In their 24 years of existence, the Voodoo Glow Skulls have an impressive list of achievements. 9 albums, one million records sold, appearances in exotic locations like Brazil and Japan as well as the creation of a record store, record label, recording studio and a music venue attests to the remarkable creativity and energy of the band. Formed in 1988, Voodoo Glow Skulls meshed hardcore punk, traditional ska, tough guitar riffs and the Mexican music of their roots to create the prototype for the West Coast ska-core sound. Unflinchingly honest, their songs often used humor to comment on harsh political realities – from racial inequity to unrest overseas. Singing in both Spanish and English, Voodoo Glow Skulls’ bilingual musical tradition has been a hallmark of the band since they began.

The core of the band since the beginning has been the three Casillas brothers, Frank, Eddie and Jorge. With a list of accomplishments that might make some bands ready to slow their pace, the band shows no signs of slowing down. Voodoo Glow Skulls dubbed their sound “California street music” – a perfect description of their high octane mix of rock, punk, ska and hardcore.

Voodoo Glow Skulls 9th studio album “Break the Spell” was released on January 17th on Smelvis Records and is available now!

Current Line Up:

Eddie Casillas-Guitar

Frank Casillas-Vocals

Jorge Casillas-Bass

Vince Sollecito-Drums

Mark Bush-Trumpet

Dan Albert-Trombone

The Toasters are one of the original American third-wave ska bands. Founded in New York way back in 1981 by Buck. We’ve released 9 studio albums, with labels such as Moon Ska Records, Megalith Records, Celluloid, Stomp Records, Caroline Distribution & Skaloid.

Buck is the only constant member in the band. He moved over to the US to manage the Forbidden Planet comic book store, one year later he formed The Toasters. Our first show was opening for Bad Brains that same year, and later along in ’83 we released our first single Beat Up.

Two more years along and we reach Recriminations, our debut EP, produced by Joe Jackson. This was the point Buck decided to create Moon Ska Records, this would be the label for Recriminations.

Over the following years we expanded with the addition of a brass section, releasing Skaboom! in 1987. Since then, the lineup has seen many new faces (regular contributors included Coolie Ranx, Matt Malles, Brian Sledge, Lester Sterling – followed by a huge etc.), we released a bunch more albums, singles, EP’s & compilations – all available in our toastography. Our latest releases being One More Bullet (LP), in 2007 for our 25^th anniversary & House of Soul (7″) in 2013.

Up to today we’re still touring around the world, filling the dance-floors with ska. While we’re at it we’ve also brought out a couple of hot-sauces & brews.

So come down to a show – checkout the supporting act(s), skank to our tunes, and you might even have some beer-money left over for merch!

After being welcomed into the Hellcat family in 2005, the group released their debut full-length, the ska-punk classic “Lonely Starts and Broken Hearts”, then followed it up with their diverse sophomore LP “Dead American Radio”. Sights set on a more cohesive third album, the band began working on and practicing the first incarnations of what would become the self-titled effort, then time off from their touring and rehearsing schedule.

“The band had been touring constantly, but after our January tour we took a long break, which is something I’ve never gotten to do before,” says front man and founder Elvis Cortez.

Cortez occupied his time off with a stint filling in on bass for several Unseen tours, after which he looked at the songs with fresh eyes, helping the direction of the album come together before ever entering the studio.

“I got to come home and start putting things together, and wrote all these songs specifically for this album. I didn’t want to rehash old songs, or play songs we’ve been playing forever. I wanted music for the moment.”

The time away worked towards the band’s advantage and helped make the record the most cohesive group of songs to date. While Dead American Radio offered fans a large variety of styles to choose from, the latest effort has meshed into one polished and progressive sound, with personal lyrics and a commitment to give the fans something to salivate over, and silence the critics they care so little about.

The break from touring also gave Cortez time to finalize the new lineup, adding Kiel Gesicki on drums and Nick Danger on bass, tightening up the group’s sound.

The first single off the record, “3 Bottles of Wine”, represents the new dynamic of the group and the album, with an addictive sing along chorus, still in the tradition of the band’s previous fan favorites but on a new, higher level.

Fans of Left Alone’s distinct ska sound need not fear, the band hasn’t forgotten their old signature and features it on the made-for-skanking romp “Sad Story”, dealing with true life events living within the confines of gang-infested Wilmington.

Radically changing the personal tones of the album is the politically charged “Bombs Away”, dealing with the rampant destabilization of Western civilization. The song is a stark departure for Cortez lyrically, and deals with subject matter usually non-existent for Left Alone.

“The album to me sounds like one full project, each song compliments the others,” summarizes Cortez. “I feel like these are the best I’ve written and have the best production value, and a lot of that comes from going and living in the studio.”

The group left Wilmington for almost a month to head to a studio in Fontana, a rural town in the Inland Empire, with limited distractions and a complete focus on recording the album with the same audio engineer who worked with the band on Dead American Radio.

With solid months of touring lined up, and their new album slated for a March release, the band shows no signs of slowing down or letting grass grow under their TUK-clad feet. Left Alone has always walked the road less traveled by, and without a doubt, it’s a road with no end in sight.

Founding members of the original lineup; Roger Chavez, Kevin Lustrup, Steve Katz and Tim Schuett are anything but ellusive in projecting what has been their love for years.
Bringing Ska to the people.

Lailah Reich on Vox, Kathleen Irion on vocals and keys, Bill Stulgin on sax and Tim Williams on Trombone and NOW : Dee Isler on Drums !!! 🙂

RESOUND:
With a little help from some old friends, while making new ones along the way, OYM
spent the months between January 2009 and September 2010 recording a new album which they hope will be their crowning achievement in an attempt to write the next great Ska classic.

With more than 15 musicians featured on the album, OYM has strived to grab what’s
great from every genre of ska, reggae, 2 tone, dub, and ska-core to make the most diverse ska record to date.

With content ranging from the most personal inside jokes, to the universal feelings
toward hate, fear, violence, love, and lament, OYM labors to speak to all of us on one level or another.

LA MATA Audio/Visual experimental band. Musical Influences include: rock, punk, ska, son jarocho, cumbia, reggae and traditional rhythms.

LA MATA emerges in the winter of 2012 in Chicago with acoustic sessions among musicians, poets and visual artists. They form LA MATA as a expression musical outlet influenced by “La Flor y el Canto”, dance, poetry and the sociocultural movements.

LA MATA’s performance is an intense continuos audio/visual ride. Sing and dance with surreal strokes that speak of love, death, natural elements and romantic chaos.