Shows
SCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Twelve- About Our Father's BusinessThis week, Veronica Washington shares her story and the mission of About Our Father's Business
2025-10-1722 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Eleven- The Josh Neuman FoundationThis week, we sit down with the Josh Neuman Foundation as they share their story.
2025-09-3029 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Ten- Orientation DayThis week, we open the mic's on Orientation Day as we welcome new members to the SCALE program
2025-09-1616 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode 9- Building Lasting RelationshipsThis week, we talk about the lasting relationships of SCALE and the opportunities that come from building meaningful relationships
2025-08-2829 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Eight-The Intern Show4 past interns of SCALE host this week to share their experiences
2025-08-1119 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Seven- Exploring Internships Beyond SCALEThis week, we explore internships as a whole and what people should be aware of when they go into an internship
2025-07-2822 min
In Defense of SkaThe Final episode w/ special guest Mike ParkWell, folks, this is it. You’ve made it to the end of the In Defense of Ska podcast. Nobody can say it wasn't a great four-and-a-half-year run of interviews, discussions, laughs, and hard-hitting ska journalism. Hosts Aaron Carnes and Adam Davis certainly had a blast, so join them as they celebrate the end of the series with special guest Mike Park. Listen now.Will there ever be more episodes of In Defense of Ska? It could happen, say Carnes and Davis. Though, for now, there’s not a soul on this planet that knows what the future h...
2025-07-091h 38SCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Six-Big News In The World Of SCALEThis week on Scale On Air, Chris has some exciting new developments to share about the future of SCALE
2025-07-0220 min
In Defense of Ska1 in 3000 nerds can’t be wrong: Interview with Janitors Against Apartheid’s Lodge WorsterThere were a lot of ska-punk bands in the ’90s. Perhaps, none were more out there than Northern CA’s Janitors Against Apartheid: A wild group that played hyper-fast ska and had a singer who sang about Punky Brewster and Little Caesar’s in a demented Kermit the Frog voice. And the stage show was completely unhinged. Usually, stuffed animals were getting destroyed. This week, we talk to the sax player (And later lead vocalist) Lodge Worster. We get insight into the band’s history, their transformation to The Adjustments, and we also discuss the punk TV script th...
2025-06-1857 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Five- Self ControlThis week, SCALE On Air has a deep conversation on personal responsibility and the role that self control plays in life
2025-06-1630 min
In Defense of SkaSka Punk International: An interview with Chris ReevesEras of ska are, in part, defined by the ska labels. This week on In Defense of Ska, the crew chats with the head of one of those labels helping make the modern age of the genre -- Chris Reeves, owner/operator of Ska Punk International. Listen now.With Reeves' business and artistic insight, In Defense of Ska explores the bands that helped the label carve out its ethos, as well as its continuing legacy. Then, hear all about the behind-the-scenes craziness that it takes to keep a ska label skanking away.Reeves also serves as t...
2025-06-0459 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Four- Taking SCALE Skills Into The Real WorldThis week, we break down some skills learned in the SCALE semester and our students share how they've taken those skills into the real world
2025-06-0218 min
In Defense of SkaThe story of Ska in New Orleans post-Katrina: A live panel at Hey CaféNew Orleans had a surprisingly big ska scene in the late 2000s. This caught the attention of In Defense of Ska host Aaron Carnes after he wrote the first edition of his book on the genre (also called In Defense of Ska). Today on the podcast, Carnes recaps and re-airs a recent panel he hosted in New Orleans about the era, touching on the bands o the time, the impact of Katrina, and more. Listen now.Carnes had previously caught up with the New Orleans band Bad Operation, speaking with them extensively about the city's music. Those conv...
2025-05-281h 27SCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Three- SCALE vs SchoolThis week, we break down the differences and opportunities of the SCALE program vs a normal school curriculum
2025-05-0217 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air- Episode Two- Getting Involved And The Benefits Of ScaleThis week, we break down how students get involved with SCALE and some of the unique benefits of the SCALE Program
2025-04-2414 minSCALE On AirSCALE On Air-Episode One-Introduction To SCALESCALE On Air's First Episode- breaking down SCALE and what it's all about.
2025-04-1725 min2025-04-0300 min
In Defense of SkaMike Park’s Best Friend: An interview with Chris CandyIt's no secret that the In Defense of Ska crew loves them some Mike Park -- the musician, ska aficionado, and Asian Man Records founder. So, this week, the gang invites Park's best friend onto the show -- Chris Candy. Listen to Candy discuss Park, his own band Chotto Ghetto, Vans Warped Tour, and more.Candy, the son of comedy legend John Candy, has a whole host of stories to share. Be it his hijinks playing in ska bands in his early days, his trips to Hawaii, his run-ins with figures like the legendary Stockton booker Middagh Goo...
2025-02-2653 min
Creative Spirits Unleashed#81 Chris Heron: The Path to Balance and Well-BeingMy guest for this episode of the podcast is Chris Heron, who is the Director and Head Coach of Waterski and Wakeboard Scotland. Not only is he a coach, he is also the 3 time Scottish National Waterski Champion. This podcast happened because I just happened to open an email that came in through my contact form on my website. Nine times out of ten, those emails are junk solicitations. In this case, it was members of Chris’s waterski team reaching out to say that they were fans of the podcast and thought he would be a...
2025-02-071h 54
In Defense of SkaThis Could Only Happen in England: A Conversation with Josh from The SkintsSka and reggae are global genres, but the specific region in which a band originates undeniably influences their sound. Case in point, the wonderful world of British ska. To explore the minutia of the subgenera, this episode of In Defense of Ska welcomes Josh Waters Rudge, guitarist and vocalist of The Skints. Listen now.The ska scene our friends across the pond cultivated take from such specific, niche influences that, as Rudge tells it, it could have only happened in England. Their take on reggae-ska comes from a unique blend of subcultures: early 2000s ska-punk, grime, garage, lov...
