In Defense of Ska

Latest Episodes:

In Defense of Ska Ep 124: Eugene Robinson (Whipping Boy, Oxbow, Buñuel, Black Face) May 31, 2023

Show notes

Eugene Robinson was at many iconic hardcore shows in the 80s--as a musician (He played in Whipping Boy), as a journalist, and as a fan. The scene was not always a pretty place. He's been in enough fights that he wrote a book about it. Fight: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ass-Kicking but Were Afraid You'd Get Your Ass Kicked For Asking. But Eugene's latest book details his hardcore years and it's another mouthful. A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderer's Row: A Memoir. So we brought him on to tell his punk stories.

This is easily the most intense episode of In Defense of Ska. There are many violent stories, including the infamous Misfits show in San Francisco in the early 80s where the band hurls homophobic slurs at the crowd and then Paul Caiafa (aka Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein) nearly kills a kid. Eugene tells this and other stories in graphic detail.

We also talk about Dead Kennedys and SSD in Staten Island, Bad Brains' famous 3-day run at CBGBs, Whipping Boy's first show ever (opening for Circle Jerks), and the time Eugene got jumped on his way to see The Clash film Rude Boy. He also tells us how his love for The Specials inspired him to go to college at Stanford, how he made a lot of money arm wrestling a group of guys and how he went to high school with the members of early New York dance/ska band Urban Blight.

Plus we talk about his band Black Face which he did with Black Flag bassist Chuck Dukowski, and how Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) tried to get them to change the name to Black Velvet because "Black Face is a fucked up name." Eugene explains why he didn't take Ian seriously (Hint: It's because he wrote "Guilty of Being White.")

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: Emosplaining w/ Andrew Sacher, editor at Brooklyn Vegan (TEASER) May 26, 2023

Show notes

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE!

This month we give you a bonus episode about emo!

Why? Because Adam and I don't know a lot about emo, and there are some pretty major parallels to the story of ska and the story of emo. Besides, a lot of the new wave of ska bands were influenced by emo, so it makes A LOT of sense for us all do do our homework on emo!

To do that, we brought on an emo expert! Andrew Sacher, editor at Brooklyn Vegan! This is a must-listen episode!

To listen to this episode in its entirety, sign up for the IDOS Patreon!

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Ep 123: Rhoda Dakar (The Bodysnatchers) May 24, 2023

Show notes

Only a handful of bands made up the 2 Tone era of ska in late 70s England. Today, we bring on Rhoda Dakar, the singer of The Bodysnatchers, an all-female ska band that released 2 singles on the 2 Tone record label before breaking up. The band also recorded a few Peel Sessions and were featured on Dance Craze. Though short-lived, The Bodysnatchers were an important band and are still loved by many to this day.

Rhoda also sang on the Specials' song "I Can't Stand It" (A really cool duet with Terry Hall), and was part of Jerry Dammers' Special AKA project. Their In The Studio record took 2 years to record. Rhoda tells us about "I Can't Stand It" and what it was like to work on In The Studio. (It was no fun!)

We also talk about Rhoda's pre-Bodysnatchers years of being a punk kid and seeing Iggy Pop and Lou Reed, becoming friends with The Sex Pistols' Paul Cook and Steve Jones, and how she tried (and failed) to sneak into a Roxy Music concert in 1973. She tells us what it was like to work with The Interrupters on their most recent record, how she finally got to perform at the Brixton Academy Theater and the role that The Pogues' Shane MacGowan had in her joining The Bodysnatchers.

She talks about writing "Ruder than You" with scenester Gaz Mayall (son of British blues legend John Mayall), playing on the Seaside Tour with The Specials and the Go Go's, and we talk about the legacy of her song The Boiler.

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Ep 122: Esteban Flores (Catbite, Matamoska, Mr. Kingpin, The Bandulus, The English Beat, The Interrupters, The Steady 45's, We Are The Union) May 17, 2023

Show notes

You probably know our next guest for playing keyboards with Catbite. But Esteban Flores has played with a ton of ska bands, (live or just recording on some tracks). We're talking somewhere in the range of 80 groups! The point is that Esteban is THEE keyboardist of ska, so he needed his own episode.

We talk about the many bands he's played with like Matamoska, The Steady 45's, The Bandulus, Mr. Kingpin, The English Beat, We Are The Union and The Interrupters, and how he played in 8 separate bands one year at Supernova. We also talk about one particular band he wishes he could play with, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (His all-time favorite ska band). Esteban then gives us a lesson on how to play traditional ska/reggae on the keys and even explains what "the bubble" is.

