ION INDIE MAGAZINE June 2015, Volume 13 | Page 119

It’s no surprise that the band crafts such solid music. This sizeable group brings together decades of combined experience in
a variety of genres. When asked about this, Seiple said, “I think one of our assets as a band is the fact that we come from a
range of different backgrounds. Half of us have degrees in music, and pretty much all of us have been in different bands at
one time or another. I think we have a lot more experience than most bands out there.”
Having that many cooks in the kitchen might be a
detriment to some bands, but THE SKASHANK
REDEMPTION thrive on the chaos. While talking about
the challenges of trying to let 7 different musicians
shine through, Seipel added, “That’s definitely
something we make a conscious effort to balance.
When we give each other space, musically, we support
and drive each other to play with more intensity. It also
sounds better, because having all these different
instruments allow us to expose different timbres and
tones changing the whole character of the song. This is
true on stage as well, where we’re all conscious of the
proverbial spotlight and understand that the more we
share it, the better the experience for the audience.”
In December 2013, they released their debut EP, “To
Victory!” It is a 6 song collection that made one upstart
music blogger say, “It is a record that doesn’t sacrifice
personality in the name of musicianship. That can be a tough balance
to strike, but these guys manage to pull it off.” Ok, that blogger was me
in February 2014. I meant it then and over a year later, the songs still
feel fresh and relevant, despite heavy rotation on my part. In terms of
a general sound, the group is a perfect blend of some of the SKA greats
of the last 20 years. The bands frantic energy and social satire are
reminiscent of NY/NJ bands like CATCH 22. The laid back, good time
vibe and goofy nature of So-Cal groups like REEL BIG FISH, makes its
way into the mix as well. It’s probably no surprise that a band from the
Midwest can channel the two very different styles of SKA that define
the nation’s coasts.
I recently heard some of the recordings that will be included in the
bands new EP, “Hard Feelings for Soft Places”, which is slated to be
released later this summer. If the rough cuts I heard are any indication,
I encourage all of you to lace up your dancing shoes. This one’s going
to be a doozy!

Check out THE SKASHANK REDEMPTION online:
https://www.facebook.com/theskashankredemption
http://soundcloud.com/the-skashank-redemption