2025-01-2959 min
In Defense of SkaThe Beatles played ska? An analysis with Jorge Pezzimenti (Loving Paupers, Pietasters) and Jay Nugent (The Slackers)No question about it, The Beatles forever changed the face of music -- but that's a discussion for another day. This week on the In Defense of Ska, the crew instead wants to look at the iconic band's relationship with ska and Jamaican music. Listen to the hosts chat with Jorge Pezzimenti (of The Loving Paupers and formerly of The Pietasters) and Jay Nugent (of The Slackers) about The Beatles and ska.As seen in both the work of the group and the members' respective solo efforts, The Beatles weren't strangers to Jamaican-style rhythms. The In Defense of Sk...
2025-01-2253 min
In Defense of Ska60 Songs That Explain the '90s' Rob Harvilla on The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' "The Impression That I Get"Welcome to Season 5 of In Defense of Ska! After a quick break for the holidays, hosts Aaron Carnes and Adam Davis are back for even more ska-tastic interviews, conversations, and analysis. To kick off the new season, the crew invites music critic Rob Harvilla (of the 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s podcast) to chat about '90s music, ska erasure, and the songs that defined the 2000s. Listen now.As the host of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s, Harvilla explored quite a few tunes that defined one of pop-culture's most beloved decades. And yet, despite re-upping to make the...
2025-01-1556 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: 2024 in review with Mike Park (Asian Man Records, Skankin Pickle, Bruce Lee Band, The Chinkees) and Chris Reeves (Ska Punk International)2024 is just about finished, so In Defense of Ska hopped on the mic and looked back at a year's worth episodes. This year, we talked to two members of 311, 1 member of Operation Ivy, did a full breakdown of Skachella, and a whole lot more. In order to properly discuss this year’s episodes of In Defense of Ska, we brought on THEE Mike Park and our editor, Chris Reeves. Mike is very opinionated this year. Did we have some bad episodes? Mike thinks so. Listen to find out which ones Mike didn’t think were that great. P...
2024-12-2713 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 198: Aaron Carnes (Author of In Defense of Ska, Flat Planet, Fashion Police)This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast gives the floor to host Aaron Carnes to chat about the newly released second edition of his book, In Defense of Ska: Ska Now More Than Ever Edition. Alongside co-host Adam Davis (Omnigone) and special guest host Tara Hahn of Half Past Two, Carnes dives into his history of the genre and more. Listen now.IDOS the book began in 2013, and Carnes goes through the whole history of planning and writing the tome. He also gives insight into the Ska Now More Than Ever Edition, from the writing proces...
2024-10-301h 46
In Defense of SkaBehind The Curtain: This Is New Tone Discussion Bonus Ep TeaserOn this special bonus episode of In Defense of Ska, hosts Adam Davis and Aaron Carnes run a panel about the new documentary film This Is New Tone. Davis had hosted a showing of the movie, which chronicles the 2023 Catbite / We Are the Union / Kill Lincoln tour, and the convention that followed saw contributions from Eichlers (Hyperska superstar) and Jorge Lucero (All-star Bad Time Records record packer). Hear a preview of the recording now. You can also listen to the entire conversation by signing up to the In Defense of Ska Patreon.If...
2024-09-1309 min
In Defense of SkaBehind The Curtain: Vic Ruggiero & Jay Navarro LIVE PODCAST at Victoria Ska & Reggae FestivalIn Defense of Ska's latest bonus episode is a LIVE podcast! Listen now.Enter to win tickets to Supernova Ska Fest 2024 by filling out our entry form (https://bit.ly/supernovaska), following and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, and/or subscribing to the In Defense of Ska Patreon. There will be winners selected from each entry method and the contest ends September 9th, so hurry and enter now for your chance to win!Join host Aaron Carnes as he chats with The Slackers' Vic Ruggiero and Suicide Machines' Jay Navarro onsite at Victoria Ska & Regga...
2024-08-1607 min
Tinman PodcastJoey Carnes - Sports Performance Coach, Duke UniversityJoey Carnes is a Sports Performance Coach at Duke University. Our discussion touches on the profession as a whole and his personal journey. Carnes has worked with pretty much every type of athlete in every type of setting, from softball and soccer at mid-majors, to power conference football and players like Justin Herbert. He has seen the profession evolve from the strength and conditioning era, to true sports performance. We start with his days as a youth in rural Edmonson County, Kentucky; and finish with his current position at one of the nation's preeminent academic and athletic institutions.
Su...
2024-08-1528 min
Creative Spirits Unleashed#75 Chris Dolman: How Can I serve?My guest for this episode is Chris Dolman. He is the Producing Artistic Director for the Lake Lure Music Festival, an eclectic music festival producing world class music in multiple genres with renowned musicians and bands. Based in Western North Carolina, the Festival's supports the Lake Lure Classical Academy and Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach and their respective missions. Chris started his career working in radio before becoming a professional actor and director based in New York City. Chris and his wife, Cathi now live full time in Lake Lure, North Carolina.This conversation took many interesting turns...
2024-07-261h 50
In Defense of SkaBehind The Curtain: Bothering ‘Bothering The Band’ TEASERDid you know that some of our friends are also podcasters? For this month’s bonus episode, we wanted to bring on the fine folks from the Bothering The Band podcast. Their format is this: They bring on musicians and comedians and then proceed to BOTHER them with weird and silly questions. It’s a lot of fun. They’ve even had host, Aaron Carnes on one episode. So, we brought on Ryan and Abby and then BOTHERED them with our own weird and silly questions. Sign up to the IDOS Patreon to listen to the entire episode...
2024-07-0511 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 168: The Steady 45'sOne of the best ska bands of the past decade is The Steady 45's, a trad ska group based out of Los Angeles. They are one of the few bands that have been able to call both LA’s lively trad ska and vibrant Latino ska scenes home. So we brought on four members and friend of the band Jackie Mendez to talk about the band’s history and how they’re helping to break down barriers in the ska scene. We talk about the members’ history in punk rock and how they played an Operation Ivy cover set...
2024-04-031h 13
In Defense of SkaBehind The Curtain: I worked At Asian Man Records w/ Bob VielmaOne thing we love doing on this podcast is talking to former members of Asian Man Records and getting all the dirt on Mike Park. This is our third episode in the series. We’ve already spoken to Skylar Suorez and Lazlo Happenstance. Now we talk to Bob Vielma. You probably know Bob from his fire rap verse on “SkrAm” from Jeff Rosenstock’s Ska Dream. His rap alter ego is Boboso, and he’s got a few records you can download on Jeff’s label, Quote Unquote. Bob also played bass in Shinobu and several other bands, includ...
