The Racquette

Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Mark Stevens Through the efforts of front man, Bujold, Echo Drive maintained its vigor despite missing some of its brass section.

Echo Drive and the Best of the Worst put on quite a show this past Saturday at Hurley's. Echo Drive opened the set to a swelled Hurley's crowd. Despite being down a trumpeter and saxophonist, Echo Drive proved they still could stir a crowd into what only can be described as a "skanking whirlpool."

The mixed crowd of Clarkson and Potsdam students bobbed and swayed to Echo Drive's songs about Batman and Bioshock as well as their covers of the Flobots and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Echo drive also proved to be a crowd pleaser, according to Clarkson student Sarah Vanderveen, saying that the band is "…down-to-earth," and "loves to get the crowd into it."

Echo Drive had a few new tunes since their Battle of the Bands victory last fall at Backstreets. The new tracks showed the same sharp lyricism and ska rhythms that force you to tap your feet and bob your head in glee. Evan Bujold, Echo Drive's emphatic frontman, still kept the crowd moving through the set even though it was clear the band was missing half of their brass men.

The Best of the Worst followed with their aggressive ska-core set. The trio from Jersey opened strong with no sign they spent seven hours driving in a cramped Astrovan. In an eerie coincidence, The Best of the Worst was also missing their single brass-piece. All conspiracies of band-warfare aside, the three remaining members held their own throughout the show.

The trio boasted the skills of both the ska and hardcore genres. Their vocalist and guitarist Jason Selvaggio switched easily between hardcore screaming and punk vocals. On guitar, Jason could strum clean upbeats as well as heavy drop-D riffs. Their drummer, Joe Scala was able to play laid-back Ska rhythms and still plow through hardcore double-bass sections. Overall, The Best of the Worst's blend of ska, punk, and hardcore worked and took the best from the genres.

There was no shortage of energy from The Best of the Worst. They made a seven-hour pilgrimage for the show and made the most of their stage-time. Aside from their music, they exchanged off-color remarks between songs about Jersey Shore and certain parts of the male anatomy. My only complaint is that they had a habit of playing a toned-down bridge section in the middle of almost every song and the form got repetitive as their set went on.

Echo Drive and the Best of the Worst were great compliments to each other. Their sets embraced the whole range of ska from slow, swaying songs to tunes that force you out on the floor. The bands put on great sets despite both bands missing members.

It is always odd to listen to cheery, summer ska in the dead of winter. Echo Drive and The Best of the Worst could almost make you forget about frigid Potsdam and the long, intervening months between now and summer when ska isn't depressingly out of place. I may hate them for it now, but I loved them for it then. Cheers!

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