Nonstop to Cairo hosted a free show on Cinco de Mayo at The Saloon in Long Beach, NY and it was a show to remember! I have now had the privilege of catching Nonstop to Cairo in action three times, and each time they exceed my expectations. Their unmatchable energy, stage presence, and all around excitement that they demonstrate during each show is what makes me say every time, “If you aren’t listening to Nonstop to Cairo yet, you’re doing something wrong!”
The guys of NSTC chose LDF (Ladies Drink Free) to open up the night for them. I had never heard of LDF prior to watching their opening set and I am so thankful I got to catch them! They are an eight piece Post-Funk band based out of New York. LDF is exactly the type of band you would expect to see supporting a Nonstop to Cairo show. Just Like NSTC, the guys of LDF came with a ton of energy, excitement and pure talent.
Michael “The Rad” Readinger is the frontman for the band, performing the vocals and shredding it on the keyboard. He easily set the tempo of the show, as he was continuously moving, keeping both the crowd and the rest of the band engaged and excited. LDF is a band that is clearly performing because they love what they do. It’s always disappointing when only one, or a couple of band members are going wild while the rest are kinda standing still like statues; LDF does not have to worry about this issue. The entire band was constantly dancing and grooving along to their music, making sure the crowd was having as much fun as they were!
LDF released their self-titled album in 2016. This album should be played at all parties, backyard bbq’s, beach days, and any other time you need an excuse to play good music. The guys create music that is fun and exciting; music that will keep your body swinging to the beat. It is impossible not to move when you’re listening to their music! I got the chance to speak to members of LDF who had this to say: “we’ve been busy writing and rehearsing some new material. We recently recorded some new tracks down in D.C., which includes a supercharged fusion of throwback funk, pop hooks, and neo-jazz. We want to bring together retro and future, so our new material works with punchy synths, along with powerful horn lines and gang vocals, bouncy sequencing and crisp guitar, along with class 808 hand claps.” LDF are currently on tour, determined to establish themselves in the Northeastern United States. I suggest you do anything in your power to make it to an LDF show; you won’t regret it! Check below at the bottom of the review for upcoming tour dates!
LDF did an amazing job of getting the crowds energized, engaged, and ready for Nonstop to Cairo! Because I have written about NSTC multiple times, I won’t go into too much detail on the band itself. For those that don’t already know, Nonstop to Cairo is a Ska/Hip Hop band that is making a huge name for themselves in the Long Island/East Coast music scene. One of the coolest things about this show was that they were putting it on for free. I love to see bands that appreciate their fans and the music they produce. I’m sure it isn’t easy for a band to pass up the opportunity to make some money by offering free shows to their fans. That just shows how genuinely appreciative these guys are of the fan base that has led to their success so far!
Nonstop to Cairo started their set with Rooted, the first song I ever heard by them; the song that made me fall in love with their music. Rooted has the traditional Ska vibes that people who enjoy this genre of music love to hear. It has that summer, care free vibe, similar to songs by bands like Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, and Sublime all in one. NSTC followed up with Skip, a definite fan favorite, something clearly evident by the people singing along around me in the crowd. Skip is the song that the band classifies as their smokers song. “Damn It smells so good, stinkin up that alley in my neighborhood, so I ran ’round the corner to meet my friend, but lord all i see is the back of a Mercedes Benz. My timing sucks, I got mad rows but I ain’t got ducks, I’m up for a challenge and I’m in for the fight, can somebody please pass me a light!”
My favorite thing about Nonstop to Cairo is the wide mix of sounds that can be heard throughout all of their songs. Each song has elements of Ska, Hip Hop, Alternative Rock, and the classic Rock and Roll style. It’s not an easy feat to be able to incorporate so many different styles on individual songs and make them sound so good!
This was my favorite NSTC show because of how much they were able to play. Each time I’ve seen them, they have been performing with multiple other bands. It was great to catch a show where only one band opened for them because it allowed them more playing time. With more playing time, NSTC was free to have fun with this set by including multiple cover songs, all of which I loved; La Cucaracha, Garden Grove (Sublime cover) and Hits from the Bong (Cypress Hill cover). La Cucaracha got everyone in the crowd dancing, and Garden Grove got everyone singing! For those that don’t know, Garden Grove is my favorite Sublime song. To see Nonstop to Cairo absolutely kill it was incredible!
From then on, the band came with hit after hit, ending their set with Not Allison, Fridge Ian, Influenszka, Chicken In My Oats and Hits from the Bong. Hits from the Bong was a highlight for me because I’ve never seen a Ska band cover a song that has such strong Hip Hop roots. Nonstop to Cairo does a phenomenal job of transitioning from Nick Diamond’s singing to August Harris’s rapping. It is so cool how the band was able to tap this market that incorporates two very different styles of vocals and gain the gigantic fan base that they have. Nonstop to Cairo released their first full length album, “Dabble Heavy“, in 2017. Make sure pick up a copy of this masterpiece!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-8zkPM2h8s
As expected, Nonstop to Cairo put on another astounding performance. Their energy and excitement never ceases to amaze me and they chose an awesome band to open up for them. It is great to see how well this band knows their fan base and are able to please everyone at every show they play! Make sure to listen to both LDF (Ladies Drink Free) and Nonstop to Cairo on the blog’s Spotify playlist; After Hours Review!
Upcoming Shows
Nonstop To Cairo:
May 17th – 20th – Montauk Music Festival – Montauk, NY
June 9th – Nonstop Summer Party – Revolution Bar & Music Hall – Amityville, NY
June 21st – 23rd – Springboard Music Festival – Houston, TX
July 13th – Great South Bay Music Festival – Patchogue, NY
July 20th – Grassroots Music Festival – Trumansburg, NY
LDF (Ladies Drink Free):
May 17th – 20th – Montauk Music Festival – Montauk, NY
May 25th – Rockwood Music Hall (stage 2) – New York, NY
June 6th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
June 8th – Red Square – Burlington, VT
July 18th – Huntington’s Fireman’s Fair – Huntington, NY
July 19th – Saranac Thursday’s – Utica, NY
August 25th – Mazzstock – Marlboro, NY
September 6th – Wine Under the Stars – Huntington, NY