2024-03-2914 minIn Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 165: Mutiny (Efrem Schulz, Chris Ruckus, Mike CambraOn this week's episode of In Defense of Ska, members of ska supergroup Mutiny -- Efrem Schulz, Chris Ruckus, and Mike Cambra -- discuss the project and its connection to their other bands. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.Let's get one thing straight -- ska needs more supergroups. Aside from Rude Girl Revue and Kilograms, they're surprisingly hard to come by. Luckily, Mutiny is here to remidy that! The group features members of Death By Stereo, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Dissidente, Manic Hispanic, and Adolescents, along with guest spots from members of many more bands.Th...
2024-03-131h 23
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 164: Call Me Malcom (Lucias Malcolm & Mark Farthing)It's no secret that ska music is alive and well, and not just in the United States. On this episode of in defense of ska, English ska-punks Call Me Malcolm join to chat about the current scene, the band's history, and their new album Echoes and Ghosts. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.Starting from the beginning, guitarist/vocalist Lucias Malcolm and saxophonist/vocalist Mark Farthing chat about the origins of the group, why they write songs with titles like “John Feldmann’s Going To Kill Me,” and taking inspiration from Goldfinger and Chris Gethard.The...
2024-03-061h 36
In Defense of SkaBehind The Curtain: 2023 in review with Mike Park & Chris Reeves TEASERPatreon Exclusive Bonus Episode! And it’s the episode of episodes. You won’t want to miss it! 2023 has been an awesome year. We've had Stewart Copeland, Fred Armisen, Bill Stevenson, Rhoda Dakar, Vic Ruggiero and a bunch of other amazing people.So, to talk about our year, we brought on the great Mike Park. Additionally, we asked our editor Chris Reeves to join the conversation as well. You will gain lots of insight into our guests and hear some secret (very Behind The Curtain) information about the episodes we recorded in 2023. It’s also one of...
2024-01-0107 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 152: Mikal Reich & Brendog (Mephiskapheles, Barbicide, The Shaved Pigs)People are still fascinated by the idea of Satanic ska. So much that metal magazine Loudwire wrote an article in 2021 called “Satanic Ska is a Real Thing that Actually Exists.” The article was about Mephiskapheles, a New York ska band that formed in 1990. For their debut album, God Bless Satan, they created a unique sound that blended traditional ska rhythms with jazzy and experimental songwriting. As the band progressed, they got weirder and experimental. But what was the tone of group? We tackle this question by speaking to founders Mikal Reich (drums), and Brendan Tween (guitar). They give...
2023-12-131h 42
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 148: Rob Bell and Gerry Lundquist (MU330, Skankin’ Pickle, Suzie Cue, Jeffy and the Sunken Heads, The Vulcaneers)St. Louis ska band MU330 was formed in 1988. Different members came and went through the course of their first two full-lengths, but by the time they went to record their 1997 masterpiece, Crab Rangoon, they locked in as a five-piece with Dan Potthast, Ted Moll, Chris Diebold, Rob Bell, and former Skankin’ Pickle trombonist Gerry Lundquist. That lineup hasn’t changed since. Most curious about this lineup is the horn section: Two slide trombones. Rather than lean into the high, peppy brass of trumpets or the sultry vibe of saxophones, it was pure trombone action. With the entire horn...
2023-11-151h 22
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 147: Dan Ozzi (Author of Sellout)Author Dan Ozzi’s 2021 book “Sellout” brilliantly profiled 11 punk/hardcore/emo bands that signed to a major label in the 90s/2000s (Green Day, Against Me, Jawbreaker, At The Drive-In). He showed minute details of the scenes these bands came from, how and why they signed to a major, and ultimately what impact making this jump had on them. What’s interesting is how differently each band was impacted by releasing a “sellout” record. We brought Dan Ozzi this week to search for signs of ska in his book. While no ska band was profiled, the genre comes up occa...
2023-11-081h 29
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 143: Hans Gruber and the Die Hards (Chris Thompson, Rosey Armstrong, Kurt Armstrong)Hans Gruber and the Die Hards came out of the pandemic swinging and ready to take over the ska scene. The band formed in 2014 in Austin, Texas, went through some lineup changes (A big lineup change a few years ago!) and then released their excellent record, With A Vengence, in May 2022 on SPI Records. They want to get the word out and have been touring as much as possible.The group mixes ska with furious hardcore, cumbia, silly singalongs, and whatever else they feel like throwing in the mix. And they bring a stage show filled to...
2023-10-111h 31
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 141: Western Standard Time Orchestra (Eitan Avineri & Jesse Wagner)In 2011, long time Southern California ska trumpet player Eitan Avineri had an idea. He wanted to blend traditional Jamaican ska with big band jazz. He assembled a crew of all the best players in LA's traditional ska scene, as well as some of his jazz friends, and re-arranged his favorite Skatalites tunes in a big band style. He called the project Western Standard Time Orchestra. And their first album was called Big Band Tribute To The Skatalites (Vol 1)Though Eitan would later discover that he wasn't the first person to form a ska orchestra, Western Standard Time...
2023-09-271h 39
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of SKa Ep 116: Omnigone (Adam Davis, Barry Krippene, Justin Amans)Welcome to our 116th episode, the one that TRULY matters. This conversation is what everything has led to...where host Aaron Carnes interviews co-host Adam Davis! We did this in our first episode, but in this episode, we go so much deeper.Adam's band, Omnigone just released an incredible album called Against The Rest on Bad Time Records. So we brought on Adam (Not a co-host this time!) along with Omnigone/Blast Bandits bassist Barry Krippene, and drummer Justin Amans (Also from Kitty Kat Fan Club). During this conversation, we talk about Omnigone, Adam and Barry's old...
