Premiere: The Phensic feat. Kay McCaney — “Babylon’s Gonna Fall”
I’m proud to premiere “Babylon’s Gonna Fall,” a new track by The Phensic featuring Kay McCaney.
The title carries a sense of upheaval, while The Phensic’s mix of ska, reggae, punk, and soul brings a naturally danceable edge. That combination gives the track room to feel both spirited and purposeful. Kay McCaney’s featured appearance adds another voice to the song’s energy, making this a premiere worth turning up and sharing.
The Phensic bring together veterans of the American ska scene, with roots in bands including Bigger Thomas, Rude Boy George, and Hub City Stompers. Their sound draws on ska, reggae, punk, and soul. I’m also happy to
share this one for a personal reason: guitarist Robert Julian is my fraternity brother. (The Phensic on Bandcamp)
Give “Babylon’s Gonna Fall” a listen, and show The Phensic and Kay McCaney some love.
Reggae, Ska & a Good Cause: Catch The Phensic at ServeHAITI’s Sip & Paint
If you love reggae and ska, add this to your calendar! The Phensic will headline the ServeHAITI Sip & Paint Fundraiser on Saturday, November 14, from 3–6 PM, at the Toby Katz Community Center in West Orange, New Jersey.
This one has a personal connection: my friend and fraternity brother told me he’ll be sharing a new Phensic track with me on October 8. I’m looking forward to hearing it—and sharing more when it arrives!
November’s fundraiser brings together music, painting, food, and drinks for an afternoon supporting ServeHAITI. Whether you come for the band, pick up a paintbrush, or bring friends along for the cause, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Admission includes painting, food, drinks, and music:
Adults: $85
Children ages 10–13: $45
Couple or two people: $150
Mark your calendar, bring your creativity, and join us for music and community in support of Haiti!
From Tau Epsilon Phi to Ska: My Fraternity Brother Goon Is Still Making Noise
I’ve forgotten some things from college.
Classes. Professors. What I was supposed to be studying. And probably more than a few nights that are better left in the 1980s.
But I haven’t forgotten my fraternity brothers.
Back at The City College of New York, I was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi, Phi Chi Chapter. Like any respectable fraternity, we had pledge names—and some were considerably more memorable than others.
One of my fraternity brothers received the distinguished, dignified, and undoubtedly well-deserved pledge name:
Alice the Goon.
I’ve always just called him Goon.
All these years later, Goon is still making noise—except now people actually want to hear it.
He’s part of The Phensic, a ska band.
And somehow, that seems completely appropriate.
If you had asked me back during my CCNY days what someone named Alice the Goon would be doing decades later, playing in a ska band probably would have made my Top 10.
Maybe even the Top 5.
If you’re into ska, check out The Phensic. And if you’re not familiar with ska, this might be a good excuse to discover something different.
You can listen to their music here:
One thing I appreciate more as I get older is looking back at the people I knew during those college years and seeing where life took us all.
We’re older.
Hopefully, we’re wiser.
The hair situation has definitely changed for some of us. In my case, I decided hair was apparently an unnecessary luxury.
But those fraternity memories and connections are still there.
So, from one Tau Epsilon Phi, Chi Chapter brother to another:
Keep making noise, Goon.
And if you like ska—or want to hear what one of my fraternity brothers has been up to—check out The Phensic!