In Defense of Ska (Aaron Carnes)

In 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 & Reggae Festival. The crew expand upon the topics touched on each of their respective past episodes, trade stories, and more. Hear the amazing conversation.

Sign up to the IDOS Patreon to listen to the entire episode. 

Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new

On this special teaser of In Defense of Ska, season 1 guest Nick Lavallee returns to tell the story of getting Manchester — his hometown — recognized as the Chicken Tender Capital of the World. Listen to the teaser, and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to In Defense of Ska wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn about who invented the chicken tenders, how different they are from the way fast food/diners make them, and get the low-down on where to get some of these OG tendies.

If you’d like to hear this entire Chicken Tender conversation, sign up to the In Defense of Ska Patreon NOW, where you'll also get other ad-free episodes with bonus content.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

What drives a musician to play music overtly rooted in traditional ska and rocksteady? And how do they honor the roots while simultaneously giving it a contemporary flavor? This is the subject this week for our conversation with Jeremy Peña of the band The Bandulus. Their new record Tell It Like It Is dropped on March 8, 2024. It is both lush and raw; rickety and tight. Jeremy walks us through the recording of the album, the thought process behind the songwriting and the influences that went into the record. 

Listen to Jeremy Pena go deep into The Bandulus' story on this episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Nathan Gray has played music with their band Boysetsfire for decades. But only once during the band’s run did they dabble in ska (“Deja Coup”). But that has completely changed now with Nathan’s new group, The Iron Roses, a joyful punk band with heavy doses of ska and reggae. The joy in the band is purposeful, a middle finger aimed at the rise in racism, homophobia, transphobia and fascism, making ska the perfect vehicle for the band’s message. 

This week we speak to Nathan and Iron Roses’ co-lead vocalist Beck Fontaine. The group released their debut, self-titled record in October 2023. They’ve already done some touring and are really excited about the band. And they have big plans for 2024. It’s a great record, and they play ska well. But the question on our minds was, where did this band—totally unconnected from the ska scene, with little history playing the genre—come from? And what motivated them to go all in on ska-punk in 2023? 

We talk about Nathan’s love for The English Beat, The Specials, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear and Trojan Records skinhead reggae. Also, we talk about Becky’s history with musical theater and how that informs The Iron Roses’ unique approach to lead vocals. Plus, we learn that co-host Adam Davis was an extra in the film adaptation of Rent! 

Nathan talks about the new ska bands that inspire them (We Are The Union, Catbite, Kill Lincoln), the important message in Iron Roses’ song “Old Guard,” and we learn about Nathan’s long and difficult journey in coming out as non-binary. Plus, we learn all about how Nathan spoke out against Pantera playing a music festival Boysetsfire was booked to play (due to lead singer Phil Anselmo’s history of racism). And they tell us about their long friendship and admiration for Frank Turner. 

Plus, we all took a moment to discuss how much we love the film Swing Kids. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to In Defense of Ska wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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 section sliding, it sometimes added an unsettling effect to their lines, a curious, unique sound that further distinguished them from other 90s ska bands.

Today we celebrate one of the best ’90s ska bands, by hanging out with their incredible horn section: Trombonist Rob Bell and trombonist Gerry Lundquist. For anyone who toured during the ’90s or early 2000s, it was common knowledge that Rob and Gerry were incredible, hilarious, and always a delight to hang out with. They zoomed in to talk to us from a St. Louis bar of course! 

We talk about tattoos, touring with Link 80, weird experiences in Europe, Rob winning the Buddy Lee jump rope contest, Rob hanging out with Against Me’s Laura Jane Grace, Devil sticks, and garlic ice cream at the Gilroy Garlic Festival

We also talk about Gerry moving to St. Louis and staying at Dan Potthast’s house, beer farming, Rob seeing The Cramps (his first punk show), their experience playing The Outhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, and the infamous Link 80 Fireworks War. 

Plus, Rob reveals to us exactly who Pepe is! 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Hard Times recently declared Flying Raccoon Suit to be the best ska band out of Mississippi. But, as good as they are, they don’t have a lot of competition—they don’t live in an area filled with ska or punk bands. But part of their charm is this very thing—they bring different influences and life experiences to ska.

This is especially apparent in their new highly diverse album, Moonflower, which was released on Bad Times Records on November 3rd. This week, we bring on FRS members Andrew Heaton and Jessica Jeansonne to discuss the band’s history, life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and their excellent new record. 

But we also talk about Garfield, Jessica’s cartoon character voices, how Andrew plays guest horn in every band, growing up steeped in jazz, and how they searched high and low for the weirdest pizza on tour. 

We also talk about NOFX’s “Darby Crashing Your Party” music video, which took its premise from Flying Raccoon Suit’s “Swan Song” video. We talk about guest horn player Eric Molina getting stuck in Canada. And we talk about Duck’s upcoming horror movie, Amityvillenado. 

Plus, we learn the truth about Flying Raccoon Suit: They’re just a bunch of anxious goobers. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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 Ska hosts, along with Pezzimenti and Nugent, run through the examples in the band's discography and attempt to answer the greatest question of our time -- can the ska community claim The Beatles?

Along the way, the gang also touches on Cod reggae, Fela Kuti, and Prince Buster. Nugent also attempts to argue that, in reality, The Beatles invented ska-punk -- a spicy hot take.

Listen to all of this and more above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

Additionally, you can support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy the new expanded, 2nd edition of his book, In Defense of Ska. Co-host Adam Davis also has a band called Omnigone, whose latest record, Feral, was released last year.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

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The past few years have felt like something of a modern renaissance for hardcore music. There's Soul Glo, Scowl, Sunami, and other bands whose names presumably start with the letter "S." On this episode of In Defense of Ska, the crew swaps out that "S" for a "Z" to chat with Braxton Marcellous, guitarist of Zulu. Listen now.

Marcellous chats about everything from his work with Zulu to the Southern California scene to, of course, ska music. As it turns out, the guitarist was in a ska band in high school and has attended his fair share of ska shows. From skanking to two-stepping!

The crew also dives into Braxton’s love for glam metal, his Van Halen and Sublime tattoos, and his initial reaction to hearing the band Choking Victim. Then, they touch on Zulu’s excellent recent album, A New Tomorrow, which has plenty of non-hardcore interludes.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

Support The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource Tab

We need more ska supergroups! Mutiny and Rude Girl Revue are both amazing. But today we reveal that Joan Jett the Blackhearts drummer Michael McDermott is in the ska group The Kilograms, which formed in 2023, along with Mighty Mighty Bosstones bassist Joe Gittleman, THEE Sammy Kay, Craig Gorsline and J Duckworth. After a handful of releases, on April 4, they release their debut LP, Beliefs and Thieves. 

We had a delightful conversation with Michael about the Kilograms, Joan Jett and his string of ska and punk bands he’s drummed in since the ’90s: The Bouncing Souls, Murphy’s Law, Skinnerbox, Stubborn All Stars, Mephiskapheles, and apparently, he played percussion for The Slackers one time. 

Plus, we learn which stage one of the biggest shows McDermott ever played was: WWE SmackDown!

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

Support The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource Tab

This week on In Defense of Ska, Jawbreaker drummer Adam Pfahler discuss his long-time love of ska, the band existing as a touchstone for future emo bands, and battling notions of selling out when touring with Nirvana. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.

As far as bands go, Jawbreaker have quite the story. They've influenced a multiple generations of emo musicians, were called sellouts for signing to a major label, and played a reunion show at Riot Fest that had infinitely more people than they’d ever played to when they were an active band. One thing they’re not famous for, however, is liking ska -- but Pfahler joins In Defense of Ska to set the record straight.

The drummer explains that he was not only catching various ska bands in the early '80s, but that he continues to seek out music from the genre. Then, in between conversation about burritos and how to best organize records, he details Jawbreaker's tour with Nirvana, for which they were labeled sellouts.

Listen to Jawbreaker's Adam Pfahler talk about his love of ska and more in this episode of In Defense of Ska above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Did 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. 

Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

This week on In Defense of Ska, the crew takes a look at the Native Nations punk and ska scenes in the southwest. To help them out, Lo Cash Ninjas' Jordan Steele joins the conversation to talk about the homegrown music communities in the area. Listen now.

Touring punk and ska bands have been playing DIY venues in Native Nations cities as long as DIY touring has been a thing. As a result, the local scene has continued to be a hotbed for alternative culture and punk music. With help from Steele, In Defense of Ska takes a look at its history.

Make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

One 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 for Esteban Flores’ birthday. On the other end of the spectrum, we talk about how they’ve backed several Jamaican legends like Stranger Cole, Pat Kelly, the Clarendonians, the Pioneers, and more. 

We also talk about them playing the Los Angeles Skawars festival, and opening for Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and we break down several important figures in LA’s trad ska scene like Chris Murray, Aggrolites, See Spot, The Expanders, Mobtown, and Luis Correa of Steady Beat. The Steady 45's also talk about their new record, Swing & Sway/Don’t Be Late. 

Listen to The Steady 45's on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will be released in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

One of our favorite guests, Victor Rice, is back! He listened to our discussion with Daraka Larimore-Hall about whether third-wave ska deserves the backlash it got, and it got Victor thinking. He wanted to share his thoughts with us. So we went behind the curtain, so he could get comfortable and speak his mind. 

Is Ska a four-letter word? 

This is the conversation you've waited for. Sign up to the In Defense of Ska Patreon to listen to it now. 

Follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On this episode of In Defense of Ska, Ceci Bastida chats about Tijuana No, the world of international ska in the '90s, and her new solo record Everything Taken Away.

Bastida takes listeners through the history of Tijuana No, one of the most important bands to come out of the Mexican ska movement. The vocalist and keyboardist runs through the act's early days, their attempts to break into the American market, and how one of her band members eventually became a pop superstar.

The artist also touches on her solo work, from her new album Everything Taken Away to her incredible cover of Suicidal Tendencies’ classic cut “Institutionalized,” which features original Suicidal Tendencies members. She then reflects on the political topics that make their way into her music, as well as musical influences like The Clash.

Listen to Ceci Bastida on the In Defense of Ska podcast. Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

This week on In Defense of Ska, author Daniel Rachel discuss his book, Too Much Too Young -- The 2 Tone Records Story: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Rachel tells the story of how 2 tone spread all over the world. While many of the scene's bands were largely cult artists outside of England, they planted seeds for new, important ska scenes around the world. In celebration of how socially 2 tone's sonic and political importance, author Daniel Rachel presents an in-depth look at the genre's place in music history. You can pre-order it here.