2023-04-051h 32
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of SKa EP 114: Chris Farren (Fake Problems, Antarctigo Vespucci)Chris Farren doesn't know a lot about ska, despite his claim that he "practically invented modern ska guitar playing." However, he IS an amazing ska podcast guest. We discuss the various ways his non-ska career has intersected with ska and ska people. We also just wanted to hear Chris' amazing stories!Chris starts by reading us his texts from TikTok celebrity Mike Park. We also learn what it was like for Chris to collaborate with Jeff Rosenstock. Chris tells us about sharing a Cameo with Brian Fallon, performing on the Chris Gethard Show. And, Chris tells us...
2023-03-221h 23
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 106: Supernova International Ska Festival (Tim Receveur, Mike DeMatteo)Supernova International Ska Festival started in 2013 as a house show that got so big, it was moved to a local brewery. Though it took a few years before it got the name Supernova, and that first show wasn't even a festival; just a kick-ass show with Chris Murray and King Django.Every year, Supernova has grown. 2023 is looking to be the biggest and best version of the festival to date with acts from all over the world like Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Fishbone, The Dualers, Don Letts, Stranger Cole, The Planet Smashers, Catbite, Out Of Control Army...
2023-01-251h 20
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 105: John Ross Bowie (Big Bang Theory, Speechless, Egghead)Actor John Ross Bowie is best known for playing Barry Kripke on the hit TV show Big Bang Theory as well as Jimmy DiMeo on Speechless. But when he sat down to write his memoir, No Job For A Man (released in 2022), he focused a lot more pages to his formative shows going to punk, hardcore and ska bands in New York's vibrant live music scene than he did being on the set of these hit shows.Today, we speak with John and he surprises us with quite a few details about New York's ska scene in...
2023-01-181h 12
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 98: John DeDomenici (Jeff Rosenstock, Bomb The Music Industry, Arrogant Sons of Bitches, The Inevitables, Bruce Lee Band)John DeDomenici has played the bass in many bands. But most notably Jeff Rosenstock's solo band and Bomb the Music Industry. He also played a whole variety of instruments in Arrogant Sons of Bitches.Today, we bring on John and throw every random and obscure question we can think at him. We talk about catching Covid in England, getting his own dressing room at the Gaslight Anthem Jersey show, drunkenly cutting his hand trying to open a bottle of wine, and joining Chris Gethard at Fest in a Smiths cover band. We also talk about g...
2022-11-301h 46
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 94: Chris Gethard (New Jersey is the World, Beautiful Anonymous, The Chris Gethard Show)The Chris Gethard Show was supposed to start like normal, but the audience had their own idea. They shouted "Eat More Butts" at Chris to a degree that he couldn't start his show. The musical guest, Jeff Rosenstock, even gave them a musical accompaniment. For 15 minutes, the show descended into madness. But Chris also didn't fight it because he knew that this would be great TV. Having grown up in the DIY punk scene, he was aware that this type of chaos was where a show's best moments would be.Today, we speak to Chris Gethard about...
2022-11-021h 09
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: What Makes a Good Band Name (Teaser)For October's Patreon exclusive bonus episode, we talk about SKA BAND NAMES. You know, that thing that everyone makes fun of. Well, over here at In Defense of Ska, we decided it was time to have an impartial evaluation of every major ska band's name. We brought on our editor, Chris Reeves for this conversation. And we even judge our own band names too, just to be fair. Sign up to the IDOS Patreon to listen! If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check...
2022-10-2213 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: IDOS Tour Diary TEASERThe first official In Defense of Ska tour was a huge success. We traveled along the west coast with Mustard Plug, Buck-O-Nine and Omnigone. Aaron Carnes opened the show with a reading from his book, In Defense of Ska. We got to meet many of YOU wonderful people and dance to SKA music every night!We also kept an audio diary of the tour. Listen now! But THIS is just a teaser. If you'd like to hear the entire episode, sign up to our Patreon. It is quite the JOURNEY! If you’d like to sup...
2022-09-2307 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 87: Chris Cresswell (The Flatliners, Hot Water Music)Toronto, Canada had a raging ska scene in the mid-2000s. It included ska bands like Hebrew School Dropouts, Suzy Jacuzzi and the Hottubs, and Five Across The Eye. It also included PUP singer Stefan Babcock's former ska band Stop Drop N Skank. But there was one band, The Flatliners, who would go on to sign to Fat Wreck Chords and make a name for themselves in the punk scene. But when they started, they played intense ska-punk. A brutal, aggressive mix of Suicide Machines, Kid Dynamite, Against All Authority and Voodoo Glow Skulls.Today we bring...
2022-09-141h 23
The Pit Wall PodcastWhen we are at the track we may get into it.... but the racing community is really a big family! - Ralph and Troy CarnesSend us a textRalph and Troy Carnes are our guests! We talk the CARS Tour Throwback Race and the Nascar race. We also just shoot the breeze.
2022-08-032h 25
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 73: Dane Roberts (Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival)In the summer of 2000, ska was on the decline in the US, but up in Victoria, Canada, it was as popular as ever. Local promoter Dane Roberts--who'd been throwing ska shows for a few years--decided to throw a full-on ska festival. It was in part a tribute to Mathew Bishop, the man that introduced him to ska (he'd died from a mountain climbing accident two years earlier), and it was Dane's final college assignment. If the festival made money, he passed. If it didn't, he failed. The first year of the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival was a b...
2022-06-081h 04
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 71: Bruce Lee Band (Mike Park, Jeff Rosenstock)During Skankin' Pickle's run, Mike Park had so many songs, he tapped Less Than Jake to record an album with him. He called it The Bruce Lee Band. This record was released in 1995. A decade later, The Bruce Lee Band returned with Beautiful World, this time backed by RX Bandits.But then, nearly a decade later, The Bruce Lee Band became a solid group with Mike Park, Jeff Rosenstock, Dan Potthast and Kevin Higuchi (Though Mike Huguenor was involved in the two 2014 records). They've put out several releases. Last year they released the excellent EP Division in...
2022-05-251h 16
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: The Weirdest Ska Band Ever? with Chris Ruckus (Dissidente) and Duck (Joystick) TEASERBefore Chris Ruckus was in Dissidente...before Duck was in Joystick....they played in the weirdest ska band of all time: Cryptorchid Chipmunk. Listen to our conversation with them about this peculiar ska band, where the performance was just as unhinged as the music. To listen to the complete episode, sign up for the In Defense of Ska PatreonIf you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherk...
