The UPTONES http://virb.com/uptoneska Formed in 1981 in Berkeley, while they were still in high school. The Uptones were the first band devoted to playing Ska on the West Coast. The Uptones played to skanking crowds all over the West. Several of their recordings were regional hits, and for a time they were the most popular band in the Bay Area. Major publications of the time raved about them: "It is a sight to behold, The Uptones tearing up the stage and the audience tearing up the dance floor." - San Francisco Chronicle "The Uptones... without a doubt the best show in Berkeley." - Berkeley Free Press "Sitting down at an uptones show is like keeping your eyes shut at a movie." - Rolling Stone The Uptones "Live at Gilman Street" (SOB CD 0058) is a living proof of the raw power the band delivered every show. "Best live Ska record ever" - Crawdaddy Magazine "***** Five Stars "This record rocks from beginning to end." - Rolling Stone Several tracks from this legendary recording are offered for free in the mp3 format at www.uptones.com. Members of the original band, Eric Din, Paul Jackson, and Bennie Wood have been playing music together since then. First as Hobo and then as Stiff Richards The ska bug never left these lads. And now Eric, Paul, and Bennie are joined by Moose Lethridge, Adam Beach, Tim Carter, Jeanne Geiger, and Scott Bertrand to form the current lineup of The Uptones. The Uptones have completed their first CD "Skankin' Foolz Unite" for Fun Fun Fun Recordings containing new original material with producers Matthew King Kaufman and Michael Rosen. Check out Joel Selvin's cover story on the Uptones in the SF Chronicle Sunday pink section: More Press and Reviews:

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BEST SKA BAND - The Uptones

American ska is far less celebrated than its Jamaican and English counterparts. Yet the up-tempo, dance-friendly genre has had considerable impact on pop culture, having influenced everyone from Sublime to No Doubt to Green Day. One of the first (and greatest) American ska outfits, however, was raised right here in the East Bay -- the Uptones. Products of Berkeley High School and Cazadero music camp, the Uptones became a force to be reckoned with on the local live music scene in the early '80s, skanking onto radio airwaves with their powerful anti-war jingle, "Out to Sea." which led to a deal with now-defunct I.R.S. records (one of the tastemaking indie labels of that era). Despite massive amounts of critical acclaim -- Crawdaddy called their Live at Gilman Street album the "best live ska record ever" while Rolling Stone exclaimed "this record rocks from beginning to end" -- their I.R.S. debut K.U.S.A. failed to capture their live show. The band broke up more than two decades ago, although members continued on in Stiff Richards and Hobo. But the ska jones never left their bones. Earlier this year, the newly reunited Uptones released Skankin' Foolz Unite on Fun Fun Fun Records and have been playing shows ever since, as if to make up for lost time. The Uptones' philosophy is probably best summed up by the lyrics of "Skanking Fool," which state: So don't be surprised if you feel the beat/Don't be ashamed if you move your feet/In an East Bay style that's doctor approved/Nobody bounce back like a skanking fool. The Uptones, Minks, Tried & True Every generation has its own ska revival, and for people who went to Bay Area high schools in the '80s, one of the biggest names in the scene was the UpTones. The band formed while its members were still students at Berkeley High School and quickly became one of the most popular concert attractions around the bay. Three original members of the band have revived the UpTones and are inspiring a new crop of kids to dance. This is an all-ages show. --SF Chronicle Last night I went to a ska concert with Fishbone, The Uptones, The Chop Tops and The Gallows... The Uptones - were badass. This was ska-punk the way it should be played: with eight band-members, three horn-players (the trombonist was female!), and some fucking catchy tunes. I will definitely try to get ahold of more of their music. -sataf's journal (excerpt) ]]> Virb 2.0 (@uptoneska) en Uptones music now available directly http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/5936573 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:21:17 -0800 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/5936573 October shows w/ English Beat! http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/5480551 The ENGLISH BEAT The UPTONES Damon and the Heathens Thursday Oct. 15, 8:00 PM @ the Uptown Nightclub 1928 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, California $20.00 cover, 21+, 8:00 PM click for: Tickets, Directions The ENGLISH BEAT The UPTONES Friday Oct. 23, 8:00 PM @ the Last Day Saloon 120 Fifth St. @ Davis St. Santa Rosa, California $20 advance [...]]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:15:26 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/5480551 Mashitupable! http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/5172343 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:55:46 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/5172343 The UPTONES Postage Stamps http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4836443 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:25:40 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4836443 Uptones Horns in Chinatown http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4512338 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:23:22 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4512338 UPTONES get Amnesia http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4491993 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:04:35 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4491993 Oakland Chinatown Streetfest http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4445055 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:36:02 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/4445055 amnesia_uptones http://virb.com/uptoneska/photos/4210656

Uptones and Coup De Ska at Amnesia in San Francisco 8-30-09

]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:29:39 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/photos/4210656 The Uptones make the Top Ten! http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3951271 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:42:45 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3951271 Moose Goes Postal 4 Ska! http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3710737 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:10:50 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3710737 First Ska Stamp goes to the North Pole http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3254702 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:56:42 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3254702 U.S. Post Office Recognizes The Ska Shrine http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3166968 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:13:28 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/3166968 Uptones Skank at the Ska Shrine http://virb.com/uptoneska/videos/2842716 Tue, 05 May 2009 15:22:29 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/videos/2842716 May16 http://virb.com/uptoneska/photos/2795753 ]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 13:22:44 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/photos/2795753 Ska Night at the Oakland Metro http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2748751 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:37:29 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2748751 Uptones Guitarists Soar http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2621959 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:22:29 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2621959 The Uptones skank at the Shrine to Skanking http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546204 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:03:14 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546204 Uptones & Pepper Pots in Petaluma! http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546202 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:03:14 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546202 Get Your Warhol On http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546201 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:03:13 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546201 Ska’s Not Dead! http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546199 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:03:13 -0700 http://virb.com/uptoneska/posts/text/2546199