pal Account to accept both paypal payments and credit cards.
The third way which may be ready or may come later is mail order, I'll need to get a PO Box for that.

So there you have it!

Here is some pics and a track listing


For those that might be wondering. It won't just come in black and white! I'm also printing this in black and blue; more colors might come later. I'll let you pick from certain colors when you order.

Updates Coming Soon!

Alright I have FOUR album reviews coming up!

1. Magic Goat - Stuck in Traffic
I already featured them in a band review/article but I now have their full album and figure they deserve a review. Their show in St. Louis on the 7th was great! If you see them coming through your area you better go to that show!

2. Mad Caddies - Keep it Going
Mad Caddies latest album coming your way

3. Reel Big Fish - Monkeys for Nothing and the Chimps for Free
We shall see how RBF fair on this release coming 2 years from the last one. I don't know when I'll get to this one, but I will! So stay tuned for that.

4. No Torso - Several Brains
Catching up on another last season release I'll be reviewing the catchy sounds of Norway's No Torso.

ALSO I should have some news regarding my own music coming up. SO be on the lookout for that.

Help me out!

Ok I want to keep the stuff like the previous article going.
But I'm one guy with little time and little patience...and I'm forgetful about this kinda stuff, real bad during the summer.

So! If you are in a band/artist, know a band, love a band etc etc
That you think deserves a little limelight send me a msg!

I'll look them over listen to their stuff and we can see what happens.

Also I can't keep track of all the releases on every label. So if there is a sweet album coming out and you think I should do a review. Send the notice me way! Hell if one has been out and you just want some opinion or you're thinking "Why hasn't that cool guy name Kevin reviewed this album?" contact me!

Peace,
-Kev

Bands You May Not Have Heard Of - No Outlet

Welcome back true believers. For the second installment of this hopefully growing series that I started way back with Magic Goat we have No Outlet!
No Outlet is a young Ska band that hails from somewhere I hope to never go again, Texas. Despite their age and relative new steady formation they are a solid band of musicians. You can see the progression and growth of this band if you listen to their older songs compared to the more recent; its always great to see a band growing.
I definitely suggest that you go to their web page (http://www.myspace.com/nooutletska). The two songs that they have up from their most recent album, It's Time, are very well written songs and if any true example of the whole album would make the album worth picking up. Life's a Game is a little more on the pop side of things. Its a fun song with really catchy horn lines and hooked lyrics. The beats change and don't become stagnit and there are some breaks just using one instrument which shows some thought was used; instead of just playing and playing the same all the way through. Every instrument is allowed to have its moment to shine, which is good.
Red Handed is much harder, but still maintains is hooks. I also like that while being maybe on the fast side the drums don't push it anymore; keeping the beat while holding back to keep the song from feeling rushed. Some people may not like the distorted song, but it works well and I can't find a problem with it; where a lot of times too much distortion ruins the feel. Something noteworthy about this song and even others is when it comes to the horn lines the highs and lows are balanced. Some bands tend to play in one octave too much which can grow weary on the ears.
Thats all I have to say about them in my review. I'd certainly go give them a chance and give the songs a listen, its worth it.
http://www.myspace.com/nooutletska

Now here is an interview with Eric the vocalist and guitarist.

1. So lets start off with the standard stuff. Tell us about the band in general: ages, outside involvement, personalities etc.

Colin-18- Cut from high school baseball team, is now depressed, but not really. Music major. Eric (me) -17-In free time manages the band,plays the guitar, jokes around, and ... patrols the internet. Brandon-18- Recently got his tattoo, plays bass, and works hard for his money ;). John-18- Watches indie films,plays drums then makes films. Jake-17- Band Mascot, and plays trumpet good. Stephen-16- Plays Pokemon all day and everyday, and occasionally trombone.

Basically, Me, John, and Brandon started playing at the end of 2003, and had some brass members come and go but we found a steady brass section at the end of last summer. We Recorded a cd with our members that went off to college, and this summer we went on a small tour and on July 8th we starting working on our next cd, which will blow the old one out of the water.

2. Whats it like to be a young Ska band these days? What is your general reception?

Well it sucks because no one takes you seriously at face value, the find out how old you are and assume you wont be good. When people do hear us play though they come up and tell us they were totally surprised, which we take as a compliment. People have told us, that wanting to be in a national touring ska band is a stupid aspiration for our life, and we intend to prove them wrong.

3. What is the Ska scene in your area like? Any other bands we may know of?

The Ska scene is terrible. Plenty of bands in North Texas but nobody goes and sees them. Plenty of people like ska, but hardly any go to the shows. Uh, Detonate? They are doing some national touring lately, but not any name brand bands. Just local bands, it's Texas.

4. What are the roles/jobs of each band member? Who lends more work to the song writing process?

Well, when we writes songs, I write lyrics and try and bring the beat in my head to the guitar. Then I show it to the rest of the guys and they right the respective parts, for their respective instruments. Usually for the brass, one person writes a song, and then other people harmonize notes. Then if part of the song doesn't sound right, some one says to cut it and that part of the song goes away. Everyone tweaks the songs equally.

5. What are your ambitions for the future? Any plans for a tour?

We think that people will really like this new CD,so hopefully it will launch into something more widely know. Maybe a label but not for money. Hopefully we will be able to tour this upcoming summer for a few weeks. We made some friends while on our little tour this summer, so they said that we could come out to San Diego and LA and they would hook us up, and we'll just "mypace" our way to the rest of the tour.

6. What band or artists do you hold as role model?

Uh, I personally hold Jessie Michalels of the highest regard, but I think we all idolize the Specials, the Bosstones, the Cat Empire, the Slackers, Cacth 22 (all of it), and anything with a baritone sax.

7. If there is something you personally could do differently in your music; what would it be?

Write slow songs like The Slackers, Westbound Train, and Sublime.

8. As a band do you hold any social or political ideals?

Um... Half the time the lyrics are political and social, but slightly veiled in metaphors. Everyone in the band has their own ideas on things, so as a band we have no collective views, the music should speak for itself. How lame would it be to see some ska band bad mouth The government and how we should over throw it. You are there to listen to music, not the revolt of the liberals. So...not really no.

9. What is the one band you would love to play a show with?
Streetlgiht Manifesto, be cause they are good, and the exposure would be amazing.