2022-04-2208 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 46: Uncle Peckerhead (Matthew John Lawrence, Jeff Riddle)It’s movie night here at “In Defense of Ska.” Grab some popcorn and go watch the 2020 horror-comedy film “Uncle Peckerhead.” Watch it before you listen to our latest episode because spoilers are discussed. “Uncle Peckerhead” is a great movie about fake DIY punk band DUH. Like “Green Room,” this punk-on-the-road film turns horror. But it’s quite different and involves a people-eating roadie. Fun!You’ve probably heard us talk about this movie in prior episodes. When we chatted with Slapstick, we asked them if they were aware that this movie had an entire scene built around their song “The...
2021-12-011h 22
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 45: Jason Thinh (Short Round, Chinkees)Asian Man Records has released some breakout records, like Pezcore (Less Than Jake), Goddamnit (Alkaline Trio), and People Who Eat People Are The Luckiest People in the World (AJJ). But the label has also released several great, lesser-known albums. For this episode, we will focus on Language by Short Round, which was released in 2002. More specifically, we brought in Jason Thinh, leader of Shortround to discuss this great record. But we also discuss his time in The Chinkees—he was only 17 years old when he joined—and his later project Marathon States, which he recorded with Max Feshb...
2021-11-241h 19
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 44: Jordan Morris (Jordan, Jesse, Go!, Bubble, Good Mythical Morning)In Jordan Morris graphic novel Bubble, a character finds a flyer for the hip new DJ in town, a person that was in Mighty Mighty Bosstones for a short stint and won’t shut up about it. And yet, in the strange post-apocalyptic world of Bubble, this ex-Bosstones DJ dude is cooool. It’s a tiny detail that makes Morris’ book such a fun read. However, the primary story is quite unsettling. A monster-filled planet where humans live in culturally appropriate bubbles, and make ends meet by working relentless gig economy jobs. Terrifying! Jordan, our guest today, is also...
2021-11-171h 04
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 43: Screaming Females (Marissa Paternoster, Jarret Dougherty)If there’s anything we’ve learned this year, it’s that deep down, everyone loves ska. This week we provide yet another example of an unexpected band releasing a ska song: Screaming Females. They will be releasing a cover of The Selecter’s “On My Radio” next month. The song is being released as part of the deluxe edition of the comic series What’s The Furthest Place From Here? which is written by punk lover Matthew Rosenberg, who has written many popular comic books (Spiderman, Wolverine, etc)We got a sneak of Screaming Females’ “On My...
2021-11-101h 15
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 42: Jamie Woolford (Animal Chin, The Stereo)In the first few months of this podcast, we used to joke that this was the “Animal Chin” podcast because, even though we’d never had anyone from Animal Chin on the show, we talked about them a lot. Well, guess what, now we have Animal Chin’s singer-songwriter Jamie Woolford on the show. So we finally get to ask him all of our burning Animal Chin questions. (Ie: this is kind of a long episode!)Animal Chin was an interesting group. Arguably in the top five 90s ska-punk groups. They influenced Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Jeff Ros...
2021-11-031h 45
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 41: Hepcat (Greg Lee, Greg Narvas)LA ska band Hepcat once appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. They were an early signing to Epitaph subsidiary Hellcat Records and were flown all over to open for a wide variety of bands. But they were—and the band admits this—never going to blow up. The group consisted of several LA ska scene kids from the 80s who loved original Jamaican ska. Not a commercially viable genre. And back then, you would have to search far and wide to find these old records. This love they shared for the music united them and led to...
2021-10-271h 35
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 40: David McWane (Big D and the Kids Table)By now, most of us know that ska wasn’t dead in the 2000s. But it was uncool. Really uncool. Bands were fleeing from the scene, and describing their sound as “Rock with horns”—anything other than “ska.” But the scene continued, fueled by the passion of dedicated fans. During this weird time, one group that did quite well was Boston’s Big D and The Kids Table, who even managed to chart on the Billboard Top Heatseekers with their excellent 2007 album Strictly Rude.Big D formed in ’96 but didn’t release their first album, Good Luck, until 1999, which...
2021-10-201h 28
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 39: Max Collins (Eve 6, Chevy Mustang)Up until last year, alt-rock group Eve 6 was best known for their hit 1998 single, “Inside Out,” or as some people refer to it, “the heart in a blender song.” But times have changed. Now Eve 6, specifically lead singer Max Collins, is best known for taking over Twitter. It started last December when he tweeted that he was a virgin when he wrote “Inside Out.” Since then, he hasn’t stopped tweeting a chaotic mix of weird jokes, hot takes, embarrassing rock n roll stories, and leftist political rants. It’s everything a band’s Twitter account shouldn’t be. But it’s also the ve...
2021-10-131h 23
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 38: Augusta Koch (Cayetana, Gladie)Augusta Koch’s first band was called The Blue Bananas, a ska band. They had a few originals and performed a Choking Victim song. They didn’t last long. She’s since gone on to play in some incredible non-ska bands like Cayetana and Gladie. And she even sang vocals for the fictitious group DUH in the horror-comedy film Uncle Peckerhead. But ska has remained important to her. During the pandemic, she found comfort in revisiting some of her favorite bands from when she was younger. RX Bandits have been a particular favorite for her. Augusta talks with us...
2021-10-061h 05
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 37: Homer Flynn (The Residents, Cryptic Corporation)Avant-garde band The Residents have spent the last five decades anonymously creating music that is at times unsettling, goofy, bizarre, and always pushes the boundaries of music. Even the very idea that The Residents are a band is up for debate. They are more of an art collective that pretends to be a band. And though they prolifically create music, they are perhaps best known for the imagery they’ve put out into the world, specifically the photo of the four band members with eyeball-heads, who are wearing fancy top hats. But it makes sense for The Res...
