Phila. fest spotlights ska bands

By Peter Woodworth
Freelance writer for the Burlington County Times
Published: Saturday, April 1, 2006

Regular readers have probably noticed that I go out of my way to find good ska shows whenever they come to town. So it's probably no great surprise that with the Philly SkaFest kicking off at the Trocadero tomorrow night, I couldn't be happier.

Ska has been close to my heart since college, when I first got hooked on the sound of the reggae rhythms mixed with punk energy and played with a unique sense of style (and often a healthy sense of humor). As might be expected from such a diverse pedigree, ska is an incredibly versatile music form, with bands ranging from the classic Jamaican sounds of Toots & the Maytals to the hyperactive Less Than Jake and the slick groove of the Slackers and everything in between.

Indeed, one of the best things about the fest tomorrow night is that it's a chance to experience this diversity of styles. Although New York was long the focus of the East Coast ska scene, since it was the home to such seminal acts as the Toasters and Orange Countystole the show on the West Coast, Philly has a long and proud history of its own as far as this scene is concerned.

Before during and even after ska came to prominence in the 90's, Philly hosted a lively collection of local bands and was known as an enthusiastic stop on any touring band's schedule. Festival headliners and longtime local heroes Ruder than You have logged enough hours to merit their standing as a stand-up band. They have played their signature style of ska as far away as Japan. With brassy splashes, heavy funk drops and superb vocals that swing freely between singing, rapping and reggae -style tasting, Rufer Than You has definitely put it's own spin on things.

Other highlights on the festival lineup include the aggressive jesters Case of the Mondays, who combine crowd-pleasing dance-ska with some unexpected yet excellent hip-hop flourishes and catchy lyrics to get the pit moving Even those who don't think they have much interest in ska should try the group's insanely chill track "Muck City Skankin" and see if they don't find themselves nodding their heads to the beat.

By contrast, if a crazier ska-punk sound is what gets you going, West Chester, Pa.'s acclaimed sextet Long Shot Hero has got you covered. Though capable of dialing back it madness for the occasional slow groove, Long Shot Hero shines at the gunfire horn shots and hyperactive rhythms that make ska-punk o much fun to keep up with in the pit. If your plaid isn't soaked through by the end of the set, you just aren't trying hard enough.

Rounding out the featured festival artists is another veteran Philly group, Public Service! You can be sure the band will show exactly what has kept it such a vital part of the scene since it formed in 1983. Its positive vibes, witty vocals and socially conscious lyrics are a natural fit with a fast, playful style, keeping the crowd skanking happily even as they expand their minds.

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Review of the December 23, 2005 Songspot festival at the TLA

Taken from ORIGIVATION MAGAZINE: FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

[...] Then it was time for something completely different. Opening with a Metallica song, Case of the Mondays made its mark on the stage.

The closest thing to a punk band on the bill, this band used sweet horns and awesome guitar melodies to make the audience smile. The lead singer's distinctively raspy yet soulful voice carried the crowd's attention as the groovy bass and pounding drums backed him up. The whole band had a fun-loving, don't-take-anything-seriously attitude betrayed by its precise and intricate playing. One might think these guys were just clowning around, but members of Case of the Mondays know exactly what they're doing, and they carried the audience like true champs of the Philly Scene. Silly lyrics and an almost ska-like vibe make the band a well-deserving crowd favorite.

[...] Read the entire article here.

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Southern Rock
Local bands give their audiences a taste of true rock-n-roll.

By Stephanie Bilovsky
SJ Magazine

January, 2006

Southern New Jersey has been a prime influence on music for hundreds of years. One of the first, if not the first, American music composers is Bordentown’s own Francis Hopkinson, who, in 1778, wrote "The Battle of the Kegs," a humorous ballad about Bordentown patriots trying to destroy British ships with torpedo-filled kegs in the Delaware.

Many believe that the birthplace of rock-n-roll was actually the Twin Bars at Gloucester’s 4th and Market Streets. It was here in the early 1950’s that Bill Haley began to experiment with rhythm and blues. Legend has it, he used the venue to try out "Rock Around The Clock" and the audience went wild. The single was recorded and is estimated to have sold more than 20 million copies. Once Bill Haley and the Comets rocked our own backyard, the music world changed forever.