Listen to Rachel go deep on 2 Tone's fascinating history on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Musician and composer Jeff Rosentsock and show-creator Ben Levin join In Defense of Ska to chat about the music behind Craig of the Creek. Both products of ska-punk love, the series' music skanks pretty hard, and that's no accident. The two also get into it about Rancid, ska-tastic collaborations, and dealing with stress.

Listen to Ben Levin and Jeff Rosenstock chat about ska, Craig of the Creek, Rancid, and more above. You can also follow the series wherever you get your podcast, or get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On this episode of In Defense of Ska, '90s skacore legends Voodoo Glow Skulls chat about recording in Spanish, influencing Vampire Weekend, sampling Cheech & Chong, and more. Listen now.

Founding members Eddie and Jorge Casillas join In Defense of Ska to chat about their irreverent sample choices, the story behind albums like Who Is, This Is? and Firme, and taking influence from the likes of Fishbone and Skeletones. They two also discuss influencing Vampire Weekend, who they're opening for at the Hollywood Bowl on June 12th (get tickets here).

Listen to Voodoo Glows Skulls on the In Defense of Ska podcast. Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

The Police exploded in the late 70s. By the early ’80s they were one of the biggest bands in the world with countless hits like “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” and “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.” They were classified as New Wave, but ska and reggae were prominent influences in their songs. Their popularity pre-dated the 2 Tone ska explosion. Nearly all of those bands—The Specials, The Selecter, Madness, The Beat, The Bodysnatchers, Bad Manners—opened up for The Police at some point. 

Today we bring on The Police’s drummer, Stewart Copeland. His drumming was highly informed by ska/reggae. In fact, he was the first member of the group to fall in love with the music. We discuss The Police’s career, 2 Tone ska, reggae drumming and also talk about his new book, Stewart Copeland’s Police Diaries. 

We also talk about how The Police were “fake punks” during the UK British movement, Stewart’s first time seeing The Specials at The Hammersmith Palais and talking to Madness’ singer Suggs about the show. We talk about UB40’s place in the 2 Tone scene, as well as the important role that Stewart’s brothers Miles and Ian played in all of this music gaining a larger audience. 

We talk about Don Letts role in popularizing reggae among punks, British skinheads, how Stewart discovered reggae in Berkeley (and how he found similarities to the Baladi music he heard as a child growing up in Egypt and Beirut.) And we talk about his weird side project Klark Kent, who actually scored a hit single before The Police! 

Plus, Stewart gives us an impassioned rant about music that is aimed at The Specials leader Jerry Dammers. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

After forming in 1995, The Adjusters quickly made a name for themselves in the bustling Chicago scene for their blend of ska and soul, as well as their intensely political edge. Over time, the group has only gotten more and more active. Lead vocalist Daraka Larimore-Hall joins In Defense of Ska this week to dive into the band's history, their overtly socialist politics, and the direction ska took in the '90s. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

The Adjusters may not have ever been chart-toppingly huge, and that may have been because they didn't fit in with the typical third-wave pop-punk/ska stylings that dominated the late '90s. In between exploring the band's origins and political views, Larimore-Hall explains why he's hesitant to even call these groups "ska," pointing out how their connection to the genre's Jamaican roots are distant at best. (Before you get your pitchforks out, though, he also has plenty of praise to sing for the genre! The dude was in a ska band!)

Listen to Daraka Larimore-Hall talk about The Adjusters and '90s ska on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

Check out Daraka’s podcast here! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In Defense of Ska is taking a few weeks off for the holidays, but don’t worry, there still will be an episode every Wednesday! We’re re-running our favorite episodes from Season 1, and to start things off, we’re re-running our interview with Hepcat. 

Hepcat was one of the first US ska bands to take heavy influence from ’60s trad-ska. For this episode, which dropped back in 2021, we brought on drummer Greg Narvas and lead singer Greg Lee. They talked primarily about their experiences growing up in LA in the ’80s and the long journey to discovering the original style of ska. 

We tragically lost Greg Lee earlier this year. So, this episode is dedicated to his memory and everything he contributed to ska, this vibrant subculture, and all the smiles he brought to people’s faces. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On 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.

The group released their debut, self-titled EP on SPI Records in February, despite having yet to all be in the same room together. Fortunately, three members have sat down to talk about the project and its connection with the other related bands.

Listen to Mutiny talk together about the project on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

One 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, including Gnarboots with Adam Davis and Aaron Carnes, hosts of the In Defense of Ska podcast. So you can imagine that Gnarboots stories were told!

Make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In Defense of Ska is still on break for the holidays, but don’t worry, there will still be an episode every Wednesday! We’re re-running our favorite episodes from Season 1, and this week we’re revisiting our all-time favorite episode: Tim Cappello.

"Who is Tim Cappello?," some of you may be asking. If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably saw him in the horror film The Lost Boys. He had a small part early in the film, playing sax and singing “I Still Believe” on an outdoor stage. It is one of the most iconic scenes in ’80s cinema. 

But Tim is a legit musician who has played with Tina Turner, Carly Simon, Peter Gabriel, and Billy Crystal. He also has the best stories! So join us this week and sit back and listen to Tim tell us his tales. You won’t regret a single moment. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

This week on In Defense of Ska, the crew asks a question that has been on everyone's mind: What the hell is crack rock steady? Along with author and fellow ska-enjoyer Jeff Burk, the crew discusses the subgenre in all of its glory. Listen now.

The gang tackles everything from crack rock steady's unique musical elements to its aesthetic to its lyrical approach. Along the way, they chat about the groups that helped forge the style, like Choking Victim and Leftover Crack. Don't worry, they also give some of the of the lesser-known but just as important acts their flowers too, like Public Serpents, No Cash, and Team Spider.

They also talk about the Stza problem, debate which of the bands Burk likes the most, and take a look at where the genre is now.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

Support The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource Tab

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The Slits’ 1979 debut album Cut is considered to be one of the most important post-punk albums of all time thanks to its novel combination of reggae and punk. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie, who also worked on Cut with The Slits, to talk about revolutionary record and more.

Budgie discusses the recording of Cut, detailing the design of his beats for the record. He also talks about his relationship to singer Ari Up and how she had a love for pop music, as well as the experience of working with producer Dennis Bovell.

Throughout the discussion, Budgie touches on his earliest drumming influences and his first few experiences working with ska-adjacent music, including how he learned to play reggae on the drums. He also talks about the two-tone Ska movement, which was popping up around the same time as Cut, and his feelings towards it. The gang then launches into a discussion about the best drummer of all time John Bonham, with Budgie sharing his thoughts about the legendary Led Zeppelin stickman.

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

At the moment, Dubioza Kolektiv are one of the biggest ska bands in Europe. The Bosnia-based group melds ska, reggae, hip-hop, and alt-rock, fusing it all with traditional Balkan elements. This week on In Defense of Ska, the band joins the podcast to talk about their sound, their story, Eurovision, and more. Listen now.

Dubioza Kolektiv chat about the time they almost made it on Eurovision, what it was like to grow up during the Bosnian War (and how they would sneak off to shows), and meeting Bill Gould of Faith No More. Elsewhere, they discuss the distinctly Balkan approach they take when it comes to their art and career. The In Defense of Ska crew also learn that the band has only been to the United States once -- something that must be rectified for the sake of American ska fans!

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

In Defense of Ska is taking a few weeks off for the holidays. But don’t worry, we're re-running our favorite episodes from Season 1 to hold everyone over. This week, we’re revisiting an early episode that many of our listeners missed with Alex Begay about the Tuba City venue The Crack Shack. 

Back in the early 2000s, the Crack Shack was one of the wildest, coolest DIY venues. It was located in the Native Nations community, Tuba City in north Arizona. The venue was pretty much an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere. A bunch of bands played there including The Slackers, Link 80, Falling Sickness, and This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb. 

We wanted to re-run this episode because, earlier this year, we spoke with Jordan Steele of Lo-Cash Ninjas. He spoke about The Crack Shack briefly. So, we wanted our listeners to get the venue’s full story.

We’ll be back with a new episode next week. See you then! 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

For this month's bonus episode, we aim the spotlight at Tampa ska band Foolish Relics. Lead singer Dino Rustin tells us about his father's battle with pancreatic cancer and how he's written about the experience on their new song, "Forget About Tomorrow (Is This Hell?)" We also talk about Foolish Relics partnership with Project Purple, a pancreatic cancer foundation. 

After our conversation, there are a few other fun PATREON-EXCLUSIVE odds and ends to listen to.

This is the conversation you've waited for. Sign up to the In Defense of Ska Patreon to listen to it now. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Ska 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, lovers rock, British dancehall, and more.

There's also talk of British pirate radio, the influence of Capdown, and the unknown number of instruments Skints band member Marcia Richards can play.

Listen to all of this and more above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

Additionally, you can support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy the new expanded, 2nd edition of his book, In Defense of Ska. Co-host Adam Davis also has a band called Omnigone, whose latest record, Feral, was released last year.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

Support The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource Tab

Believe it or not, back in the late '90s, Christian ska was all the rage. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, the hosts tap into their inner musicologists and explore the bands, sounds, and culture of such a movement. Listen now.

The gang takes a look at the 'big three' of Christian ska, examining the likes of Five Iron Frenzy, The Supertones, and The Insyderz. They also dial in on the Supertones' sophomore record, The Supertones Strike Back, which went on quite a commercial run at the time of its release.

Elsewhere, the hosts chat with two people who were there to witness the rise and fall of Christian ska: Jordan Morris (of Jordan, Jesse, Go) and Kevin T. Porter (of Good Christian Fun). The duo discuss the music, television shows, and legacy of the niche micro-genre, as well as anti-masturbation songs and Katy Perry’s Christian (and ska) roots.

Listen to Jordan Morris and Kevin T. Porter talk about Christian Ska on the In Defense of Ska podcast. Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

There are a lot of great punk festivals these days: Punk Rock Bowling, Fest, No Values, just to name a few. Most of them book at least a few ska bands, but one of the best — Mosswood Meltdown — has held out. This week on In Defense ofSka, the hosts take a field trip to the Oakland event to ask attendees if ska would be a welcome addition to next year’s lineup. Listen to their findings.

This year's Mosswood Meltdown music festival boasted a kick-ass lineup, with the likes of The B-52’s, Big Freedia, The Mummies, Pansy Division, Pure Hell, and more taking the stage. Not to mention, the great John Waters hosted the event. But one thing was missing... ska!

Is it time for Mosswood Meltdown to pick it up? In Defense of Ska certainly thinks so, but are they alone? They ask attendees and punk fans to find out!

