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Mustard Plug, the Aggrolites, more - the Ottobar (04.19.08)

Written by Michelle C.

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Reggae Hit Baltimore

Mustard Plug, the Aggrolites, Sab Grey & the Royal Americans, the Players Band, S1ngleton @ the Ottobar, Baltimore (04.19.08)

We were running late to the show, partially my fault for not eating before leaving my house. So I ate at Mrs. J's, which was probably a really good idea. Anyway, we couldn't figure out if the show would sell out or not because there were five bands on the bill. I figured the Aggrolites and Mustard Plug would do fine on a Saturday night, but I think the lineup was too wonky that some people flaked on coming out. It's weird how people get picky with lineups. It's like if their favorite band is playing with all these bands that they don't really like or know, then they won't go. Granted there were a lot of people there, more than usual shows I've seen at the Ottobar, but I've also seen the place packed silly. It's really all in the lineup and I think five bands is too much, but I digress.

S1ngleton, a pop punk outfit from Baltimore opened the show. We caught the last one or two songs from their set. I saw a kid wearing a Ready Steady Go! shirt, and I was touched. (Aww.) The Players Band were up next and delivered their usual live action sound. Their lineup was missing two of their regular horn players - Mike on bari sax and David on trombone. They did have Unity Reggae Band's sax guy with them though. Mark Leary also from URB, plays percussion and shares singing duties with guitaristDan Schneider. I didn't get to hear their entire set because I went outside a few times to direct lost sets of friends to the club. Also they were selling their newest album, a live CD, so check that out if you get a chance.

Sab in a wider striped Ben Sherman

Sab Grey and the Royal Americans went on after the Players. His band mostly consists of guys in the Players - Dan Schneider on keys, Joe Ross on guitar, and Pablo Fiasco on bass. Sab sings and plays guitar and it's pretty awesome. They've got a country (read: Johnny Cash)/rockabilly/punk type sound and the best is that they cover "Skinhead Girl" and "Johnny Too Bad". And for the fashion conscious, Sab is a good example of someone who can rock a wider striped plaid Ben Sherman. The wider striped plaid isn't something for everyone, you kinda have to be big and tall for it to work.

BANANA!

The Aggrolites were up next and everyone piled around the stage and chanted "A.G.G.R.O." while we waited for them to go on. This crowd was a lot more diverse than I've seen before - there was a good mix of people - like kids that buy every album Hellcat puts out to skins that I never reallly see around to the usual crowd that comes out. Anyway, the Aggrolites came out on stage and opened with "A.G.G.R.O." and "Mr. Misery" and they did the Banana song early on because this kid came to the show wearing a banana costume. That pretty much ruled. Their set went by pretty fast because it was shorter than what I'd seen days before, but it was still intense and awesometastic. They covered "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and did the 2Tone medley thing as well. I kinda felt like I had a heads up on what to expect, but I was nowhere near bored or jaded. After their set ended the crowd demanded an encore. It was a little weird because there was one more band left, but Mustard Plug was kind enough to let them do an encore. They encored with "Reggae from the Ghetto". And thanks to modern Interwebs and Nick from the Players, there are two videos from the show on YouTube, so you can see how awesome they were. (Note to the world: Rudy's really upset he missed the show, so he's refusing to watch the videos.)

A.G.G.R.O. / Mr. Misery

Reggae from the Ghetto

Mustard Plug's Brandon rocking out

Mustard Plug closed the show, which is a pretty tough feat following the Aggrolites' intensity. These ska stalwarts did a great job though, their singer was super animated and there was a good amount of mostly younger kids that stuck around for them. I was pretty tired by then, and was having issues standing. I think the show was a little long for me with too many bands, but it was worth going to. Check the BlondeShells site for more pics from that night.

Do check out everyone's MySpace page.
S1ngleton
the Players Band
Sab Grey & the Royal Americans
the Aggrolites
Mustard Plug

Aggrolites on fiyah!

Special thanks to Bob for help with this review.

Comments

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JoeRoss578

Registered | 2008-04-30 06:58:04

Yeah, Dave Saunier was the sax player from Unity that did a wonderful job filling in for Mike. Dave has played with us a few times before. Apparently, Mike (our regular baritone sax player) was drinking something earlier in the day, and a bee landed on the rim of his cup. When he went to go drink it, the bee up and stung him on the lip, so he couldn't play with us that evening. Dave Blackstone (trombone) is currently doing another musical gig until mid to late May, but he'll be back with us in time for the majority of our summer shows.

I apologize for my incredibly bushy hippie fro hair at the show; I couldn't get a haircut in time. *haha* I have video of three Sab Grey and the Royal Americans songs (courtesy of Andy, using my camera) but the battery dies on the camera, and he couldn't get a lot of the good songs. I'll throw them up on YouTube eventually.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 April 2008 )

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