I was just getting around to looking and reading my twitter feed (@someknight, because I’m cool that way) and I noticed that Big D and the Kids Table posted ANOTHER SONG from the NEW album that is due out JULY 5th, 2011. It’s called “Walls” and you can hear it right here.
Enjoy!
Warped Tour, '07.
Big D and the Kids Table will be on the Warped tour armed with a new album! For the Damned, the Dumb and the Delirious is set to be released July 5, 2011 on SideOneDummy Records. You can hear the first single from the album here.
It’s been so long, I am surprised I remembered how to sign on to update! I’m not kidding. I’ve been in the throws of quitting jobs, moving, wireless internet issues, finding jobs…uninteresting, yet necessary things. What I did manage to do while all of my boring real life shenanigans were bringing me down, is obtain a ticket (thanks Jason!) to see the Aquabats. (GIRLIE SQUEAL HERE)
I was unaware of the tour, being that I was living in the internetless bubble of sleep all day, stay up all night, coffee binges, and karaoke but some kids came to my bar and were talking about “we’re going to see the aquabats…..”
You now have my undivided attention, sir. The Aquabats? I’ve never seen the Aquabats. It later became known to me that this little adventure in radness would introduce me to Koo Koo Kangaroo, and all their dance party antics, allow me to remember why I loved Suburban Legends at first listen, and leave me in awe, as a 5 year old (with parental consent) got tossed from TMZ..yeh that’s right… I WAS THERE.)
Available for sale at the show was a three song ep from the Aquabats- as mentioned by tony in a different post. Since the show, (which was in NOVEMBER- i know, sorry) the Aquabats have put out that new album. It’s called ‘High Five Soup’, and is available at your local Hot Topic, and I’m sure other places that still have a fine music selection.
Also worth mentioning, Reel Big Fish has another album out, titled ‘Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album’ and is a double disc of awesome, featuring an extended live set list on the first disc and a dvd from a 2006 concert on the second. (also available at Hot topic, as well as Best Buy)
Suburban Legends, hard at work, had a DIY seven song ep, titled ‘Going On Tour’ they were making more of from their van because they ran out and had a line of hungry, anxious ears.
Koo Koo Kangaroo, at the time had all of their music available free online at kookookangaroo.com. It’s not ska- it’s super silly, fun dance music. (100% kid Friendly)
That’s all I have for you at this junction in time. But, there will be more. More? Much more! (hooray!)
The conversation briefly touched on a subject I’m not sure I have the knowledge to cover. A question was asked. A question that triggered my brain to throw out at least a dozen different ideas that exploded out of my brain and into the air faster than I could capture a complete one. The question: is it time for another wave?
Today I quoted a Less than Jake song as a status update, because in this digital age, that’s how we communicate to the masses. Status updates. “She’s gonna break soon…” well, that should communicate to more than one person that either I’m stressing out, or that I’m listening to Less than Jake. Success was mine, and it was sweet. (Confusing the masses one song lyric at a time.)
See, I love Less than Jake. I love Big D and the Kids Table. I love the Aquabats. I love Reel Big Fish. I’m a third wave ska kid, these are staples in my musical diet. Is it time for another wave?
Who would be in this wave? Do you think ska could take out the rap/metal that’s been all over the radio for the last few years (at least in Peoria, IL it’s rap/metal)?
Oi! Sorry about the delay in posting, I mean, where have I been? In all honesty, a better question is where have I NOT been, but that’s a minor detail, easily overlooked. All of my Less than Jake photos were from my Chicago trip, those actually were my better photos from the weekend, since I was nailed to one spot, fighting for my right to be at the rail (and winning. Hooray for being a seasoned concert vet!)
Since my double shot Less Than Jake holiday extravaganza, I’ve have been on the go again, this time determined to get a new awesome camera. Maybe I’ll take up a holiday collection “Help the nerd get a camera.” We all win, right? Yes! We do!
On 12.01.09 I made my way up to Chicago for Big D & the Kids Table, with Sonic Boom Six and the Takeouts at Reggie’s Rock Club. Reggie’s is a very small venue, which makes for a very amazing concert going experience regardless of if you’re checking out a band for the first time, or going to see your favorite band for the 10th time. It’s an amazing thing, and I got to experience both feelings at the very same time last Tuesday.
The whole show opener was a little local group called the Takeouts. The stage at Reggie’s was almost too small for the band, which included 2 guitars, a bass, two trumpets, a trombone, and a little b/a drummer chick, plus the lead singer. If I were to guess at their ages based on looks alone, I’d guess them all to be in high school, ages ranging from 15-18, and that guess is not based on the fact that I saw someone’s parents there. The kids had great energy on stage, and opening for Big D & the Kids Table must have been a little nerve-wrecking. They really can only go up from here, right?
