On Saturday May 12 I headed to Seattle’s south end to an intimate club called the Royal Room. Here Seattle’s ska masters The Georgetown Orbits were performing to promote their brand new CD, Solar Flares. I have been a fan of the Orbits since I first saw them open for the Slackers back in 2012. Though they’ve gone through many personnel changes and are a different band than they were then, I still enjoy seeing them. This is a band with outstanding musicianship that runs the gamut of pure reggae infused ska to rock steady, to a lot in between. Add a heavy brass sound (Sean Jensen on sax and Colin Pulkrabek on trombone) and some amazing keyboards (Timmy Conroy who also performed all lead vocals and filled in occasionally with a wicked trumpet). Bass player Cale Wilcox and guitarist Orion Anderson often hammed up together or were seen dancing or running in place. Drummer Harald Bell rounded out their very full sound. The sound mix was impeccable. I could hear every instrument individually as well as blended with the others. The small but very enthusiastic audience filled the dance floor and even called them back for an encore. Seattle has a thriving ska scene and attracts enthusiastic audiences for both its local bands and the more nationally known ska acts who pass through. Seattle likes ska and that’s very heartening indeed. Copies of Solar Flares can be purchased from the band’s web site http://georgetownorbits.com/. I highly recommend it for anyone’s ska collection.
Skablins
Opening the night was one of my long-time favorites The Skablins. The Skablins are another band I’ve been coming out to see for many years and a band who has also seen multiple personnel changes. But each change brings a whole new element that’s equally as fun. Two of the mainstays are front man Gordy Whyte and sax player Heather Beck. These two are often livening up the stage with their zany antics. Gordy often hams it up with Heather and vice-versa. When not doing that he’s gyrating and bouncing about the stage, moving backward and forward, leaning into the crowd, and always on the move. They always do their very worthy addition of the Kinks’ Come Dancing and finish their set with Hell (more commonly known as The After Life). I had been debating whether to attend this show, but when I learned both the Skablins and the Georgetown Orbits were playing, I couldn’t resist the temptation. I was glad I went. The Skablins are currently, Gordy Whyte – Vocals & Lyrics, Heather Beck – Bari Sax, Backup Vox, Kevin Eyre – Guitar, Backup Vox, Anton Beck – Bass Guitar, Morgan Williams – Drums, Ben Curley – Organ, Keys, Backup Vox, Patrick Smith-Trumpet, Michael Turner Anderson (MTA) – Tenor Sax, Backup Vox and Josh Berglund- Trombone, backup Vox.
I have been in the biggest ska mood for the last month and this show just whetted my appetite for more.
– All photos property of Holly Homan, all rights reserved.
