When the new track from Orlando’s Control This started off with a little New Orleans / Big Band Jazz intro, I knew I was in for a treat. Bookmarked between the two Big Band sections is essentially “America, the ska song.”
With “Imminent Danger”, lead singer and saxophonist Jeff Richey takes listeners on a five minute journey of what it means to live in America today. The song is heavily influenced by traditional ska. It also tackles important cultural and social issues head on. Since it’s a ska song, naturally it also has a very danceable beat. After all, at its core, ska music is dance music, is it not? As an added treat, listeners are treated to a guest appearance by a former member of The Toasters. Jason “Jahson” Nwagbaraocha joins in for some guest vocals towards the end of the song.
For the uninitiated, the more traditional side of ska music heavily influences Control This. When listening to their music, you’ll get a healthy blend of traditional First Wave Jamaican ska, 2-Tone, and rocksteady. After years of performing and touring with New York ska legends, The Toasters, Richey has taken what he’s learned from that experience, and his love for traditional Jamaican music, to form one hell of a ska band. Almost a decade in, and Control This just keeps getting better.
If you’re a fan of the more traditional side of ska music, then Control This should already be on your radar. If not, I highly recommend you fix that. Outside of traditional ska, you’ll also love Control This if you enjoy bands like The Slackers, The Toasters, and The Aggrolites.
If the title of the song doesn’t already give it away, “Imminent Danger” paints a pretty bleak picture of America. Lyrically, the song is very progressive and makes you step back and think. While the song starts off referencing the pandemic, that’s not the main conceit. Richey speaks out on topics like authoritarianism, racial inequality, police brutality, and the protests that happened over the last year. Because all of these issues are the norm in America today, Control This posits that we’re constantly living in imminent danger in this country.
Living in America means violence daily. Yes it’s here, constant fear. It’ll make you go nuts
The song also does a good job of showcasing the levels of frustration felt by those of us on the side of equality and peace. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics become a call to action.
When will the masses seize control? We are crying out “No Justice, No Peace”
“Imminent Danger” isn’t all doom and gloom though. Control This end the song on a hopeful note. Things will get better once people look inward and confront their current way of thinking. It implores listeners to do this exercise in an effort to move us forward in a positive direction.
If you’re looking for an amazing ska song that makes you want to dance and makes you think at the same time, look no further. Check out “Imminent Danger” below.
