The 6th issue of Big Shot, a fanzine dedicated to Jamaican music, soul, and skinhead subculture, was released at the close of 2009. This glossy zine is packed with articles, photos, and reviews. The majority of the features are in German, but several English language pieces appear in the latest issue.
English Features:
The striking color cover highlights the artwork of Chema Skandal, an illustrator and graphic designer from Mexico City. Plenty more illustrations are included alongside the interview with Chema, providing insight into his influences, art methods, and the Mexico scene.
Agent Jay discusses his work with Crazy Baldhead, The Slackers, The Stubborn All Stars, and other projects in a lengthy interview. LA’s own DJ Boss Harmony gets a shout out for his work mixing the tracks for the Slackers “Deep Boss Harmony” album.
A nice photo essay from John South, who put together the “Time Longer Than Rope” ska and reggae fanzine for many years, is featured in this issue’s “Style Museum.” He shares photos and memories from the start of his skinhead days in the late 70s/early 80s.
There is also a nice photo spread from a recent Heptones concert, with lovely photos of Leroy Sibbles and Barry Llewellyn performing.
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The remaining articles are in German, and I wish I could read them! The Merritone feature looks particularly fascinating (there are some English bits from interviews with Keith Scott and Lynn Taitt…and record labels, song names, etc. stand out). The fanzine also contains a Jackie Opel feature, interviews with Pat Kelly and Toots Hibbert, and plenty of band, album, film, and magazine reviews.
Fanzines are becoming a rarity in the age of the internet, and it’s fantastic to see people dedicating their time and effort to put the subjects they love into print. Big Shot is packed with information, well laid out, and visually appealing. Definitely order your copy before #6 is out of print!
Big Shot Fanzine on MySpace
Big Shot Blog
Some amazing guests have passed through the Rocksteady Lounge during the first two months of 2010. Steve the Hat returned in January with two fantastic sets of 60s and 70s Jamaican tunes. Tommy Rock A Shacka and Ash arrived in February for our first international dance party. They brought nothing but boom tunes and rarities galore!
Viktor and I have been busy organizing all of our photos and videos from January and February, and this week we’ll bring these updates to Reggaedelic Sounds.
Stay tuned for photos, videos, reviews, and more!
And as always, the Rocksteady Lounge is EVERY Monday…see you at Akbar!
Take a look at the photos Old HC Dude took from our dance party with Tommy Rock-A-Shacka and Ash Aquarius…fantastic night with plenty of big tunes! Local DJs Rocksteady Chris, Boss Harmony, Bigger Boss, Viktor, and also selected Jamaican gems.
Old HC Dude Photos: Rocksteady Lounge with Tommy Rock-A-Shacka and Ash
Tags: akbar, ash aq, Bigger Boss, Boss Harmony, clubs, D & B Far East Records, drum and bass records, Events, old hc dude, rocksteady chris, rocksteady lounge, silver lake, Tommy Rock A Shacka
TerryLee and the Rocksteady Lounge welcome back Tommy Rock-A-Shacka (Japan) and Ash (UK) for their final farewell night at the Rocksteady Lounge! One last chance to listen to rocksteady and reggae rarities before they return to their home countries.
The final even takes place this Monday, February 15th at The Rocksteady Lounge (Akbar). And best of all, it’s free! With drink specials all night long ($2 pints/$7 pitchers, $3 Red Stripe).
Nina and Viktor will provide vintage Jamaican tunes as well.
Tommy Rock-A-Shacka (http://www.dandb-far-east.com/ http://www.drumandbass-rec.com/) is one of the world’s top collectors and DJs of Jamaican music. He releases legitimate reissues of Jamaican artists and producers on CD and vinyl (Rock-A-Shacka label), as well as t-shirts and other merchandise. Listen to some of his killer selections on Pirate’s Choice radio (http://www.rock-a-shacka.com/pirates_choice.html).
Ash (Aquarius) hails from London, where his father was an original roots soundman in the 1970s. Ash carries on the tradition, and brought a tasty selection of ska and rocksteady to delight a dancing crowd.
Let’s Get Together this Monday at the Rocksteady Lounge! An evening of vintage Jamaican muzik not to be missed!
FREE
21+
10 pm – 2 am
SUNDAY, February 7th! We will be welcoming TOMMY ROCK A SHACKA (Japan) and ASH AQUARIUS (UK) to Los Angeles with a special Jamaican music dance party at Akbar! This is their first night selecting in the United States!!! Come and hear some of the world’s top Jamaican music collectors! One and only night in Los Angeles (and the US!) before heading to Mexico City.
This Monday, January 25th, we will pay homage to the late Lynn Taitt with a special selection at The Rocksteady Lounge. He was an innovator in Jamaican music, and instrumental in formulating the rocksteady sound. Come hear some of the many recordings featuring Lynn Taitt on guitar, a world-class legend.
We are also thrilled to welcome back Steve the Hat from his recent travels to New Zealand. If you caught his sets last time, you know this is a night not to be missed!
The Rocksteady Lounge is EVERY Monday from 10 pm – 2 am.
Free!
$2 pints, $7 pitchers of Anchor Steam
$3 Red Stripe
Rocksteady Lounge at Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd at Fountain in Silverlake
Last Monday we had a surprise guest appearance by saxophonist Dave Hillyard…not DJing, but playing his sax over several instrumentals we spun. His improvisations sounded fantastic. He’s playing Saturday, January 16th at On the Rox (Roxy, Sunset Strip), and with Willi Williams this Wednesday, Jan 13 at the Dub Club (held at the Echo). We’ll post photos and some short video clips soon!
The rest of the month’s line-up is all set…we hope to see you at Akbar!
Jan 11: Rocksteady Chris
Jan 18: Lady Busty Brown
Jan 25: Steve the Hat (UK)
The Rocksteady Lounge is every Monday at Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd at Fountain (Silver Lake area), Los Angeles
Free, 21+
