Mrs. Skannotto

Mrs. Skannotto: 2013 Sampler
2013 SAMPLER
(Mrs. Skannotto)
Genre: Rock
Grade: A+
Format: EP
Tracks: 5

http://mrsskannotto.bandcamp.com/album/free-sampler-2013

For years I’ve been a Ska fan, but to be honest, aside from listening to Florida’s Victim of Circumstance for a review in December of 2011, I have pretty much kept to the older stuff (Streetlight, The Specials, Toots, Skeletones, etc). I haven’t really been looking, but there hasn’t really a been a ska act out there in the last few years that have sparked an interest for me. To dive into the genre again to see what’s new.

Mrs. Skannotto is a third wave Ska outfit that’s been on the scene for the past 15 years. Their current album, All These Evolutions, is a 14 track offering that has moments of nostalgia that briefly remind me of The Black Seeds (Not Alone), The Skeletones (The Other Man), and Incubus (The Blame), but the bands stand out is vocalist Joe Harmon who really delivers a great vocal performance that fits in within the genre but also stands out as a voice that flirts with the boundaries of the genre. It’s not just the same old, same old with Harmon. I like that.

If you’re a fan of Ska you’re going to enjoy this album. Great guitar work, great bass, drums, an absolutely awesome horn section, and superb vocals. I highly, highly recommend checking out the band sampler on bandcamp. Enjoy. - By AJ Garcia at Shakefire.com

Ska' was the word down at 7th Street Entry the evening of July 23, 2013. Three bands played their own brand of Ska during the night. I was sad that I just missed The Umbrella Bed's performance. They are local and will be playing around town during the next couple months. I spoke to one of the five members after I arrived, and he told me they consist of two trombones, a tenor sax and even a french horn. Try to catch them later. Umbrella Bed is releasing their new EP November 27.


SURVAY SAYS
Second band of the evening, Survay Says, totally 'punked' it up on the stage. From Blairstown, NJ, they are a 7-piece ska/punk band, but only 5 members were able to make it to the 7th Street show. In their early twenty's, Survay Says really did incorporate the Ska and Punk genre's together. So much fun watching them pogo on stage with their brass. They did a cover of Oasis song Champagne Supernova in their unique version of Ska/Punk that was amazing to hear and watch. The lead singer, Henry, then explained that the next song, Denial, was dedicated to his father that passed away. Not too melancholy and still had a slight punk feel, it was definitely one of the mellower songs they played. The rest of their set was powerful and animated.

Henry, who resembles Hurley from Lost, actually took a live phone call from a friend during the performance. He told his caller, "I am on stage in Minneapolis, dude. I gotta go!" The call added to the humor the band rendered, including a Hello Kitty guitar strap Henry used. Near the end of the set, he announced that all they do besides play music is watch TV, play video games and they still have 40 days left on the road so they need hugs from the audience, which they did get a few of. Very fun band. They are planning to be back in Minneapolis on October 18.

Headliner, Mrs. Skannotto, is also a Ska band but with more of an underlying classic Rock sound. Mrs. Skannotto formed in 1998 in Rochester, NY. Justin Lloyd, Evan Dobbins, Joe Harmon, Mike Frederick, Dan Carter, & Alex Bochetto, they have been compared to bands like; Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Toasters, The Police, but what I kept hearing was tones of the band Chicago, back in the 70's. Poll Dancer is a song about politics, not pole dancing they made a point of clearing up before they played it.

Get Up! was all about audience participation and very easy to figure out when to pump your fist in the air and yell "Get Up, Get Up!" Joe Harmon is the lead vocalist and man, can he belt it out! Powerful and with tremendous quality, he has a voice like nothing I have heard live in a very long time. Amazing! All of the bands musicians were sensational. I spoke to trombone player, Evan Dobbins, and he said that he is a music teacher at a college back in Rochester, NY. Mrs. Skannotto has such a big sound, they almost blasted off of the small stage at 7th Street Entry. Unfortunately, there were only about 20 people in attendance, but it gave everyone plenty of dance room. This band really has to be witnessed in person. Pass the word on! - We Heart Music

Mrs. Skannotto are some powerful veterans in rock music today. Having found the winning formula to keep their fans excited with their style of rock music that aims to keep the listener on their toes. The Rochester, NY based band is made up of vocalist Joe Harmon, guitarist Mike Frederick, trumpet player Justin Lloyd, Trombone player Evan Dobbins, bassist Dan Carter, and drummer Alex Bochetto. Take a look at what the band had to say when they talked with BareBones Ent.

BS: Mrs. Skannotto has been around for a while now. How long has it been?

MS: We started back in ’98. 15 years!

BS: What do you contribute your ability to stick around for so long to?

MS: Since it’s been 15 years, there has obviously been a lot of turnover with band members. Fresh minds keep the wheels turning on this bus.

BS: What do you think it is about your music that keeps fans excited about the band?

MS: Hooks and melodies!

BS: What bands have influenced the music that you make?

MS: It’s hard to nail it down to a few bands. All six of us have different musical backgrounds and tastes. We take all those influences, throw them in a pot, stir it up, and out comes Skannotto.

BS: What is your current musical guilty pleasure to listen to?

MS: Dub Trio

"All These Evolutions" Album cover
“ALL THESE EVOLUTIONS” ALBUM COVER
BS: Earlier this year you released All These Evolutions. How have fans responded to the new album?

MS: Some absolutely love it and some are disappointed it doesn’t sound like our last album. You be the judge! MrsSkannotto.bandcamp.com

BS: What has been your favorite song to play live off of the new album and why?

MS: “Just As Well”. It’s short, sweet, and kicks you in the face.

BS: You are currently on tour. What show has been the most memorable for you and why?

MS: Cambridge, MD at Leaky Pete’s. That town loves original live music! Packed house on a Monday. We will definitely be back.

BS: What has been the craziest moment you have ever had on tour?

MS: There are some things you don’t want put into print. I will give you some key words and you can make up your own story. Border Patrol, panties, girl fight, Carl’s Jr., and beer.

BS: This current tour ends at the end of July. If fans weren’t able to make it out to this one, when can they hope to see you on tour again?

MS: Fall tour is in the works. Keep in touch! MrsSka.com

BS: Anything else you would like to say to your fans?

MS: Stop bye and say Hi at shows or shoot us a message on line. We love meeting new fans!

Connect with Mrs. Skannotto: Facebook/Twitter

Connect with BareBones Ent: Facebook/Twitter - By Bryan Swann at Barebones Ent

With a career spanning over 15 years, New York ska-rockers Mrs Skannotto have shared the stage with the likes of Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and Mad Caddies. Now they’re set to head out on a month long US tour to promote their fifth album - ‘All These Evolutions.’

Bassist Dan Carter recently took part in our “If I…” questionnaire where he spoke about which Beatles song he wish he had written, who would play his ideal festival, Bruce Springsteen and much more.

If I could re-record one song it would be…
Dan Carter: ‘Man In a Suitcase’ by The Police.

If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Dan: Our show at The Launchpad in Albuquerque, NM. It was off the hook!

If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Dan: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO.

If I could play with one band it would be…
Dan: Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.



If I could play with any person living or dead it would be…
Dan: Bruce Springsteen!

If I could bring back any band that have split up, it would be…
Dan: Led Zeppelin of course!

If I wasn’t playing music, I would be…
Dan: Back in a cubicle doing mundane corporate work.

If I could play a different genre it would be…
Dan: So many to choose from…… Rock!

If I could have written any song it would be…
Dan: The Beatles’ ‘Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds.’

