Bostonian band Bim Skala Bim maintains ska's true sound

Despite the popularity that bands like No Doubt, Sublime, Goldfinger and Reel Big Fish have brought to the genre of ska, none of them can get away with calling themselves true ska bands. These hugely successful artists all experiment with some of the basic rhythms on which ska was based, but they are all just pop bands. Talented? Sure. Ska? Not a chance.

PREVIEW
	Bim Skala Bim St. Andrew's Hall, Detroit Tomorrow at 8 p.m.

In a recent interview with Jim Arhelger, drummer of Bim Skala Bim, he confirmed his respect for the classical sound of ska. "We like the traditional stuff, the Jamaican stuff. I'm not as keen on the more up-tempo Orange County ska bands, but they're good bands," he said.

Founded in 1983, Bim Skala Bim exemplifies the true sound of ska music. Think of ska as a fast-paced predecessor to reggae, combining R&B, jazz and calypso with a little twist, characterized by the use of saxophones and brass. "The mighty city of Boston was one of the first places where American ska got its start," Arhelger said. "Us and The Toasters were definitely the first two East Coast ska bands."

The six-member band, hailing from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, was influenced early on by rock 'n' roll and jazz, and was brought together by the members' love of ska. Although they looked up to several bands, the performers that they have toured with, including The Skatalites, Bad Manners, The Specials, and Toots and the Maytones, are some of their favorites.

Since its self-titled debut, the band has continued to make a name for itself in the ska scene with the release of several albums, including Arhelger's personal favorite, "Live at the Paradise." The band's current album, considered by some critics to be its best studio effort yet, features the skankin' new releases "Pete Needs a New Friend" and "Red Eyes."

Bim Skala Bim helped start the ska trend, while members of the Bosstones added their own punk flair to it, creating what is today called ska-core. Arhelger explained that he liked where the band has taken ska. "The thing about the Bosstones is that they 're good at what at they do, they're talented musicians."

When asked how he feels about the Bosstones' newfound commercial success, including the band's many MTV hits, he said, "They're still just your typical Boston Irish kids. They haven't forgotten where they came from. We'd get them shows and now they hook us up, it's been great."

Continuing on the subject of fame and fortune, Arhelger affirmed that his band has been completely self-made throughout its existence. Although Bim Skala Bim would love to sell more records and keep getting bigger, the musicians do not see becoming a smash as their primary goal in making music.

After seven albums and a decade worth of skankin', the band has proved that it is indeed talent-laden.

With its tour coming to a close in almost a week and a half, though, if you don't catch Bim Skala Bim now, you're probably going to have to wait until one of the many summer ska tours, on which the band could very well end up reuniting with the Bosstones.

03-20-98