2021-09-291h 21
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 36: Mike Park (Asian Man Records, Skankin' Pickle, Chinkees, The Bruce Lee Band)Asian Man Records will be remembered as one of the best outlets for ska-punk in the 90s, with bands like Slapstick, MU330, Slow Gherkin, Less Than Jake, and other bands that still hold up decades later. The label is the brainchild of former Skankin Pickle singer/saxophonist Mike Park. Initially, Skankin Pickle started Dill Records, as a means to release their own music, and eventually, put out the music of other great bands. It was Mike’s idea for Dill to be a serious venture, and he did much of the legwork. So when he went out on his ow...
2021-09-221h 23
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 35: Kenneth Partridge (Hell of a Hat: The Rise of ’90s Ska and Swing)The 90s was a weird time for mainstream music. After Nirvana and the “Grunge” scene blew up, major labels were on the prowl for the next big thing. A lot of unlikely bands and music genres had their 15 minutes of fame. Ska, of course, was one of those trends, as was the “swing revival.” We could debate whether it was good or bad that a handful of ska bands got launched into the mainstream for a few years, but regardless, the very fact that ska and swing were flavors of the month is a bizarre phenomenon worth exploring. Kenneth...
2021-09-151h 08
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 34: Angelo Moore (Fishbone, Dr. Madd Vibe)A couple of years before ska broke on the radio, Fishbone—who was on Columbia Records at the time—released arguably the greatest ska song of the 90s: “Unyielding Conditioning,” a beautiful tune with a deep message that challenges us to re-examine the very fabric of our shared reality, and to grapple with the forces that control us and make us miserable. In 1993, the public was not ready for this amazing tune, and would not accept ska in the mainstream until Sublime’s “Date Rape” got into heavy rotation in 1995. But can you imagine what ska’s legacy would have been if “Un...
2021-09-081h 23
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 33: Jessica Lipsky (It Ain't Retro: Daptone Records & The 21st-Century Soul Revolution)Soul music has never gone away, but different versions of it come and go. In 2007, when Sharon Jones, 51 at the time, released her third album 100 Days, 100 Nights, she reached a significant audience. That made a lot of people declare "retro" soul back. But Sharon wasn’t retro, and the story around her success was much more complex. It is tied to the record label Daptone Records and her backing band, the Dap-Kings. The story of the label and the bands associated with them (Sharon, Charles Bradley, The Frightnrs, and Amy Winehouse who worked with the Dap-Kings on you...
2021-09-011h 10
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 32: Ian Fidance (The Ska King of Comedy, Crank Yankers, The Last O.G.)Why is it that most stand-up comedians pretend that they hate ska? We all know that they’re big nerds, so why don’t they relish in their dorkiness and not put on some big show that they’re cynical, sophisticated tastemakers too intelligent for ska! Oh well, at least not every comedian is this insecure. New York-based comedian Ian Fidance—the ska king of comedy—is an unabashed lover of ska music and he wants you to know all about it.Fortunately for us in the ska community, Ian is out there, gigging every night all over the c...
2021-08-251h 16
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 31: Brad Logan & John Gentile (Architects of Self-Destruction: An Oral History of Leftover Crack, F-Minus, Punknews)Leftover Crack is a band of dumpster-diving, drug-abusing, cop-hating crust punks…so begins the opening section in the book Architects of Self Destruction, an oral history of the band. The story of Leftover Crack is strange—unbelievable at times—and filled with bizarre decisions, weird characters, and as the title implies, copious self-sabotage. They were also a very unique band, formed in the ashes of Choking Victim in the late 90s that mixed ska, dissonant punk rock, and angry black metal in a unique way. As unbelievable as many of Leftover Cracks stories are, the fact that these s...
2021-08-181h 33
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 30: Dan Potthast (MU330, Death Rosenstock, The Bruce Lee Band, Sharkanoid)At one of the first out-of-town shows that St. Louis ska band MU330 played, booking agent Steve Ozark, approached them, interested in working with the band. MU330’s members were excited and told him yes! But only if he agreed to book them as much as humanly possible. From Ozark’s perspective, it was a strange request, but one he was happy to meet. For much of the 90s, MU330 hit the road as much as they could. Even with these many stages they played, they still hovered at cult status, though they released some of the best ska-punk reco...
2021-08-111h 42
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 29: Mystic Bowie (Talking Dreads)In 2019, My wife and I took a week-long trip to Jamaica. It wasn't just a tourist trip to Montego Bay or Kingston, we went a few hours into the mountains to the small village of Accompong and experienced the Maroon Festival. Every year, on Jan 6, this village of roughly 600 balloons up to 10,000 people to celebrate hundreds of years of Maroon independence. It began in 1759, when the Maroons signed a peace treaty with the British, establishing their independence, something that would not happen for the rest of Jamaica for many years. The festival is an amazing gathering with l...
2021-08-041h 19
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 28: Jason Navarro (Suicide Machines, J. Navarro & The Traitors)Many of the 90s ska bands signed to major labels were based out of sunny California. Then there was Detroit ska band The Suicide Machines, the only band in their area to ink a big deal. And there is nothing sunny about The Suicide Machines. Taking influence from the city’s gutter punk and lawless hardcore scene, while also pulling elements from local chaotic ska legends Gangster Fun, Suicide Machines were the most punk rock band of the ska major label feeding frenzy. And their debut Hollywood Records album Destruction By Definition is a timeless masterpiece. Our gue...
2021-07-281h 45
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 27: Laura Jane Grace (Against Me)It’s been a rough year and a half. This past April—in response to our collective trauma—Laura Jane Grace tweeted that the “current ska revival is a sign of just how emotionally vulnerable we all are after the past year.” A perfect sentiment for the moment we’re in. While a lot of people have been using ska as a cheap punchline, her tweet honed in on just how meaningful and earnest the music is, and why it is matters to people in dark times. Clearly a true ska fan. That wasn’t her only recent ska twee...
2021-07-211h 07
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 26: Marc Wasserman (Ska Boom, Bigger Thomas, Rude Boy George)The US had a healthy, diverse underground music scene in the ’80s. Among the goths, art-punks, and lo-fi freaks were plenty of rude boys and rude girls. And yet for some reason, the story of ska in the US is nearly wiped clean from the oral history of American music during the ’80s. You even had bands like Fishbone—who mostly played ska at the time—and The Untouchables signed to major labels! Not only are these ska stories an important piece of the musical landscape, but they also help explain how ska seemingly popped up out of nowhere in the m...
