Toasters release best-of In Retrospect

Chances are you've never heard of the Toasters unless you're already a fan of ska music. They've been around since most of us were born, yet the only song of theirs that you might recognize is the upbeat "Two Tone Army" which was adopted as the theme for the Nickelodeon show KABLAM!

Regardless of how good they are, they've played a pivotal role for ska in America. Bucket, the lead singer, emigrated from England to spread the popularity of ska and the inception of the band was at hand.

This seminal band laid the groundwork for future acts such as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Less than Jake.

So what would you expect from a "best of" CD spanning the career of the band? Surprisingly and disappointingly, most of the songs sounded alike. There were a few upbeat songs, a few that stood out but it was mostly a collection of slow, sometimes droning songs.

Don't mistake this as a bad thing, though. The reflective, slow-going "Pirate Radio" is a lesson in how ska can shine without needing a high tempo. The songs are mostly serious and about the business of life.

When asked whether he considered his effort to popularize ska in the states was a success, Bucket reflected.

He mentioned that ska has been up and down over the years, but the good thing about it was that "it can take a lick and then keep on tickin'."

Bucket, who is a personal fan of the fast-paced track "Weekend in LA," embarked on a seven-week national tour in support of the CD.

The band puts sincerity into their live shows, trying to play as many as they can and ensuring that crowds large and small get the same show. They played their Atlanta show on Sunday, Jan. 30, at Smith's Olde Bar.

If you haven't been to Smith's Olde Bar, consider it. The place used to be a Masonic lodge, and bartenders Rebekah and Cula mentioned that the staff members were "all hot chicks."

For fairness to the fan base, they played an all-ages show before the one with a 21+ age limit. The crowd was mostly kids dressed like members of the two-tone army, with "a modern look, but it's all about roots."

The band went through a good deal of their repertoire, including "Shebeen," a song about a bar Bucket used to live near. The dancing was on and off but went into full gear for the crowd favorite, "Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down."

At the end of the show, the crowd stormed the stage and joined the band by skanking (dancing to ska).

Something seemed more promising about the 21+ experience. From the perspective of a college student, the youth of the crowd kind of took away from the show.

For those of you older than 21, go the 21+ route if you plan to see these guys. The difference might make or break the experience. "I've been to worse bands than this but not for this much money," said Mark Dejesus, a concertgoer and second year CS major from Tech.

"Ska music has been around since the 50s with its roots in Jamaica. It's always been about bringing together different musical influences [Reggae, Jazz, Swing, Punk] and moving barriers," Bucket said, adding "ska is all about moving barriers...like the shit in my ass."

Bucket, approaching nearly a quarter century of playing ska, seems to have no plans to retire the band. "I keep thinking about that," he mentioned, but cited "no shortage of work" and said that it was hard to consider retiring when having so much fun.

Bucket, after having performed over 4,000 shows and counting, still retains his charisma and is even aiming for 4,500. When asked for a quote, he said, "Don't let the bastards grind you down."

Concerned that it might not be appropriate for print, I explained that it shouldn't be a problem since bastard is a legitimate word. He concluded, "Well, actually, bastard is an illegitimate word."

To see if the Toasters are for you, visit them at www.toasters.org.