Artist description Skalternative, a new blend of ska, funk, reggae, and punk presented with extreme energy. Arguably the best party band on the West Coast. Come see us and judge for yourself!

Music Style Skalternative

Musical Influences Oingo Boingo,Fishbone,Madness,Santana,Pantera,Ice Cube,

Similar Artists we don't sound like anyone else

Artist History Born and bred in the midst of the Nardcore scene of the early '80's, SkaDaddyZ epitomize Silverstrand Beach and everything the locals represent.

Group Members Jess Leedy- Lead Vocals and Saxaphones, Billy Davis- Keyboards, Darrin Reed- Bass, Zorba Cruz- Guitar, David Hayes Drums, Alan Lomax- Trumpet.

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Trumpet, Trombone, Saxaphone, Vocals

Albums SkaDaddyZ

Press Reviews 11/24/00 Ventura County Star Time Out Article:Such a lovely placeOxnard surf renegades the SkadaddyZ are livin' it up on MP3.com, where their cover of "Hotel California" is a Top 3 hit By Elena JarvisCorrespondent Friday November 24, 2000 It's Ventura County's most famous dead-end street. Ocean Drive, running parallel to the Pacific, abruptly stops where the Naval Construction Battalion base begins. Out here in limbo land -- which is actually Oxnard -- Silver Strand beach is a world unto itself. Little over a mile long, it's a spit of luxury homes and funky cottages as close as California gets to pirate country. The region's long been the retreat of Hollywood movie stars, too, including Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart, who apparently trysted here with Lauren Bacall during their courting days. At the end of Ocean the tiny Beachcomber bar, 'Coma for short, is an unending parade of characters. From actor Johnny Depp to sheiks to soldiers of fortune, they stream through its tiny confines, sometimes prompting neighbors to call code enforcement. Since the military installation bisected the beach between Oxnard and Port Hueneme, this crowded stretch has been known for two things: territorial surfers and the Beachcomber (capacity 25). Now there's a third -- the SkadaddyZ. Given the musicians' pedigree, it's fitting and proper these surf renegades should throw their fortune in with rogue Internet company MP3.com. It's been a good match, with SkadaddyZ logging some 350,000 downloads, and $12,000 in sales, which brings us to Saturday's show. In appreciation of fans' support, the band is hosting a free concert during its traditional post-Thanksgiving appearance at the Bombay Bar & Grill. The group promises it will be a "monster event." On stage will be guitarist Darren "Zorba" Cruz, vocalist-saxophonist Jesse Leedy, keyboardist Billy Davis, trumpeter Alan Lomax, trombone player David Silber, drummer David Hayes and bassist Darren Reed. The musicians categorize their act as skalternative, a heady blend of ska, funk, rasta and surf punk that is especially appealing to Sublime fans. On the strength of its remake of the Eagles' "Hotel California" (No. 3 on the MP3.com alternative charts at press time) and originals such as "It's Up to You," "Bedroom Spy," "Beat the System" and "Rude Boyz," the band's enjoying a long ride on MP3. It's been about a year since SkadaddyZ found a way out of its dead-end dilemma, taking wing on the Web. "We're at a half a million downloads by now," Cruz said. "We average 1,500 to 1,700 a day. `Hotel California' has been the longest-running No. 1 song on MP3. "We've sold around 3,500 copies of our second CD. The way it works is you can buy our whole CD for $5.99. MP3 is free listening, but you can buy a download. A friend of ours who was computer-literate before computers were microwave-common -- a rap guy -- told us he was getting all kinds of feedback on MP3 and he put us on." At present, SkadaddyZ music remains with the service, as well as on the San Francisco-based riffage.com, where "Up To You" is a hit. The song is going to be featured in Dan Aykroyd's upcoming film, "On the Nose," in coming months as well. Unbeknownst to Cruz, a dozen SkadaddyZ songs were listed on Napster. "At first I wanted to beat the crapster out of Napster. Then I was like, `Wow, there are a lot of people on it.' " Still unsigned, SkadaddyZ has turned down offers but currently is in negotiations with a European record label. And though some of the musicians were gleaned from Ventura bands such as Lion I's and Psycho Cafe, Cruz still considers SkadaddyZ "Nardcore" in the great tradition of Oxnard groups such as Aggression, Ill Repute and Stalag 17. The term is more than a hats-off to their hometown. Since its international introduction via the Web, the group's brand of Nardcore has won over listeners in far-flung countries such as Norway. In the hip Central Florida city of Gainesville, SkadaddyZ also found a hotbed of support. From its beginnings eight years ago, the sextet has gravitated toward the unusual and extreme. Extreme sports magazines and fans in return have embraced its raw energy, even as the band reaches for higher highs. "We've got two CDs and we're working on a third one. We were slow getting the first one out. For a while there, the first few years, we were playing Tuesday through Sunday," said Cruz, who also works full-time in the contracting trade. Regrets? Personnel changes? Yes, he's had a few. "When we looked for (replacement) musicians, we wanted people who weren't friends," Cruz said. "We looked for musicians who didn't really like ska, who come from a whole big background of music. We've played with Save Ferris, No Doubt, the Deftones, Pato Banton, a lot of big bands and good bands. We've seen what it takes to do it. Without the Internet, we probably would have broken up." Download SkadaddyZ music at www.mp3.com/skadaddyz, www.napster.com or riffage.com GETTING THERE SkaDaddyz The Oxnard band plays a fan appreciation concert 9 p.m. to closing Saturday at the Bombay Bar & Grill, 143 S. California St., Ventura. The cover is normally $10, but admission will be free with the coupon in the Bombay display ad in today's Time Out. Other publications also are carrying the coupon. Call 643-4404 or (888) 380-8434. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------2000 © The E.W. Scripps Co. Ventura County Star subscription servicesUsers of this site are subject to our Privacy Policy and User AgreementContact InsideVC.com at Feedback@InsideVC.com

Additional Info The band has a big favor to ask of you, will you add us to your my mp3.com list? if you do we have something very special for you kiddyZ!!YOU CAN NOW BUY THE CD FOR $5.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!! ACT FAST!!!

Location Oxnard, CA - USA

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