MATAMOSKA! & Friends Share Remotely-recorded Quarantine Cover of Ska Pioneers The Specials' "Monkey Man" (Soundcloud-only Release)

Over Easter Weekend, MATAMOSKA! (@matamoska) posted a rather cryptic message on Instagram, which simply read: "[soundcloud] exclusive only." along with a Monkey Emoji and hashtags "#matamoska&friends" and "#thespecials." It took a little while, but with some earnest digital sleuthing, we soon stumbled upon MATAMOSKA! & Friends' cover of The Specials' "Monkey Man" uploaded to multi-instrumentalist and mixing engineer Esteban Flores Valenzuela's Soundcloud page. According to Facebook, MATAMOSKA!'s core line-up consists of Flores on keyboards/backing vocals, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Jose Padilla, drummer Richard Sanchez, bassist Hector Rivera, trumpet player Ivan Lopez, trombonist Robert Verdugo, and tenor saxophonist Jovan Loera. We first heard about by way of their amazingly-titled 2017 album SKALLUMINATI released on limited edition cassette through Illinois-based In The Lake Records. Next we heard from MATAMOSKA! they were releasing their Band Geek Martians 7-inch EP—featuring covers of Voodoo Glow Skulls' "Band Geek Mafia" and The Misfits' "I Turned Into A Martian"—on Steady Beat Recordings in July 2019. Unfortunately, MATAMOSKA!'s Voodoo Glow Skulls/Misfits covers have never been released digitally, but it's definitely worth tracking down a copy of Band Geek Martians on 7-inch wax!

But, back to "Monkey Man:" yet another cover expertly executed by MATAMOSKA! & Friends, "Monkey Man" was entirely recorded remotely from self-quarantine/isolation. Said recording features MATAMOSKA!'s own Esteban Flores, Eddy Rodriguez (Una Mas,) and Jose Padilla, along with musically-inclined friends Jon Bravo (Mr.Kingpin, Rude Kings,) Travis McKayle (The Bad Ups,) Curtis Irie (The Bandulus, Irie Idea,) Alexis Briseño (Inspector, Skapital Sound,) Gil Simo (Katzu Oso,) Heath Schlatter (The Operators, Circle City Deacons,) and Cristian Riquelme (The Operators, Circle City Deacons.) Flores tells us, before these suggested world-wide self-quarantines started, MATAMOSKA! were in the process of recording a new album... but, "since this virus broke out, my band decided to put a break on this and figure out a way to keep content out and have fun, while we are stuck at home." A one-time staple during MATAMOSKA!'s rehearsals and live sets, Esteban Flores says, since the band's "foundation is built upon friendship and unity, this felt like the best time to get in touch with everyone we care about and interact with them, via music." Plus, let's just admit, who doesn't love The Specials/The Special AKA!!? It appears as though MATAMOSKA! intend to continue releasing remotely-recorded digital-only content from quarantine for as long as this lasts. As a small underground/D.I.Y. band, MATAMOSKA! just ask, if you dig "Monkey Man," please, consider supporting the band directly by buying some of their merchandise.

MATAMOSKA! & Friends - "Monkey Man" Credits:

Esteban Flores (MATAMOSKA!) - Drums/Piano/Organ/Background Vocals
Eddy Rodriguez (MATAMOSKA!, Una Mas) - Bass
Jose Padilla (MATAMOSKA!) - Guitar/Lead Guitar/Lead Vocals
Jon Bravo (Mr. Kingpin, Rude Kings) - Background Vocals
Travis McKayle (The Bad Ups) - Background Vocals
Curtis Irie (The Bandulus, Irie Idea) - Percussion
Alexis Briseño (Inspector, Skapital Sound) - Alto Sax
Gil Simo (Katzu Oso) - Trombone
Heath Schlatter (The Operators, Circle City Deacons) - Trumpet/Background Vocals
Cristian Riquelme (The Operators, Circle City Deacons) - Background Vocals/Toasting

Mixed By: Esteban Flores
Produced By: Jose Padilla & MATAMOSKA!
"Monkey Man" By: The Specials (1979)
Mastered By: Jon Mireles at Audiomech Productions

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel

The Witzard

Search This Blog