If I could have written any album it would be…
Dan: Pink Floyd’s’ Dark Side of the Moon.’ Pure genius.

If I could headline any festival, it would be…
Dan: Lollapalooza.

If I could organise my own festival, the bands playing would be…
Dan: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, MuteMath, Primus, Rush, The Police, and Led Zeppelin!

If I could play any other instrument, it would be…
Dan: Keys.

If I could give one piece of advice to a new band, it would be…
Dan: Practice, Practice, Practice….. you aren’t going anywhere if you suck!

‘All These Evolutions’ by Mrs Skannotto is out now. - Already Heard

Riding a career spanning 15 years, the guys in Mrs. Skannotto are no strangers to their brand of third-wave ska-rock. The Rochester, NY-based six-piece recently released its fifth studio release, the 14-track full-length effort titled All These Evolutions.

Ranging from huge-sounding choruses on tracks like the blistering opener “Just As Well” and the forceful “Lost and Found…” to more mellow sounds (think RX Bandits meets The Police) on songs like “The Blame” and “Fair Weather Foe,” All These Evolutions sees Mrs Skannotto continuing to break ground even after more than a decade as a band.

Ghettoblaster contacted trombonist Evan Dobbins to talk about one of his foremost inspirations, Frank Zappa. This is what he said about him…

Who is your favorite artist?

I was nine years old when my father played Frank Zappa’s “Electric Aunt Jemima” for me. I remember thinking it was the funniest song I’d ever heard and went on to play it for all my friends in school (our teacher was not thrilled that I created an army of 4th grade Zappa fanatics). I began listening to other songs on the double LP (Uncle Meat) and discovered that some contained (thrill) swear words, bizarre conversations, long instrumental improvisations and sounds that I had never heard before. I didn’t quite get everything I was hearing, but I knew it was the most creative music I had ever heard and that I wanted more.

What is it about his output that resonates with you?

When I got older and began to study music more in depth, I kept returning to Zappa’s music to see if I could better understand how in the hell someone could create something so beyond category that still rocked. I found out that his musical heroes in high school were the classical composers Edgar Varese, Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern and the R & B guitarist Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Once I heard some of that music, I found myself comprehending a bit more of where Zappa was coming from.

Most people who don’t know much about Zappa find it hard to believe that he didn’t drink or do drugs. He thought it was funny that everyone assumed if your art did not conform to popular standards, that you must either be insane or high. He liked to tell the story about Mick Jagger stopping by his NYC apartment now and then to drink tea and discuss European history. He had no tolerance for stupidity or ignorance.

His music reflected his own personality: eclectic, intense, bizarre, disciplined yet free, cynical, intelligent and hilarious. If you wanted to play in his band, he would ask you what you could do that was incredible. If he was satisfied with your answer then you were in. Steve Vai once described his own audition for Zappa’s band when he was 20 : “I learned all these tunes and then he just picks up his guitar, plays this cryptic line and says “play that at this tempo”…so I think fast, play it and he says, “now add this note and play it in 7/8” which somehow I did and then he tells me to “play it in 7/8 reggae”. After pulling that off he tells me to add another note to it, which was impossible…nobody could play it and I told him so to which he replied, “I hear Linda Ronstadt’s looking for a guitar player”. Vai was hired on the spot of course.

Every musician develops a healthy cynical side when they enter the professional world. Zappa’s music is full of this type of cynicism, to the point that listening to it is the musical equivalent of watching The Daily Show so you can laugh instead of cry about the state of the world.

Zappa walked the walk. He devoted his life and his music to the causes of free-speech, self-education, political participation and abolishing censorship. He was a self-taught composer, guitarist and engineer…and he was one the great innovators in all three fields over the span of his career. For me, the bottom line is that every time I hear his music it still makes the hair on my arms stand up and it always makes me laugh.

What are some of the most profound messages you’ve uncovered while studying Zappa as an artist?

Here are some comments from the maestro himself:

–On Rock & Roll’s negative influence over youth: “There are more love songs out there than anything else. If songs made you do something we would all love eachother.”

–On theatrics in performance: “You can’t always write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say, so sometimes you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream.”

–On armageddon: “It isn’t necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice. There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork and the other is nostalgia.”

Are there some album suggestions you would make for those wanting to take the Zappa plunge?

Album suggestions for those willing to take the plunge: We’re Only In It For The Money; Absolutely Free; One Size Fits All; Joe’s Garage; You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore (any volume); The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life; Make A Jazz Noise Here.

(Catch Mrs. Skannotto o - By Timothy Anderl at Ghettoblaster Magazine

Mrs. Skannotto – All These Evolutions is a breath of fresh air freshener included. Evergreen with a sprue. This one gives me the sneak peek that I was dreaming. Pinch me. Punch me. Please just let it be. This, if I could only get my high horse, and bye, this heart plug for society, buzz word, stank, you’d be a sneak that was sneaking with suspicion. One that was squeaky, Self aggrandizing indulgent horns and by the shaking of foundation in ska/punk riffs that more than melt but crumble, swell well oiled drums, it all come around with some toe tapping, finger snapping ratatuille white boy rasta. This is more like the splat of shepherds pie (pate chinoise) shattered dreams as no matter which way you look at far from the lap of luxury this is like slipping into something more comfortable after your post-mortem hair spray montage made me cream harder in my pants than a crematorium makes you the cream that once was and has been. You have been served. Look how far we’ve come. I’m glad I got’s to take you’re in my hands. I’ve taken that lunge but seeing as an after thought this has been an easy escape from the dungeon of the day with they glimpse of some imperial anomaly. Imperial astrology as more than me would be experiencing a punk all that has hurtled itself at mach speed in its birthday suit. If you think something fishy is going on get a load of these slippery slops. The clutching clatter has a master of ceremonies. Or was that sanctimony. I am to tony what baloney is to My Little Pony. Where’d you be without of the scon. Those scoundrels. Lickety split this album delves into splashing sensation of liquid magma, and then cools of with some jazzy jam that seems to be the local authority at Chapter’s claiming more than a vindication of Ophelia require deciding it was unabashed and grungey when he cringed from Macbeth got hammed up on what he considered to be a chemical imbalance. The has been watchamacallit is cleptover clambake. The vocals are commanding, the guitars are commando, and the bass and drums are commandeering. This one has all those sparky springy cleptopia. Amway this red tape affair says hit and run as this joy ride is like junk in the veins. Huh, If only I could find my trousers. With more sneak to the snake what G is to Raekwon this one is the spizz that’s been sprued… As one punk boy toy extraordinaire iit was funny that I thought I heard the melodies clinking from my ball and chain. You’ll be thanking your lucky stars. Meet you at da crossroads baby! - newmusicalreleases

From Rochester, New York, Mrs. Skannotto is a six-piece ska-rock band that has been making music and evolving together for 15 years! In our interview, the guys tell us what has kept them together all these years and how they help each other to deal with stress while on tour. Get to know the band and other random tidbits they shared with us.

