These R aka-SKA

Scott
guitars & vocals
drscott@aka-ska.com

Scott is another lad who isn’t afraid to bounce around while we play. The trio of Scott, Iain and Stephen feeling the beat is a pleasure to behold, and certainly encourages the rest of the band members who have to lay relatively dormant e.g. horns and keyboard. When Scott is not playing guitar, he sings harmonies to accompany Stephen’s lead vocals. He has also been spotted brandishing a double bass in and around his favourite haunts in Aberdeen playing with his and The Creoles. His likes include a diverse musical collection, movies, and the greatest band in the world, Rocket from the Crypt. His dislikes include watching static, shoe-gazing bands, and reality television shows.

Dave
trombone
dave-trombonski@aka-ska.com

Dave is in a unique position, being one of those rare things:  the only man in a horn section!!  David Scott has clearly thought long and hard about his plans for world domination.  They include, and I quote: “1,000 x Orange Boiler suits, 1,000 x Silver Hard Hats, 1,000 x Black Wellies, 1, 000 x Automatic Rifles (Shoulder Straps included), 1 x Volcano, 1 x Underground Monorail System, 1 x pool with collapsible bridge, 5 x man-eating sharks, 1 x revolving seat (cat optional), 1 x staff canteen (to fit over 1,000 minions plus guests/captives), 1,000 x Health & Dental Insurance Plans, 1 x giant map of the world with integrated LED...”.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Dave is a bit of a Bond fan.  And no, not the classical four piece.  The first record that he ever bought is absolutely shameful:  Jive Bunny and the Master Mixers!!  Interestingly, the superpower that he would most like to possess is stretching.  Perhaps that appeals to someone that has become accustomed to long hours using the trombone slide?

Toby
serving quality drums

Toby is a new member of the band.  Brand spanking new.  So new in fact, that we only took the cellophane off of him yesterday.  He has quickly overcome the “I’m nervous and feel awkward playing in front of these strangers” phase and has launched whole-heartedly into “I can play this as it sounds on the record, or I can play it the wrong way, which you lot have been doing” phase.  We at Aka-ska are always appreciative of people who are willing to dedicate themselves to the cause of ska and go out of their way to get it right.  Our little ska collective have quickly warmed to Toby and his heady mix of professionalism and cheeky-chappy finesse.  He is also the member most likely to kip on someone’s sofa as he lives about 40 miles from Aberdeen, in deepest, darkest ‘Shire.  His plans for world domination include creating an army of attack Hamsters armed with rocket launchers.  The character he would most like to be is Sponge Bob Square pants “Because I'd like to live at the bottom of the sea”.

Jayne
saxophone & vocals
jayne@aka-ska.com

When Jayne first started with Aka-ska, she had a very patchy idea of what constituted ska music.  She could think of Madness as a ska band, but that was more or less it.  Now, with 10 months worth of gigs and rehearsals under her belt, she is an avid fan of the ska movement, and all of it’s bouncy, happy connotations.  Alternating between playing sax and doing the girl vocals, she is the Commander-in-chief of the newly formed Horn Liberation Movement, whose only goal is to liberate the horn section from their fixed microphone shackles and emancipate them with the use of cunning and a few wireless radio mics.  The character from a kids’ TV show she would most like to be is Count Duckula, as “he is the only other person in the world I know who also likes broccoli”.  If she were to be a musical instrument, it would have to be a guitar “ in the hope that Keanu Reeves would pick me up to play in his band and give me a strum…”.

Julie
saxophone
drjules@aka-ska.com

It may surprise everyone to learn that a mere 7 months ago, Julie had never played a note on a saxophone, or any musical instrument.  Initially tagging along to band rehearsals and jamming along with Jayne, she quickly learned how to make a good sound out of the Alto Saxophone.  It wasn’t long before she mastered all of her solos and needed a new challenge.  Thus she asked Father Christmas for a Tenor Sax, which was promptly delivered a little bit before the big day, just in time for our gig at the Lemon Tree.  The gleaming, awe-inspiring sight of a Tenor Sax adds a rich tone to the mix of the horn section. She may pull teeth for a living, but in no way would you equate her saxophone playing to spending time in the dentist’s chair.  I’m sure it won’t be long until Julie will need another challenge.  Perhaps she could swap instruments with Colin

Iain
bass
iain@aka-ska.com

Iain is one of the people in the band who dances the most (and most badly) during our set.  Not hindered with having to be in close proximity to a microphone, he is often found flailing about manically, try not to bash someone on the head with the neck of his bass while he enthusiastically turns himself into a sweaty mess.  His favourite celebrity is Jockie Wilson “for his unwitting cameo appearance on Top of the Pops with Dexy’s Midnight Runners”.  The first record he ever bought was ‘Out of the Blue’ by the Electric Light Orchestra, and understandably the superpower he would like to have is to be able to travel back in time to 1978 and not buy the ELO’s ‘Out of the Blue’.

Pauline
trumpeteering

Pauline is a very busy, dedicated lady. Not only is she a music teacher, but utilises her skills in music to play with various other groups, to direct many school bands and get involved in extra-curricular musicy things.  Her aural abilities are legendary.  There has been many an occasion in which Pauline can hear something that needs improving, when the rest of the band are blissfully unaware.  The horns rely on her skilled ears, chirpy personality and self discipline to run a tight ship at rehearsals so that we can do justice to the songs at our gigs.  Pauline can regularly be spotted zipping around Aberdeen in her self-confessed “hairdresser’s car”.

Stephen
singer
brassmonkeyman@aka-ska.com

Local lad Stephen has been advocating the gospel of St. Suggs et al. to the unenlightened heathen for many years.  Through his own initiative and solemn praise of The Specials, he attempted to fill the musical void that was apparent in Aberdeen.  Luckily, his plight appealed to the crème de le crème of Aberdeen’s musical elite.  And lo, a new means in which people could bounce around until their tendons exploded was born.  And there was much merriment and rejoicing, Alleliuah!  As Kevin Costner would say; ‘If you skank it, they will come….’

craig
keyboardista
craig@aka-ska.com

Craig is currently at Aberdeen University studying music and training to be a music teacher. He is often found in and around Aberdeen playing with concert bands, brass bands, orchestras and jazz bands and also teaching percussion and piano. Although he has been playing piano/keyboards since the age of 7, ska is very new to him but he is enjoying a new challenge and loving having an new genre of music to explore and listen to. Bring on the Ska and most of all bring on the gigs!!

Pete
guitars & vocals
pete@aka-ska.com

Pete is probably the poshest member of the band, as over the last few months he has been commuting from Paris to play with us here in the grey fortress of melancholy.  A habitual forwarder of tasteless jokes and e-mail spam, one can only assume that he is employed for his experience and efficiency rather than his political correctness.  Pete is a fan of upside-down houses, funny t-shirts and using the laid-back approach.  He also knows his way round a guitar:  there has been many a time where Pete has us all open mouthed with his fabulous guitar solos.