Mexico’s ska scene is alive and heavy due to bands such as Los de abajo, Sekta Core, Panteon Rococo, Salon Victoria and Maldita Vecindad. At one point in their careers, most of these led tours throughout the Mexican republic and the United States recruiting members for their ska units along the way. Mexican skankers Maskatesta also adds to the richness of ska music coming from south of the border. Last December, a visit to the U.S. had the band opening L.A. shows for ska royalty Inspector. Now, the ska sixtet returns to the city to participate in Los Angeles Skawars 2013, one of the biggest ska festivals in Southern California.
Returning to the WLCAC Outdoors on Saturday, February 9th, the event will feature over 30 ska bands from the U.S. and Mexico; and knowing that the L.A. ska scene grows momentum due to its youngest members, the event is once again following an “all ages” criteria. “Fans of all ages and from Tijuana and San Diego are messaging us to say they’re going to the festival,” said Jose Luis “Deals” Olan, Maskatesta’s saxophonist. “Knowing that they’re willing to make the drive to see us makes the event very special.”
It’s that same loyal support that has nourished the community for so long. In comparison to other music groups, the ska community is one of the most tightknit around. On any given show, including at the Skawars festival, members of the bands lend their equipment to other performing bands, serve as backup musicians when worse case scenarios come up, offer lodging to visiting bands, and work as audio/light techs if need be. Its production, for example, is presented by Evoekore Media, an events production group founded by Clemente Ruiz, drummer for ska band La Resistencia.
“We’ve always wanted to play the festival because its one of the few that still holds that “underground” feel to it,” said Jose Luis. “The rocksteady bands that play it are the same ones that keep feeding the scene and allow it to grow into great events like Skawars.”
Jose Luis and crew will take advantage of the festival’s stage to promote the band’s forthcoming album, which is in its final stages and has an estimated release date of early May. “We now have the support of DiVa Music Digital, our label in the U.S. So unlike previous records, we don’t have the pressure of figuring out how to pay for it or how to pay the producer. We only have to concentrate on the creative process.”
Prior to their Skawars appearance, Maskatesta will play on Friday, February 8th at the Monaco Bar in Mexicali. They also have a gig on February 10th at the Art Space in San Francisco. At Skawars they’re joining headlining band The Toasters (New York), as well as Buck-O-Nine (San Diego) and various band from L.A.’s very own ska scene.
Admission for the event is $20 presale, $25 at the door. Tickets are available through
Flavorus.com.
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