Nearly 7 years ago, I got an invite from my friend Robert Kelly to attend a Streetlight Manifesto show... a ska band that I had never heard of in my life, but I had plans to attend a scooter rally with Robert the following day in Galveston Texas so I agreed to sign up for the show and road trip to Sandblast II.
That show turned out being one of the top 10 live shows I had ever attended in my life. There was an indescribable energy in the room that night. It was the first time I had ever seen the floor of a venue (a square space) where every person danced, moshed or jumped in place on every song. When Streetlight Manifesto paused between numbers, you would see people raise shoes in the air so that people could get sneakers they managed to lose between songs.
The place went fucking bananas. I went fucking bananas and I became a fan of Streetlight Manifesto that very moment.
Recently picked up their debut album on vinyl the other day and slipped it on while I cleaned the apartment.
I never quite understand how SKA can sorta appear and disappear from my listening habits. I don't have the largest SKA library in the world, but I really enjoy the stuff I have.
If you're unfamiliar with these guys, please enjoy some of these select tracks:
- Streetlight Manifesto – Everything Went Numb
- Streetlight Manifesto – Point/Counterpoint
- Streetlight Manifesto – A Better Place, a Better Time
- Streetlight Manifesto – Failing, Flailing
- Streetlight Manifesto – A Moment of Silence
- Streetlight Manifesto – The Saddest Song
Artists: Streetlight Manifesto
Album: Everything Goes Numb
Producer: Tomas Kalnoky
Label: Victory
Recorded: ?