The Toasters
Words: Lily Richeson
Photos: Jen Moreno

Appeared:
April 24, 2007
The Orpheum, Ybor City   

I will not give this show a bad review. I refuse to do so in part because it was a ska show and most are expecting the worst. I could talk about how the opening band made me cringe or how The Briggs took at least 20 minutes to do sound check. Instead I will simply review The Toasters who were celebrating their 25th year of being a band.
   
 Whoever was working sound during The Toasters set at the Orpheum must have felt at least a tad bit awkward while the entire band kept harassing him about how much he was “fucking up”. When they finally leveled a few songs later, I realized why I loved this band so much when I was younger and why I still respect the name.  Not only have they held it together for 25 years, but they have also managed to keep their sound the same through all the changes and bashes ska has taken. That means a blaring, beautiful, harmonious horn section and a sweet message of unity through lyrics. British lead singer Rob Hingley taunted audience members calling them “stupid” and some other words I won't describe. Though his actions on stage contradicted a good deal of his song lyrics, it got people to listen in between songs to the political message he was trying to convey. The drunkards and hormonal teenagers couldn't stop dancing or skanking or whatever-ing during The Toasters old hits like “Two-Tone Army” and “Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down.”   

So, any sign of stopping after 25 big ones? I can only hope so. Although I was a bit of  “rude girl” in my day, its time to let sleeping dogs lie and let the hits be oldies already.