Mrs. Skannotto’s new album All These Evolutions is out now. You can get it through the band’s official website.

mym: Considering there is no Mrs. in the band, where does the name Mrs. Skannotto come from?
Mrs. Skannotto: The band had no name when it formed back in '98. The founder, Mark Annotto, had a notoriously large collection of ska and reggae CDs, which earned him the "Skannotto" nickname. At one point, they wanted to compete in a "battle of the bands" sort of thing, and were told they needed a name to play. Mrs. (SK)Annotto, Mark's mom, had just taken everyone out to dinner, so they named the band after her as a placeholder until they could think of a real one. We're still trying to decide what to call ourselves officially.

mym: You’ve been around since 1998 – 15 years is quite a long time! What has kept the band strong and together all these years?
Mrs. Skannotto: There have been some lineup changes here and there over the years. It's really Justin, our trumpet player and relative founding member, who's kept this thing going all this time. Also, every six months we switch who's having sex with who- keeps things fresh.

mym: You’re releasing a brand new 14-track full length album called All These Evolutions. Is there a song off the new album that had the most meaning for you?
Mrs. Skannotto: We all have different favorites. Joe loves Every Day and Free Speech Zone. Justin's favorites are New Belief, Lost & Found and Fair Weather Foe. Mike also likes Every Day, as well as The Hired Gun and Just As Well. We all put a lot into this record. Even when one member would write a song, there's enough that's new and fresh put into it by the other guys to make everything interesting for us.

mym: The band is currently out on the road for 40+ tour dates with The Toasters. You also spent a chunk of 2012 on the Less Than Jake's 20th Anniversary Tour with Reel Big Fish, Mad Caddies, Flatfoot 56, and A Wilhelm Scream. Do you have a favourite moment from these tours so far?
Mrs. Skannotto: Too many to name. It's been an honor and a thrill to tour with so many of the bands we've grown up with, and to meet newer bands like Flatfoot and Wilhelm on the way. This past year has been crazy, and we're just getting started.

mym: How about a memorable story about a fan?
Mrs. Skannotto: There was a guy who saw us in Rochester, our hometown, on the 4th show of the tour. He came up to all of us after the gig and said "remember this face!" About a month later, down in Albuquerque, he showed up again. He bought us all drinks, knew all of the lyrics, told us all his favorite moments on the record. Turns out he's from New Mexico, was visiting his brother up in Rochester, and we and The Toasters were his first ska show.

And then there was this guy.

mym: Do any of you ever get home sick? How do you deal with being away from home for so long?
Mrs. Skannotto: Mike would like to answer this one personally:
"Sometimes I dump garbage all over the hotel room and pay one of the maids to yell at me in spanish while I take a cold shower with all my clothes on. It reminds me of home . . ."

mym: How do you deal with stress while on tour? Or what helps you relax and get through tough times in general?
Mrs. Skannotto: We all know each other well enough to know when someone needs to be left alone. All of us deal with road stress differently. Alex will set up his kit and drum for a while, Joe will go for a walk around whatever town we're in, Mike and Dan exercise, Justin reads. It also helps to eat lots of crappy hotel pastries in the morning and drink all of The Toasters' beer each night.

mym: Have you found a favourite place to eat out of all the cities you’ve toured?
Mrs. Skannotto: Joe is on a mission each tour to find the best nachos in the country. This past tour it was the nachos at Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix AZ. There was a great Thai place called Blue Orchid in Lincoln. We made a random stop in Laytonville while driving through northern California and found our favorite restaurant of the tour, Casona Del Cielo.

mym: What’s the best piece of advice someone’s ever given you?
Mrs. Skannotto: "Don't use that bathroom for a while . . ."
Other than that, we've all been told by various people over the years to treat every show like it's the most important show in your career. We try and bring that mentality on stage with us each night. Even for the most poorly promoted, poorly attended shows…whether you're booked with a bunch of metal - mindyourmind.ca

Here at Boston Ska (dot) net, we go to shows so you don’t have to! Kidding. You should totally go to shows. Because sometimes they’re totally awesome like last weekend’s show at TT The Bear’s with The Toasters, All Good Feel Good Collective, Mrs Skannotto, John DeCarlo & Company.

When we spoke to Bucket, the lead singer of The Toasters, prior to the show, he said that Boston was The Toaster’s new east coast home, and the east coast for home. Anyone at the show would have confirmed it was just that! I got there on the early side, ran into old friends, and made some new friends before the music had even started.

John DeCarlo & Company (read: his all-star line up) kicked off the night with a perfect mix of rocksteady covers and originals. Opening with Delroy Wilson’s “Better Must Come” wins me over every time. People started to spill in and All Good Feel Good Collective was ready for a party and started to get the crowd moving. The crowd was then handed off to Rochester, NY’s ska/punk act Mrs. Skannotto who just kept increasing the energy. The crowd was particularly responsive to them. Finally, The Toasters came on and frankly I danced my ass off from start to finish; ruined shoes and bruised up legs tell me I had a good night.

Here’s a video play-by-play of the night. Huge thanks to Kevin Davila for taking the bulk of the videos (subscribe to his YouTube channel). - By Jacob Wake Up! at Boston Ska [dot] net

Introduce yourself and tell us what you do in the band:
Dan: Hey, I’m Dan Carter and I play bass and sing back up vocals.

How did Mrs. Skannotto form?
Dan: The band original started in a dorm room at Bates College in Lewiston, ME in 1998.

How did you guys come up with the name Mrs. Skannotto?
Dan: This is before my time in the band (so don’t blame me!), but the band needed a name for its first show. Mark Annotto, one of the original members and still a great friend of ours, mom took the band out to eat before their first show. They decided to honor her and name the band after her with plans of changing it down the road. 15 years later…

You guys were out on tour last month. How was the that?
Dan: One word, long! It was six weeks (42 shows in 43 days across the US) out with the legendary Toasters. But to be truthful, it was great! We were able to learn so much from them and get on a much more personal level with fans.

Favorite venues/states to play while on tour?
Dan: My personal favorite was The Launchpad in Albuquerque, NM. What a great venue and incredible fans. Seattle and Portland have been giving us love too. I could go on and on though, every city we’ve been in has an upside and has given us the opportunity to make new fans.

You guys put out a new album called “All These Evolutions” earlier this year. How have the fans been responding to it?
Dan: I think the fans are digging what we put out there. We continue to try and progress the music and push boundaries. There are still a few fans out there that wish we did another album like “The Long Dark Road”, but I think that happens with every band. To those fans, I just want to say; stick with us, we are still writing music as you read this and who knows, it may be something you love! ?

Favorite song to play off that album live?
Dan: “Just As Well”. It just hits the audience in the face. Rock and Roll!

Any more tours in the works?
Dan: I’m actually writing this from a hotel in Detroit, so we are currently on a 10 day May regional tour. Then this summer, we will be hitting the road on June 28th for a month tour. We will be getting as far west as Denver.

You guys have been a band for a while now. Since 1998 to be exact! What advice would you give to someone just starting a band?
Dan: Practice, practice, practice. You won’t get anywhere if you can’t play!

How would you describe your music?
Dan: Well, it’s ska, but with all of our influences put into it. We all love different genres of music, so when we write, those influences come out. I’ll leave it up to the fans to describe it!
?
Any last words?
Dan: Yeah, we love talking to fans and the opportunity to meet new people. If we are playing in your city, come say hi and give us a listen. We think you’ll like what we have to offer.

Connect with Mrs. Skannotto on the following websites:
https://www.MrsSka.com
https://facebook.com/skannotto

Interviewed by: Brittany - By Brittany at U Musicians

Do you remember the 90's and the first couple years of the 21st century? Do you remember all of the fun party time rock and roll? No Doubt, Smash Mouth, The Offspring and Sublime were what you were listening to at a party or after school! New York rockers Mrs Skannotto are disciples of the “party rock sound” and from start to finish their latest album, All These Evolutions. This album showcases not only this dance worthy throwback sound but it also displays a band with a diverse ear. As well as a firm control over a incomparable sound in an age swarming with music that has leaned towards digital sounds.

