The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, venerable ska-core pioneers from Boston, will be playing Ace of Spades in Midtown Sacramento on Tuesday, June 26. The show is presented by SiriusXM and will include Los Kung Fu Monkeys and Buster Shuffle as opening acts.
The Bosstones, from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983 and just released their tenth album, While We’re At It, on June 15. This collection of timeless soon-to-be ska classics brings light to current events and showcases the band’s signature ska-core sound. It’s a very intellectual approach that paints a lyrical picture with upbeat and optimistic brush strokes.
The album is the final part of a musical trilogy that began with “Pin Points and Gin Joints” in 2009 followed by “The Magic of Youth” in 2011.
“Pin Points and Gin Joints is about the journey, the story, and the people involved,” explains vocalist Dicky Barrett. “It looks fondly and proudly at where they’ve been and who they are and ultimately comes to the conclusion that there is so much more to do and see. The Magic of Youth is an album filled with hope and great optimism. Finally, While We’re At It applies the wisdom while maintaining an understanding that some things might be out of your control. Its most powerful message is it’s not what you had or what you have or what you hold onto – it’s how you handle what you’re handed when it’s handed to you.”
The band is often credited as one of the originators of the musical genre ska punk and the creators of its sub-genre, ska-core, which combines elements of ska, punk, and hardcore. The Bosstones have earned a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in the business, and their shows are full of horn-infused punk and ska energy.
The band consists of lead vocalist Dicky Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, tenor saxophonist Tim “Johnny Vegas” Burton, dancer (“Bosstone”) Ben Carr, drummer Joe Sirois, saxophonist Leon Silva, guitarist Lawrence Katz, keyboardist John Goetchius, and trombonist Chris Rhodes.
When not touring or recording with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, vocalist Dicky Barrett works as the announcer on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, which he’s done since 2004.
Tickets for the June 26 show are currently available at Eventbrite or at the Ace of Spades box office.
Here’s a song from their new album:
