NOW ON TOUR! CLICK FOR DATES!

CAMPUS TALK

by Dara Seidler

Ten 13 Concept - Truth Or Dare

"...I dare anyone to come to a show and not nod their head to what we're doing and not jump and not clap your hands," said Mike.  "We pride ourselves on the fact that we go crazy.  We don't hold anything back.  We stop everything just short of breaking shit and hurting people.  We encourage everyone to go as crazy as possible; just don't run into a chick while you're doing it!"

"I don't think you can come to a Ten 13 Concept show and not have fun, unless you go there and don't want to have fun," adds Joe.

"Or unless you're a hater!" finishes Chris, not realizing how white he sounds.

Before you take on their challenge, here's the truth:

Ten 13 Concept originally started out in Orlando in Apartment 1013 back in 2001...With everyone spread out over North/Central Florida, the band considers both Gainesville and Orlando home.

In their four short years that they ahve been together, Ten 13 Concept have already released a full length album, and been featured on a number of compilation albums.  "Originally when we started it, I just waned to see if we could do it.  It wasn't anything serious at first.  At our first show, we made like $600, and i was like "are you shittin' me?  From the living room to $600 in one night?"  remembers Joe.

Since the, they have shared the state with MU330, The Toasters, Unsung Zeroes, and Hot Water Music, to name a few.  Tey have played the Warped Tour, Gator Growl, charity events, high schools and festivals.

Despite the craziness that goes on right before they play, this pop-ska band takes their music very seriously and is in it for the long haul.  "You know those bands that have interviews and they're like "yeah, we got a couple of indies looking at us, blah, blah, blah," but we actually do.  I'm not one of those guys that's just saying that.  It's kinda exciting, but it's not exactly what we want right now as a far as what they're putting on the table," said Mike.  "We're holding out for a little bit better."

What makes them think they can get better?  Their new album, which is set to release early January titled, "Thanks for Last Night," (which includes a DVD) may be their golden ticket.  This ska gem, which captures the energy of their live shows, is loaded with songs themed with tragedy and muerder, to crushes and girls..."

While Ten 13 Concept does not mind being called a ska band, they tend to shy away from that label.  "It's not that we don't like being called that, but labeling is touh, becuase then you have the people who only like ska, and then they think you're a ska band and go to a ska show, and then they're like, "hey, this isn't ska.  it's something different," said Super Jew.  We're just trying to do something different that people haven't done before, because that's what's interesting..."

MySpace  Facebook