“Won’t you take a little walk with me down my street?!” The 2Tone Lizard Kings rip into their newest release Primeval Itch inviting the listener to join them in songs about the neighborhood, love, and dancing the night away.
Released to an energetic crowd at Club 910 last November, Primeval Itch takes off from the explosion their 2008 release Bombs Away initially blasted them to. The band is tighter, the horns are richer and the production is more solid, despite going through multiple line-up changes.
The 2Tone Lizard Kings are known for their “third wave” style of ska. Advertising themselves as “A Keg Party With Horns,” one can’t be but reminded of such third wave classics as “Beer ” by Reel Big Fish or Mustard Plug’s “Beer (Song)” whilst listening to their more rocking jams. In Primeval Itch the band has definitely adopted more of the “2 Tone” from their name and incorporated it into their music.
Many songs are straight-up dancehall reggae. “Rescue Me,” “You Hurt My Soul,” and half the tracks on the album could all have been heard in some late ‘60’s Jamaican dancehall. The other half is volatile mix of horn-blasted quick drumming surf guitar bass thumping rocknroll ska that really gets you moving. “Love,” “The Bail Song,” “Release The Hounds,” and “J.F.P.” are sure to get anyone up and dancing while “Young Man” and “My Street” will have you screaming their hooks.
Fans of Let’s Go Bowling, Prince Buster, Spring-Heeled Jack, Madness, the Toasters and Skinnerbox should dig this album. After all, it was mixed by Skinnerbox’s lead man King Django and was released by Bucket Hingley’s Megalith Records, the lead man from the Toasters. Both of these men have been active in the ska scene worldwide since the 1980’s and it’s great to see one of Phoenix’s best ska bands to be associated with them.
Since you just missed the 2Tone Lizard Kings open for the Toasters on their 30th Anniversary Tour at the Clubhouse, catch them live at the Yucca Tap for free on February 25th and be ready to dance!