During the sound check for the next band, I noted that one gentleman (the only one that had spoken so far) had a bit of an accent. Once the band got themselves started this firecracker with bright magenta hair bounced out, just rocking the mic like she had been born with it. It was then that I was introduced to Sonic Boom Six, from the UK. I’m not sure if Chicago knew exactly how to react to the band at first, but wow. They are no less than awesome. Since I was slightly strapped on cash I picked one of the three cds they had for sale.
So, we’re at the end of our evening. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Big D and the Kids Table, a very DIY group is getting all set up, plugging in mic cords, horns doing sound checks…a video plays, the band takes the stage. Enter Dave McWane. Dave McWane and his infinite energy.
They just, have this energy. A flow. A great stage presence. A demand to be heard. They opened with an equal balance of songs from the new album, Fluent in Stroll, and Strictly Rude.
After some brief crowd interaction, Dave tells a story about how he was with his grandfather at a gas station,and 5 kids decide to taunt/mess with his grandfather, who took them all out- and with that he explains that’s what the song “5 Kids Down” is about, which is what they played! Surprise! Yes. They also played “Wailing Paddle.” It was no less than amazing.
“My Girlfriends On Drugs” and “We Can Live Anywhere” made for an awesome encore. I don’t think I have ever heard “My Girlfriend’s On Drugs” live.
A few years back at a Warped Tour, I purchased Dave’s book The Gypsy Mile, which was a collection of poetry and random writings all bound in one sweet soft cover book. It’s an excellent read, and I’d suggest it to any one who enjoys poetry, or has an open mind to the thoughts of others. This time around, I bought Chalk, which is a collection of the lyrics from the 
Big D catalogue. The book also includes a foreword by McWane, who I find myself completely fascinated with, even more so after reading just the foreword. Yes friends, he’s just that good.
Last week was a grand week for me. No joke. Not only was Tuesday the new Friday, but Tuesday night I got to see Less Than Jake at the Metro, in Chicago- which is my favorite venue in Chicago, by the way- wake up early Wednesday to catch a bus to Minneapolis to see Less Than Jake AGAIN in St. Paul, MN at Station 4. Yep. I did that. It was great.
The line up (for anyone not paying attention) was the Swellers, a popish-punk outfit from Michigan, and not half bad. I felt myself tapping my foot to the music, but it wasn’t so outstanding to me that I HAD to get their cd. I’d call them a nice fit for the bill. Then the Casualties took the stage.
The Casualties, of New York. A street punk band. Not really my style of street punk, unless I have my definitions jumbly, which is not outside the realm of possibility. (I’m thinking Dwarves. That’s more my speed) The most entertaining part of the Casualties set was the punky kids and their circle pit. One of the fine fellows that accompanied me to the Metro show was throwing the thrashing punk kids across the pit. Best part of the set.
Thank you, Casualties, for your amusing circle pit, and the children in it.
*let me set you up for what you’re about to see.* Tony, and Russ went to one of the Riot Fest shows. Tony took a few photos, and we were talking about them and the blurriness of them, to which I responded with “I am like ninja with camera where permitted!” So, after a little pushing around down front, i give you the AWESOME i managed to capture on my camera… Less Than Jake, at the Metro, Chicago, 11.24.09.
STARE IN AWE AT THE AMAZING NINJA SKILLS- CAN YOU NAME THAT BAND MEMBER? I KID, I KID…
Heckling the Crowd. You know, cause it wouldn’t be a Less Than Jake show with out random banter between awesome music. I wouldn’t want it any other way. The thing that became kind of apparent to me was that no matter how hard I tried I just could not get a picture of Roger. In Chicago, I tried to blame a number of different factors to my inability to get a good photo of Roger; th
e rude crowd down front, the fact that he was clear across the stage from where I managed to perch myself, lack of lighting, lack of zoom on my camera. Alas, this camera Ninja did not accept defeat and tried to get phots of the one they call Roger with slight luck in that department.
They played a lot of older songs. Being down front, latched about 2 people from the front of the stage, it was like one giant sing-a-long.
I’ll leave you with this shot, because I did manage to get an amazing photo of Chris in Chicago.
I have more photos, but for now I’m going to catch a cat nap, Work tomorrow, but only a half day. I know I just saw Less Than Jake twice in a row, but, Big D and The Kids Table is playing Reggies Live in Chicago tomor-er-tonight! I’m going. I refuse to miss it. Not only is Reggie’s a rad little place, but Big D and the Kids Table is my favorite band.
TonyRad
pNut