2021-07-141h 11
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 25: Catbite (Tim Hildebrand, Brit Luna, Chris Pires)Philadelphia 4-piece ska band Catbite have only been together a couple of years, but for a lot of people—and I’m one of them—they are one the top new bands currently in the genre. This is largely due to how incredible their debut 2019 album turned out. The band seemingly came out the gate, fully formed, with a unique approach to ska that incorporated power-pop, soul, and garage-rock elements, with amazing songwriting, killer musicianship, and fantastic vocals.But now a couple of years later, Catbite has finally released their sophomore full-length, Nice One. It is absolutely a bett...
2021-07-071h 38
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 24: Nick LaVallee (Wicked Joyful)Many of us collected action figures as kids. And guess what, it’s OK to keep on collecting them, especially if you’re buying the offbeat variety that you can't find at Toys r us: Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze’s Chippendales dancers. Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, Will Forte’s SNL character Macgruber, or Bill Burr’s Star Wars character, but with a heavy emphasis on his Boston accent (Wicked Awesome!) These unique and creative custom action figures are the work of Nick LaVallee (Wicked Joyful). They are awesome! Some even go to absurd lengths, like Eminem’s “Mom’s Spaghetti.”
2021-06-301h 12
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 23: Chuck Askerneese (The Untouchables)In Los Angeles, in the early ’80s, you would see rows of scooters on the street outside of ska shows. Inside the clubs, kids would be dressed in their best suits. And there was a full-on mod revival happening. At the heart of this local scene was The Untouchables, one of the best bands in the US ska scene at the time. And one of LA’s biggest bands in the ’80s. Unfortunately, they never made it to that next level. But in the DIY world at that time, they were huge. The Untouchables played a unique blend o...
2021-06-231h 26
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep 22: Elliot Babin (Touche Amore, Dad Punchers, Warm Thoughts)Touche Amore drummer Elliot Babin wasn’t always a post-hardcore kid. In Fact, he spent many of his formative years on the Aquabats forum in the early 2000s. He’s even an official aquacadet. And for Elliot, t’s not just the Aquabats. He’s a big-time ska fan and he’s not afraid to shout it from the mountain tops, no matter what the rest of his music peers think of the genre. Elliot joins us on this episode of In Defense of Ska to lay out—in full detail—his ska roots. We learned that the Aquabats fo...
2021-06-1657 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 21: Tara Hahn (Half Past Two) with her aunt Heather McNeilSoCal ska band Half Past Two have a lot of great songs. But there’s something particularly special about their track “Heather.” It’s a simple track about lead singer Tara Hahn’s aunt, Heather McNeil. Heather played a fundamental role in Tara’s life. She introduced her to ska. In the late 90s, she started lending Tara her ska CDs and eventually started taking her to ska shows. Without Heather, Tara may not have become a ska superfan, and likely wouldn’t now be singing in Half Past Two. It’s a relatable story for many of us. Most ska f...
2021-06-091h 19
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 20: Reade Wolcott (We Are The Union)On April 23, ska-punk band We Are The Union, released one of its greatest singles of the band’s career: A catchy ska-punk tune called “Morbid Obsessions.” The song was also released alongside a huge announcement: We Are The Union’s lead singer Reade Wolcott was coming out as a trans woman. And the song “Morbid Obsessions” spoke to this journey openly, directly, and with plenty of emotion. And so far the ska community has embraced Reade’s announcement with open arms. The tune was the lead single off of We Are The Union’s new album, Ordinary Life, set to rele...
2021-06-021h 28
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 19: Tim Cappello (Tina Turner, Carly Simon, Peter Gabriel, Lost Boys)Has there been an 80s movie more iconic than The Lost Boys? Has there ever been a scene as legendary as the Boardwalk scene, where an oiled-up, muscular sax man wails through The Call’s “I Still Believe”? No, there has not. The sax man in question, Tim Cappello has become a cult icon. Synthwave bands invite him to play on their tracks, and TV shows, like The Break with Michelle Wolf, invite him on to harken back to that classic scene. And he’s huge on the convention circuit. Everyone wants a signed Lost Boys photo...
2021-05-262h 17
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 18: Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy)Patrick Stump is used to playing for huge crowds. His band Fall Out Boy plays massive venues. But when he was younger, he was quite shy. So in order to go see Reel Big Fish, a band he loved dearly, he had to work through his social anxiety. Once there, he found an unassuming spot in the back of the venue and danced to his favorite genre of music: ska. During the 90s, Patrick loved ska quite a bit. As a drummer, it was his go-to style to play. And though he didn’t go to a lot...
2021-05-191h 03
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 17: Kamala Lyn Parks (Book Your Own Fucking Life, Plot 66)In 1989, east bay punk musician and booker Kamala Lyn Parks was getting a ton of calls from bands asking if she’d book a tour for them. She didn’t even know most of them! She was so fed up with the unsolicited calls, she vented about it to Maximum RocknRoll founder Tim Yohannan: “I want to tell these bands to go book their own f*****g tour.” Tim, amused by her outburst, suggested she write an article telling these bands just how to book their own tours. This article was so popular, it would ultimately inspire the Maxim...
2021-05-121h 25
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 16: Jeff Rosenstock (Bomb The Music Industry, Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Death Rosenstock)In 2016 some group calling themselves Skankral Ska Hotel released an all ska version of Neutral Milk Hotel’s indie opus In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Interesting concept, terrible execution—deliberately so—with ska being the punchline. But imagine if a band made an all ska version of a classic album, but did it well. This is exactly what Jeff Rosenstock did. And the brilliant album he turned into ska, was his own, the critically acclaimed 2020 release NO DREAM. He called the album SKA DREAM and presented it potentially as an April Fool’s joke, with absurd ska pun t...