So the question is, who will continue the tradition of making musical history in New Jersey? Who’s the next Springsteen, Bon Jovi, or Blues Traveler? Who’s rockin’ SJ now? If you’re looking for promise, look no further than Burlington County’s ska band, Case of the Mondays. Named after a line from the movie "Office Space," the five-member band explodes on the stage with leaps and laughs and the audience responds with the same.

Ska is an upbeat genre of music with flavors of reggae and punk, though a more palatable blend of each, spiced with brass instruments, jumping bodies and often socially conscious lyrics. As such, performers in a ska band need to be multi-talented and highly energetic to put on the show expected by its audience. Case of the Mondays exceeds in both.

"We’re a visual treat!" says singer John Gray about the energy of the band’s shows. "Whether you like ska or not, you’ll have a fun time."

Truth is, the band members are hilarious and it comes through in their performance, yet it doesn’t over power the vibrant songs that make the audience hop. The music is contagious. The drums pop and the horns blaze while the vocals bellow lyrical wit. Even as a firsttime listener, there’s no yearning for them to play something familiar because the original songs are so engaging. Case of the Mondays played in the Ska is Dead 3 tour at the Trocadero with The Toasters and Mustard Plug among others. They are also one of 80 remaining semi-finalists, in a competition of 290 bands across the country, in the third round of the Zippo Hot Tour of unsigned bands.

[...] Read the entire article here.

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Local band is on the way to making it big

By Jason Bodnar
Burlington County Times staff writer

May, 26 2005

Most days, they are sleep diagnostic technicians, bus drivers, students, computer programmers. A few nights a week, however, these 20-somethings drive to a warehouse in a shady part of Northeast Philadelphia, carry their instruments up a flight of dirty stairs, stuff into $400-a-month room and jam to their own version of ska.

This is the not-so-glamorous rock-and-roll life of Case of the Mondays, a six-member band based on Burlington County.

But it’s still rock and roll, and things are steadily getting better for the five-year-old band. Case of the Mondays has gotten FM radio airplay and scored gigs at the Grape Street Pub and World Café Live. On Wednesday, the group will play its biggest show so far, opening for three bands at the 1200-person Trocadero.

That doesn’t mean the guys will be able to quit their day jobs anytime soon. It certainly doesn’t mean they’ll get recognition or autograph requests by scores of fans.

"We’ll get done playing a show, and I get a lot of girls who come upto me and say, ‘Weren’t they good?’ I say ‘Yeah’" sighed drummer Jeff Stumpf, 28 of Burlington City.

"I’m 29," joked bassist Rob Harrigan, a Pemberton Township native. "If we don’t make it big by the time I’m 30, they’ll have to get a new bass player."

Case of the Mondays ska sound has a few obstacles to overcome

Case of the Mondays, which got its name from the movie "Office Space," has plenty of obstacles to making it big:

• Except for the occasional tune like the Cars’ "Just What I Needed," the band plays original music. But most bars and small venues in south Jersey want groups that can play three-hour cover sets, and most venues in Philly are either too big or want them to play more often than they’d like.

• Case of the Mondays plays a type of music, ska, that hasn’t been real popular since Reel Big Fish and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones went out of vogue more than a half decade ago.

  "It’ll rear its head again," said lead singer and guitarist Jon Gray, 25, of Mount Holly. "But we’ve got a hip-hop sound. We’ve got a punk sound."

• Making it big takes more than just preparation, perspiration and performance. It also takes plenty of promotion, and lead guitarist Dustin Dellinger estimates he’s on the Internet up to six hours a day, spreading the word about Case of the Mondays.

  "I’s a part-time job that doesn’t really pay well," said Dusting Dellinger, 35, of Lumberton.

But the band - which also includes saxophonist Brain Gannon, 24, of Haddon Heights - aren’t playing for the money. They say they’re playing for the thrill of performing, the love of music, the feeling they get when song like "Nothing in Common" or "Regret" just clicks.

And...

"I was a nerd and wanted to develop my social skills," joked trombonist Bob Gordon, 20, of Springfield, Pa.

And...

"Girls," Harrigan said. "That’s the reason no one admits to."

For more information about Case of the Mondays visit www.caseofthemondays.net