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Traditional ska spiced up with Hungarian motifs – an astonishing combination that sure to make you dance!
Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra (PASO) is the traditional ska ambassador to Hungary and one of the most energetic young bands with distinct Eastern European roots.
Born in 2003, PASO played countless concerts in Budapest clubs cheered by an ever growing local crowd. As years passed by the band has crystallized form and style eventually finding itself leading a ska revival from Hungary to the European stages. In 2005 they have signed up with Megalith Records (the leading US ska label that manages most of today’s leading ska bands around the world). Their first album the Budapest Ska Mood came out at the label in the same year. BSM was followed by the Babylon Focus EP and the Biblical 7†vinyl single in 2007.
PASO plays deep rooted traditional ska spiced up with a violin to add some Hungarian flavour to the music, that is fine tuned with reggae riddims and jazzy melodies. PASO shows no compromise between tradition and swing. From Germany to Ukraine the band floods parties with sweeping energy.
Bold preacher Lord Panamo’s vocals joined by most acclaimed Hungarian ska drummer Lipi Brown’s beats lead the orchestra that features nine musicians often joined by additional guests. The PASO lyrics condemn discrimination and while taking stands on social issues, the band retains its jolly, fun-loving attitude, which makes the audience run wild with broad grins on their faces.
PASO started touring Europe from the start and by now played all around the continent (Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary).
Tours and main festival appearances: Easter Ska Jam tour (2006), Budapest Ska Mood Tour (2006), Lowlands Festival (NL) (2006), This is Ska Festival (2007), Sázava Festival (CZ) (2006), Hodokvas Festival (SK) (2003, 2006), the Mighty Sounds Festival (CZ) (2005, 2006), X3Music Festival (UA) (2005), Donauinsel Festival (A) (2006), the Big SkaLand Festival (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), and besides performing at Hungary’s all remarked festivals they packed the halls at the World Music Mainstage of the Sziget Festival (2006).
They have shared the stage with the scene’s biggests including The Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Rico Rodriguez, the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemle, the Slackers, Victor Rice, the Aggrolites, Bad Manners, the Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation, Dr.Ring-Ding, King Django, the Toasters, Open Season, Mr.T-Bone, Firebug, Babylon Circus, Intensified, Westbound Train, Moon Invaders, Trojan Sound System. On the other hand they played with such remarkable Hungarian folk artists as Lajkó Félix, Besh o’ Drom, Parno Graszt, Palya Bea, Szilvásy Gyspy Folk Band.
Aurelio
PASO has several side projects.
PASO’s Roots Rockers play reggae and dub versions of PASO’s songs, classic reggae tunes and songs composed exclusively for the project. The music is influenced by psychedelic and early reggae sounds, sometimes with a touch of ska or rub-a-dub. Besides all PASO members, the line-up features two extra members: Dr. Dermot on samplers, melodica and trombone and the violin player György Barna.
The PASO soundsystem plays mostly ska in the dancehalls, occasionally with some Jamaican classic tunes, reggae, rub-a-dub and dancehall. The current line-up is: Afonya (selecta), Lipi Brown (selecta), KRSA (selecta, deejay). The sound sometimes merges into a live act when PASO members, like Mr. Tony Ass on trumpet join the performance. PASO soundsystem is often teamed up with their “subsidiary†all female sound system, the Sound Sistaz.
PASO Traditional Ska Special is a project dedicated to the pioneers of ska music and only plays covers of classic ska tunes from the ‘60s.
PASO Booking is a D.I.Y. agency set up to put Hungary on the ska map and keep the ska movement rolling in the region. The booking’s flagship projects are the yearly Big Skaland Skanking Camping (Hungarian ska camp), and a weekly ska-reggae club show for Hungarian and international acts (PASO Ska Reggae Club). Besides the regular events PASO has booked countless gigs for leading ska bands of the world (the Toasters, Bad Manners, the Slackers, New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, Victor Rice, Dr. Ring-Ding, the Aggrolites, etc. – around 30 bands) and organized hundreds of PASO shows.
Ska Club is a weekly radio show on Tilos Radio – fm 90,3 (a former pirate radio, the most famous underground radio station in Hungary). Listen to the shows by hitting the “musorok†link on http://regi.tilos.hu, then “csutortok†(on the top) and a final click on “ska club†(at 14.00).