Now I don’t know how much skanking goes on in the pubs and bars of Colchester on your average weekend, but unless there’s been an overnight ska/two tone revival in Britain’s oldest town, I would imagine the answer is ‘not nearly enough.’ But a resurgence could well be on the cards, especially with the likes of local four piece The Suggested bashing out their boisterous skunkalongs to anyone foolish enough to get within spitting distance. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with harking back to an image or style that was born out of genuine youthful rebellion, especially with the current smog of monotonous metalcore and pop punk pomposity that seems to be settling over some important towns and venues.
A story to be told, an acoustic-based band love in that tells of bonds forged from heavy nights, late night practice sessions, and chaotic live performances, will have you dusting off your Fred Perry polo shirt and buffing up your Doc Martens, ready for the skanking to begin. The sense of nostalgia fuelled by tales of drinking, smoking, fighting, and generally having a good time, speaks to anyone who has ever attended a raucous teenage house party-come-impromptu gig, and you can’t help feeling that this track could be the perfect accompaniment to a This is England style montage. Luke Fisher’s distinctive, blokey snarl sounds even better on Conceited, a third wave ska track that features a strutting verse bassline and Americana style chorus (complete with mob backing vocals). Things get a bit mental in the middle eight, before the hooky sing-along chorus comes back in, accompanied by some horns that follow the melody through to the end.
Hats off to these guys for being true to a style that they clearly love, even if it may seem a little dated in the context of the current scene. There’s plenty of room in Colchester for bands with a solid identity, and given their fondness for an energetic live performance, I’m sure The Suggested will get their boot in the door at the first opportunity. Get ready for some old school skanking.
The Suggested play The Soundhouse at The Bull, Colchester on 30th December.
http://www.reverbnation.com/thesuggestedband
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