Mrs Skannotto’s sound has an undeniable energy. The first song on All These Evolutions, “Just as Well” starts of fast paced and in your face; typical rock and roll with bass, guitar and drums. Its like the Offspring had a baby! That is until you hear the horns, the trumpet and trombone on the album add that fun time ska flavor that makes all of the music friendly despite the intensity of most of the music! With that said, the band also knows how to slow it down as shown on songs like “Alone” and “The Blame” but the singer Joe Harmon’s awesome vocal delivery fall second to the albums crowning achievement; the perfect pacing. The band knows their sound and is very apparently comfortable with it. The album never gets predictable or stale. This is because each song seems placed in an order to make its strengths more apparent and noticeable when compared to the previous song.

While many may be quick to doubt the musicianship of a band playing fun sounding music, Mrs Skannotto is a very musically precise band that lets the song as a whole do the talking. All These Evolutions has a wonderful and very sharp alternative edge characterized by flawless execution and recording of the vocals and instruments. No song highlights a particular performance by one band member; something amazing bands like the Foo Fighters do so well. With that said it is not to say that All These Evolutions is without bursts of brilliance. You will at all the right moments get a rad drum fill from Alex Bochetto as heard on “Wage War”, a brilliant pair of horn solos by Evan Dobbins and Justin Lloyd as heard on “Run Along”, a jazzy rock and roll guitar solo by Mike Frederick on “Not Alone” not to mention Dan Carter’s constantly moving, amazing running and walking bass lines. More still, every band is only as good as its singer right? Well Joe Harmon is a singer who seemingly has no limits; from the albums start to finish he sings smoothly or fiercely intense and every place in between like many of rocks great singers. his diverse skill is easily and most notably heard on “Everyday”.

Be it the Sublime-esque “Fair Weather-Foe” or the Offspring homage sound of “Free Speech Zone” complete with a Smash Mouth sounding verse, Mrs Skannotto is a band I’d easily blast at my next party or day at the beach! Their sound is massive and so exciting it has me pumped right now! This album is worth every penny and definitely has to be listened to in its entirety to get the appreciation it truly deserves. With that said I would relish the chance to see how these guys perform this album live and if they relay the same intense and unyielding energy the album projected.

Mrs Skannotto recently spent most of 2012 on tour with Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Mad Caddies, Flatfoot 56, and A Wilhelm Scream. A spring tour will be kicking off in May with tour dates announcing soon. Currently you can stream All These Evolutions on Mrs Skannotto‘s bandcamp website. Also check them out on Facebook for more intimate updates from the band. - By JT Reyes at Arenas Promotions

Growing up, I considered every genre of music “gangsta rap,” only because my cousins were all troublemakers in their own rite. Anything they listened to, I associated with law-breaking and detention-earning. After finally watching TRL at the age of 11, I discovered that I was missing out on an entire world because of false pretenses. Flash forward a few years when I was asked to join my cousin’s ska band, then asked on a date to a Pepper show in 2007, and now here, listening to Mrs. Skannotto’s latest full length album, All These Evolutions.

All These Evolutions is lucky number seven for Mrs. Skannotto and begins with the track, “Just As Well,” which I was certain was another heavy rock song. But then the trumpets began, and I listened more intently, suddenly intrigued by the presence of the winds. The trumpets are wonderfully placed, smoothing the edges of hard drums and scratchy vocals.

As I continued listening to the 14-track record, I thought of two bands: Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Oregon based band, Larry and His Flask. Not only does Mrs. Skannotto carry the zest reminiscent of both bands (except, spicier), but vocalist, Joe Harmon, is a slightly distorted echo of Anthony Kiedis (RHCP) and the LANHF trio. However, as much as I could make comparisons, the real distinction for me rest within the accessible melodies Harmon’s vocals create. Midway through any song on the record (my favorites being “New Belief” and “Run Along”), I can easily hum along with confidence.

Not every song on All These Evolutions is sweet and welcoming. You’ll have to get past the seemingly charming trumpets and rhythmic guitars before you can pass judgment. “Everyday,” is a homicide case in notes, full of disguise, lust, and action; it’s as if James Bond teamed up with a dash of Pulp Fiction. You don’t, however, want to dodge this bullet.

From gangsta rap to Mrs. Skannotto, I’ve made a transformation, and similarly, Mrs. Skanotto captures their 15 years of music transformation in All These Evolutions. - By Ashley Jean at Golden Mixtape

I won’t pretend to know much about ska-punk mainstays Mrs. Skannotto. Apparently the lively six-piece has been kicking around since the late 90’s and has been sharing the stage for fifteen years with some of the biggest names in third-wave ska. With their latest album, All These Evolutions, the band demonstrates a tight command of their brass and a very slick overall presentation.

Right from the start Mrs. Skannotto makes clear that they mostly align with modern music than with past trends. Front man Joe Harmon projects a cool and capable vocal performance that seems to hit every note bang on. Throw in line upon line of varied horn blasts, smooth sequenced slides, and you’ve got one heck of an energetic set piece. The most frantic of the bunch will surely appease those that can never seem to get enough of Streetlight Manifesto or Catch 22. Early on “Just As Well” and “Wage War” boast frantic upstroke-heavy verses paired with fleeting salvos of bombastic, pulsing brass. Meanwhile, those like “Poll Dancer” speak to fans of 3rd wave classics like Buck-O-Nine or Mustard Plug. This much attitude the rhythm sticks with listeners well after the music stops.

All These Evolutions avoids exhausting its audience by cycling through a plethora of styles across their lengthy fifty minute run time. For “Lost & Found” Harmon dabbles in rough, pseudo-hardcore vocals to emphasize the final verse, whereas those like “Free Speech Zone” take a nod from smoky, fedora dominated jazz club sets. “Every Day” even builds an identity around the some psychedelic, Hendrix leaning guitar riffs and heavy distortion. The instrumental and vocal contrast achieved between the smartly sequenced “Alone” and “Note Alone” demonstrate Mrs. Skannotto’s unmistakable consciousness of their craft.

And perhaps most crucial to any ska album, the band keeps the level of repetition to a minimum. This isn’t to say that some tracks don’t drag, or that there isn’t some filler peppered here and there, but by and large the album never outstays its welcome.

The band identifies themselves as pioneers of the fabled fourth wave of ska. While this might be a topic better left for related community discussion forums, there’s no denying that All These Evolutions marks one of the genre’s standout offerings over the past few years. And while they do not reach the same level of experimentation and discovery as Bid D & The Kids Table has with “stroll” music, Mrs. Skannotto’s ability to engage their audience should not be over looked. - By Cole Faulkner at thepunksite.com

Mrs. Skannotto is a ska band out of Rochester, New York who has been together for 15 years. 2012 was a huge year for the band and 2013 has seen them gaining even more steam as major players in the US Ska Scene. I had the chance to ask the band a few questions and got some really great insights into the band and their philosophy. Enjoy!

This latest tour has had you on the road for almost 2 months. Is this your longest tour?
Yes, to date, that was our longest and busiest tour, 42 shows in 43 days. We did a US tour this past fall with Less Than Jake, but it only lasted about 3 weeks total. Aside from that, we had been doing mainly long weekends and short runs in and around the Eastern region.

What city has been the biggest surprise in terms of reception to your band? In terms of a ska scene?
Albuquerque NM at The Launchpad was probably the craziest crowd we met this last tour. The place was packed, the opening bands really got the crowd pumped, and when we hit the stage the room seemed to explode. We had a blast there and can’t wait to go back. In terms of a ska scene in general, we were really surprised by such a strong turnout in Lafayette, LA. What an awesome show!

