Usual Players - Volume 1: Street Ska

If you don't believe we called this one months ago then you're a mug, simple as that. We told you back last June to keep an eye on Watford's own Usual Players... and now, a year later, we're telling you that their debut album 'Volume 1: Street Ska' is probably one of the most important albums to come out of the scene for longer than anyone probably cares to admit.

Taking this album at face value, it's 10 tracks of brass laden, North London Ska. A little punchier than original ska - maybe even more so than 2nd generation ska too but it's roots show through like a 'blondes' the week before payday.

The cover, and disc itself, are designed to look like a record. To say it's been done well is doing it no justice whatsoever - it looks the business. And as the album starts there's the crackle of a needle on vinyl and straight into track one 'Soul of Rock and Roll (is Dead)'...

The songs on Street Ska are honest, catchy and cover just about any aspect of modern life you'd care to think about - drugs, women, the state of the music scene and Facebook all get the Usual Players treatment. The playing is second to none, the lyrics are sharp and the production is top quality.

Highlights for me would have to be the insanely catchy 'Fancy a Facebook' - boasting one of those choruses that just makes you want to sing along and dance until you're sweating the beer out, 'Bad Pills', 'Lie, Cheat & Steal' and the track that, were there any justice would be played through loudspeakers outside every bar in town on a Friday night, 'So Whatford' - but there's something on here for everyone. You can't help but be swept up in the vibe when this album's playing. You want to get suited, booted and grab a can of lager. This is music to dance to, to listen to in the motor on the way to the pub and for those messy nights with the lads. This is 'Volume 1: Street Ska' and it's about as good as it gets.

The Usual Players on FACEBOOK

To get a copy of the album itself, get your fucking shoes on and get down the shops!

Usual Players - Fancy a Facebook - One Thirty Four Records by Usual Players

Ska Wars!

A long, long time ago (well, it was Friday night) in a Galaxy far, far away (that looked suspiciously like the Flag, Watford) a group of rebels thwarted an empire's worth of shit music by playing some amazing Ska Punk.

We were gutted to lose My Third Leg at the last minute due to work commitments although we will be seeing them in June with Tyrannosaurus Alan though (details HERE) so there's some good news. However, the line-up we ended up with was a corker!

First up we had Chaz and Tom (of Royal Flush fame) doing an acoustic set. Well, the kind of acoustic that needs plugging in but it was sort of acoustic. The kids were digging it, the beer was flowing and it was a good start to the night.


Next up was Truebeat and what a set! Playing Punk and Ska with a dash of Reggae thrown in for good measure these guys came and took the roof off.




Up next were The Milksnatchers, they've been on the scene for a fair old time now and we were privileged enough to have them come and play for us. Great guys, great tunes and a Hammond organ too! Top stuff.


And we were also lucky enough to have Sal in the audience filming a bit too. Here's some footage she shot of the lads (and lady) in action.


We thoroughly recommend you check out Sal's channel on Facebook HERE
Last band of the night, Watford's own Usual Players and it's hard to talk about them without being more biased than normal, for one thing they're a home town band and for another, me and Lewis (the front man) go way back. So, in order to keep this snappy and not too full of platitudes I'll just say that the lads did what they do best, they did it bloody well and we appreciate them doing it for us for a second time. Can't wait for the album!


And here's a video Sal did. Gawd love her.



So, that was Ska Wars! A great night, fantastic atmosphere and a good turn out for 4 acts that deserved it. Here's to the next one!

All the photos courtesy of Joho Photos - Find her HERE - Cheers Jo!

Ones to Watch...

Of course, when I say ones to watch, I mean as well as everyone else I've mentioned on this here blog. I'm sure you have the mental capacity to keep tabs on many bands at once - I believe in you.

There's an abundance of people grabbing an acoustic guitar right now and churning out folk punk like it's a brand new thing... Blame Frank Turner if you like or, if you're a little older you can blame Billy Bragg. The sad fact is though, not all of these acts are appealing in the slightest... Thank god for these two then:

Ducking Punches & Stick It Out - 2 talented lads that know how to craft a decent song. They keep the bells and whistles to an absolute bare minimum - never falling into that over produced self-indulgent territory that follows solo acts around these days like a spurned ex-girlfriend who simply won't take the hint. You can hear the passion in every line these guys sing and I'd take that over an abundance of samples any day.

Usual Players - Local bias aside, these lads have brought a musical honesty to a scene that for far too long was more proud of it's haircuts than it's tune writing. They play the sort of Ska that would have fit as well back in the heyday of Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker as it does now and fit it does - like the trilby you bought and never wore... Well, now's the time to dust it off - they've written the songs for you, might as well look the part.

Murder She Wrote are equally cursed and blessed - on the one hand they named themselves after the afternoon televisual sedative featuring some nosey old girl and her crime solving prowess - on the other though, they are mustard keen and show endless potential.

Hardcore has never sat well with me. Back in the day hardcore meant hardcore punk - bands like Reagan Youth or Bad Brains. Nowadays hardcore is all about beatdowns and attitude problems... At least in many cases this is true. Murder She Wrote however grabbed my attention by the throat and didn't let up until the song was through.

It's probably easy to dismiss these guys as 'yet another hardcore' band but if the tracks they have are any indicator, this lot are going to change a lot of peoples views on the genre - and that's a good thing.