The location of
Bull and Bear Roadhouse in the borderline silent Carrier Circle area comes at both an advantage and a disadvantage. Where the downside is being away from everything in the bulk of Syracuse, its attempts to stand out as a wallflower in the scene. It’s the wannabe hole-in-the-wall that reveals itself to be impeccably decent and proper, but fitting enough to hold intimate shows of bands and solo performers.
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It’s the ideal place outside of an Irish pub that can get the patrons singing and the window panes shaking. The small corner stage would be perfect for Jerry Lee Lewis to jump on the keys of his piano and shout into the microphone. I’m comfortable saying that, and I’ve only been to this venue once.
So has The Action!, Central New York’s versatile rock band that focuses heavily on punk and ska, but without limiting themselves.
Craig Chamberlain, drummer for
The Action! , took the microphone for leading a rendition of Cake’s “The Distance” — a personal teenage kickoff anthem that dates back to 1996. The Syracuse/Camillus-based third-wave-ska-and-beyond band often covers the tune, which delivers a wallop to any doubters in the audience who originally thought they were not going to have fun.
And then trumpeter Chris Nolan accidentally broke a glass, the band broke out into their rendition of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ “Spanish Flea” as the crew of BBR cleaned up the issue.
As this venue has the potential to essentially, maybe, turn a nobody into a somebody, it’s a place to continue and build a reputation in the music scene. For The Action!, well, they’ve been building up their reputation since they’ve attended West Genesee High School.
WATCH:
The Action! from SubCat Studios on Vimeo .
The two-time SAMMY Award recipients (People’s Choice and Best Alternative/Metal Band) are continuing their musical prowess and defining themselves as a band years later. Mike Gibson, guitarist and lead singer, said that it’s the friendships within The Action!’s roster propels and keeps the band’s momentum going. “It’s rare to see bands with the original lineup continue 16 years,” he said. Although two members had parted ways, the remaining five continue to play together.
The band started out as Skatos — a Greek word meaning “shit” — which was constructed of seven members from the Wildcat band wing. Adam Carkey remains on bass guitar, and Dan King still totes his trombone. The college years hit, and with it came the frustration of not being able to continually perform and write new music. Essentially, the band took gigs when they could; they played simply to play. ” We weren’t playing new songs,” said Gibson, “and we weren’t getting any better.”
After his tenure at SUNY Oneonta, Gibson and the gang re-collaborated. “It was always worth the effort,” he assured. They’ve experiences bumps along the way, but they check egos at the door. “We’re all really close friends,” he said. The friendship helps alleviate stress and arguments should they arise.
The Action!
L.R.S. Records alternative loosely, because I feel that it’s a cop-out distinction for an indecisive mind. It should have been buried with Cobain back in the 90s. “Alternative” welcomes and associates with too many genres for bands that want to be something, but then the band states they are going against the grain when they clearly are not. It’s as if I was saying I am going to make a left turn when in the middle of completing a right turn.
The Action!’s decision to play originals and covers is purposeful. They want to branch out and incorporate jazz and soul and metal and hardcore and so on. Their cover list
Christopher Malone plays with more thoughts and words at his blog, The Infinite Abyss(es) Skaneateles Journal @Chris___Malone [email protected]
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It’s the ideal place outside of an Irish pub that can get the patrons singing and the window panes shaking. The small corner stage would be perfect for Jerry Lee Lewis to jump on the keys of his piano and shout into the microphone. I’m comfortable saying that, and I’ve only been to this venue once.
So has The Action!, Central New York’s versatile rock band that focuses heavily on punk and ska, but without limiting themselves.
Craig Chamberlain, drummer for The Action!, took the microphone for leading a rendition of Cake’s “The Distance” — a personal teenage kickoff anthem that dates back to 1996. The Syracuse/Camillus-based third-wave-ska-and-beyond band often covers the tune, which delivers a wallop to any doubters in the audience who originally thought they were not going to have fun.
And then trumpeter Chris Nolan accidentally broke a glass, the band broke out into their rendition of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ “Spanish Flea” as the crew of BBR cleaned up the issue.
As this venue has the potential to essentially, maybe, turn a nobody into a somebody, it’s a place to continue and build a reputation in the music scene. For The Action!, well, they’ve been building up their reputation since they’ve attended West Genesee High School.
WATCH: The Action! from SubCat Studios on Vimeo.