Other than a number of legacy bands (Reel Big Fish, Toasters, Less Than Jake), you are one of the few new ska bands to actually tour. How is that in 2013?
It has been really great actually! It helps that we’ve been touring with those “legacy bands” you mention, establishing connections with fans of some the same bands who’ve influenced us over the years. It’s funny; some people seem genuinely surprised that there are still up-and-coming bands in the genre that are trying to make a legitimate run at making it a career. Many people seem to think they have “outgrown” their love of ska from when they were younger. They come out to see a big band from the “good old days” and are really surprised by our newer take on the ska genre. The response across the board has been awesome!

In reading certain press materials, there were a lot of statements made about progressing your sound. Sometimes bands make these statements and there isn’t much progression. Your material completely backs up any claims that you made. What inspired this latest evolution as a band?
We had to deal with some serious lineup changes a couple of years ago, with some people making the choice to leave the band and focus on family. Before we started writing “All These Evolutions,” our latest LP, the remaining core members used the opportunity to create a new lineup to build a group that could propel us forward. Much of the progression in sound comes from new players and new writers bringing their influences and sensibilities to the music.

How do you get the entire band on the same page in order to move into this direction? It is a very grown-up sound.
Thanks! It actually took very little effort to be on the same page, as we literally locked ourselves in a rehearsal room every day for months. We’re all very open and engaged with one another when we write, but our goal is not to force a sound or direction. Our goal is just to create music that is interesting or moving to us.

With such specific sounds, how do you retain the main idea of being a ska band but move everything forward? Who are you drawing influences from whether it’s musically or directionally?
The 6 of us come from different musical backgrounds and draw our influences from very different places, so it’s tough to name names. We don’t try and force ska into our music or force other genres into our ska, it all just comes naturally from who we are and where we come from. Much of what we’re doing is driven by our love of ska, punk and reggae, but we also have guys who grew up on 90's rock, metal, hardcore, funk, jazz, alternative…All of that comes out in the way we approach ska music.

Your sounds have been described as ‘an architect of the 4th Wave.’ Do you think that ska needs to evolve in order to survive?
Like any musical genre, ska needs to evolve to some extent. As new people become interested in the music and new artists begin to make the music, everyone will put their individual spins on it. Music itself cannot be a static animal; it thrives on change and is fueled by new ideas. It’s important for some bands to be pushing the limits to capture and excite new and growing audiences. Just as important as the genre evolving, it’s important for new fans to find the pillars of the ska world and at least understand them, if not become a fan of them. Recognizing and understanding ska’s long and storied history provides the best foothold for launching a new effort that pushes boundaries. Perhaps that is what will come to define the “4th Wave”, bands, old and new, reaching beyond perceived boundaries and smashing things together!

You just released a record called ‘All These Evolutions.’ Is the title of the record directly related to what the band was doing next?
Pretty much, yeah! We spent a long time t - By Steven Bauer at Readjunk.com

Long-running Rochester, NY Ska band Mrs. Skannotto have recently taken a serious leap into the world of full-time musicianship. Though a staple of the 518 scene for almost a decade and a half, only now has the group decided to pursue their craft on a more serious level.

And if you want to talk about a ridiculous start, how about back-to-back tours to close 2012 and enter 2013? Which tours? One with Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and Mad Caddies, directly followed up by a HUGE jaunt providing direct support for The Toasters?! Yeah… That pretty much says it all.

As you can probably tell, I’m very excited that Mrs. Skannotto has decided to quantum leap into the touring game on a more consistent level, and it’s far beyond time I got one of them on the line for a little Q&A. I caught up with trumpeter Justin Lloyd to talk about the tours, their latest release, All These Evolutions, and when they decided to go for broke. Catch them on their May run of the East Coast, starting May 2nd!

Interview:

G- Hey Justin! What’s going on, man?

J- Not much, Greg. How are you doing today?

G- Hanging in there, you know. Little “Case of the Monday’s” earlier today, but I work in a job where I won’t get my ass kicked for saying so.

J- This grey upstate weather not doing it for you, huh?

G- Not so much, but I think it’s just the office environment dragging me down.

So, we go back a pretty good ways and you guys have done some tremendous touring lately! For some of our readers who may not know everybody in the band at this point, if we could, let’s go ahead and introduce everybody… Who are they, what do they play, and where does everybody come from, bro?

J- Well, we have Alex Bochetto playing drums, and he’s from right here in Rochester, NY, as well as myself, Justin Lloyd, on trumpet. We have, from Marcellus, NY out by you guys, Dan Carter. We have a guy named Michael Frederick playing guitar for us, and he is from Spokane, Wa. And Evan Dobbins is also from Rochester, so that’s all 6 of us.

Oh… Joe Harmon! He’s also from Rochester. That is the 6 of us right there.

G- Dig that, and you have a cat from Spokane, Wa. With you now… That’s a hell of a commute!

J- (laughs) Seriously, right?! He’s been in town for a long time going to Eastman School of music doing his post-grad work. He’s actually been graduated from that for a while now, and just working with us and playing a few things around town.

G- Right on. Now obviously, we go pretty far back, and I think you were actually involved with stuff before I was with any of my bands back in the day… If you could, how long has the band been around and when did you first get started?

J- Oh man… Mrs. Skannotto started way back in the winter of 1998.

G- Oof!

J- A very long time ago. I wasn’t actually in it then. It started at a college in Lewiston, Maine, and it was based on the school year, so they started in the second semester, when I was still a senior in high school. Then, I joined them when I first got to the college the next fall.

G- Very good. Now, you guys have a new record coming out and I took a listen. It’s good, and it’s different from what I’m used to, so if you could, for our readers, let’s talk about it! Give us the name, and are you working with any record labels at this time? How do you feel about the final product, and give us the skinny, man?

J- Oh yeah. We’re super excited about this album! It’s called All These Evolutions and, like you said, it’s our newest studio album. This is a unique product, in a sense, that we had the time and the opportunity to basically lock ourselves in a studio and write this album start to finish, which is considered one of those traditional album cycles. We didn’t write them over 5-6 years and play them out until we finally had enough tunes to make an album… We did this the other way.

So, it’s really projecting what these 6 members were feeling for 3 months when we write this thing, and it kinda has this energy and unique feel to it, and I think it’s a really cool product because of that.

G- Right on. And you said it took you 3 months, so I wanted to talk about the writing process. You went into the studio just straight from scratch, correct?

J- Well, it was more like 5-6 months of straight writing before we really went into the studio to record anything. We started writing in October of 2011, and we went into the studio I think… The very first couple of recording sessions were early March 2012. So, that was the writing and beginning of recording right there.

G- Ok, and tell us a bit about what that writing process was like. Do you guys typically have a primary songwriter, or do you kind of jam out grooves and put the songs together that way? How do you guys usually work it?

J- It’s kind of a combination of both of those, Greg. Anyone can definitely come in and bring an idea, and we prefer to have ideas, not fully composed songs. So, the way we work is there’s usually - By GG Allis at Live High FIve

I had this review written last night and I was fixing a couple things when my computer crashed. So here’s what I remember of the review.

Titling this album “All These Evolutions” is appropriate. This is one of the the few times when you can say a band has “matured” and not mean that they totally suck now. The production on this album is perfect for the band, added just enough polish for the band to sound tight and on their game.

Having been a jaded/burnt out/too hip ska radio DJ for some time now, lot’s of ska just leaves me feeling disappointed. This album doesn’t. Full of surprises and interesting turns, Skannotto covers a lot of ground on this album. Full on ska-punk sprints shift to intricate and complex slow interludes which slam back into riffs reminiscent of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones at their best.

