The Pietasters
All Day
Indication/ Red Eye
While I’m not the biggest ska listener these days, when I do decide to turn on some island image conjuring reggae tunes I steer towards the late ’60s end of the scale. Toots & the Maytals, Desmond Dekker, any of the old Trojan Records bands. When I want ska, I want the Jamaica sense of irie. I want a beer in hand, an ocean at my feet, the smell of coconut sun tan lotion baking on my skin…
The Pietasters may be from modern day Washington D.C. but they pull their soul from the old days of the Caribbean. For their first new release in 5 years, All Day, they have never sunk deeper into the carefree vibes of rocksteady and soul. Not only do these songs sound incredibly true to the nature of ska, but the veteran band (who’ve been making records since 1990) were even brave enough to tackle a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers song, “Listen To Her Heart.”
“Late Night Call” is a perfect addition to a summer time beach mix. And for those looking to rock, “So Long” sticks out as the big garage rock number on an otherwise slow and groovy collection.
The Pietasters: http://www.thepietasters.com