Make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

One of the first ska bands to really pop off on the radio in the '90s was a humble little act called Goldfinger. Bolstered by hits like "Here in Your Bedroom" and "Superman," the band became one of the best-known projects in the scene. This week on In Defense of Ska, Goldfinger frontman John Feldmann joins the podcast to chat about the band's history, legacy, and more. Listen now.

Feldmann runs through the history of Goldfinger, from the early days to singing with Mojo Records to penning radio hits. He touches on the band's workhorse mentality, playing 385 shows within one year, and the many bands he's produced for (like The Used, 311, Avril Lavigne, Blink-182, Good Charlotte, and 5 Seconds of Summer).

Listen to Goldfinger's John Feldmann all of this and more, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Also be sure to enter for your chance to win tickets to Supernova Ska Fest 2024 by filling out this entry form, following and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, and/or subscribing to the In Defense of Ska Patreon. The contest ends September 9th, so don't miss out!

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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 band supplements such fun-loving energy with vulnerable, personal storytelling for Echoes and Ghosts. Diving into the mental health journey that inspired much of the lyrics on the album, the band opens up about depression, anxiety, OCD, and experiences with medication.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

While the late 2000s wasn't exactly a booming time for the genre of ska, the 2009 ska-injected song "The Gigantic Robot Kills" was able to leave its mark. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes nerdcore rapper MC Lars to talk about the story behind the song, his history with the genre, and more.

"The Gigantic Robot Kills" was the product of numerous musical collaborations. MC Lars talks about all of the folks that were involved in the construction of this song, from the featured artists Suburban Legends and MC Bat Commander to the demo that was originally created with Wheatus. He also touches on the involvement of Wesley Willis, as well as the unbelievable time he got to work on a song with "Weird" Al.

Music, particularly ska music, has been a large part of MC Lars' life for a long time. The rapper talks about the many artists that he has seen in concert that have inspired him, including Fall Out Boy and Less Than Jake. He even got to see co-host Adam Davis' old band Link 80 in concert when he was in high school.

Then, MC Lars lets some of his hot takes rip, including his thoughts on mainstream emo and whether Hot Topic could be considered punk rock.

Listen to MC Lars' conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

This week on In Defense of Ska, Dunia Best returns alongside her brother Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel films (!!). Listen to their conversation and learn about the Ska Wars.

Dunia had previously joined the podcast in 2022 to chat about her '90s ska band Agent 99, her time in The Slackers, and her current projects like Rude Girl Revue and Aram. This time, she's brought back up in the form of her brother Ahmed, who in addition to playing Jar Jar Binks, is something of a ska musician himself.

Ahmed frequently filled in on drums for Agent 99, played in the group The Jazzhole, and even backed artists like Jeff Buckley and The Fugees. Such gigs led him to Stomp, which eventually landed him an audition to join the Star Wars universe. The rest, as they say, is history (from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away).

Together, Dunia and Ahmed Best chat about their upbringing, share stories from the '90s, and more. Listen to the two's conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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 process to the content. (Speaking of the content, Consequence debuted a preview of the new chapters earlier this week, with an excerpt focusing on the rise and return of Christian ska band Five Iron Frenzy.) Elsewhere, Carnes talks about his work in fiction writing, as well, including his actual first book, a collection of short stories called True Stories from a Wasteland Called Earth.

So, listen to Aaron Carnes' conversation about ska and his new book, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also enter to win a signed copy of IDOS:SNMTEE, Omnigone's new album Feral on vinyl, an In Defense of SkaT-shirt, and a collection of stickers here. Also make sure to check out Carnes' list of 20 Artists You Didn't Know Were in Ska Bands Before They Got Famous.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In 1976, a couple friends got together and started a band. They called themselves the North London Invaders, but after quickly rethinking the branding, changed their name to Madness, a reference to a Prince Buster song. Sixteen top-ten hits later, and the band is one of the most successful acts to come out of the two-tone era. This week on In Defense of Ska, Madness' Suggs explores the band's journey, revisits stories from their past, and dives into their 2023 album Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

As a member of Madness, Suggs has had a litany of wild experiences, causing trouble and bumping into other rock stars (sometimes pissing them off to no end). From meeting Price Buster to their appearance on Saturday Night Live, their massive hit "Our House" to hanging out with Clara Peller (of "Where’s the Beef” fame), Suggs has no shortage of stories. Sometimes such stories have a happy ending, and other times, they end with The Clash not speaking to Madness for half a decade.

Listen to Madness' Suggs tell these stories and more this episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Madness is also gearing up for their first US tour in 12 years. Get tickets here.

Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here. Additionally, you can support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Let In Defense of Ska introduce you to The Chains, a new ska band out hailing from Denmark. Their sound leans heavily into traditional ska, rock steady, and boss reggae, and they put out a killer album last year, Crying on the Dancefloor. This week on the podcast, the band joins the crew to chat about the ska scene in Denmark, their new music, and more. Listen now.

Ahead of their set at this year's Supernova International Ska Festival, The Chains talk through their formation and the journey to recording Crying on the Dancefloor. Along the way, they share various ska-related opinions, touch on their local scene, and share some interesting recording techniques. Plus, hear about the band's connection to RX Bandit and Link 80 member Steve Borth.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

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Half Past Two have been around for almost two decades, and yet they still feel like a breath of fresh air in the ska scene. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, lead vocalist Tara Hahn and guitarist Max Beckman discuss the band's history and their brand new album, Talk iI Killing Me (out April 19th). Listen now.

Formed in August 2006, Half Past Two effectively came up during the "dark ages" of ska. And yet, they persevered, helping build a sustainable scene in Orange County in the mid-2000s. Now just under twenty years on, the band takes a look back at their journey, ultimately explaining how they've found a new home on Bad Time Records.

Listen to Half Past Two talk about Talk Is Killing Me on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Thanks in part to hit songs like "Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu" and "My Girl Lollipop," Bad Manners were one of the most notable groups to come from the '80s ska revival in Britain. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes Bad Manners founding member and trumpet player Paul Hyman to talk about the history of the group, British ska music, and more. Listen now.

An original member of Bad Members, Hyman tells stories of the band's origins and rise. He touches on finally breaking into the UK Singles Charts, meeting bandmates in school, and Bad Members' reputation as "backstreet weirdos." He then discusses the artists he took particular inspiration from, like Genesis, J. Geils Band, Van Morrison, and Monty Python.

Hyman also talks about his feelings on Bad Manners being labeled a “novelty band,” as well as how they got banned from Italian television and their connection to The Beatles. All of which leads to the story of the end of his tenure with the group.

Listen to Hyman's conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Dr. Ring Ding joins In Defense of Ska to chat about the origins of the European ska scene, his own journey of falling in love with the genre, and the German ska bands he looks up to. Listen now.

Initially popularized by two-tone bands like Madness, The Specials, and The Selecter, ska eventually made its way into different pockets of Europe. One of these pockets was Germany, where a young Dr. Ring Ding fell in love with the genre's unique stylings.

Dr. Ring Ding tells the story of how he discovered ska -- shouting out bands like The Busters, The Butlers, Skaos, Blechreiz, No Sports, and The Braces along the way -- as well as how he got into the scene himself. He touches on his first group, Dr Ring Ding and the Senior Allstars, and runs through his now massive discography.

Listen to Dr. Ring Ding on the In Defense of Ska podcast. Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On this week's episode of In Defense of Ska, Illuminati Hotties creative force Sarah Tudzin discusses how her ska roots continue to inform her current artistic output. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.

The artist grew up going to punk and ska shows in Southern California, and the influence of such experiences continues to have a major influence on her work. Look no further than her recent collaboration with JER, as she provided guest vocals for Skatune Network's cover of Pain's "Jabberjaw Running Underwater" and had the ska-fluencer jump on her song "Joni: LA's No. 1 Health Goth."

Listen to Tudzin go deep on her history with ska on the latest episode of In Defense of Ska above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Hey Ya'll,

Aaron is midway through his book tour for the expanded 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska. As he prepares for the next leg, he wanted to share a recording of his recent Portland event, which was at Rose City Book Pub, hosted by the one and only Jeff Burk. If you’d like to listen to the entire episode, sign up to the IDOS Patreon. 

If you want to catch Aaron on one of his upcoming dates on the 2nd half of my tour, they are listed here: 

Dec 5: Barnes & Noble in Philadelphia w/ Sadie Dupuis and Jim McGuinn (6p)

Dec 6: Broken Goblet Brewing in Bensalem, PA with Marc Wasserman and Hub City Stompers (7p)

Dec 7: Scottish Dave’s Pub in Clinton, CT w/ PWRUP & Kmoy The Band (7p)

Deb 8: St. Marks Comedy Club in New York City w/ Turner Sparks and Andrew Sacher of Brooklyn Vegan (3p)

Dec 14: Hey Cafe in New Orleans. New Orleans ska panel discussion

Dec 19: Art Boutiki in San Jose w/ Mat Weir. Part of Drink & Draw. Music by Reggaedelic

Make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs is one of the biggest ska bands in the world. They formed in Argentina in 1985 and continue to be a major global force in ska and in pop music in general. But Los Fabulosos didn’t evolve out of thin air. This week, we get a crash course on ska’s history in Argentina. To walk us through this fascinating history, we chat with musician and ska historian Daniel Flores. He plays in the Argentinian trad ska band Satélite Kingston, he is the chief editor at Rolling Stone Argentina and he wrote a book in 2013 about the history of ska in Argentina called Manera Correcta De Gritar. 

In addition to Los Fabulosos, we talk about important Argentinian groups like Sumo, Los Auténticos Decadentes, Los Intocables, Los Pericos and others. We also talk about key moments like an early Police concert in Buenos Aires in the early ’80s as well as Mano Negra’s first performance in Argentina in the early ’90s. Plus, Daniel explains how important Madness were to the popularization of ska in Argentina.

We learn how different ska development was in Mexico and Argentina. And we even learn about an early figure in Argentina, Ronnie Montalban, who released the ska record Señor Canibal in ’60s. Plus, we discuss Argentina’s role in Rock en tu idioma movement in the ’80s.  

We also talk to Daniel about his history with ska, which includes a three year stint in Washington DC during his high school years, where he saw bands like The Skunks, The Toasters, Bim Skala Bim, Pietasters and a Mötley Crüe ska cover band called Skatley Crüe. 

We learn all about Daniel’s friendship with the Loving Pauper’s Jorge Pezzimenti. It all started in Sao Paulo, Brazil with copious drinks and karaoke. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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!