Mrs. Skannotto have taken the ska-punk formula and added enough of their own flair to fall someplace in the middle of Rx Bandits and the aforementioned Bosstones. Busy horn lines that always seem to be playing the right riff at the right time, and the rest of the band is unrelenting as well.

This album is ~50 minutes of ups and downs that left me feeling more satisfied than a ska release has in a while. It’s hard to pick what tracks you should check out, because I like all of them, and there’s a little something for everyone, from slow dub influenced tunes, to huge riffs, to complex melodic parts to straight forward ska-punk. If you like ska, you better watch out for this band. There’s a reason they’ve toured with the Toasters. - Crooked Haze

Friday night was the start of a new month and the kickoff of what looks to be a very busy month in Seattle for great bands playing live music. And what a kickoff this was! This kick off runs rings around the kickoffs I will be avoiding on Super Bowl Sunday.
Unfortunately I missed the first band of the night due to circumstances beyond my control, but I did arrive in time to see one of my favorite locals, Poke Da Squid play their entire set. If any Seattle readers haven’t seen them yet, DO! This Seattle trio had a constant circle pit going with their pop/punk songs and charismatic style. It was a pleasure to see them again. They not only ooze charisma, they’re damn cute! Singer MJ contains enough charisma and energy to run Seattle’s power grid for several hours. In the words of Grand Moff Tarkin, charming to the last. By his own admission, he was quite ill, but if he hadn’t mentioned this, I wouldn’t have known the difference. His performance seemed in no way impeded. Dimple on bass and Larry on drums liven things up with their frequent jokes and youthful exuberance. I doubt anyone in this band exceeds the age of 25. The highlight of this show had to be their punked up, speeded up version of the old Carpenters’ hit, “Close to You.” I have always despised that song, but these guys made a crappy, schmaltzy song sound riveting, rivaling the Circle Jerks cover of several deplorable songs with Golden Shower of Hits.

The Seattle music scene is once again garnering attention nationally and deservedly so. There’ is a lot of musical talent in this town and Poke Da Squid are at the top of that talent pool.

Following Poke Da Squid was Mrs. Skannotto, a six piece ska combo from Rochester, NY. Just about the time they came on stage I realized that horrible plush carpet was gone from the dance floor. Perhaps it was blown off by the sheer power of the rock/ska put forth by this band. I am most grateful. Seriously, though, Mrs. Skannotto provided hard driving power with the rich, guttural vocals of Joe Harmon and a wild horn section as well as powerful guitar, drums and bass. At times their songs seemed more harder rock with a heavy dose of ska while at other times they seemed more heavily ska than rock and I distinctly heard elements of Sublime. They delivered songs such as “Hired Gun,” which they claimed was about political pundits and zombies. The circle pit continued unabated their entire set. When they left the stage and the smoke cleared from their sheer energy, a lanky guy sporting a purple ponytail came out and entertained the crowd with jokes while stage hands (one of whom looked like Woody Allen) hurried to get the stage ready for the next band — the legendary, godfathers of American ska, The Toasters. (Though front man singer/guitarist Robert Hingley AKA Bucket / Buck – Guitar, Vocals is originally from England, the band claims NYC as home). When they lit into their classic, “Shocker,” a smartly dressed dude hopped onto the stage and began to dance. A great dancer, he provided as much entertainment as the band. Very quickly a very large dude joined him and they danced on stage on and off through out most the show and were joined by a couple girls for a song or two.

At one point Bucket grinned at me and mockingly threatened that if I didn’t write a good review of their show, I might not get a free ticket next time. But how could I NOT write a good review of my beloved Toasters? They’re incapable of putting on a bad show. This is my third or fourth time seeing them and I’ve never been disappointed. Although the first time I saw them at the Bumbershoot festival in 1996 and I spent most the time chasing around my then six-year-old son. When Bucket broke a string on his guitar (a rare occurrence by his own admission), the band had to improvise while he went backstage to replace (as he said, his G-string). When he returned, we were treated to more of their classics such as “Weekend In LA,” “Decision At Midnight” and “Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down” (which Bucket dedicated to all the crooked politicians). Everyone in the packed club sang along. When The Toasters left the stage, it was announced that the Skablins would play next. After realizing The Toasters wouldn’t return for an encore, most everyone left, leaving only a few to stay on and enjoy what was to follow. And those of you who left, you should stick around and witness bands you’ve never seen before. Broaden your horizons because you deprived yourselves of a couple very fun bands. The Skablins are as much fun as a carnival ride, but longer (except for this night. Their show was far too short). This is largely due to front man Gordy Whyte (who sported a white t-shirt with bold letters saying Skautomatic Weapon). I don’t know where he gets his energy, but he has to be the most energetic front man of any Seattle band and quite possibly the most fun. Adding to the Skablins’ manic energy is the dancing about by Buster Larsh when he’s not playing his - http://www.eastportlandblog.com Holly Homan

This was a big one for me. The Toasters helped bring ska from the U.K. to the U.S. back in the 80's. Their leader and founder, Robert "Bucket" Hingley, also formed Moon Ska Records, which is reportedly the biggest independent label devoted to ska in this country. They've played Boise quite a few times, but I'd never gotten the chance to see them until this night.



I counted about thirty-five people when I got down to the Shredder. The crowd grew to about forty-five or fifty as the night progressed. Modest but respectable.



The Jerkwadz opened the show. Their tunes sounded as tough and supremely catchy as always, and Jimmy Sinn's buzzing guitar and casually muscular vocals both sounded in good form. However, a certain awkwardness held the music back. Sinn's guitar, Cacie Lee's stolid bass and J.R.'s quick-stepping drums didn't quite mesh the way that they should have, which made everything feel just a little bit off. The problem could have stemmed from a lack of rehearsal time: Sinn told the crowd that they'd only practiced with J.R. three times in six months. Still, the songs got over because they're that friggin' good.



Up next was the Useless, who played with only two horn men this night (Jason Rucker said that he had no idea where the hell the third guy was). Regardless, the band members who did show up sounded just fine. Rucker's friendly bark and ripping guitar grooved seamlessly with his bandmates' rubbery bass, slamming drums and woozy brass. A sizable chunk of the audience moshed, danced and stage-hopped. Banter-wise, an especially nice touch was when Rucker dedicated the love song "Taco Truck Girl" to Shane and Miranda Brown, who were outside hard at work in P. Ditty's Wrap Wagon.



Mrs. Skannotto, a six-man unit from Rochester, NY, played next. It took the crowd a little while to warm to this group's mix of brawny vocals, soaring horns, warped guitar, coursing basslines and lithe, muscular drumming. However, once they downshifted from some anthemic, 90's hardcore-tinged material to some smooth reggae grooves, people started to move. By the time that they revved back up with some manic ska, the joint was jumping. Damn good stuff. It was a little odd, though, seeing a guy and gal swing-dancing to "Girlfriend," a rowdy yet slinky number about stalking an ex.



The Toasters closed out the night. Damn near everyone in the crowd danced during this set and rightly so. "Bucket" Bingley's rough, charming croon and sharp guitar blended with Logan LaBarbera and "Lonestar" Johnson's jazzy horns, "Westbound" Merritt's rippling bass and Jesse Hayes's unstoppable one-two beat. Songs like "2Tone Army," "Run Rudy Run," "Weekend in L.A.," "History Book" and "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down" were as bouncy and irresistible as anything this side of Desmond Dekker. Their warmth and good humor were reflected in Bingley's jokes and banter with the audience (I wonder, did he get a picture of the barefootin' girl's feet like he said he would?). Simply wonderful.





