Loading details…
Artist
The Retrotones
12+ albums
about
The Retrotones, are a 7 piece ska band based out of Glassboro, NJ. They consist of lead singer/trumpet player, Andrew Polhamus, trombone player, Tim Vitale, guitar player, Matt Perez, Alto sax player, Erik Gruber, Baritone Sax player, Glenn Chew, Bassist, Lou Gardiner, and on drums, Drew McQuade. The band has been together for roughly 3 years. After a few bumps in the road, such as having 5 different drummers before finally having a steady line-up, this band seems to have finally found their own sound in the admittedly quant local ska scene. They've recently updated their low-quality recording collection with some newer songs that they aren't ashamed of (some are available on last.fm for download). User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
why this is interesting
# Why The Retrotones Merits Your Attention This seven-piece ensemble commands attention for their committed exploration of ska's expansive possibilities beyond nostalgic pastiche. What distinguishes them is their willingness to develop a coherent sonic identity—a challenge for bands working within a historically saturated genre. After achieving lineup stability, they've begun articulating a distinctive voice that respects ska's foundational energies while resisting the temptation toward irony or superficiality. Their craft emerges in the interplay between horns and rhythm section, suggesting musicians genuinely engaged with arrangement and texture rather than simply reconstructing familiar formulas. For listeners curious about contemporary ska's potential, they represent something worth following