On this week on In Defense of Ska, The Planet Smashers' Matt Collyer chats with the crew about the history and impact of the Canadian ska scene. Listen now.

As listeners will learn, ska has had a presence in Canada since the 1980s thanks to bands like Me Mom and Morgentaler and King Apparatus. By the '90s, the two-tone-inspired work of such acts would give way to a new crop of artists, many of which called Stomp Records, perhaps Canada's biggest ska label, their home.

Collyer, Stomp Records' founder, chats about the development of the scene, as well as the success of his own act The Planet Smashers. He touches on the band's 1999 breakthrough Life of the Party, their intense touring regimen, and the bands that were doing it alongside them (like Bedouin Soundclash and The Flatliners). Ultimately, Collyer explains why he never took a major label offer and how that might have helped The Planet Smashers weather the ska music's waning popularity.

Listen to Matt Collyer talk about The Planet Smashers, Stomp Records, and more above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Since the dawn of time, many have pondered an important question: What is the most ska film? There are many contenders, but one that is certainly in contention is Bandslam, a 2009 cult-comedy about a group of high school students who compete in a battle of the bands competition. This week on In Defense of Ska, Bandslam director Todd Graff and Charlie Saxton, who played Bug, talk about the movie's ska references, their appreciation for ska, and more.

Graff and Saxton talk about the trials and tribulations they experienced while working on Bandslam. From the casting process to charting out the plot to the music selection, the two bring us behind the scenes. The explanation also includes details about rebuilding the famous punk club CBGB, as well as the David Bowie cameo, which marked the his last film appearance before his passing in 2016.

The two then talk about their respective ska roots, touching on why the genre is so important to them. Plus, Saxton previews his newest movie, Art of a Hit, which includes an embarrassing story featuring Rick Johnson.

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new

This week on In Defense of Ska, Frank Turner joins in to discuss growing up with UK skacore, finding a balance between his punkier and folkier tendencies, and his new album Undefeated. Listen now.

The English artist joins the In Defense of Ska crew to chat about both his presence in punk circles and singer-songwriter circles. He also, of course, gives his take on ska -- and as it turns out, he has quite a lot of thoughts on the genre!

He then details what it was like going to skacore shows in the 2000s, his experience touring with Interrupters, and NOFX covering his song "Thatcher Fucks the Kids." Elsewhere, the artist and performer dives into his new album Undefeated, loving Converge, and the worst shows he's ever played.

Listen to Frank Turner talk about on the In Defense of Ska podcast. Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

As you know, In Defense of Ska is taking a few weeks off for the holidays, but don’t worry, there will still be an episode every Wednesday! We’re re-running our favorite episodes from Season 1. This week, we’re re-running our first interview with Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump. 

We first chatted with Stump back in 2021 and learned that he is a huge ska fan (and very knowledgeable about the genre, as well!) Since that interview, I interviewed Patrick for the expanded 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska, and we spoke to him a 2nd time on this podcast. 

But this episode is where it all began. Listen to our shock every time he namechecks an obscure ska band. You can also hear his cover of Reel Big Fish’s “Sell Out.” He recorded all the instruments and vocals. It’s an amazing rendition.

This episode is the perfect way to entertain yourself while your hiding from your family this holiday season! 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

It'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 Goodwin, or directing music videos for Coldplay, the dude has certainly lived a life.

Elsewhere, the polymath also touches on photographer Hiro Tanaka, his acting experience, and (as promised) his close friendship with Mike Park.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

Donating for LA fires:

California Fire Foundation

Pasadena Humane

Mutual Aid LA

Support The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource Tab

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Nerdcore hip-hop entered mainstream consciousness in 2016 when a contestant on Jeopardy mentioned being a fan of the genre. Then, host Alex Trebek made a joke about fans of the genre being losers. Mega Ran, one of the main figures nerdcore (Hip-hop that focuses on video games, comic books, anime and other “nerd” topics) posted a diss back at Trebek. It quickly turned into a full on diss track with every major nerdcore rapper. At shows, Mega Ran had the audience shout, “Suck it Trebek!” 

Today we show how nerdcore is connected to ska. This year, Mega Ran released a kids album called Buddy’s Magic Toy Box, which has a ska song (“Recess”) on it. He modeled the song, after “Super Rad!” by The Aquabats. And he brought on Jer from Skatune Network as well as Stacked Like Pancakes to play on the track. It’s a killer song. Mega Ran’s relationship to ska goes even deeper. MC Lars introduced him to several artists in the genre years back. They’d listen to ska while on tour. Mega Ran loves the genre so much, he proudly wears a shirt that says, “Ska and Pro Wrestling are the Only Legitimate Forms of Art.” 

We discuss all of this as well as other tracks on Mega Ran’s record, Buddy’s Magic Toy Box. There’s songs about fruit, bullying, self-esteem and one on the history of rap music. It’s got a reggae groove as a tip of the hat to DJ Kool Herc and the genre’s Jamaican roots. We also talk about how Mega Ran got a song in Kevin Smith’s film Clerks 3. We talk about chip/ska artist Lo(u)ser ie Chris Graue. We discuss video game math rock band The Minibosses who famously cover the DuckTales theme song at their shows, and we talk about Mega Ran’s new music festival in Yuma, AZ called Dream Master Mixtape Music Festival. Former IDOS guests AJJ and Open Mike Eagle played the festival this year. 

Plus, with the help of IDOS friend Dane Jackson, we ask Mega Ran several pro-wrestling questions.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

This year’s Coachella belongs to ska. Or at least it’s the ska performances that are making all the headlines. And it makes sense. Sublime is back together. Jakob Nowell is fronting the band in place of his dad, Bradley Nowell. No Doubt played their first show in 9 years—and it leaned heavily into ska. Aquabats played a nearly 70% ska set. Even Vampire Weekend’s drummer was spotted sporting a Skankin’ Pickle shirt. Plus they played a couple of ska-influenced tunes.

So for this bonus episode, we ask ourselves if this is the most ska Coachella has ever had. If it hasn’t, then why in 2024 is ska a dominant part of Coachella’s story like never before?

Listen to this episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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!

Ska might seem like a somewhat insular scene, but in reality, many non-ska musicians have a deep appreciation for the genre. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, the crew examines the ska roots of Peal Jam’s Eddie Vedder, as well as the metal band Ice Nine Kills. Even better, Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas joins in on the fun! Listen now.

Both Vedder and Ice Nine Kills have recently released songs that expose their love for ska music; Vedder covered The English Beat's "Save It for Later" (which appeared in Season 3 of The Bear) and Ice Nine Kill dropped a ska-infused cover of "Walking on Sunshine," for which they enlisted the help of Reel Big Fish.

Also joining the conversation this week is author Marc Wasserman, who gives insight into how Vedder's history intersects with ska music. Listen to all of both his and Charnas' insight!

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

With their debut album having just dropped on September 20th, The Calamatix are hoping to make a name for themselves in the contemporary ska scene. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes The Calamatix's lead singer, Raylin Joy, to talk about the band's new self-titled album, her many songwriting sessions with Tim Armstrong, and more. Listen now.

Joy talks about her music history, and how she originally began her work in pop music in 2016. She mentions how she began writing the songs for this album in 2016 and how they were originally meant to just be a fun side hobby. However, the songs grew to be more meaningful, leading her to her polishing them and help found The Calamatix in 2022.

Mental health is also a topic of discussion, as Joy talks about how it has impacted her career and writing. She talks about how she sees The Calamatix as a product of her experience with depression. Joy also mentions how she believes that music styles like ska and reggae have a sort of healing power, which is a large part of her love for this music.

Listen to Hyman's conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Of the '90s bands that incorporated ska and reggae influences into their music, you don't get much bigger than 311. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, 311 frontman Nick Hexum chats about the band's legacy, playing with Fugazi, and the infamous Eric Andre Show bit. Listen now.

Hexum launches into a conversation about his personal relationship with ska music, as well as how such a relationship ultimately translated to the music of 311. He also touches on the various moments the band interacted with ska and reggae cultures, as well as why it was perhaps not the best idea to crush a couple beers backstage at a Fugazi show.

Elsewhere, Hexum touches on 311's running gag on The Eric Andre Show, his love for The Untouchables, and if Jeff Rosenstock will ever get to play the 311 cruise.

Listen to all of this and more on this episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. You can also listen to 311 bassist P-Nut on In Defense of Ska here.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Does being a ska fan inherently make someone an antifascist? While this topic gets frequently debated among ska fans, it’s important to remember that antiracism and antifascism have long been an important part of the ska scene. The 2 Tone ska bands were explicit in their stance. They came up at a time when fascism was on the rise in England, and they dealt with nazi skinheads at their shows. And the bands (mostly) didn’t shy away from confronting these nazis and putting them in their place. This battle has continued to be part of ska and punk as time has progressed. 

But what does it mean to be an antifascist. And how has the battle between white supremacists and anti-fascists changed over the years? This is the central question we address in this week’s episode with Josh Fernandez, author of the new book, The Hands that Crafted the Bomb: The Making of a Lifelong Antifascist, which will be released on PM Press on February 13, 2023. 

Josh started going to punk shows in Davis, CA in the late ’80s. Many Nazis invaded these shows, so he and his friends organized and fought back. He continues to oppose nazis, proud boys, Patriot Front and other far right groups in the street to this day. But the battleground is no longer punk shows. His book tells his story. The main thread is about how he was under investigation at the college he teaches at because he started an Campus Antifascist Network chapter there. He nearly lost his job. Teen Vogue even interviewed him about the experience. 

We also talk about Josh’s history as a music journalist, his horrible experiences interviewing David Choe and Immortal Technique, his love for Sublime, seeing Operation Ivy back in the day, why he doesn’t think colleges are actually leftist, and he talks about how running marathons helped him quit drugs. 

Plus, we learn which of his tattoos he likes the best! 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the current era of ska music, Kill Lincoln have established themselves as one of the leading figures. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes Kill Linoln's trombonist Ume to talk about joining the group, the band's upcoming album No Normal, and more. Listen now.

Ume tells the story about how he discovered ska when he was in Japan and how he has felt connected to this genre ever since. He also talks about some of the previous ska bands he has been in, from his own band Cutie Pi to the cover band Party Like It's.... Then, Ume discusses his journey to America, along with some of his favorite American ska bands.

When on stage (and sometimes on the crowd), Ume is certainly someone that grabs a lot of attention. On the podcast, he talks about some of his wildest on-stage stunts. Ume also chats about his trombone-playing techniques during these exciting shows and what it was like to play a trombone on a bar.

