When I picked up Disney’s weekend schedule my first weekend there, I literally shrieked when I read who would be playing in Tomorrowland, because after all these years I am still a huge fan girl, no matter how much I tried to deny it…

I first saw Suburban Legends in 2002, and again in 2003, so it’s been a loooong five years for me (they never tour in Canada). As soon as I saw them they became one of my favorite bands. Since then the lineup has gone through HUGE changes. First trombone player Dallas was killed in a hit and run, then old band members flocked out. Vince returned as their singer (he was formerly one of their trumpet players), and when I checked them out on MySpace I was disappointed; the ska was gone, and now they were silly funk. I understood ska is just not a big thing right now, but oh it broke my heart. I wasn’t happy with the new music I was hearing on MySpace.

After seeing them live, I have totally changed my mind, and they are still one of my favorite bands. They are the most energetic, entertaining live band I have ever seen. Their music has gotten so much tighter since I last saw them, and every new band member is a huge asset (there are only 4/8 of the members from when I saw them). And they still have dance choreography! They get the crowd involved through the entire thing (singing and dancing competitions) and when the crowd’s energy starts to wane at the end of the night, they work their butts off to bring it back up (which most bands don’t bother with).

I couldn’t pull myself away from their engaging show and went all three nights to all five sets, phew! (Even enduring a lady who thinks Canada is communist?! -She thinks we are a terrifying socialist country, but by socialist really meant communist, and no we aren’t even socialist, haha!)

They played nearly every song they have ever written. This meant they still do all the ska songs! I was wondering what it would be like with Tim no longer on vocals, but Vince totally nailed it and then some. Sadly there were only several of us there skanking, but my heart was content.

I want mooooooore. They are touring with the Aquabats (!!!) but not here. We DO like ska here, guys :(

Check them out on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/suburbanlegends

Klemm: “That was the best way end a song ever… a karate kick to the audience!”

The most unnecessary, or most AWESOME, band member ever?? Dallas plays keytar and cowbell!

Mikey is a wicked good bass player, and he’s so cute and little!, so I stuck around that side of the stage more :P
However he apparently works at an Apple store, but I can forgive that.

I like Brian because even though he’s in a cool band he’s still a total band nerd.
He was one of my favorites back in the day, so I was sad not to get a photo with him.

I could not stop laughing when he’d do this… with the pelvic thrusts.

I cannot begin to describe how epic this is.

They changed their wardrobe between every set, in case you haven’t noticed.
I wish everyone would dress so nicely like this all of the time!

There are a few more at my website.

Michael is a little cheesy. He sings the most, and tries to get people involved even when they don’t want to be noticed. He’s always smiling, which is much more than I can say for most of the people who work there these days!

Sharon comes to watch him every day she can. She has been coming to Disneyland since it first opened, and had started the Rod Miller fan club years ago. Rod has long since retired, and Sharon has picked Michael as her new favorite.

Eric is the only one with no following, and I don’t think he’s ever had one. He’s been working there for as long as I remember, and I never really enjoyed him before, but this time we stuck around a bit and I changed my mind.

Robert has picked up the bulk of Alan’s old fans, though their styles are very different, and I am not about to discuss all the drama involved there, which there is a lot of (unfortunately I can’t help but be involved! alas!). Robert is very showy and versatile when he plays, but he doesn’t play very much ragtime anymore, which defeats the idea of it being the ragtime piano.

Robert has bling

Jonny is getting ridiculously better each year I go, which is cool to see because I happened to hear him on his first night he ever worked there! Right now I feel he is the only one there who channels that energy that Rod or Alan used to play with.

Stan, a “famous regular” at the park, still plays a few four hand piano songs with Jonny, which is always a treat to see. (Stan also puts tons of these on YouTube, so go here and follow the username.)

Another thing I learnt is that he wrote the music for MySpace: The Musical. Geez, I have to step it up with what I’m accomplishing with my life!

I only could bring my Rebel because my 40D is too heavy and bulky (especially with the grip and using an L-lens most of the time… and then you want to bring an external flash, the 50mm, a telephoto… etc. out of control!), and especially inconvenient on rides. But ohhhhh, I suffered for it. I remember how amazing it was when I first got that camera; now I was constantly cursing how slow it was (I missed so many shots because the auto-focus was too slow) and how limited the kit lens was. What, I can only zoom to 55mm?? Painful! And ohhh the grain at high ISOs.

Now I have my love back in my hands :)