You can find info on these groups on Facebook and elsewhere online. - http://herecomesthedumptruck.blogspot.com B. Schultz

Winter Bliss
The Toasters light up the Marquis on a beautiful night in January
By Jo Jo King
Few things go better with a 40-degree January night in Denver than some skankin’ good tunes. Fortunately for those wise enough to head to the Marquis Sunday night, the good tunes were abundant. The show led off with local artists The Dendrites. I say “artists” because this 10-man bandstand is composed of individually talented musicians who together put together a wonderful instrumental act. If you haven’t had the pleasure to catch this reggae, ska, surf and overall good-vibe fest live, do yourself a favor and catch a gig when you can; the gods of good vibrations will bless you plentifully.
Following the melodic and up-beat tunes of The Dendrites, was the melodic ska-punk outfit Mrs. Skannotto. Hailing from freezing Rochester, New York, the sextet was more than happy to enjoy a “winter” night in Denver playing their particular style of music, which covers everything from punk to ska to rhythm and blues. Vocalist Joe Harmon proved that his vocal range is not a product of audio mastering, but rather an authentic talent while belting out favorites like “Girlfriend” and “Smashed Against the Wall”. As with most ska-based bands, the enlivening factor of Mrs. Skannotto was the horns section anchored by Justing Lloyd and Evan Dobbins on trumpet and trombone, respectively.
After the heavy-handed beats of Mrs. Skannotto came the band whose existence surpassed the life of most of the audience members by 10- to 15-years: The Toasters. Playing classics like “2Tone Army”, “Run Rudy Run”, “Shocker”, “I’m Running Right Through The World” and the incomparable “Don’t Let The Bastards Drag You Down”, Rob Hingley and company kept the kids, geriatrics and everyone in between bouncin’, skankin’ and singing all night. Being this only their 10th date on a tour that will go through the first of March, those in attendance were fortunate enough to see a fresh version of The Toasters. A few in-case-you-missed-it notes of the night: Hingley took some time to single-out Omaha as a hell hole – for those not in the know, Omaha (or Nebraska in general) is always a welcome target for ridicule in Colorado – which brought an abundance of applause. The anti-circle jerks were present (you’re at a concert dude, move) and both Lloyd and Dobbins of Mrs. Skannotto came out for a final send-off, rounding out The Toasters’ horn section.
Outside and in, it was a pleasant night. - fortheloveofpunk.com Jo Jo King

The Toasters have announced dates for a tour set to kick off in early January; it's their 33rd year together and the band is promising new releases. They will begin with The House of Soul a vinyl release on their own Megalith Records. That will be followed by a series of singles prior to the release of Life is a Party sometime in 2013.

Rochester's Mrs. Skannotto will provide support on all shows.


Date City Venue
January 18, 2013 Pawtucket, RI The Met Caf'e
January 19, 2013 Dover, NH Fury's
January 20, 2013 Amityville, NY Ollie's Point
January 21, 2013 Rochester, NY Dub Land Underground
January 22, 2013 Pittsburgh, PA Club Caf'e
January 23, 2013 Toledo, OH Micky Finn's
January 24, 2013 Madison, WI The Frequency
January 25, 2013 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club
January 26, 2013 Lincoln, NE Knickerbockers
January 27, 2013 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
January 28, 2013 Colorado Springs, CO Black Sheep
January 29, 2013 Cheyenne, WY Forum 669
January 30, 2013 Salt Lake City, UT Bar Deluxe
January 31, 2013 Boise, ID Shredder
February 1, 2013 Seattle, WA El Corazon
February 2, 2013 Portland, OR Ash Street Saloon
February 4, 2013 Arcata, CA Jambalaya
February 5, 2013 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst
February 6, 2013 San Francisco, CA Thee Parkside
February 7, 2013 Sparks, NV The Alley
February 8, 2013 Las Vegas, NV Hard Rock Caf'e On The Strip
February 9, 2013 Los Angeles TBA
February 10, 2013 San Diego, CA SOMA
February 11, 2013 Fullerton, CA Slidebar
February 12, 2013 Yuma, AZ Strummer's Village Tavern
February 13, 2013 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
February 15, 2013 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
February 16, 2013 El Paso, TX House of Rock
February 17, 2013 Austin, TX Antone's
February 18, 2013 Shreveport, LA Bear's
February 19, 2013 Hot Springs, AR Maxine's Pub
February 20, 2013 Lafayette, LA Grant Street Bar
February 21, 2013 Pensacola, FL Handle Bar
February 22, 2013 Gainesville, FL High Dive
February 23, 2013 Cooca Beach, FL Cocoa Beach Scooter Rally
February 24, 2013 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
February 25, 2013 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge
February 26, 2013 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
February 27, 2013 Norfolk, VA Jewish Mother Backstage
February 28, 2013 Stanhope, NJ The Stanhope House
March 1, 2013 Cambridge, MA T.T. The Bear's
- Contributed by Simon Caldwell Punknews.org

On Tuesday, October 9th, the 20th Anniversary Tour for Less Than Jake made a stop at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. I knew the show was going to be good (the line-up rocked!), but I wasn't expecting it to be great! The night kicked off at 7:30 with a short set from Mrs. Skannotto, who hail from Rochester,NY. Tonight was my first time hearing them and I was blown away. Solid musicianship, awesome vocals, and fabulous horns are the normal for this band and it made for an amazing show. Before launching into "Wage War", lead vocalist Joe Harmon dedicated the song to "anyone in the audience who ever had to deal with an asshole boss". When not playing, the trumpet player was skankin' around stage and just having fun. Actually, the whole band seemed to be having a blast, and that energy transferred itself to the audience. A handful of people tried to get a circle pit going, but the audience mainly wanted to watch the band and dance in place. By the time they played "The Other Man" (my favourite song of the evening), the crowd was fairly large and really getting into the music. As they closed out their regrettably short set with "Just As Well", pretty much everyone in the audience was smiling and bouncing along with the band. If you like Bim Skala Bim, Streetlight Manifesto, or Mustard Plug, you'll love Mrs. Skannotto! I really hope they make it back to Southern California again, and soon, because I'd love to see a longer show from them.
Set-list: Long Dark Road, Wage War, Free Speech Zone, New Belief, The Other Man, Hired Gun, Just As Well
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skannotto - big wheel online magazine

The night felt promising as the first band, Mrs. Skannotto, a New York punk-ska band riled up a decently large crowd. Their great vocal harmonies encouraged people to sing along, even if this was their first time hearing them. Flatfoot 56, a Celtic punk band continued the positive trend as a circle pit started up. Flatfoot’s Eric McMahon, had the crowd going wild as he energetically played his bagpipes while sporting a kilt. - SoCalMusicToday.com

Mrs. Skannotto

First up were Rochester ska band Mrs. Skannotto, a very unique name for a band with an infectious ska sound that made you want to dance. Touring the Northeast extensively since 1998, the rude boys from a place known as "The Flower City" had the crowd in a frenzy right when they were passing through the doors from the back deck of The Met. With the laid-back persona of lead singer Joe Harmon and a great horn section featuring the trumpet of Justin Lloyd and trombone of Evan Dobbins, Mrs. Skannotto set the tone for an evening full of fans kicking their feet up in the air, skanking like there's no tomorrow and getting a little crazy in the mosh pit. - GoLocalProv