Listen to the full episode with Kill Lincoln's Ume.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Doughboys is an extremely popular podcast. On it, hosts Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell discuss chain restaurants, while also chopping it up with different weekly guests, many of who are comedians. Doughboys is kind of a food podcast and kind of a comedy podcast. And it’s a lot of fun to listen to. It’s perfect because who doesn’t have strong opinions about chain restaurants like Taco Bell, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Arby’s, and Outback Steakhouse? 

Avid Doughboys listeners have noticed ska pop up on the show occasionally. That’s because Nick has a ska past. So, we brought him on the show to discuss it. When he was a teenager, he played sax in an Orange County ska band called My Other Brother Darryl (A Newhart reference). Nick also went to high school with Reel Big Fish members Tavis Werts (Trumpet) and Danny Regan (Trombone), so he got to witness Reel Big Fish’s rise to the mainstream from a unique, inside angle. 

We talk about this, and the various ska bands he likes (No Doubt, Let’s Go Bowling, Save Ferris, Aquabats) and find out what the chances are of him ever attending a ska show again. We also talk about how Mighty Mighty Bosstones frontman Dicky Barrett nearly appeared on Doughboys, Nick’s history on the clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone, and we determine what is the official ska fast food. 

Plus, we talk about Taco Bravo (our favorite shitty restaurant, located in San Jose, CA), Nick’s love/hate relationship with Jack In The Box, and Comedy Bang Bang host Scott Aukerman’s ska connections. We break down a few Funny or Die skits Nick made back when he worked there (The Monster Fuck, Jar Jar Binks Gungan style). We also talk about Pears’ love for Doughboys (And their connection to ska band, Bad Operation), and go into detail about PUP’s brilliant performance on a Doughboy’s livestream: a food parody version of their song “Reservoir.” 

Plus, we make a plea to former IDOS guest Jordan Morris to take Nick to a ska show. Help us Jordan. You’re our only hope! 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

So, there's this pretty cool ska band called The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Perhaps you've heard of them? On this episode of In Defense of Ska, original Mighty Mighty Bosstones guitarist Nate Albert chats about the band's early years, the artists who inspired him, and how other scenes treated ska in the 1990s. Listen now.

Albert runs through some of his early memories with the legendary ska act, like scoring No. 1 hit single with "The Impression That I Get."

Reflecting on the success of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Albert makes sure to take time to appreciate the bands that inspired him and his style. He shouts out bands like The Clash, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., and more before recounting the band's less-than-warm welcome at the 1995 Lollapalooza festival.

Listen to Nate Albert on the In Defense of Ska podcast. Then, follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

While Dance Hall Crashers' founding members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman (both of Operation Ivy and Rancid) quickly left after the band's formation, the California ska act was still able to make a strong name for themselves thanks to their ear-grabbing debut album and their devoted cult following. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes Dance Hall Crashers' co-lead vocalist Karina Deniké to talk about the band's unexpected success, her recent work with NOFX, and more. Listen now.

Deniké wastes no time getting into detail about the band's rocky history, discussing their frequent line-up changes, multiple breakups, and accusations of selling out.

Along with talking about Dance Hall Crashers, Deniké discusses her personal music history. She touches on growing up in England before moving to California, exploring how different those two cultures were for her. In addition to discussing first meeting NOFX's Fat Mike, Deniké pays to tribute to the late Greg Lee and talks about what it was like to play his memorial show.

Listen to Karina Deniké's conversation about Dance Hall Crashers and NOFX above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

Additionally, you can support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition is available now. Co-host Adam Davis also has a band called Omnigone, whose latest record, Feral, was released earlier this year. Enter to win a signed copy of In Defense of Ska the book and a Feral vinyl, plus other ska-tastic merch, here or using the widget below*. You can also preview the book with our exclusive excerpt about the Christian ska scene.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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 occasionally on the sidelines. Plus, we learn that Less Than Jake (and their “sellout” record “Losing Streak”) was considered as one of the profiles for his book. 

But we also talk about Chris Farren, Jeff Rosenstock, Glenn Danzig, Catch 22, Jersey ska band Professor Plum, and we explore all the connections between Jimmy Eat World and Less Than Jake. Plus, Dan also tells us wild Gilman stories that came up in his research. 

We also talk about Blink 182’s connection to ska, how many times people brought up Reel Big Fish to him while he was promoting his book, and we discuss new genres that are over all our heads (Indie Sleaze). 

Plus, we talk about a brilliant 90s Star Trek-themed garage band called The Vulcaneers that featured Gerry Lundquist and Lars Nylander of Skankin’ Pickle. Amazing group! 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

When people say they want ska music to come back, what they’re really saying is that they want ska music to once again be a part of the pop music world. If that were to happen, though, it likely wouldn’t sound anything like '90s ska-pop (Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Mighty Mighty Bosstones). Simply put, pop music has changed. So, what kind of ska would fit into the current landscape of pop? To answer that question, Catbite and producer Sarah Tudzin join In Defense of Ska to muse over ska's path back into the mainstream, as well as their new EP, Doom Garden. Listen now.

As it happens, Doom Garden works as a pretty fitting example of how ska might be able to fit into contemporary pop. It honors the traditions of the former, while summoning the joy of the latter. The In Defense of Ska crew loves it, and while they're not certain whether or not it'll reach a pop audience, they think it's definitely worth discussing.

Tudzin is also a former guest of the podcast, plays in the band Illuminati Hotties, and has handled production for big indie artists like Weyes Blood, Boygenius, and Speedy Ortiz. So, with her experience in mind, there's even more angles from which to view Doom Garden. Plus, the gang talks about Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy's feature on “Tired Of Talk,” how they nearly got rapper Tierra Whack on the record, and the influence of Ashlee Simpson and “Jingle Bell Rock."

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

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Michelle Ska has been to a lot of ska shows. Like A LOT! So many that she's kind of famous in ska circles for being a hardcore, supportive fan. She also went through one of the most harrowing natural disasters of recent time: The 2023 Lahaina Wildfire. 

We brought her on to talk about ska and give us the full story of what it was like to survive the Lahaina Wildfire. 

Please consider purchasing the Black Sand Relief album to support Michelle and the People of Maui.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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!

On this episode of In Defense of Ska, Skavoovie & The Epitones' Jon Natchez joins the crew to talk about jazz-infused ska, reuniting for their first show in almost a quarter century, and playing with the likes of The War on Drugs and Father John Misty, among others. Listen now.

Natchez launches into the history of Skavoovie & The Epitones, who were one of the more unique ska acts of the '90s. It was an unusual, beautiful mix, and one that they'll be bringing to the stage for the first time in 24 years at Supernova Ska Festival 2024.

Elsewhere, Natchez talks about his successful career as a hired musician, backing up indie rock bands like The War on Drugs, Beirut, Phosphorescent, Father John Misty, and Passion Pit. He also touches on Isaac Green, signing to Moon Records, working with producer Victor Rice, and getting to meet Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.

Listen to Jon Natchez for more above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Link 80's debut record, 17 Reasons, gets a lot of attention, rightfully so. But the group has other records worth your time, particularly their excellent 2000 album The Struggle Continues. On the album, you can hear the group's maturity as musicians, and their broader influences, which include deeper hardcore, and even some nu-metal elements. Our co-host Adam Davis was very involved in the band during this record, as was our guest today, Steve Borth. 

Steve joined Link 80 on sax shortly after Adam started playing guitar in the group. Steve brought a lot of skill to the group. After his time in Link 80, he joined RX Bandits and contributed to a handful of their best records from the early/mid-2000s when they were balancing prog-metal, math rock and a sprinkling of ska. Later Steve moved to Denmark and has continued to play music, generally keeping his foot in reggae/dub projects. (Satori, Chllngr) 

Today we discuss his groups in great detail and even dive into his father's career as a traveling Christian musician in the '60s and '70s. We also discuss Steve's current project of bringing together Danish and Jamaican musicians together to play reggae music. We also devote some time to the Sacramento scene that Steve grew up in and talk about the first ska band he ever played in: Lesdystics

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In 2020, Chicago indie-pop group Beach Bunny released their debut LP Honeymoon to much acclaim. One of the people that fell in love with the album, was Jeremy Hunter, ie Skatune Network. It was one of their favorite records of the year. Just a month earlier, they’d recorded a cover of an earlier Beach Bunny tune, “Prom Queen.” After Honeymoon was released, they considered covering another Beach Bunny song. Instead, they recorded the entire album. 

 Jer did this project in secrecy, not even telling Beach Bunny’s singer/songwriter Lili Trifilio until it was nearly finished, earlier this year. And then on Valentine’s Day, they surprise-released it to the world—Beach Bunny’s record in its entirety, but all ska, and titled Honeyrude and complete with some delightful ska easter eggs that reference The English Beat, Bob Marley, and The Specials. 

 On this episode, we bring on Jeremy Hunter and Lili Trifilio to talk about Honeyrude. We talk to Lili about what inspired the original record, learn about Jer’s process of transposing the album to ska, and get her reaction to the record. We analyze this album from all angles to understand what makes ska unique, and why a ska cover of a non-ska song is so infectious when it’s done right. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On this Patreon exclusive episode, we sit down again with Ted Leo. This time we discuss the brilliant 2 Tone band Madness, a band that all three of us loves dearly. Ted even pulls out his Madness records and goes track by track to tell us what he thinks about each and every song. 

To listen to the entire episode, sign up for the "In Defense of Ska" Patreon

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Comedian Kyle Kinane is known for his hilarious storytelling-style comedy specials, his epic Drunk History appearances, and his love of punk rock. But he's also a fan of ska. In high school, he even played sax in a ska band called The Skabeatles. He tells us all about it

We also talk about his history growing up in the Chicago punk and ska scene where Slapstick reigned supreme. He saw Slapstick play more times than he can remember. He also saw Less Than Jake, Mustard Plug, and Skankin' Pickle. And of course, we discuss the legendary venues where he spent much of his youth, like The Metro and Fireside Bowl

We also talk about some more recent events, like the time in 2016 when he toured with Chicago super-group The Falcon (Brendan Kelly, Neil Hennessy, Dan Andriano, Dave Hause), There is also a ska-heavy scene he was in for the show "Those Who Can't" (Along with members of The Aquabats and Jon Daly. And of course, we talk about the time he appeared on Drunk History and got so drunk he completely blacked out the entire time. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Ska forever changed the course of music. Not only in Jamaica, but all over the world. Many talented people were involved with its development in the late 50s/60s. But a lot of credit is owed to The Skatalites for perfecting and elevating the genre.

