The live shows are legendary. They usually last several hours and make sure to leave the kids at home. Skanatra is the right blend of Ol’ Blue Eyes and swing ska to keep the party going to late into the night.
The 12-piece band, a Hoboken institution, will perform at Maxwell’s on June 20. Their sophomore album It’s Happy Hour Somewhere received rave reviews, and we recently caught up with the band’s "Swingin" Jim Higgins.
EM – Where are you from?
JH – Wyckoff, which instantly kills any street cred I may aspire to.
EM – Who are your influences?
JH – The Beatles, The Who, The Replacements…y’know, the real grandaddys of ska.
EM – Why did you become a musician?
JH – To avoid prosperity.
EM – Where have you performed?
JH – Mostly in front of mirrors and the occasional Italian wedding.
EM – What is your favorite day of the week?
JH – Last week it was Otis; this week it’s Doris.
EM – What are the last three CDs you bought?
JH – Fountains of Wayne’s Welcome Interstate Managers, Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief, and the Buffy The Vampire Slayer soundtrack.
EM – How would you describe your music?
JH – Better than Cher’s.
EM – Are you looking for mainstream exposure?
JH – No. Too many people fish there already.
EM – What professional plans do you have for the future?
JH – To finally remove the Roy Clark guide dots from my guitar neck and learn the elusive A minor chord on my own. I also plan to burn all my power ties in effigy.
EM – What is the best part about your job?
JH – Pouring my heart, soul, enthusiasm, and sweat into every live performance only to later stand aside in helpless anonymity as the sunbeam reaps all the kudos. A real high.
Skanatra, catch them live, perform at Maxwell’s at 1039 Washington St. in Hoboken on June 20 at 10 p.m. with special guest Tom Vincent. Tickets are $8. For information call (201) 653-1703 or visit www.maxwellsnj.com. q