The Maccalites and Underground Ska in Britain
The British Underground Punk Scene After Capdown
Dec 10, 2008
With Capdown - one of Britain's most loved ska-punk bands - disbanded, the underground ska scene must look for a new set of heroes to drive the genre and the scene forward. This articles looks at whether the new post-Capdown ska/dub band The Maccalites can do this, or whether they are really just too different from their old band.
The now defunct Capdown were one of the most legendary and highly respected ska-punk/underground acts ever to come out of the British punk scene, and the void left by them has not, and probably will not ever be, filled. Now, though, fans have at last been given what they have been craving – ladies and gentlemen, the first post-Capdown band has arrived. Enter; The Maccalites.
Formed by ex-Capdown bassist Robin ‘Boob’ Gould and drummer Tim Macdonald, along with Simon Wells of Southport and renowned musician and producer and Nick Philpin, The Maccalites grew from discussions between the members about what to do with all their spare time now that their previous groups had disbanded.
Britain's Underground Ska
As the name suggests, the bands main influence is the two-tone group The Skatalites, probably one of ska’s best known and most popular groups ever. Aside from the name though, these two bands have little in common.
Instead of the use of the traditional ska horn section, The Maccalites employ an organ which as well as taking the band away from regular concepts of the ska form, gives their music an altogether fresher feel.
The two demo songs currently released on the bands Myspace page both rely heavily upon dub, giving listeners and indication of what direction the musicians are looking to take with their new project.
Ska-Punk
At first, hardcore Capdown fans may struggle to come to terms with this slightly unorthodox new sound, especially since it is so far removed from that of their beloved ska-punk legends. Some people may even wish to argue that all The Maccalites are is a group of men having their mid-life crisis’; and they may be right. Without doubt though, The Maccalites, with their swinging rhythms and dub focused style, are offering more traditional ska-punk fans something altogether different.
What’s more, those fans who grew up with Capdown may well see Gould and Macdonalds’ new direction as something of a logical progression, and one which offers the somewhat stagnating British ska scene a breath of fresh air.
It’s obvious that The Maccalites certainly aren’t as phenomenally exciting or energetic as Capdown, but then, they don’t claim to be.
The real question for Capdown fans now is not how far will The Maccalites go, but when will the other two ex-Capdown members come up with their own projects? And it may be some time before that question is answered. Although, for the sake of the British punk scene, we should hope it comes sooner rather than later.
 |