Within the Skatalites camp, trombonist Don Drummond was incredibly important and influential. He wrote and/or arranged a majority of their songs. He also brought a somber vibe to the otherwise upbeat genre of music, often writing songs in minor keys. And he also forever linked the trombone with ska, something that remains true to this day, even as the genre has mutated in surprising ways.

Today we look at the life and times of Don Drummond. On one hand, he was one of the greatest musical geniuses to ever walk the earth. His impact is immeasurable. On the other hand, he was a troubled and tragic figure, riddled with mental illness. He murdered his girlfriend Anita "Margarita" Mahfood in 1965 and then died a few years later while imprisoned at Bellevue Asylum.

We bring on a panel of guests to tell the story of Don's life and to understand the impact that he had. Our panel includes Heather Augustyn, author of Don Drummond: The Genius and Tragedy of the World's Greatest Trombonist, Adam Reeves, who is currently working on a comic book adaptation of Heather's book. It will be called Trombone Man: Ska's Fallen Genius. And lastly, Ken Stewart, who's been the keyboardist/manager for The Skatalites since the late 80s. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the 90s, there were hundreds of lesser-known ska bands that were amazing. Many of them were better than the bands getting radio and MTV play. On today's episode, we present one of them: The Impossibles from Austin, Texas. A band that seamlessly melded Op Ivy verses with Weezer choruses.

Our guest today is Impossibles vocalist/guitarist Rory Phillips. We dig deep into the group's short time in Austin, where Gals Panic were local legends, and DIY spaces like Eco Action Warehouse hosted punk shows. We talk about the group signing to Fueled By Ramen, touring with MU330, and having a cameo in a shelved Goldfinger video.

We also talk about Rory's recent collaborations with Barry Johnson of Joyce Manor and his post-Impossibles power-pop band The Stereo that he did with Jamie Woolford of Animal Chin. The Stereo was a group that influenced Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, Jeff Rosenstock, and New Found Glory, and whose album Three Hundred was named one of the most influential records of 1999 by Alt-Press. Yet, few people remember the band. Fortunately, Rory made a 5-part podcast telling the group's story. It's called "Kings of No Hope," and it's available to download right now. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In 2005, Derek Zanetti had an epiphany. He was a weirdo. He already knew that, but he had a hard time accepting it was ok to be a weirdo. That is until a friend told him that he was "never going to be normal because you're a punk." A few years later, Derek would start The Homeless Gospel Choir, a solo folk-punk project that would later go full-on punk rock. And in 2017, he would release the song "Normal," which touched on this moment in his life.

Our guest today is Homeless Gospel Choir frontman, Derek Zanetti. He tells us all about his oppressive religious upbringing that would make him feel shame, and hide his tapes. Speaking of tapes, we sift through his favorite current ska tape collection, which includes Fishbone, The Aquabats, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Suicide Machines. And tells us about being pals with several ska musicians, like Mike Park, Dissidente, and members of Suicide Machines and Reel Big Fish.

We also talk about the Christian bands he still looks back at with fondness, like Five Iron Frenzy, The Dingees, MxPx, Pedro The Lion, and Danielson Famile. He tells us about what it was like to tour with Leftover Crack (Hint: It involves Scott Sturgeon getting beat up by cops on his 40th birthday). He also tells us about identifying with Peewee Herman as a kid and not being allowed to watch his show. And we discuss the greatest ska tape in his collection: Korn. 

Oh, and he's hitting the road with My Chemical Romance later this year! Great job Derek!

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

One of the best things about ska is that it's such a flexible genre. You can mix it with soul music, black metal, or anything in-between. There have even been different artists that have mixed electronic music with ska over the years, but now Eichlers is taking the weirdo, Avante-Garde-meets-pop sensibilities of Hyperpop and using that as a foundation for what he's calling "Hyperska."

What does hyperska (or even Hyperpop for that matter) sound like? You're going to have to listen to our interview with the subgenre's innovator to find out. We talk to Russ Wood (aka Eichlers) about his influences, which includes 100 gecs, Joan of Arc, El Ten Eleven, Johnny Foreigner, The Matches, Slapstick, Spraynard, Vantana Row, and much more.

We also learn about his time in the San Jose punk scene (The same scene that Adam and Aaron used to be part of with their band Gnarboots). Russ also apologizes to Mike Park for being a picky eater while he was interning at Asian Man Records, and Adam spits a killer Boboso verse about toast.

Be sure to check out Eichlers new record on Bad Time Records. It features guest appearances by Skatune Network, Tape Girl, Boboso, and even our own beloved co-host, Adam Davis.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Are The Police Ska?

A heated debate between Middagh Goodwin (This is Ska) and Sean Dolan (The Blue Meanies)

To listen to the FULL episode, head over the the In Defense of Ska Patreon

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Twenty-five years ago, I would have never guessed that the bedroom recording aesthetic would eventually overlap with the ska scene. But, in 2022, you have Kmoy and Tape Girl, who are referring to their music as "Laptop Ska," which it turns out, is a great descriptor. Their recordings carry the lo-fi, compressed quality of 4-track indie-rock artists, but it somehow blends with these grandiose concepts and overdubs galore.

Kmoy and Tape Girl are two separate projects. But they are best friends and play on each other's songs. And they are creating some of the most interesting, adventurous recordings in ska right now. Tape Girl's handful of EPs are unique and fantastic, while Kmoy's Precure LP is a Ska Opera of epic proportions. The thing that makes all of their recordings so interesting is that, unlike most ska artists, these are songs crafted on their computer with no consideration for how they will sound live, kind of like the early Bomb the Music Industry records.

In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of their production techniques. They are firm believers in adding tape hiss to the recordings. We also talk about friend-to-every-ska-band, Megawave, and all the various eclectic artists that influence Kmoy and Tape Girl: Car Seat Headrest, Fantasia, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Who, Dynastic, and of course Skatune Network.

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

It would seem impossible for PUP to top their brilliant, cathartic 2019 record Morbid Stuff. But then, on April 1, they put out The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND, such a fantastic record, even Rivers Cuomo tweeted about it. In celebration of this awesome band releasing an awesome record, we brought on PUP singer Stefan Babcock on the show. But of course, we had to talk about ska. And there was a lot of ground to cover.

For one thing, Stefan used to play in the ska band Stop Drop N Skank, who was quite popular in Toronto in the 2010s. We dig into Toronto's vibrant 2010s ska scene and Stefan's journey from a Streetlight Manifesto loving ska kid to a Thursday obsessive screamo fan.

We also talk about PUP's "Free At Last" contest, which involves friend of the show, Jeremy Hunter (Skatune Network). And we discuss Stefan and the other members of PUP contributing vocals to Jeff Rosenstock's amazing SKA DREAM album. 

We cover a bit of non-ska-related PUP content, like the band's sublime gang vocals. Stefan breaks down for us how they get those vocals to sound so cool. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the mid-90s, comedian Margaret Cho had a sitcom deal with ABC. She wanted to call it "The Margaret Cho Show" and to have Skankin' Pickle to write its theme song. But, the network wanted it to be called "All-American Girl," and they weren't keen on having a ska-punk band write its theme song. Skankin' Pickle singer/saxophonist Mike Park had already written the delightfully catchy song, "It's Margaret Cho." Since it wouldn't be playing on TV, he included it on Skankin' Pickle's third studio album, Sing Along With Skankin' Pickle.

Margaret was friends with Mike and other members of the band. She showed up at Pickle shows and danced on the side of the stage whenever she could. But her love for ska and punk goes back to the 80s. These shows were a big part of her development as a person. She saw several amazing bands like Operation Ivy and Fishbone, who she says are her all time favorite band. She even wore a Fishbone shirt for the interview!

On this episode, Margaret tells us about her friendship with the Skankin' Pickle. She also discusses the iconic bay area venues that meant a lot to her growing up, like Gilman, The Farm, and Mabuhay Gardens. She even tells us about the wildest show she ever attended. But it turns out, it was a comedy show where a comedian casually drink his own piss and told corny jokes. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

When drummer Ara Babajian joined The Slackers in 2003, Vic Ruggiero and David Hillyard had to teach him how to correctly play a traditional ska beat, which they did by handing him key records to listen to, and by singing ska beats at him. Ara wasn't new to ska. He'd played in several bands like Agent 99 and Leftover Crack. But The Slackers approached ska with a greater emphasis on hitting that Jamaican groove just right, so he had to up his game. He may have come to the band with little experience playing trad ska, but he's since proven himself to be a top-tier ska drummer.

On today's episode we talk with Ara about his history in The Slackers, Agent 99, and Leftover Crack--the first time he left the group, he did so three songs into a show in Toronto in 2001, upset that Scott Sturgeon was on-stage making 9-11 jokes. We learn all sorts of interesting facts about Ara's life, like who played drums in Agent 99 before he joined the group (Hint: He played Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars).

He also tells us stories about Leftover Crack's late bassist Alec Baillie, the time Bomb the Music Industry opened for The Slackers in Chicago and were booed by the audience (Jeff Rosenstock, apparently, was delighted by the reaction), what it's been like for The Slackers in recent years to get coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine and Washington Post (An article by IDOS guest Jessica Lipsky). And we learn about his 1980s group Das Booty, whose demo recordings were mistaken for Red Hot Chili Peppers demos for the Uplift Mofo Party Plan record. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Before 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 Patreon

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Last year, singer/songwriter Brian Fallon tweeted that Slackers lead singer Vic Ruggiero is "one of the greatest songwriters and lyricists of our time." This isn't the only time that Brian tweeted about his love for ska during the pandemic. We've seen him praise Mike Park, Catbite and express his love for New York band The Abruptors' ska cover of his song "Forget Me Not." 

On today's episode of In Defense of Ska, we dig into Brian's past and learn about how he discovered ska, why Asian Man Records mail order was so important to him as a young music fan, and we discuss the details of his cover of Spring Heeled Jack's "Pop Song (Green)." He also tells us about seeing Laurel Aitken at Wetlands, and we find out which Slackers song Brian would cover if he was going to play one on tour. 

We also get the full story behind a tweet Brian sent last year about getting a surprise phone call from Bruce Springsteen and then spilling cat food everywhere during the call. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the early '90s, Coolie Ranx had his eyes set on being a dancehall star. That is until a friend dared him to audition to be The Toasters' new vocalist. He got the gig, and off to Europe he went (Though, a little uncomfortable with the Mohawk, spike-studded punks that came to these shows). He quit Toasters, but eventually came back and joined the group just before they did the Skavoovee tour, along with The Special Beat, The Selecter, and The Skatalites. At the time, Coolie was so entrenched in the dancehall world, he wasn't even familiar with any of these groups--even The Skatalites

That would change. After recording two studio albums with The Toasters (Dub 56, Hard Band For Dead), he quit the group and started Pilfers, a unique '90s ska band that mixed elements of rock, hardcore, reggae, dancehall, pop and punk. Coolie called their genre "raggacore," and the description was apt. There weren't other groups at the time that sounded like them.