Well folks, I am sonofabitchin impressed. I wrote something; someone actually read it; new audio shows up in the mail. (Specifically I said that I miss ska. Less specifically, I think I screamed it into the night sky.). So here’s what’s shakin’ bacon. I’m listening to the new release, The Long Dark Road by Rochester’s own Mrs Skanotto.
Admittedly, I am not familiar with Mrs. Skanotto. I feel a bit like I have been missing out, this being their 5th release and all. Apparently the Continental Divide does more that determine where water ends up. However, now that I’m in the know, so to speak, I’m digging the new grooves.
The Long Dark Road is a full on New England (maybe NE would be more accurate) 3rd wave ska CD. The disc delivers on 12 tracks of soulful down beat horn dripping ska. Seriously, what can you not like about music that elevates the mind and soul and makes you want to skank to boot.
The more I listen to this CD, the more it makes me think that I’ve heard this band before. On some comps maybe? For lack of any official remembrance, I’ll try to liken the sound to something I’m more familiar with. I’m thinking that an artful blend of Spring Heeled Jack (USA) and Deals Gone Bad (albeit with less Piratude) would be a reasonable assumption.
So here is the big breakdown. The Long Dark Road delivers really solid ska. The content ranges from love and longing to pompous posturing to camp to the dark depths of suicide. Despite the darkness the disc stays on the lighter side musically and keeps you dancing throughout. Oh, and did I mention horns? Honestly, the horns bring it!
-Jerry Actually
For fans of: Spring Heeled Jack, Deals Gone Bad, Toasters, Ska
Track Listing:
1. The Other Man
2. Girlfriend
3. Long Dark Road
4. Smashed Against the Wall
5. Ordinary Girl
6. Girl Come Back
7. Self-Appointed King
8. Get Off the Fence
9. Time to Play
10. Mainstream
11. Finally Happy
12. The 86th Floor
- !Upstarter Punk Reviews

Rochester, NY, October 14, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Mrs. Skannotto—a long-standing Rochester, NY ska band—today announced that it will release its fifth album, “The Long Dark Road,” at a launch party held at the Club at Water Street on Oct. 15. Event attendees will be able to see the band perform the new songs live, and will receive a copy of the CD free.

With the release, the band is urging fans to use their favorite song from The Long Dark Road to participate in an online skanking contest to find the funniest variation of the dance. Mrs. Skannatto hopes to ingrain the skank dance style—which originated in the 1950s or 1960s in Jamaican dance halls where ska was played—and was last popular through the mid 1990s. Participants can download a song free from the band’s MySpace page and video tape their dance moves to the music, or take video of their dancing at the Water Street concert. Videos posted to the Mrs. Skannotto Facebook page will be judged by the band, and winners announced on Nov. 20, 2010. The contestant with the best skanking will receive a free Apple® iPod Touch, and two runners up will receive Mrs. Skannotto merchandise packs.

“Mrs. Skannotto band members represent the second generation of artists to be participating in the third wave of the ska music genre,” said Justin Lloyd, band manager and lead horn player. “Our music is continuing to move the genre forward by leveraging the best of the past—the ska music from the last 50 years, as well as the combination of sound assets from rock, punk and reggae that initially defined this format.”

By honoring traditional ska and emphasizing slightly darker and heavier sounds, the CD plays tribute to the band’s favorite ska artists, such as The Toasters; Mighty Mighty Bosstones; Big D and the Kids Table; The Slackers, and Hepcat.

- PR.com

Oftentimes bass and drums get lumped together into the singular "rhythm section" category. It makes sense. The Rochester ska scenesters in Mrs. Skannotto go even further with the blending of classifications; though he doesn't play any brass, the vocalist is considered a member of the horn section.

"I think it creates more of a frontline than a front man," says trumpeter Justin Lloyd. "The horns are strategically placed up front and they are also in the spotlight of the melody." Consequently the listener leaves a Mrs. Skannotto show humming an infectious, reinforced melody.

"The melodies come from the horn section," Lloyd says. "So it's very horn driven in that respect, as opposed to some ska bands that gravitate toward more rock with a horn accompaniment, with the horns adding color to a rock tone."

"We'll come up with this broad fabric of songs, the basis of songs," he says. "And for me the hard part is getting the right horn line for the songs...and that can take months. You can have a million horn lines but there's only one that goes there. A lot of times I'll wait until the vocalist is done finalizing his part before I write the horn line, because I want them to interact."

Originally formed at Bates College in Maine in 1997, Mrs. Skannotto migrated to Rochester in the early 2000's after Lloyd (a Flower City native) had finished his studies in trumpet performance and American cultural studies. The band emerged just after the national ska scene had experienced its boom. Ska had been frequently used liberally as a rhythmic kick in the pants for pop, punk, and pop/punk bands. Now it was back underground a bit. Lloyd and Mrs. Skannotto missed out on the ska boom.

"I think we're 10 years too late in that regard," he says. "What came in the 90's was very poppy ska with the pop/punk stuff.

So besides positioning a formidable front line, Lloyd and the rest of the band - Joe Harmon (vocals), Alex Charissis (guitar), Rick Stiles (trombone), Dan Carter (bass), and Ben Harmon (drums) - set out to write the same way, from the horns down. In a way that matches the way the music plays out over your body: if you've ever seen Mrs. Skannotto, the dancing the band brings out of you is like the pogo in reverse. You jump down before you jump up.

There's plenty of bouncing and bounding about the stage, but Mrs. Skannotto is busy playing - often at accelerated time signatures - leaving the shenanigans to the crowd.

"We're not one of these bands that's over the top with theatrics on stage," Lloyd says. "It's really hard to play trumpet when you're jumping around."

Mrs. Skannotto has just released the EP "Good Enough," a little taste, a tease, of material that'll be on the band's next full-length release, which is due out this summer. The band thought it was a good idea since going through line-up changes since its last recording, 2006's "Bet You Didn't See That Coming."

Though taken out of the full LP context, Lloyd feels all four tracks on the EP have legs of their own.

"We thought about that," Lloyd says. "But we wanted a product out that represented the band available at shows." Lloyd is not concerned of the impact this will have on the upcoming album's sales.

"In reality what ends up happening is we've given away two-thirds of the ones we've made," he says. "We just got back from Philly and I must have given away, I don't know, like 50 because I'd rather have [the fans] have it and have an interest in us than make a dollar or two. We're not looking to turn a buck on this, we just want people to have these songs."

So while producer Calvin May puts the finishing touches on the new album at Black Dog Studios, the band will storm the northeast whenever it can.

"A lot of people our age are into that part of life where they've let that dream go," says Lloyd, who just turned 30. "We have aspirations as a band, we go out and play, but it comes down to, ‘Hey we have a gig somewhere this weekend, can you take Friday off?' And it's like, ‘No, I have a corporate job.' There's a lot of stress with that." But the band will abide. And though perhaps toying with some dancehall rhythms, Mrs. Skannotto is sticking to its ska guns.

"I don't see us branching off into this alt-calypso band," Lloyd says. "We love what we are."

Mrs. Skannotto

Opens for Big D and the Kids Table

Thursday May 13

Water Street Music Hall, 204 North Water Street

7 p.m.| $12-$14 | 325-5600

- City Newspaper, Rochester, NY

Believe it or not Mrs. Skannotto is not the weird cat lady from down the block. They’re a ska band from Rochester, New York that have been playing skankalicisous tunes for well over a decade, and are much deserving of your attention. The soulful, punk influenced ska/reggae jams remind me of a younger, more energetic twist of The Pietasters’ sound, but don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself by streaming their full-length album “The Long Dark Road” on their facebook page and purchase a hard copy here.

- DYING SCENE: news For the punks, by the punks