2021-05-051h 08
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 15: Slapstick (Brendan Kelly, Rob Kellenberger)Ska-hating punk rockers will permit a few ska bands in their playlist. Operation Ivy, of course, is fine. Also, Chicago’s Slapstick is a perfectly fine ska band. Like Operation Ivy, they were a short-lived, gritty punk band that also happened to play ska. But in the case of Slapstick, it was in the mid-90s during the ska-boom, and they had a raging horn section. Slapstick could have been huge. They were offered a contract with Epitaph, which they turned down. They broke up not long after. Who knows what would have been if they’d relea...
2021-04-2854 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 14: Jeremy Hunter (Skatune Network, JER, We Are The Union)In December 2016, multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Hunter got bored and decided to record a ska cover of “Feliz Navidad,” calling it “Feliz NaviSKA.” This silly idea got a lot of eyeballs, way more than they anticipated, so Jeremy kept recording ska covers of songs by Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Blink 182 and other groups. The views continued to grow. This was the birth of SkaTune Network, a YouTube channel with nearly 200,000 subscribers, and several viral videos. Jeremy is our guest on In Defense of Ska. They have shocked countless people outside of the ska scene who’ve assumed the music is de...
2021-04-211h 14
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 13: Duck (Joystick!)“I’m new and improved. So much better than I used to be. I was an awful alcoholic. I was a shitty drunk, and fucked up on drugs.”These are Duck’s words from the song “Rinse and Repeat” off the new Joystick album, I Can’t Take It Anymore (release date April 16). It, the band’s 4th full length, is a great skacore album, with a heavy dose of hardcore, mixed with an almost jazzy style of ska. If there were ever any doubts that ska-punk is more than just silly music, this album puts thoughts to rest. It’s a...
2021-04-1452 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 12: Leanor Ortega Till (Five Iron Frenzy)A decade ago, the idea of crowd-funding a record was still somewhat novel. One of the earliest successes was, in 2011, when Christian ska band Five Iron Frenzy used Kickstarter to raise over $200,000 for a new album—their goal was $30,000. For a lot of people, this seemed out of nowhere. Who was still listening to—not just ska—but Christian ska? A lot of people were. But Five Iron Frenzy was not just part of some specific, niche Christian ska scene. They’d built a loyal, hardcore fanbase by operating entirely in their own sphere. Rather than choose between t...
2021-04-071h 06
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 11: Thou (Bryan Funck, Mitch Wells)For the last fifteen years, Louisiana doom metal band Thou has filled eardrums with unsettling noise, and guttural screams. They are a magnificent group, one of the few sludge metal bands that gets accolades from music critics at typically-tame venues like NPR. However great this attention has been, the critics at NPR have failed to ask Thou one specific, but incredibly important question: Do they like ska? The answer is a little complicated. To help unravel this complicated question, Thou lead singer Bryan Funck and bassist Mitch Wells were kind enough to join us on In Defense o...
2021-03-311h 15
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 10: Clemente Ruiz (Evoekore Media, La Resistencia)Los Angeles has one of the best ska scenes in the country. A huge part of that is because, in LA’s Latino neighborhoods, ska is really popular. Over the past decade, festivals like Los Angeles Skawars & L.A. Skacore Invasion have brought thousands of kids out to local parks and underground spaces to skank with all their might and sing along to their favorite bands. These festivals are strictly DIY and showcase mostly local bilingual ska bands, as well as groups from Mexico, and occasionally bands from the larger US ska scene. And at the heart of this vi...
2021-03-241h 18
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 9: Steve Choi (RX Bandits, The Chinkees)The late ’90s were a busy time for Steve Choi. While he was playing drums in the punk band The Blockheads—a band that Lookout Records were considering signing—Mike Park invited him to join his new all-Asian ska-punk group The Chinkees. At the same time, he moved to Santa Cruz and filled in on various instruments with Slow Gherkin. Oh and somewhere in there, he played keyboards with The Specials for a tour. As a child, Steve was given a formal education in music. But ska and punk music allowed him to let go of all the com...
2021-03-171h 30
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 8: Brian Diaz (Edna's Goldfish, The Reunion Show)In 1999, Long Island ska band Edna’s Goldfish got a few plays on MTV with the video for their ultra-catchy song “Veronica Sawyer.” Behind the scenes, the group was being courted by major labels wanting to “take them to the next level.” But the band’s indifference to label support and the changing tides away from ska in the mainstream ultimately flat-lined any of these plans. They broke up in 2000 with no record deal to hold on to. Our guest today is Edna’s Goldfish’s lead singer Brian Diaz, who would go on to form a few other bands a...
2021-03-101h 28
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 7: Alex Begay (The Crack Shack)Touring as an indie musician often leads to playing unexpected spaces. When my band, Flat Planet, toured the US in the mid-90s, we played skate parks, backyards, public parks, recording studios, trailer parks, and one time we played in the middle of the desert, thirty miles from Las Vegas with nothing but a generator and a few lights. Adam Davis, co-host of this podcast, also played a ton of DIY spaces while touring with Link 80 in the late 90s and early 2000s. Of all venues he played, one of his all-time favorite spots was “The Crack Shack,” an aban...
2021-03-0346 min
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 5: Barry Johnson (Joyce Manor)Music critics love Joyce Manor’s blend of Jawbreaker, The Smiths, Guided By Voices and Weezer—and cite these influences with delight. But in every conversation music bloggers have about the band, they fail to mention the role that ska has had on Joyce Manor singer-songwriter Barry Johnson. Skaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!As a teenager, Barry fell in love with ska. His introduction to indie rock even came from getting into Asian Man Records ska bands (MU330, Slow Gherkin) and then checking out some of the non-ska bands on the label. The first band of note he played in, K...
2021-02-171h 14
In Defense of SkaIn Defense of Ska Ep. 4: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin: (Link 80, Scream)Matt Bettinelli-Olpin was a founding member of East Bay ska-core band Link 80. The band members started playing together in 1993 while they were young teens. Their first album, 17 Reasons, was released in 1997 on Asian Man Records—the first official release on the label not including albums that were brought over from Dill Records. 17 Reasons is a truly unique ska-punk record that blends hardcore, street punk, ska and filters it through an abrasive Gilman vibe and has surprisingly loose grooves mixed in with its intense punk rock explosions. The group gained some notoriety for being the ska-punk band that rom...
2021-02-101h 37