On this episode, we talk to Coolie about his musical music. We talk about the 2000s UK ska-punk scene (King Prawn, Sonic Boom Six) that sounded a lot more like Pilfers than the 90s US ska scene did. We break down some Pilfers songs, like "Generation," and we all admire Coolie's amazing impression of Rob "Bucket" Hingely. We also talk about Coolie's new solo album, Days Gone By, which you should purchase immediately. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

There was a big ska revival in the UK from around 2000 to 2005. Pook was playing music back then, but when the scene started to crater, he kept on playing. He would even fully realize his vision of combining extreme metal with ska, which you can hear in his groups Beat The Red Light and Redeemon. We're talking Sepultura and Lamb of God style metal mixed with ska. 

Pook also runs a record label called Pookout Records. It started as a means to distribute records into the UK but has since become a proper record label and he's worked with bands like Andy B and the World, Filthy Militia, Glory Hunters and Roshambo. 

On today's episode, we chat with Pook about his many bands, which also includes The Filaments and Lightyear. He tells us about recording "Send In The Clowns" with Beat The Red Light and finally realizing his metaliSKA vision, hearing The Best of the Worst and finding kindred spirits across the pond, and the warm up techniques he does before screaming. Big face, little face, big face, little face.

He also tells us the infamous Lightyear story that involves Ice-T's band Body Count and the band dressing up in a horse outfit. They were told, "Ice-T is not amused." 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the late '90s, someone asked Blink-182's Tom DeLonge if he wanted to go see The Blue Meanies perform. Both bands happened to be in Australia at the same time. His response: "Are they still scaring kids?" The answer was obviously yes, so Tom passed.

The Blue Meanies formed in 1989 in Carbondale, Illinois by Jay Vance, who would later start the avant-garde project Captured By Robots. The Blue Meanies started as a Fishbone-style party band, but when they relocated to Chicago a few years later, the group evolved into one of the most menacing bands in the 90s ska scene. And many kids were scared, especially when the Meanies opened for bands like Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake and Goldfinger.

On this episode, we dig deep into Blue Meanies' history and talk about their early years playing the famous Lost Cross House in Carbondale. We talk about a very special show at The Outhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, where they met MU330 and Skankin' Pickle. We also talk about Billy's couple year period after Kiss Your Ass Goodbye that he lived in New Orleans, the Full Throttle years, where they rehearsed in an abandoned grocery store in Chicago, the Ska Against Racism and Plea For Peace tours, their Post-Wave MCA album signing, and a song the band wrote for the Troma film Sucker. 

Bill also talks about two big influences on him: Tom Waits and Nick Cave. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On May 13, Adam performed a killer set inside the Ivy Room in Albany, CA, main support for Voodoo Glow Skulls. He brought me up on stage to dance for the duration of one song (The only time I was mask-free inside the venue). The next day I found out I was exposed to Covid a few days earlier. 

On this very special episode, I take a Covid test and read the results LIVE as they come in. Also Adam and I talk about the Voodoo show show and the complexities of playing live music in the era of Covid. 

To listen, sign up for our Patreon

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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 the Heartland. And on May 27th, they will release their full-length, One Step Forward. Two Steps Back--incredible, passionate and at times angry ska-punk. 

On today's episode, we talk with two members of The Bruce Lee Band: Mike Park and Jeff Rosenstock. We discuss the two's origin story--Jeff's old band Arrogant Sons of Bitches tried to play at an event Mike threw at the Oakland A's parking lot, but Mike said no. We talk about the role Chris Candy played in the two becoming friends. And we talk about the mid-to-late-2000s era at Asian Man Records, where Mike had a vibrant selection of amazing punk bands like Bomb The Music Industry, AJJ, Lemuria and Shinobu. 

We also discuss how drummer Kevin Higuchi went from San Jose bar band drummer to joining The Bruce Lee Band and Jeff Rosenstock's band, Mike Park smoking weed with Alkaline Trio, and the infamous Skankin' Pickle reunion shows in Japan. And of course, we dig deep into The Bruce Lee Band's excellent catalog. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

When ska band Sad Snack recorded a ska version of The Mountain Goats' beloved "No Children," Mountain Goats singer-songwriter John Darnielle got so excited, that he invited the group to open for them at their San Francisco show. It was all hands on deck for Ska No Children. And during Sad Snack's performance, John and other members of the group got on stage and skanked. It was clear that it wasn't his first time skanking. 

And indeed, he went to many ska shows and skanked during his formative years in Southern California, even though he was an artsy goth kid that made fun of the ska kids. Now as an adult, he can admit that he has a particular love for classic Jamaican ska and the 2 Tone bands like The Selecter, The Specials, Madness and The English Beat. 

On this episode, we talk about all things ska with John Darnielle. He compares Lee "Scratch" Perry to Tolstoy, he explains why The Specials' "Ghost Town" is one of the greatest songs of all time, and he tells us about the "Fuck Art, Let's Dance" buttons that all the ska kids at his high school would wear. 

But we talk about so much more, including Propagandhi, pro-wrestling, "Superman" by Goldfinger, Desmond Dekker, King Tubby's sound system, the beauty of heavy metal and why everyone wrongfully associates ska with horns. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

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 big success. Dane booked Chris Murray, The Scofflaws, King Django, and a reunion show for local favorites, Pressure Cooker. But the following year, ska died in Victoria, and attendance dropped. But Dane kept the festival going anyway, even paying out of pocket to do so. 

He kept the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival going no matter how popular (or unpopular) ska was. And he even expanded the festival to include acts rooted in ska and reggae. It's the longest-running ska festival in North America. Guests over the years have included Fishbone, Less Than Jake, The Wailers, Ozomatli, The Real McKenzies, The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Mos Def, Neville Staple, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Itals, Ky-Mani Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Dr. Ring Ding, and Larry and His Flask. 

The festival celebrates its 23rd year on June 22-26, 2022. We sit down with Dane to learn more about the festival's history, why he's so in love with ska, and get a glimpse of Victoria's local ska scene with groups like The Bombasts, Pressure Cooker, One Drop and Grossbuster. 

Tickets can be purchased at https://victoriaskafest.ca

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Last year, Loudwire published an article with the headline, "Satanic Ska is a Real Thing That Actually Exists." The satanic ska band they were referring to was New York-based Mephiskapheles. And the band has existed for over thirty years.

But mixing ska music and tongue-in-cheek Satanic imagery is only one attribute that distinguished the group from their 90s ska peers. Their music was unlike any other group. On their debut album, God Bless Satan, they mixed traditional ska drums & Skatalites-inspired walking bass lines with experimental, menacing songwriting and strange, jazzy horn lines. And for their 2nd and third albums, Maximum Perversion & Might-Ay White-Ay, they went even further into avant-garde territory.

Today, we chat about Mephiskapheles' entire interesting career with singer Andre A. Worrell, bassist Michael Bitz and trombonist Greg Robinson. We talk about their deep love for The Skatalites and The Scofflaws, and how their goal in the 90s was to displace The Toasters as the top New York ska band.

We also talk about working with Victor Rice and Bill Laswell on God Bless Satan, their numerous vehicle problems, the origins of "The Bumble Bee Tuna Song," how they managed to get the "Doomsday" video on MTV, and we even talk about their label and lawsuit problems in the late 90s that sent the band on hiatus for several years. 

But we also talk about what the band is doing now, from touring all over the world and meeting eager fans to holding online seances to still blowing the minds of people that never imagined that satanic ska was a real thing. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Comedian Brandie Posey has been evangelizing about ska as long as people have been listening to her speak. In fact, some of her earliest comedy influences came from watching Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake goof around during their shows. The comedian, who is celebrating her 14th year in comedy, regularly performs at Fest, co-hosts the popular Lady to Lady podcast, and has an album out on cassette called Opinion Cave.

On today's episode we discuss Ronald Reggae, the ska playlist she made for comedian Jackie Kashian, why ska musicians are similar to comedians, and the time she got to open for Against Me and The Interrupters, and what it was like to be one of the only non-musicians to be interviewed in Pick It Up - Ska in the '90s. 

Brandie lists several non-ska things that are ska, like Andrew W.K., The rhino scene in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, and those 12 foot skeletons from Home Depot. But most importantly, we try to figure out who is the ultimate ska comedian: Her or Ian Fidance. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

What's it like to be raised by a ska parent? We ask co-host Adam Davis' kids and find out. Give a listen to this month's bonus episode with Thomas and James Davis. This is only a teaser though. If you want to hear the entire episode, sign up for our Patreon. You will have access to the entire episode and a bunch of additional Patreon-exclusive content. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Earlier this year, when New Jersey ska band Awful Waffle decided to reunite for the Ska Mom Memorial show, they needed a drummer. So they called up School Drugs frontman Josh Jurk to see if he'd fill those shoes. He was reluctant to play ska drums--he didn't have a lot of experience. But paying tribute to Leslie Brown (ie Ska Mom) was important to him so he said yes.

Today we talk with Josh, whose ska credits also include playing bass on one Best of the Worst tour, starring in the Slapstick-themed scene of the horror film Uncle Peckerhead, and going to a lot of ska shows at DIY venues like Pine Lake Park Log Cabin in Jersey (Which his mom booked out!)

He talk about the time he saw iPod era Bomb The Music Industry at Pine Lake Park Log Cabin, how TikTok celebrity Grav Master Hash became Awful Waffle's hype man, and we go into detail about the ska mom memorial show, which also featured Hub City Stompers, Catbite and Sammy Kay. 

We also discuss his pre-screaming vocal routines, why he decided to manage his depression through therapy, and he tells about the time he showed up to a venue on tour to find a metalcore band lifting hella weights in preparation for their show. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Recently, comedian Jon Daly noticed there was a cruise line with some 90s ska bands as its entertainment. It got him thinking...what if ska came back, and it was from a ska cruise. This silly thought inspired him to write the song, "Bring Back Ska," which is featured on his new musical comedy album, Ding Dong Delicious. 

This isn't Jon's only run-in with ska. He also played Skaat, the lead singer of Skaffirmative Action, on the TV show Those Who Can't. His band is played by members of The Aquabats, and Jon crams as many ska puns into every one of his scenes as is humanly possible. So with all of this in mind, we invited Jon on the show to talk about ska. 

