Three Minute Hero - more than ska

The History of Ska

2007-02-25T21:48:00.000-05:00

Found this on MySpace/YouTube a while back, and thought it was interesting for folks who are just getting to know ska...

Catching Up With Old Friends

2007-02-18T21:50:00.000-05:00

Musically, I've been wandering pretty far afield of ska in some ways the last few months. I'm still interested in ska and its various incarnations and offshoots, but I can't kid anyone that I'm qualified to be a music blogger. With a family and a rewarding (non-music-based) career that challenges me personally, I don't have the time to stay in touch with the latest bands and whatnot.

That said, I've noticed a few changes about some of the bands that I blogged about here in the past...

Lake Front Ska, the startup label that put on the one-day band fest I went to in Toledo several years ago, has apparently folded. Pity, because it seemed like a decent idea.
So many bands have gone by the wayside. I haven't tried to find Mass. Hysteria lately, so I'm hoping that they're stil around, but Las Cabriolas I see have either broken up or morphed into something else. Reel Big Fish sounds more and more like a rock band, The Bosstones have been on indefinite hiatus for several years...the list goes on. Here in Columbus our one quasi-ska band, Fenster, hung up their horns a few years back and scattered to other projects - and I haven't heard from those projects in a while either.

Maybe I'll get back into things to some degree - we'll see. Until then, thank goodness for Pandora radio.

Imogen Heap and other infatuations

2006-11-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

She's not ska, but she is hellacool. So are The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, and Great Big Sea.

Hibernation

2006-09-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

Hey, does this thing still exist?

Remembering Justin Hinds

2005-03-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

Christopher Porter over at "The Suburbs Are Killing Us" has posted a few tracks in memory of the recently-deceased Justin Hinds. For fans of ska's origins, I'd highly recommend these tracks.

Of course, I'd also highly recomment Christopher's entire blog - he wrote a good history of ska for Jazz Times not too long ago, and has been a window to some extraordinarily good music in the past.

If I had more time, I'd dig up a list of the bands that have covered Hinds' work - but I don't. Just know that if you look around, you'll see his influence all over the place.

Mass Hysteria Update?

2005-03-08T14:12:00.000-05:00

If anybody out there knows the current state of Mass Hysteria (a band I profiled here last fall), please drop me a line - their website has been down for a few weeks now, and I'm curious if they've called it quits...

Las Cabriolas

2004-09-09T11:46:00.000-05:00

When I first heard of Las Cabriolas, I figured they'd be a Spanish-influenced band of some sort. Turns out they're not, really. They're based in Boone, NC - specifically Appalachian State University.

Unfortunately, the best song I've heard from them isn't available on their site (bastards) - The Heist appears on !Your New Doctor!.

Why do I like these guys? Well, for starters any band that calls it's "About The Band" page "Gestalt" has to get some credit. Plus, since they started in '00 (i.e. after the Third Wave crashed) they're pretty much guaranteed not to be in this gig for the money.

Las Cabriolas - Sit And Wonder

Las Cabriolas - Gotta Make You Want Me

Las Cabriolas - Tell The Truth

If you can't find either of their full-lengths anywhere, Las Cab are also included on the usual boatload of compilation discs. Still Standing is the biggest (where they contribute "Leaving Town". Other comps include "Underground Screams" on Asian Man Records, and "Ska Weekend" - I'm not sure where to find that disc, though.

More Jewish Music

2004-08-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

While trying to dig up more information about King Django, I came across two other bands existing in the space between Jamaican ska and Judaism. The first is Matisyahu, described as a "Hasidic Reggae Superstar" on his web site. I'll leave you to judge the accuracy of the claim, but the one full-length song the site offers is pretty good.

King Without A Crown

The next band is Klezska. Their bio gives some insight into the Jamaica-Jewish affinity - What’s interesting is how the Jamaican and specifically Rastfarian story parallels much of the history and story of the Jews. From slavery to redemption and from Klezmer to Ska, Klezska! Is trying to bring this musical and cultural blend to the world.

Skavanagila (live)
Tradition (live instrumental)

Both of these bands both join the ska tradition in its oldest forms, alternatively substituting rocksteady, reggae, and ska in their descriptions. It's certainly an interesting relationship - and one that reminds me how flexible ska can be, merging alternately with big band sounds, reggae, hip hop, and punk music with almost equal effectiveness.

Share and enjoy!

Alerte Rouge!

2004-08-25T11:45:00.000-05:00

France probably isn't a country that most people associate with ska - at least, not if you're primarily English speaking. That doesn't mean there isn't a French ska scene though - and like it's American counterpart, current French ska seems to also have an affinity for punk aesthetics.

Alerte Rouge's last album was "Paradis Paradis", released on M10 in 2002. They have 3 complete mp3s on their site:

Cafard Noir
Vamos A La Vida De Noche
Paradis, Paradis

If you like these songs, be sure to check out the band's older work - their official site has a handful of other mp3s available off "Alerte Rouge" (1997) and "Trop De Tension" (2000)

King Django

2004-08-16T11:51:00.000-05:00

Yiddish ska? This is one I -really- wish I could find somewhere on the 'net, folks. It has to be heard to be believed.

King Django's Roots & Culture Band - L'Khayim

The main artist behind this is a guy named King Django - who apparently floats between bands and projects fairly often. I haven't found much in the way of downloadable mp3's anywhere - if I do I'll add them here...

More on this guy later.

Mass Hysteria

2004-07-29T10:30:00.001-05:00

I didn't get there in time to hear them, but one of the bands that drew rave reviews last Thursday was Mass Hysteria. They play a mellow, retro style of ska (at times I've sworn they could be a 2tone or even first-wave band) that's quite refreshing these days.

They've got 4 mp3's posted on their official site:

Smear Campaign (from Mistress and Men)

Simple Life (from Mistress and Men)

Wear and Tear (from Mistress and Men)

Dub Indigo 2 (from Waiting for the Dub, remixed by Victor Rice)

Of course, it goes without saying that if you don't want these links posted, email me and I'll take them down ASAP.

Lake Front Ska

2004-07-23T10:08:00.000-05:00

So I drove up to Toledo last night for the Lake Front Ska festival. $12 tickets, half a dozen bands (even if I only got there in time for the last three), and a few hundred ska fiends. A bit surreal at times as I was probably twice as old as some of the kids there - but the bands I saw were fairly good.

The headliners were Streetlight Manifesto - who were really tight. The more I listen to ska, the more I appreciate an in-sync horn section, and these guys had that to spare. The other bands I saw were The Ninjas and The Know How.

Plus, I finally got a chance to pick up the "Still Standing" compilation for $10 - can't beat that. 88 songs at $10 works out to what, 11 cents a song? iTunes, eat your heart out.

Top ska bands in my playlist

2004-07-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

Reel Big Fish
Suburban Legends
Benuts
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Specials
The Butlers

I'm always looking for new ska bands, especially those that are still active and recording - so if anybody out there knows of any, please email 'em to me...