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June 20, 2012 3:32 PM Subscribe
What are the best new ska/ska-punk bands out there now?
So I decided to relive my high school years and make this year my own "Summer of Ska."[1] So, in the past few weeks, I've caught shows by Less Than Jake, Big D and the Kids Table, and seeing a blockbuster line-up on Tuesday of Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, Big D (again), and Suburban Legends (! I haven't seen them in more than a decade!). But I want more. I want to add new songs to playlists. I want to scout Spotify. I want to buy DIY records.
I'm not one to ask MusicFilter questions, because, well, I've never had trouble finding music before. But. Pandora isn't helping (giving me all bands from the 90s I already know about), Spotify is marginally helpful (it's given me The Waffle Stompers, who are great, and nothing else), and, well, since it's been over a decade since anybody cared about ska, nobody's covering it.
Therefore, I ask all of you: Do you know any awesome new-ish ska or skacore/punk-ska bands that are just killing it? Hopefully that I haven't heard yet?
[1] When I coined "Summer of Ska," I had no idea that would be the name of the huge RBF tour this summer. However, I think we can share it.
So I decided to relive my high school years and make this year my own "Summer of Ska."[1] So, in the past few weeks, I've caught shows by Less Than Jake, Big D and the Kids Table, and seeing a blockbuster line-up on Tuesday of Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, Big D (again), and Suburban Legends (! I haven't seen them in more than a decade!). But I want more. I want to add new songs to playlists. I want to scout Spotify. I want to buy DIY records.
I'm not one to ask MusicFilter questions, because, well, I've never had trouble finding music before. But. Pandora isn't helping (giving me all bands from the 90s I already know about), Spotify is marginally helpful (it's given me The Waffle Stompers, who are great, and nothing else), and, well, since it's been over a decade since anybody cared about ska, nobody's covering it.
Therefore, I ask all of you: Do you know any awesome new-ish ska or skacore/punk-ska bands that are just killing it? Hopefully that I haven't heard yet?
[1] When I coined "Summer of Ska," I had no idea that would be the name of the huge RBF tour this summer. However, I think we can share it.
Best answer: See Spot. Hepcat. Looks like the skatalites are still touring.
posted by Golden Eternity at 4:57 PM on June 20, 2012
posted by Golden Eternity at 4:57 PM on June 20, 2012
Best answer: The Sex Police out of Kansas City and The Agents from Providence are both remarkable.
posted by eelgrassman at 6:39 PM on June 20, 2012
posted by eelgrassman at 6:39 PM on June 20, 2012
Best answer: If you're up for foreign ska, Ore Ska Band from Osaka are pretty awesome, an all girl ska band that hit big right as they were graduating from high school. They decide to forego university and make a go of it as a band. They've been around maybe five years now, and I'm pretty sure they were on the Warp tour a couple years ago.
Freygolo (saw them in Tokyo with Less Than Jake a couple years ago) are a pretty awesome French punk-ska band.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:57 AM on June 21, 2012
Freygolo (saw them in Tokyo with Less Than Jake a couple years ago) are a pretty awesome French punk-ska band.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:57 AM on June 21, 2012
Best answer: Not new .. but foreign ska : Panteon Rococo, La Maldita Vecindad, El Gran Silencio (Mexico) Babylon Circus (France) Ska-P (Spain, old and very political) (have to run will return with more!)
posted by xicana63 at 11:32 AM on June 21, 2012
posted by xicana63 at 11:32 AM on June 21, 2012
Response by poster: Some I've heard of, some I love, and all the rest are good answers. How about I just pass some Best Answers all around.
Please keep them coming if you have more.
Holy crap, I can't believe the skatalites are still going. That's awesome.
posted by General Malaise at 12:07 PM on June 22, 2012
Please keep them coming if you have more.
Holy crap, I can't believe the skatalites are still going. That's awesome.
posted by General Malaise at 12:07 PM on June 22, 2012
Also, try The Planet Smashers from Canada.
posted by xtine at 5:15 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by xtine at 5:15 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is an awesome (IMO) video of Tommy McCook (and the Supersonics) from an old documentary.
posted by Golden Eternity at 9:51 PM on June 22, 2012
posted by Golden Eternity at 9:51 PM on June 22, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by vogon_poet at 4:02 PM on June 20, 2012