Another Night, Another Band - Cranking and Skanking 🎶
August 25th, 2018 - Worcester, Massachusetts...
It was time to Crank. It was time to Skank.
Worcester Palladium
Just over two weeks ago my husband and I traveled to Worcester, Massachusetts to attend the Cranking and Skanking Festival. The festival brought nearly fifteen bands to Massachusetts’s second largest town. We ate, danced and skanked to the beat of ska music.
We were two of the first to arrive at the outdoor venue, located in the center of downtown Worcester.
The festival, in it’s inaugural year, is the brainchild of Dicky Barrett. Barrett is both the frontman of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and the musical host of Jimmy Kimmel Live. He and his band hail from the Boston area and host a three day concert every December in their home town. This festival provided the band with a chance to get “home”’during warmer weather.
The festival, held at the Worcester Palladium, featured both an indoor and outdoor stage. Eight bands took to the main stage throughout the event. There were also merch booths and a great selection of food trucks.
The Bands
Doped Up Dollies
Sirae Richardson and Erin McKenzie
The Doped Up Dollies opened the show. Fronted by Erin McKenzie, Brianna McWane and Sirae Richardson, the DupDs started in 2008 as backup vocalists for the band Big D and the Kids Table. Now Big D serves as their back up band! In the summer of 2016 the ladies released their own album. They have a sort of modern doo-wop meets ska vibe that is complimented by their gorgeous harmonizing.
Brianna McWane
Opening the show.
Doped Up Dollies last song and one of my FAVORITES, “Black Cat”.
Planet Smashers
The Planet Smashers are a ska Punk band from Montreal, Canada. The group formed in 1994 and have released seven albums. Their music is super peppy. I had never seen them perform live until Worcester. Their set was one of the best of the day. Just a fun time.
I Like Your Girlfriend
Snack break!
The crowd has gathered.
The Pie Tasters
Pie Tasters were joined on stage by the trombone player of Mighty Mighty Bosstones (guy in shorts and blue plaid shirt). He played AIR TROMBONE!!! 😍
The Pie Tasters formed in 1990 in Washington, DC. The band began as a group of friends playing cover songs. They had no expectation of music becoming their careers, but after a few years in the DC bar scene they were added to the Warped Tour line up and later toured around the world with their friends the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Big D and the Kids Table
Big D’s frontman Davis McWane making chomping faces at the crowd.😂
Oh how I love Big D and the Kids Table. I have lost count of how many times I have seen them play. I appreciate a few things about this band.
- Their horn section is amazing.
- They put all of their energy into their performances.
- They get political. Some people want to avoid the politics but I appreciate that Big D use their music and their platform to make a meaningful statement.
- They are some of the nicest guys you will ever meet. We talked to them at Warped Tour a couple years ago. Completely kind and gracious and so friendly.
The group formed in Boston in 1995. Members include:
- David McWane - vocals
- Derek Davis - drums
- Alex Stern - guitar
- Ryan O'Connor - saxaphone
- Ben Basile - bass
- Logan La Barbera - trombone
As I mentioned earlier, the Doped Up Dollies used to be back up singers for the band. Big D’s lead vocalist David McWane is married to Brie McWane of the Doped Up Dollies. The couple recently welcomed their first child.
Big D’s opener.
Noise Complaint
Just a couple of kids right against the stage at the ska show. ☺️
Fishbone
Fishbone is perhaps one of the greatest Ska/Rock bands of all time. This is a band that other bands always name as one of their greatest influences. They have toured with eveyone and they’ve broken molds and made huge statements with their music for almost 40 years.
The band has been touring with all original members this year! Pictured clockwise from top left: Walter Kibby (aka Dirty Walt. FYI - his microphone handle is a giant black dildo.) Angelo Moore, Norwood Fisher and Christopher Dowd.
Fishbone formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The guys grew up in the same neighborhood and attended school together. In a time when “black” music was pigeon holed into being either R&B or soul, Fishbone turned the industry on it’s head with their unique fusion of rock, funk, punk and ska.
Angelo Moore
Fishbone is my husbands all time favorite band. We were right at the front waiting for them to start. Out of nowhere a man with a giant flag starts to crawl over my husband to get on stage. It is Angelo Moore, Fishbone’s lead singer holding their signature Fuck Racism flag! I immediately grab my phone and try to record as Angelo hands my husband the flag so he can hop on stage. It was sooooooo exciting!
Husband waving the flag while I cackle with glee in the background
Ma and Pa
At the end of the set hubs caught drummer Philip Fisher’s drumstick!
Happy campers. Looking a little worn out after all the excitement.
Angelo Moore signing autographs post performance.
Band break. Time for another look at the food truck scene. ☺️
We skipped a couple bands here.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Headliners
When the sun set is was finally time to see the day’s headlining act, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I must confess this was the THIRD time we saw the Bosstones play this year. First time was in April at the Back to the Beach Festival in Huntington Beach, CA. Second time was at Seattle’s Neptune Theater in July. The Bosstones are always a fun time.
These guys are mostly from Boston and surrounding towns. They are well into their 50’s (at least) and they continue to pump out high caliber shows. Being in front of their hometown crowd only made the night more fun.
Dr. D
Wondeful Day for the Race This song is so uplifting and I LOVE them so much for taking a knee in the middle.
Impression That I Get - this is my all time favorite Bosstones song. Sooooo good. 😍
Full Moon.
Hi dfinney,
Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.
Thank you @curie! 😘❤️
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, I Remember listening to them on the Stereo in the Car Driving Up Coast Highway when I lived in Huntington Beach on KROQ the Rock of the 80's !!!
That is like old school late night rock n roll with @stokjockey. 😄
KROQ... if a band makes it on KROQ a band is making it!
Seems like a fun concert.
It was a lot of fun. A good Festival is always a treat. ☺️
Wow, i didn't know that have such event. From your post and the pictures, it look fun and grand. Everyone so excited with the performance. It definitely attracted a lot of music lover. I love this idea as it gather all the music lover together, they laugh, dance, eat and play. Thank you for introducing us to each of the band. With that event held in Worcester, the town become sleepless town. You still look gorgeous after all the excitement.
@oliviackl, you are too kind. Thank you! The crowd was so happy. We had a wonderful time.
Thank you for your continued support of SteemSilverGold
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Looks like you both had a ton of fun at this day 🎶🎵 - many bands, good weather and many cool peeps out there 😀
That’s also a very big post with great videos and many pictures, so well deserved upvote from „curie community curation project„ I will also drop my part by (unfortunately I am a small fish in this big sea...)
Greetings from Germany / Europe 😀✌️
Thank you @avizor. It was a super fun day. Thank you for stopping past and for your kind words. ☺️
Also, all of the FOOD on your profile looks DELICIOUS!!!!
Oh 😀 that’s also good to hear :-) you are invited everytime 💪🏼🍺🍕
Long live good music! You can see that they had a great time thanks for bringing us this quality post .. A hug from Venezuela!
Long live good music is right! 🎉
Thank you for visiting my post.... all the way from Venezuela! Muchas gracias!
Did you draw this picture? Soooooo cute! 🐶
Yes, it is one of my favorite drawings in pointillism .. Thank you very much for visiting my blog .. A hug :)
if you enjoy all the videos all with energy. @dfinney if you disfused everything more than everything from Fishbone, that if I liked it more thank you for sharing @neymarth10 I hope you keep sharing @dfinney
Thank you @neumarth10! Fishbone is such a great band. I hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of their show.
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