THE PIETASTERS IN CONCERT:
Veteran D.C. ska septet The Pietasters inject their upbeat sound with equal parts punk and soul to arrive at a hard-hitting hybrid that never fails to get fans skanking in concert. At their live shows the band delivers their jaunty, brass-heavy tunes with infectious energy, inciting plenty of dancing as they tear through up-tempo numbers like “Tell You Why” and “Out All Night”. The group’s brass section is a razor-sharp force to be reckoned with as they bust out a rapid-fire succession of catchy riffs, and the rest of the band keeps pace with tight playing and plenty of punk rock attitude. Holding it all together is frontman Stephen Jackson, a skilled showman whose soulful vocals and onstage verve help make a Pietasters show a must-see live experience.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
The Pietasters was formed by a group of ska-loving Virginia Tech students in 1990. After spending countless hours learning covers of songs by bands like Madness, The Specials, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the group started performing for friends in their living room. Soon they were playing bars and clubs throughout the D.C. area, and in 1993 they released their self-titled debut album on Slug Tone! Records. That summer they bought a van for $900 and embarked on their first national tour. The rigors of life on the road led many of the band’s original members to jump ship after the tour, but frontman Stephen Jackson and trumpeter Carlos Linares stayed the course, recruiting a new lineup and releasing the band’s 1995 sophomore album Oolooloo. A string of successful albums followed in the ‘90s and ‘00s including two releases on now-legendary ska and punk imprint Hellcat Records. Over the course of their two-and-a-half decades together The Pietasters have opened for big names like No Doubt and Fugazi and performed as James Brown’s backing band, and they continue to rock the stage on their own headlining tours.