Esteban also tells us why he thinks the East LA ska scene is the best in the US. We talk about the time he (and this scene) were featured on a Fox News 11 segment, and we talk about the Ska Wars festival that is a major part of this scene. Esteban also gives us his top 4 craziest tour stories (Which involve car accidents, breakdowns and theft). And we also talk about his personal history as an immigrant that moved to the US at age 3, and how he benefited from the DACA program as a Dreamer.

Plus, Esteban brings up Brent Friedman a few times for no apparent reason! Hey, maybe he's a big fan?

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Ep 121: Bedouin Soundclash (Jay Malinowski and Eon Sinclair) May 10, 2023

Show notes

Bedouin Soundclash are a household name in Canada, The UK and other parts of the world. But in the US, they are a lesser known group. They formed in 2000 in Ontario, Canada and scored the big hit "When The Night Feels My Song" in 2004. The song made it to Radio 1 in the UK and got airplay on The Edge radio show in Toronto.

Not only did "When The Night" launch their career, the song developed a life of its own. It was everywhere. You could hear it in grocery stores, on TV ads and on kids shows. Years later, some Bedouin Soundclash fans were surprised to learn that this was one of their song since it was the soundtrack to their childhood.

Bedouin took a hiatus for a decade, and returned in 2019 with the record Mass. But in 2022, they released their best record of their career (And one of the best ska albums of the 2022), We Will Meet In A Hurricane. We talk to Jay Malinowski and Eon Sinclair about this wonderful record and their interesting career.

We also discuss the new albums' guest contributors: Aimee Interrupter (The Interrupters), Marcia Richards (The Skints), and Kathryn Calder (New Pornographers). The band talks about what it was like to open for No Doubt, Slightly Stoopid and to play the Vans Warped Tour twice. And they tell us some experiences of playing the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival.

We also talk bear sightings on their "Walk Through Fire" video shoot, working with Bad Brains' Darryl Jenifer on their early records, Jay's struggles with addiction, and what it was like for him to lose his voice at the Leeds Festival in 2006 and have the entire crowd sing for him.

Plus we talk about Waffle House, a lot. Adam schools us all with Waffle House facts and Jay tells us a story he's never told before that involves tripping on mushrooms in a Waffle House and being terrified.

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

in Defense of Ska Ep 120: Bailey Lupo (Scowl, The Caps, CAPS, Try The Pie, The Can't Hardlys, Abysmalist) May 03, 2023

Show notes

Scowl is one of a handful of new hardcore bands blowing up at the moment. And, more importantly, they are a band with ska roots. Specifically, their bassist Bailey Lupo, who used to play bass in San Jose ska-punk band The Caps (or CAPS). So, we brought them on to get all the deets on their ska past.

Bailey told us about packing records at Asian Man Records as a teen. (They begged Mike Park to release the Scowl record in 2020, but he passed). Bailey talked about recently meeting JER in Gainsville and vowed to our audience that, one day, Scowl would collaborate with Skatune Network. And they talked about the bands that influenced The Caps: The Specials, Choking Victim and a whole slew of surf bands.

But we got even deeper and talked about the late 2000s/early 2010s San Jose punk scene they came from and talked about legendary groups like Leer, Hard Girls (featuring Jeff Rosenstock's guitarist Mike Huguenor), Monstrauss (Who played ska & grunge ie Skunge), Matsuri, Stickup Kid and Point of View. And of course, we had to talk about San Jose's weirdest punk venue, Nickel City. Hyper Ska artist Eichlers wrote a song about the venue on their sophomore record.

We also talk about touring with Limp Bizkit, what it was like to have thousands of kids show up to their Real Bay Shit shows, seeing Laura Stevenson at a backyard BBQ in San Jose, and we discuss the horrible Punknews comments they sifted through every day.

Most importantly, we talked about Adam and Aaron's old band, Gnarboots!

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: A new look at Dance Craze Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Dance Craze recently got re-issued in the UK. So we figured it was time to give it another watch.

Adam had never seen Dance Craze. I've not only seen it several times, but I interviewed several people involved with its creation.

We got together and watched the film and said all of our thoughts! Hear what we had to say.

