The Johnstones Promise A Better Show Than Kiss

Ajax, Ont. ska outfit The Johnstones are bringing their horns to a town near you starting this week as they embark on an extensive Canadian tour.

The Johnstones' video for "Gone For A Long Time" has received serious play from MuchMusic and has helped draw attention to a ska revival of sorts in southern Ontario.

"I think that happened like a year or two ago," says drummer/vocalist Ryan Long of the region's increased ska activity. "My theory is because there was a whole bunch of huge ska-punk bands like eight years ago, like when Less Than Jake and those kinds of bands were big, like Rancid and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

"Then I guess all the kids who grew up listening to those bands started bands, so now there are a lot of bands who are at the age, like us, Flatliners, Keepin' 6, IllScarlett. There are like five or six punk-ska bands from this area that are all doing really well."

This tour will give many newcomers a chance to witness the band for the first time.

"You should come out and see The Johnstones because we have the best live show, period, out of any band ever," boasts Long. "I feel our live show is even better than Kiss is for a billion reasons.

"Kiss' whole thing is they wear masks and have all the effects and stuff. We're just really crazy live and we do a lot of fun things. We're more funny and stuff. But yeah, I'd go so far as to say our live show is better than Kiss."

Here are The Johnstones' tour dates:

Oct. 24 Edmonton, AB @ The New City w/The Afterbeat
Oct. 25 Edmonton, AB @ CityTV Edmonton's Breakfast Television
Oct. 25 Calgary, AB @ The Distillery w/The Afterbeat
Oct. 26 Regina, SK @ The Exchange w/The Afterbeat
Oct. 27 Winnipeg, MB @ Dylan O'Connors w/The Afterbeat
Oct. 28 Thunder Bay, ON @ Kilroys w/The Afterbeat
Oct. 29 North Bay, ON @ The Evolution Nite Clu
bNov. 1 Oshawa, ON @ The Dungeon w/Keepin' 6 and Knockouts
Nov. 2 Jonquiere, QC @ Loge Des Elans w/PL Mafia
Nov. 3 Rimouski, QC @ Petit Pavillion Agricole De Rimouski w/PL Mafia
Nov. 4 Trois Rivieres, QC @ Pub Rock Cafe
Nov. 6 London, ON @ Call The Office w/Mustard Plug
Nov. 7 Guelph, ON @ The Shadow w/Mustard Plug
Nov. 8 Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks w/Mustard Plug
Nov. 9 Quebec City, QC @ The Velvet w/Mustard Plug
Nov. 10 Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques w/Mustard Plug
Nov. 11 Toronto, ON @ The Kathedral w/Mustard Plug and Stop Drop And Skank