The Skamonics played at our wedding, just under 10 years ago, and were one of the highlights of the day! We were wondering whether you might be free to play at our 10 year wedding anniversary party, which is on 24 November this year.
And so last night we made our way to the Hackney Coffee Company to play two sets. This was our first gig for some time and we had a blast. Remi joined us on guitar as special guest for his first gig with us, and having played in a ska band in Poland for ten years he was a natural fit.
We took a rushed picture at the sound check (before we had changed) and this is what we played:
Annie and Adam had perfect weather for their wedding last weekend, and we had great fun playing outside in the sun for their guests for two hours in the afternoon. There was a good covered stage, and we got to play next to the pool. If we really lived the rock and roll lifestyle we would have finished by throwing our amps in the pool, but we might need them again.
We were asked to feature songs by the Beat so we added Mirror in the Bathroom and Tears of a Clown to our set. Stand Down Margaret is perhaps not quite right for a wedding, though, thinking about it, quite a few of our numbers are wildly irrelevant.
Holidays have intervened to delay a report of a great wedding gig that we played at the end of July in Birchington, near to Margate in Kent for Rebecca and Alex.
We played at the historic Quex House,which has lovely grounds. Best of all , there were fireworks during the break between our two sets.
We didn’t take any photos, but everyone seemed to have a good time.
This was one of the many recent gigs where we were lucky to have Rachel Musson guesting on saxophone, and also featured the mighty Joe Ospalla on drums.
Just after a week after our benefit at Northwick Park Hospital we were back in action for our first wedding gig of the year for Martin and Martha.
This was at the Blackheath Halls – a splendid if reverberant venue – and we had great sound provided.
This is what we played – the first time we’ve ever done Red, Red Wine.
First set
I’m in the Mood For Love
The Tide is High
Guns of Navarone
Chinatown
Latin Goes Ska
You’re Wondering Now
The Harder They Come
Alley Cat Ska
Mambo Number 5
Can’t Get You Out of my Head
Enola Gay
Red Red Wine
Price Tag
Tequila
Second set
James Bond
Johnny Too Bad
Misirlou
Pata Pata
Ten out of Ten
99 Red Balloons
Tainted Love
Rudy A Message To You
My Boy Lollipop
Monkey Man
Baggy Trousers
Israelites
Night Boat To Cairo
Gangsters
We were not able to grab many pictures when we were playing – though if any guests want to share we’d love to see them. But here are a few of the set-up and while we played..
We had a terrible journey to what turned out to be a great gig near Dorchester in Dorset.
It was lucky that we had all set out in good time, as a combination of torrential rain, and endless bank holiday traffic hold ups meant that it wook hours longed than we expected to get there.
However once we were there it quickly became an immensely enjoyable evening.
The reception was in a giant tent constructed from two tipis. We had enough time to set our equipment up and sound-check.
We were also able to provide our PA for the wedding speeches and to use for the first dance and disco parts of the evening – courtesy of the groom’s ipod.
Most exciting for us was the debut of Nick’s new blue plastic trombone.
Astonishingly it sounds pretty indistinguishable from a traditional brass instrument. But it’s a shame you can’t get them in a 2-tone black and white check pattern.
This is what we played. One highlight was one of the guests proving to be an accomplished rapper to Skaravan. Whether Duke Ellington would have approved is another matter …
We had huge fun playing for D and N’s wedding blessing last night. This was at the Hilton hotel on the banks of the Thames in Rotherhithe, just across the river from Canary Wharf. As Steve’s photo shows, it was a beautifully clear evening though not the time of year for outdoor gigs.
We learnt three new songs at the couple’s request. For their first dance we had to knock up a quick arrangement of They can’t take that away from me. This is an old jazz standard written by George Gershwin, though we suspect many people today are more likely to know the Robbie Williams version and probably think it’s called The way you wear your hat as at least some of the band did. As we already do songs like Fly me to the moon and In the Mood for Love, we know how to ska up these great old swing tunes.
For their second song they wanted Moondance. We didn’t think this could really be done with a ska or reggae feel so did it rather like the original.
We had the most fun with Hava Nagila. This introduced the band to the traditional chair-lifting that goes with this old tune at Jewish ceremonies. And it makes for a great bit of ska, allowing Steve to demonstrate the klezmer side of his clarinet playing. We will be playing this one again.
Here’s the set list we played.
They Can’t Take That Away from me –a special request for the first dance
Moondance – another request
Guns Of Navarone – all ska bands have to play this
Latin Goes Ska – a favourite 60s ska instrumental
I’m in the Mood For Love – swinging ska jazz that we often do as a first dance
You’re Wondering Now – a 60s ska song that Amy Winehouse recorded
Alley Cat Ska – another 60s instrumental
Man In The Street –and another
Fly Me To The Moon –ska swing
Can’t Get You Out out of my Head – Kylie goes ska
Enola Gay – many 80s songs make great ska
10 Out Of 10 -Paolo Nutini proves that great ska songs are still being written
Hava Nagila –probably the best known Jewish song, which we do as an instrumental
Second Set
James Bond instrumental classic
Misirlou – from Greece to surf guitar classic to the Skamonics!
99 Red Balloons –another 80s classic
Tainted Love – and another
Rudy A Message To You – a 60s song that evryone associates with the Specials
My Boy Lollipop – more 60s
Baggy Trousers – our Madness tribute
Israelites – Desmond Dekker’s great reggae song
Night Boat To Cairo – and another Madness song
Encore
Gangsters – more Specials
Tequila – not ska, but a another great 60s instrumental and party favourite
We have a very rough recording of the gig, and more photos, so there should be more to come.
As Steve’s photo shows, it was a beautifully clear evening though not the time of year for outdoor gigs.