Written & photographed by IM Community Reviewer: Sarah Kemp
This marked the 10th anniversary of the SKA fundraisers organised by Jim Semmens, who hosts the Modulation show on Phonic FM every Friday at 6 pm. I love Exeter Phoenix because you get a good view from anywhere in the main hall, while still keeping that busy, collective atmosphere. I always choose standing because I love being at the barrier, dancing and seeing the bands up close. There is also seated viewing, though it’s worth knowing that if you book a seat, you can’t move into the standing area.
Another great thing about Exeter Phoenix is that the bar sits right next to the main hall, with DJs playing before, between and after the bands. On this SKA night, the DJs mixed mod, northern soul, indie and SKA, which was perfect for me. As much as I love SKA, I always enjoy switching it up with a bit of mod or northern soul. I hadn’t heard DJ Paul Riley play before, but if the bands hadn’t been so good, I could have happily stayed dancing by the bar. His northern soul set was a highlight and even my soul-loving friend who’d travelled from Swindon made the most of the small dance space.
Onto the bands! A friend recommended it was worth getting there early to catch the first band, Reggaska’s from Devon. I’m so glad I did. Wow! The singer, Lizy Eames, has an incredible voice. They mostly played their own songs, alongside a great cover of “Sally Brown.” Even though I didn’t know their material, they had the whole room dancing. At one point, the saxophonist stepped off the stage and played by the barrier – it sounded and looked great. As the name suggests, their sound leans towards reggae and ska, with some members having previously supported The Specials. I’ll definitely be checking where they’re playing next. If you hadn’t guessed, this was my favourite set of the night.
Next up: Instincts Take Over, described as a unique fusion of ska, rock, blues and soul. Another South West band fronted by a woman with a powerful voice, they went down well with the crowd. The trumpet player was the same as Reggaska’s, though I’m not sure whether he plays with both bands or was covering on the night. Either way, he was fantastic and it was great we got to see more of him. Like the earlier set, they mainly played their own material, which the audience clearly enjoyed.
Last up were The Embezzlers, a six-piece band based in Exeter. Unlike the other bands, they focus on covers, mainly ska and 2 Tone. Singer Murph quickly built a strong rapport with the crowd, who loved the banter as they danced and sang along to familiar favourites. The band brought huge energy and passion to the set and genuinely looked like they were having just as good a time as the audience.
If you like ska, 2 Tone, and mod, tune in to Jim’s show and make sure you grab tickets early for next year, as this one sold out. All of these bands are playing locally across the South West, so look them up and get skanking!