If you want to watch the film along with us, here's the link. Start it when we say! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT77dnsFkik

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Ep 119: Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu, Ten In The Swear Jar, IBOPA, Former Ghosts) Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

In the early 2000s, Jamie Stewart wanted to go to Vietnam. They brought a rubber baby doll with them to take photos while they were there. One of those photos became the cover for Xiu Xiu's excellent A Promise album. But, for this trip to happen in the first place, Jamie needed to raise some money. For 8 months before they left, they recorded as many punk and ska bands as they could (One of the bands was Short Round).

This isn't the only time that Jamie has intersected with ska. Another band they recorded, Firme, lent them their horn section for the Knife Play record. One of their old 90s bands, IBOPA (Indestructible Beat Of Palo Alto), played with a lot of ska bands since they were a fun horn-driven band (Ska was an influence, but not a style they played). Another one of their bands, Ten In The Swear Jar, released a record on Asian Man Records, and Pitchfork made a point to talk about ska in the review, despite there being NO ska on the album.

We talk about all of this with Jamie, and so much more. We discuss the time period when they worked at Streetlight Records, how they discovered ska and reggae on KPFK on Sundays, how their 2nd concert ever was Pato Banton and Tippa Irie, and how they briefly played bass in a dub band.

They also tell us about the time GG Allin jumped on stage and demanded they "plays some blues." They tell us stories about The Cactus Club. They tell us why Deerhoof is an amazing band. We learn who Richard Snakedick is. We discuss what it was like to perform a balloon solo as the opening act on AJJ's 2021 tour, and we find out why they once blurted out "Fred Flintstone's Lucius Dick."

Plus, Jamie sings for us a Weird Al-style parody song they wrote when they were a teenager. Just imagine The Grand Illusion by Styx, but it's The Grand Fart!

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Ep 118: Aranivah (Dance Culture By Aranivah, Ratas En Zelo) Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Aranivah didn't dance when she was a punk teenager living in El Salvador. It wasn't till years later after she immigrated to New York that she fell in love with ska, cumbia, soul music, and dancing to these genres. With no formal training, she discovered that she was really good at it. But she wasn't just good at moving her body. She made it accessible to other people. Her videos dancing to ska and other subgenres soon went viral on TikTok and Instagram. She used this online popularity to create dance classes.

Today, we speak with Aranivah. We talk at length about the ska bands that speak to her personally. In particular, we break down a YouTube video she made that namechecks Prince Buster, Inspecter 7, Akatz, Vieja Skina, Bad Manners, Desmond Dekker, Decibelios, Laurel Aitken, Ska Cubano and Skalariak. Some great ska tunes!

We also talk about her formative years as an El Salvadorian punk, we talk about her experiences immigrating the New York at the age of 17, the Brooklyn Rocksteady / Dirty Reggae scene in the 2000s that turned her on to the genre here (The Hard Times, The Far East, The Forthrights, The Frightnrs), and we talk about what led to her starting Dance Culture By Aranivah.

We also talk about her dancing in a Hub City Stompers video, how she approaches social media, and she even tells us all about a really cool reggae club she visited in Mexico last year called Cultural Roots.

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Defense of Ska Ep 117: Kate Fagan (Heavy Manners, BB Spin) Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

Chicago would become a major ska town in the 90s as the home of Jump Up Records, Slapstick, and Fireside Bowl. But before any of this took off, there was Heavy Manners, a Chicago ska/reggae band that formed in 1980. Within a few years, Heavy Manners were the biggest band (of any genre) in town, but they weren't able to create the same kind of passionate following outside of Chicago. So, in 1984, they threw in the towel.

Today we speak to Heavy Manners lead singer Kate Fagan. Before forming the band, she released the underground hit single, "I Don't Wanna Be Too Cool," which has become a sought-after punk collector's item. On Feb 24, 2023, Captured Tracks Records put out a long-awaited reissue of "I Don't Wanna Be Too Cool," along with several previously unreleased Kate Fagan tracks.

We talked about Heavy Manners and Kate's work with Rock Against Racism in Chicago. (She once booked Patti Smith at an event!). We talk about Heavy Manners getting to open for The Clash, The English Beat and Peter Tosh--they eventually cut some tracks with Tosh and Bob Marley's engineer Dennis Thompson. And we talk about some of Heavy Manners' famous fans like filmmaker John Hughes, actor John Cusack, and Ministry's frontman Al Jourgensen.

We also talk about Chicago's overall music scene in the 70s and 80s, Kate's musical, The Kissing Concept, and discuss some great non-religious Christmas songs. Lots of opinions!

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

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.

Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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