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>> Gangster Politics give purists the finger and forge forward with their dirty ska sound by MIREILLE SILCOTT Every time I write about ska, I feel the need to make it clear that "I AM NO SKA EXPERT, BUT..." The reason being that, even as an outsider, it is widely apparent to me that, excuse my French, there are a bunch of blood-thirsty bitches in that scene that I'd rather not get tangly with. I mean the purists. Purists who think no musician is good enough, no natty dresser slick enough, no dedicated scenester dedicated enough. Except themselves, of course. And frankly, those are the types who get me all out of sorts. Those are the types who would slag the Planet Smashers (a band I quite like) for being too pop, who say everyone should sound like the Skatalites, and who most surely dislike Gangster Politics--the next band off Montreal's worthy Stomp label. But in no way am I rooting for the underdogs here, just the unlikely contenders. Because while purists may find Gangster Politics' music too hybridized or dirty, those who discovered ska through the nouveau pop of Goldfinger or the Bosstones' inescapable radio anthem "The Impression That I Get" may actually find GP's sound rather "older." "That's the jazz thing, it's not the easiest stance to take," says Tim Doyle, drummer, toaster and general spokesperson for GP. "That's the main thing that no other ska band in this town are doing, and it's taken a while to hone.
Part of this knowledge comes from the fact that esteemed producer Victor Rice is coming in to produce GP's platter, due out next year. And from the fact that they're not the new babes of the Kingpins/Smashers-led Stomp label anymore, having climbed up a rung or two with the arrival of younger bands like General Rudie or the Undercovers. "We're maturing," says Doyle, who like most members of GP is just of legal drinking age and studies at Vanier's music school. "Like, now we know how to keep our music chilled--we're getting really technically good--but at the same time, we can hold onto the energy that we had when we were 14 and going crazy. It makes a lot of people in the scene jealous, I guess."
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The next wave
"When we first started out all the rude boys were like, 'Fuck this, they are just a bunch of kids.' But I know with this upcoming album, they definitely will take a second listen."