I never really got to know Jim Pedigo on a personal level, but I was always a big fan of his work, specifically the tunes he wrote with Magadog. The local music scene elder statesman and keyboardist/vocalist of its most renown ska staple passed away from lung cancer in April, at 50, a devastating blow to the scene that has left many of us stunned and saddened. Rather than dwell on this sorrow, his Magadog bandmates have organized a celebration of his life and music, featuring a wide-ranging bill of acts all touched or influenced by Pedigo, and varies from the more straightforward ska-tastic sounds of The Duppies to the Afro-Caribbean soukous of Amandla Tunesmith, to the swinging rockabilly shuffle of 6 Volt Radio. All of it culminates in a performance by Magadog, their setlist most likely jam-packed with tracks written by Pedigo during his tenure.
Details: Jim Pedigo Memorial Tribute with (in descending order of appearance) Magadog, The Apes, Amandla Tunesmith, The Duppies, The Rugcutters, Skahumbug, Tribal Style, The Shakes Society, 6 Volt Rodeo, Flat Stanley, Brand New Opiates, The Smoking Jackets and Crash Mitchell, Sat., June 22, 3 p.m.-midnight, Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $7 in advance/$10 dos.
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2013.