Jon, it turns out, doesn't have an encyclopedia knowledge of the genre, though he "knows enough about ska to make fun of it." We have a good time discussing Skankin' Pickle, Operation Ivy, Sublime, No Doubt, Fishbone, Hepcat, The Specials, Madness and Buck-O-Nine. But we also talk about lots of non-ska artists, including Kenny G, Billy Joel, Man Man, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Led Zeppelin. 

During the conversation, we also talk about why Captain hats are creepy, how the movie Swingers impacted people's perception of ska, Sublime conspiracy theories, which band is the most Nu-Metal, his arch-nemesis John Daly--the golfer, and which band needs to record a ska song NOW. (Hint: It's Shannon and the Clams) 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Dunia Best was a member of the very first incarnation of The Slackers. And after she left the band, she took a song she'd hope would be a Slackers song, "Walk," and started playing it acoustically. A friend suggested she could start her own band. That band, Agent 99 (1993-1995) played all over New York with No Commercial Value (Scott Sturgeon's first band), The Slackers, as well as punk and funk bands. 

Though Agent 99 was short-lived, many great musicians came through, like Ara Babajian (The Slackers, Leftover Crack), Alec Baillie (Leftover Crack), Jayson Nugent (The Slackers), and perhaps the most famous of all: Dunia's brother Ahmed Best, who would go on to play Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels. 

On today's episode, we talk to Dunia about her time in Agent 99 and the Slackers, but also get into newer projects like Brave New Girl, Dubistry, Rude Girl Revue and Dunia and Aram, who just released their debut LP called Bedfellows. 

We also talk about Dunia's non-ska influences (Steely Dan, Sade, Joni Mitchell), mind-numbing data-entry jobs, the trials of teaching music, and how being a fitness instructor doesn't pay a living wage. We also discuss the Fierce Pussy Fest and the formation of Riot Grrrls (Agent 99 was there!), and Dunia's deep friendship with Ari Up from The Slits. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Folk-punk duo AJJ was playing Mama Buzz Cafe in Oakland when they were approached by a guy named Skylar Suorez who was angling for some free records. Skylar told the Phoenix group that he worked at Asian Man Records. The group was excited at the prospect of being on the same label that released groups like Ten In The Swear Jar, Shinobu and copious ska albums. Shortly after, Asian Man signed them. 

On this episode, we bring on Sean and Ben from AJJ and dissect their ska roots. Ben is a much bigger fan of the genre and even played some ska in an early band called Free Delivery. While Sean admits he clowned on ska in high school (The entire golf team at his school listened to Christian ska!). However, we find out that he sang lead vocals on the ska song "ABCs" (with Mike Park and Jeff Rosenstock). He also performed at an "In Defense of Ska" event at Sojo's Donuts in Mesa, Arizona, and told the audience he was "ska-adjacent." 

On today's episode, we talk about all of Ben's favorite 90s and 2 Tone ska bands, how AJJ and Blue Meanies are similar, which ska bands AJJ has played with, and which grocery store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, AJJ once did a show at. 

We also talk about AJJ's AV Club Undercover show where they mashed up songs by Talking Heads, Neil Young, Wheatus and more. We discuss Mike Park telling the group that they were too big for Asian Man--but no other label was interested in them, and we talk at length about Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, who opened for AJJ last year. And we beg him to be a guest on the podcast. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

On this special BONUS episode, we chat with a trio of punk podcasters: Greg Soden (Unscripted Moments: A podcast about Propagandhi), Cheska Colombo (On The Impossible Pod), David Anthony (As You Were: A podcast about Alkaline Trio) 

To listen to the entire episode, sign up for the In Defense of Ska Patreon at www.patreon.com/indefenseofska

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Jake Matter thought it was a good idea to start tweeting at celebrities to see if they liked ska or not. Surprisingly, quite a few answered. While most said yes, some did not, like Converge, who told him "Fuck No!" This exchange went viral and earned the Ska or Nah Twitter account 3,000 new followers in under 8 hours, and an article in Loudwire. 

Several of the people that Ska Or Nah has tweeted at have been on this very podcast, and their responses have served as part of our research for the episodes, including Ted Leo, Max Collins (Eve 6), Laura Jane Grace, John Darnielle (Mountain Goats), Elliot Babin (Touche Amore) and Arizona Ice Tea. 

Today we talk to Jake about Ska or Nah, his skacore band Grey Matter and why he thinks nu metal deserves to be defended. He tells us about the personal importance of tweeting at Tony Hawk and Rivers Cuomo, what it was like to release a record on Bad Time Records just before the pandemic, how amazing it was to play at this year's Stoopfest in Lansing, Michigan, and the many influences of his eclectic band, Grey Matter: La Dispute, Parquet Courts, Ceremony, We Are The Union, Blue Meanies, Flaming Tsunamis, and Fatter Than Albert.

He also tweets at two celebrities during the interview (Melissa Villasenor, Bill Clinton). But do they respond before the episode is finished? Listen and find out!

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the late '90s, a new ska-punk scene was bubbling up in the UK that would last until the mid-2000s. This scene would be defined by groups like Capdown, Sonic Boom Six, Adequate Seven, Five Knuckle and the record label Household Name Records. One of the earliest groups to form in this scene was a band from Derby called Lightyear--and they were the craziest groups from this scene. 

Defined by copious on (and off) stage nudity, Morris dancing, pantomime horses and never-ending pranks and shenanigans, Lightyear took cathartic songs ska-punk songs about depression, drug addiction and domestic abuse and created a wild stage production that always left the audience confused and elated. 

On today's episode, we speak with Lightyear's lead singer (and lead instigator) Chas Palmer-Williams. He tells us how getting bullied as a child led to him getting naked as often as possible. He gives us the low-down on a popular hobby, "puppetry of the penis," and he waxes nostalgic about his days at the Victoria Inn. 

Chas also lists about the US bands that Lightyear tormented (Mustard Plug, Link 80, Slow Gherkin, and Laura Stevenson to name a few), he talks about the Household Records documentary he started (And the problems he's faced), we learn about his new business Hawkr, and most importantly, he tells us the full Ice-T story, one that involves a pantomime horse crashing Body Count's set at Reading Festival where "Ice-T was not amused." 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

In the 80s, when Horacio Blanco was only 14 years old, a friend showed him a poorly dubbed cassette of The Specials' debut album. Even though it was hard to make out, when "A Message To You, Rudy" came on, his mind was blown. What is this music? In no time, he and his friends vowed to show everyone they knew in their hometown of Caracas, Venezuela ska music. First in the form of minitecas (mobile sound systems) and then form their newly formed band, Desorden Público, which would become Venezuela's first ska band ever. 

By the late 80s, Desorden Público would get signed to CBS and later Columbia Records and score some massive hits in their country, like "Allá Cayó" and "Valle de Balas," great dance-pop songs that also had a strong political message. Desorden Público would be part of a movement of massive bands in Latin America that incorporated ska into their music, that included Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Argentina) and Os Paralamas Do Sucesso (Brazil).

On today's episode, we speak with Horacio, who tells us the story of Desorden Público, whose name is a commentary on the repressive Venezuelan police they grew up with. He tells us how he set about spreading the word of ska to other Venezuelans, how he brought US ska bands to his country (The Toasters, Bim Skala Bim, NY Ska-Jazz Ensemble, The Slackers), and how surprised he was that Desorden Público was able to create hit singles with such bluntly political lyrics. 

He also talks about collaborating with ska bands from all over the world, from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra to Neville Staple (The Specials) to Angelo Moore (Fishbone). We also talk about how Venezuela's economy crashing affected the music community, and he tells us what it was like to work with La Orquesta Sinfonica. 

Shout out to Mari Wendler for helping with translation. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Earlier this year Vi Viana released her first ska song in years. The song, "Burning The Bridge," (by her band Gutless) is a serious song about coping with trauma and abuse and features Jer on horns. One of the reasons she wrote the song was to push back on people's (false) idea that ska is silly music.

Vi has been a fan of ska since she was a child. She was born and raised in northeast Brazil. Her mom introduced her to the music via The Specials and Brazilian bands like Os Paralamas do Sucesso. At 10, her family moved to Miami and she got into bands like Aquabats and Less Than Jake. But eventually, she would discover a great local scene at the Talent Farm.

On today's episode with Vi, we discuss ska in Brazil (Abraskadabra, O Leopardo, Móveis Coloniais de Acaju), Jer's early ska band "Funkman's Inferno," why she sings in English and Portuguese (and how Less Than Jake's Vinnie Fiorello suggested she do it!), and we talk about the brilliant community on Ska Twitter, and new artists like Kmoy, Tapegirl, We Are The Union, Best of the Worst, Half Past Two, Catbite and Eichlers. 

We also discuss how her music was influenced by her identity as a Brazilian, an immigrant and a queer person. Oh, and we even mention her old ska-punk band Sluggage. 

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Victor Rice studied music at Manhattan School of Music intending to be a New York City session bass player. That is until he got talked into joining The Scofflaws in 1988. From that point forward, he became immersed in the world of ska. In fact, after doing a fantastic job producing The Scofflaws' first album, Bucket started hiring him to produce Moon Ska albums. He produced Skavoovie and The Epitones' Ripe, The Pietasters' Oolooloo, The Slackers' Better Late Than Never and The Adjusters' Before The Revolution.

Today we speak to Victor Rice about his time in The Scofflaws, producing Moon Ska albums, and playing bass in the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble. But we also cover his time at King Django's studio Version City, where he and Agent Jay (The Slackers), worked on many a brilliant album like Rocker T's Nicer By The Hour. And we also devote some time to talking about dub techniques and dub history, as Victor has become a master of the genre. His dub name is Strikkly Vikkly.

We also talk about Victor's TWO Latin Grammys, some of his work with The Skatalites, what it's like to stay at European squat houses, why he moved to Brazil in 2002, and what it was like to do a dub remix of Hepcat's From Outta Nowhere album. We also talk about Victor's four solo albums: At Version City (1999), In America (2003), Smoke (2017), and Drink (2020)

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Lots of comedians love to make fun of ska. And TV shows are now required to have at least ONE ska joke per season! But what do comedians that ACTUALLY LIKE ska think of all these ska jokes? We brought on the two MOST SKA comedians out there right now! And both have been on the podcast before: Brandie Posey and Ian Fidance. Now listen to them AT THE SAME TIME! 

This is only a teaser. To hear the entire episode, sign up for our Patreon

Do it now! What are you waiting for? Don't you want to support SKA?

If 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 Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.