A night of rude boy rhythms and skanking melodies was delivered in full at the iconic Kings Arms.

Words by Kate Baya | Photos by Brad Holland, Vault Media Productions

With Skin and Bone and the Mighty Jabsco on the decks, and performances from Moisty Atsushi, Roofdog, Surrey Boudit, and AceTones the night went from strength to strength.

Kicking off the night with an energetic rocksteady acoustic set, and donning a tiger costume to match, Moisty Atsushi successfully riled up the crowd. Playing his final New Zealand show, it was the end of an era and the love was palpable as everyone sang along during his final song.

By the time Roofdog took the stage people began to congregate in anticipation. Not ones to disappoint, the punk-influenced ska musicians picked up the energy and it wasn’t long until people were moving and bopping their heads to the strong vocals and compelling bass lines. Next to hit the stage was Surrey Boudit, a wall of body moving reggae tunes; the audience now a sea moving to the motion of the skanking guitar rhythms.

Although the night was running behind schedule, it was hard to notice as DJs Skin and Bone and the Mighty Jabsco mixed up a tasty blend of reggae and ska favorites and if it was noticeable, AceTones proved they were well worth the wait. With a solid horn section of stabs and a tight pocket of groove, Acetones delivered a crisp set locked in by their chemistry on stage. As well as they worked together, their individual musicianship was also commendable. I often found myself being pulled out of the collective sound to focus on elegantly short individual showcases of talent and skill before being drawn back into the song as whole. Whether it was a sax hook, guitar lead, or drum fill, each musician demonstrated their contributions and personality through the set.

All had a good night and each performance was delightfully varied despite their ska commonalities. Whether you’re an avid fan of ska, an appreciator of musicianship, or just fond of a good boogie, you’ll thoroughly enjoy these rude boy acts. Thanks for the great night, guys!