Every teenager who starts a band dreams of touring the country and playing to crowds of adoring fans. Connecticut-based Tip The Van is one of the few bands living the dream. Formed in 2002 by sisters Nicole and Simone Oliva while the pair was still in high school, the band has toured the country as part of the Vans Warped Tour as well as completed a string of dates in the midwest, northeast and southeast as the openers for third-wave ska heavy hitters Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto.
From the LA rock scene comes Native June with their fun and skankable track “Circus.” Syncopated up strokes? Check. Shout-a-long chorus? Check. Pop-punk that doesn’t revolve around about some dude whining about not getting the girl? Checkmate! “Circus” is the kind of track to keep all the Reel Big Fish fans happy while their shows get rained out. The band describes the tune as “an upbeat commentary on life in middle America and trying to break out into something grander.” Two months ago Native June bid farewell to drummer Jeff Streitel who left to attend grad school on the east coast. The band is currently working on a follow up album to their debut LP, Whiskey & Walnuts, with demo cuts cropping up on the web for fans to preview. Hopefully, this LA staple will soon start gigging outside the Golden State and to a club near you.
Ska is a genre that always seems to fall just short of mainstream. It’s already on its third wave of revival, and there is no shortage of bands that combine the traditional ska sound with a new, punk-influenced sound. The Action! is a band that does this in a raw and energetic way.
Sometimes artists get caught up in their image or popularity and lose sight of their original goals. For The Action! however, it’s been all about the music from day one. After taking a break in 2003, because their schedule didn’t allow them to focus enough on their music, the band got back together in 2006. Since then, they have fused an energetic ska sound that can be pitted against Reel Big Fish or perhaps even The Toasters. With jazzy intros, bluesy verses, and catchy choruses that just won’t leave your head, The Action! certainly deserves your attention.
The Action! is gaining significant credibility particularly in their home community and has been featured in local TV commercials. Gaining more widespread appeal, the group has also been featured on the internationally released ska compilation, How I Punked Out of Skallege (Red Dragon Records). Well known acts such as Reel Big Fish, The Toasters, Gym Class Heroes, and the Planet Smashers have noticed The Action!’s rising potential by offering the opportunity to open at their shows. Currently, the band is editing the footage for their first music video that will be released soon. Join their fanclub and be sure to check our their latest release, Exploding Radio.
Every teenager who starts a band dreams of touring the country and playing to crowds of adoring fans. Connecticut-based Tip The Van is one of the few bands living the dream. Formed in 2002 by sisters Nicole and Simone Oliva while the pair was still in high school, the band has toured the country as part of the Vans Warped Tour as well as completed a string of dates in the midwest, northeast and southeast as the openers for third-wave ska heavy hitters Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto.
