Ska bands from outside of Jamaica are like American beer – it’ll do in a pinch, but having something less diluted is always better.

Australia’s The Resignators, who perform in Winnipeg at The Royal Albert Arms on Mar. 13, are the Budweiser of ska: not in popularity, but in terms of blandness and generic flavoring.

They have all the ingredients that a ska band is supposed to have – fidgety rhythms, bouncing horns, but little else that distinguishes them from the pack.

My feeling is that they’ll probably go down better in a nightclub setting, i.e. when you’re a little boozy.

If this EP is any inkling of what to expect at The Albert this Friday, then count on a credible, but unexceptional band that may or may not deliver the goods – depending on how many imports you can handle.

Published in Volume 63, Number 23 of The Uniter (March 12, 2009)