They got the beat

Allstonians keep the spirit of ska rockin'

by Joe Longone

When it comes time to chronicle the popular music of the 1990s, there will probably be more than a mention or two on the reemergence of ska -- not wholly unto itself, but often as an influential ingredient in the making of what certain successful bands sound like.

Ska, that Jamaican feel-good music, is almost always liked by those who eventually find it. And the Allstonians are one of its proudest ambassadors.

It's been tough for the Allstonians to distinguish themselves in a town (Boston) that has fully embraced the style for years and boasts of a large number of groups who share the sound. The high-profile acts like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Bim Skala Bim have hogged the spotlight for years, leaving lesser-known bands to scramble for whatever attention they can get. Aligning myself with rock critics from the Boston Phoenix (Brett Milano) and the Boston Globe (Jim Sullivan), I'd have to agree that the Allstonians are the best pure-ska band in the Hub.

"Anything played on the offbeat is considered a ska influence today, but there is a lot more that goes into making that music real," says keyboardist Nigel Knucklehead. "Bands are mixing ska with just about every other form of music, and you tend to lose some of the music's charm when you do that.

"We set out to perform the music in a very traditional fashion. When we were looking for a name for the band we wanted to show our ties to tradition. Our singer Nick Knucklehead and I were listening to groups like the Kingstonians and Ethiopians and said, `Hey, we're from Allston -- let's call our band the Allstonians.'"

Although the group, who often number up to eight or nine players at a time, have been playing in the shadows of much bigger Boston bands, they still have had their own success since starting in September of '92. Surviving with a core membership of the two Knuckleheads, D-Train (sax), and T-Bone (trumpet), the Allstonians have kept their large ensemble intact.

In the past five years, performing in two-tone suits, the group have opened for such legendary mentors as the Skatalites, Specials, and Selecter. In 1995, they released their debut album, Go You (Studio Nun/Moon), to critical acclaim. The Allstonians are also featured on a number of recent ska collections and have been voted by the readers of Lollipop magazine as the Best Local Ska Band.

"We are big fans of the group Madness. We try to emulate their attitude of making every show a party," says Nigel Knucklehead. "Our funnest shows are at colleges. Whether it's in New England or down in the deep South, college kids love ska. I think many people get their first taste of the music in college."

With the recent success of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' song "The Impression that I Get," the Allstonians upcoming release, Allstonian Beat, (due out June 1) couldn't have come at a better time. The advance copy I listened to just drips with authenticity. From the first moments of their brassy beats, I was transported to a Jamaican shanty scene from three decades ago. The record's lyrics are witty observations on girls, school, and the world as we know it now, but the sound is drawn from the spirit of the music's originators, Don Drummond and Roland Al.

The Allstonians also believe they're a little responsible for the Bosstones' recent success. "A few of us were hanging out with the Bosstones awhile back, and we told them to drop all that plaid stuff and get back to the traditional ska sound. They did, and now look at them," says Nigel Knucklehead with some pride.

The Allstonians will be partying along with Big Lick, Splurge, and 7/10 Split at the Espresso Bar this Saturday, May 24. Bring your dancing shoes.

New club welcome

Look out Espresso Bar, there's a new all-ages/non-alcoholic club in the area. Marley's (135 Westborough Road, Route 30, North Grafton) had an impressive grand opening last Friday, May 16. Hundreds of kids came out to see Pop Gun Picnic and Grafton's own Twist 160 and Gas Food Lodging.

The place is huge. Beside the bar, where snacks and soft drinks are served, is a game area with a couple of pool tables. The concert area is large and contains plenty of tables and chairs. In front of the stage there is a big dance floor.

The club seems well supervised, while still giving teens plenty of freedom to do what they want. Future shows are scheduled on successive Fridays. For more information call 839-7097.