The Inland Empire got a taste of ska this past Saturday night, as GOGO13 headlined this tiny show in the back room of the Glass House. This low-cost all-ages show brought together a handful of Southern California ska bands for a night full of fun and skanking. As this show took place in the back room, this small space could only comfortably hold no more than a hundred people – going over that amount would make the space very cramped. Somehow, the spacing worked out, allowing for a pit area of a decent size. By the time I had arrived at the show, I had completely missed the first act, and the second act had reached their final song, so I made do with the situation. Apologies to Jared P for not arriving on time for his set.
I had arrived at the Glass House during Skadonna‘s set. Basically, this ska band from Orange County covers songs by Madonna, such as Like A Virgin. I heard them end with Like A Prayer, and I will admit that listening to a bouncy version of that song threw me for a loop. I later found out that this show marked their first ever live performance. Good on them for finally making it to a public stage and gaining lots of fans in the process.
Finally situated in place, I first got to experience Two Tone Boners in all their glory. This ska band from El Monte brought forth an original set comprised of ska with punk rock elements, meaning the skanking pit saw some heavier circle pit action here. Also notably, this band features a keytar player, known for riling up a crowd as much as a cow bell. If they wanted to cover a song, they could have, yet still stuck to their own original songs.
The second of the night’s cover bands played next, as Skapeche Mode entered the room with their glorious outfits. As the band’s name may imply, this ska band from Los Angeles covers Depeche Mode songs using their weapons of brass. They played a shortened set, omitting a few songs from their set list. However, they still got to the songs most recognized by the audience. These guys not only played their songs, but danced around with the audience as well, spreading their joy and energy around the room.
Now free from their tour with Reel Big Fish, The Maxies would mark the last of the night’s opening bands. For those unfamiliar with The Maxies, picture The Aquabats, but an M-rated version. Therefore, The Maxies come across as a highly-offensive and lewd band that will throw every bad word in existence at the audience. They do not use traditional ska instruments, but rely on a keyboardist to synthesize music to sound like ska music, similar to The Aquabats. As a result, The Maxies gain greater freedom to play with a heavier punk rock feel than just ska, lending to an intense circle pit that resonated all night.
The first of the night’s headliners, CodeName: Rocky, started with some tempo buildup to get the audience pumped up. These guys have garnered quite a following since their inception in the 1990’s, and it showed with the enthusiasm in the audience. Once the music started flowing, the crowd revved the pit even further. As one of the prominent first bands of the third wave ska movement in Orange County, CodeName: Rocky picked up lots of fans fast, alongside today’s mainstream bands like No Doubt and Reel Big Fish. Keep an eye out for a new album coming out this year, as well as any more shows they will play, because they deliver a show that no one can ever forget.
Prior to the start of the final act of the night, the stage crew dimmed the lights and enabled a fog machine to set the mood for GOGO13. The crowd certainly felt the mood, as the entire room got to dancing, swinging, and skanking once the music started. GOGO13 kept their set mellow and smooth throughout, not really going for anything super fast that may cause people to start slamming into things. GOGO13 does more than just play music – they entertain crowds with their antics and acting. They may even cover popular songs during their set! GOGO13 truly deserves to headline shows, and I believe they deserve a larger crowd.
Every band has a Facebook page, so give them a Like to check out more from them! With the exception of Skadonna, every band also has a Twitter page, so give them a Follow!
A Punk, A Camera, and An Empty Stomach 