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50:50 Shot – Interview, new lineup tryouts and more…
50:50 Shot recently put together The Mass Ska Raid (See our writeup below and blog in our blog section at Mass Ska Raid ’09) at the Masquerade and it was a huge success. They had this to say about the show…Mass Ska Raid has really been a huge hit in Atlanta. This year, we had 327 people pay for the show, over 100 better than last years. For Mass Ska Raid 2010, I think I won’t have a hard time booking some nationally touring bands and really making the show a big deal. This show is one of the few times to where Atlanta really impresses me. It is great to see that many people in our region who are willing to stick it out for a 7 hour ska fest.
Here is a statement about the band and its current lineup change…
50:50 shot is currently going through a lineup change. I want to make sure everyone is aware of these guys as they are definitely sitting at the top of the Atlanta ska scene and are more than worth checking out. Here is what Austin from the band had to say about the current lineup changes and some of the goals of the band…***50:50 Shot started 5 years ago in Conyers Georgia. Some friends started the band after the graduated high school and we have been around ever since. We tour the southeast a few times every year and try to put on a good bit on Georgia shows. Our goals are to have a great time and hopefully make some fans by doing so! We are currently going through a line-up change, so everything is mixed up right now. Our current stable members are:
Austin – Bass
Gu – Guitar/Vocals
Ryan – Drums
Reid – Saxophone
We usually are a 7-8 piece band and this is definitely the biggest line-up change we have gone through. Our lead singer/guitarists, trombonist and trumpet player have parted ways with the band. These guys lost interest in being in the ska scene, but that is fine with us. No hard feelings to them, they just desire different things in life.
The band will be holding tryouts for the new lineup soon so hit them up on their myspace if you’re interested in being a member of an awesome band anchored in the Atl ska movement. They already have some great musicians set to join the lineup as well as a comeback show planned and are looking for a lead guitarist and any type of horns. They have a comeback show on November 21st at the Masquerade with the Toaster, Mustard Plug and the Voodoo Glow Skulls for the Masquerade’s 3 Floors of Ska show. Their excited to get the new lineup going and excited to have a new lineup focused and excited about the band.
Requiem by 50:50 Shot
Hunch Punch by 50:50 Shot
Austin from the band on their available albums…We currently have two albums available: one full length, one EP. Our full length is titled “Bashful Glances from Ugly Men.” It is a 10 song album which we are all really proud of. It has been out since December 2008 and has seemed to be pretty popular so far. Our first CD is “Love Songs for Fellini’s Girls.” It is a 5 song EP with all of our first and classic songs. These are the songs we usually see our fans singing along to at our shows. Both of our albums are available on iTunes, amazonMP3.com, Interpunk.com, Rhapsody, Napster, Downloadpunk.org and at all shows, of course. All our albums have been released by us. My favorite 50:50 Shot song is “Captain Morgan” off Bashful Glances from Ugly Men. It is a fast upbeat ska song that hits you like a ton of bricks. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure of what the lyrics are about. I just like the music, haha. I should probably know way more about it, but I’m just the bassist.
Welcome to the world of 50:50 Shot! We are a ska-rock band from Atlanta Georgia. We love playing shows and will play at your house, venue or pool party!! Feel free to compliment and/or criticize us. We just want your input. I wish I could think of more to say, but I’ll let the music do the talking. Pick it up?…. no.. don’t pick it up, actually…..i gotta get paid.
I asked the guys to tell me about how they felt about the Atlanta Ska scene, how it reacts to 50:50 Shot and if it had treated them well…and also to tell me how they fit into Ska and how they felt about ska music and its design, its perception and philosophy…what inspired them to make and appreciate ska music? Austin had this to day about the question…The Atlanta ska scene is definitely a tough one. A lot of people have the idea that Atlanta is a big city, so a lot of people come to shows, right? Wrong. Atlanta is probably the toughest market that we play in. Most of our fans come from the suburbs to see us in Atlanta. Cities like Marietta, Peachtree City and Kennesaw are always really good to us. Also, Dalton GA is a pretty great place for us. But there is a lot of promotion that goes into our shows, which is why we have good turnouts. Endless flyering really helps shows attendance grow. Out of state, some of my favorite cities to play are Knoxville TN, Nashville TN, Ft. Lauderdale FL and New Smyrna Beach FL.
Ska music is unlike any other. It’s dorky, it’s cool, it’s fun. Ska fans are really some of the best in the world, I honestly believe. You’ve never seen 2 people at a ska show fighting or anything. I’ve seen fights at metal shows, cliq’s at hardcore shows and rudeness all over. Ska fans unify like second nature. It is really a fun scene to be in. I’ve been really into ska music since I was 13 years old. I got into from my big brother introducing me to it. From the moment I heard it, I knew it was the genre for me.
50:50 Shot love to play the Masquerade and recommend fellow Atlanta bands The Disregardables, Turbo Slaughter and The Taj Mahal Trio. 50:50 Shot is an 8 piece so they come from a wide variety of influences but managed to find a shared influence in the band Oingo Boingo.
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GO SEE 50:50 SHOT IN NOVEMBER TO WELCOME THEM BACK WITH THE NEW LINEUP. Beatlanta will most likely be there and we will keep you updated on the band’s progress with the new lineup and future plans as the band continues to kick ass in the Atlanta ska community.
