The Slackers and The Getbacks - 03-24-10

My first venture into Mississippi...the Portland version, that is.  A communal bike pump and diverse food choices welcome me to the 'hood.  I'm in the newly revamped Mississippi Studios, though, having never been here, I don't know the difference.  41 chairs upstairs and a side balcony -- all good views from above. Two chandeliers and assorted low wattage sconces illuminate the room.

Portland's The Getbacks are on first. The red walls and single dim red light on stage worries the photographer in me, but time will tell. The crowd is not as I'd expect: a single mohawk and a couple checkered hats, but sweaters and vests dominate.  The lights flash and the show begins...well, a few minutes later, but that's not as dramatic-sounding.  The singer informs us that they are here for "our entertainment pleasure". They sound good from the start, but the seven-piece looks crowded  up there, with horn players shuffling to make room for solos. The take home song from these guys is the mildly gross, but catchy "Drunk Girl".

     "Uh, uh, uh....uh, uh, uh, uh, you better watch what you do.
       If you take home a pukin' girl, you might get puke on you."

The Slackers are self-described "Jamaican rock 'n' roll". At least one person in the crowd wanted to make the atmosphere just a little more Jamaican.  In the past, I'd seen Vic (lead vocalist, keys) play the mad scientist with the theramin, but tonight he stuck with the organ.  The band eased into their classic "Married Girl" with a story, but at the start of the actual song there was a point of crowd realization, followed by cheers and instant skank: Just add water.

On that note, it's not a ska show if the audience isn't drenched in sweat. They were ---- it was.