This was a real gem of a show for fans of ska. On Friday night, The Urge played their first of two sold out gigs at the Bottleneck celebrating the anniversaries of two albums (The Gift of Flavor and Too Much Stereo), and it was one for the books. We always say a band is only as good as their fans, and The Urge have some of the best fans around. People drove in from several states away from this show, some snagging tickets to both sold-out nights. The place was just beaming with positivity. The fans were comparing band tattoos, swapping ska show war stories, and took care of each other as they moshed, thrashed, and jumped the night away (all while screaming the lyrics back at the band). It was a masterclass in band fandom, a welcome occasion for them since the band only books a handful of gigs from time to time. They were joined by local ska band Six Percent, who have been mainstays in the scene for decades (and gained some new fans themselves on this night).