Mustard Plug, Crombies, Rude Guest, Skapone, DJ Chuck Wren Early Warnings (Music) Soundboard Recommended Image
When: Wed., Dec. 28, 8 p.m. 2016
courtesy the artist Rude Guest
Formed by Paul and Kurt Schroeder in 1982, Chicago ska group Rude Guest was a bit of an odd duck: in it, the brothers took a deep affection for European two-tone and blended it with new-wave flamboyance, deep reggae grooves, and a hint of jazz. The sometimes heady mix confused local bookers—on at least one occasion the band was put on a bill with country artists. It didn't exactly help that Rude Guest gained steam after ska's second wave crested, then broke up before the fast-paced third wave really took hold in the U.S. The group called it quits after Kurt died in 1996, leaving behind a legacy that became increasingly opaque; that its music was released only on cassette further added to the difficulty of scavenging its history. But in October, Jump Up Records released Lost Chicago Ska, a compilation of the band's catalog, for Cassette Store Day, and label founder Chuck Wren has been evangelical in his desire to bring Rude Guest to the surface—one of the factors inspiring tonight's reunion show, the band's first since its breakup 20 years ago.
Leor Galil
Price: $15, $13 in advance