Looking forward to checking out the new Fishbone Documentary, Everyday Sunshine. There’s some links to some excellent reviews and articles about the movie here.
A fun podcast from Minnesota’s ska community, featuring an entertaining interview with Sic & MAD‘s Vic Ruggiero and Happy. You may bust it by clicking here. Fans of The Slackers must not miss, and all the rest o’ you ska doggies and kittehs should check it out too! Skaducational. Inskarational, even. Buster approves.
For the second year in a row, teh Vans Warped Tour has teamed up with iTunes store to deliver a free promo DL featuring some of the bands playing the tour. This one is heavy on the punk and ska, and that makes this ska doggie happeh! Check it out =) One for USA, and one for Canada.
Listen to the original roots of The Uptones performance for the upcoming Ska Parade‘s “Six Hours Of Ska” on the Kevin Says Stage on the 2010 Warped Tour. Here’s The Uptones’ set list for the shows. It includes some Ska classics as well as some Uptones’ originals. Check out this 8 song set:
Guns Of NavaroneThe Skatalites adaptation of the theme to the film The Guns of Navarone was a Ska song that entered the UK Top 10 in 1967. This is old school, when instrumentals were the big thing. The Skatalites are the real deal. Ska started here: |
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Radiation BoyThis song is wonderful scary. It makes the same sense now then when Eric Din wrote it in 1983. Here’s a live version from Santa Cruz, just after the band reformed in 2002. Like The Specials, the music is topical and has remained in The Uptones set to this day. |
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Ghost TownThe Specials were the next generation after The Skatalites in the Ska calendar. Their song, Ghost Town was a #1 hit in the U.K. in 1981. These guys were styling and political, and they set the tone for the 2Tone movement. They also created the trombone standard that’s been a part of Ska ever since. The Uptones were being dreamed up around 1981-’82, and The Specials were a very big influence. When The Uptones recently reformed, trombonist Jeanne Geiger was their first recruit. You’ll see why at the show. |
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Skanking FoolWhen The Uptones reformed in 2002, everyone told them “Ska was Dead.” The Uptones were needed to help resuscitate this wonderful musical style. Moose wrote this killer song, and Emily Jayne will sing it at the show. Here’s the version that Moose sings. |
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Bad ReputationThe Uptones welcome their newest member, Emily Jayne. There’s always been some punk in Ska’s recent History. This song has been waiting for Emily and The Uptones Horns. Check out Joan Jett‘s original version. |
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Not From HereEverybody has experienced that feeling of not belonging. Paul Jackson’s song “Not From Here” is all about that. Here’s the version Paul, Eric, and Ben recorded when they were a 4 piece band waiting to reform The Uptones. |
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Get Out Of My WayPunk, Ska, and Political, this song reflects The Uptones take on the crazy early 1980s. The first Ska band in West Coast at the time, they influenced a lot of the music to follow from Berkeley, California. “Get Out Of My Way” has also been recorded by Rancid. Listen closely and you can hear Tim Armstrong introducing the band at Gilman St. Check out Rancid‘s rad version of this song. |
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Too Much Pressureby The Selecter! Here’s another one of the 2 Tone bands the world should know about, The Selecter. They were popular when The Uptones were forming. Their song “Too Much Pressure” rages with Ska angst. This live version is from “Dance Craze” ~ the definitive documentary on the British Two-Tone ska wave, another key influence on The Uptones. |
Skank you very much!
Tazy Philips’ Ska Parade has been promoting and championing ska music and ska bands for two (count ‘em!) two whole decades. This ska doggie will be there, celebrating with Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Uptones, Knock-Out, Gogo 13, Monkey, The Impalers, The Skank Agents and more. This event takes place on the Kevin Says Stage @ the Vans Warped Tour in California. Tickets and venue info here. Big poster file here so u can print for yr wall. Buster sez don’t miss!
..to Ska 4U, our outpost on the Interweb for love of all things ska. Thanks for the emails with ska band links, keep ‘em comin’ to buster at ska4u dot com. More soon.
The Upsessions – “You Done Me Wrong” mp3
Dutch reggae ska lovers The Upsessions have been slingin’ their own take on early Jamaican pop music since 2005. In that time they’ve amassed an impressive little discography and put on a lot of well received shows in Europa. Here’s one of their studio cuts, a personal fave of mine called “You Done Me Wrong.” Love that bubblin’ organ and be warned – the chorus might stay with you for daze!
Dub City Rockers and Chris Murray – “Do The Ska” mp3
Fittingly, I start my set of paw-selected SKA music with an ode to SKA! UK’s marvelous Dub City Rockers lay it down, as Chris Murray – longtime champion of ska music and pioneer of acoustic solo ska – sings the praises of ska. What is not for a ska doggie to love?
The Planet Smashers feat. Neville Staple – “Explosive” mp3
Toronto, Canada’s own ska heroes The Planet Smashers, rockin’ it with Neville Staple (yes the Neville Staple) on a killer anthem whose mission is no less than to save the world. It’s a worthy cause this ska doggie can support. Two paws up!
The Rudimentals – “Big Boss” mp3
Rudimentally speaking, “Big Boss” by The Rudimentals is some big boss sounds about a big boss. Tight, well arranged horns bust a soulful ska line and the riddim section mashes it ‘tup old skool style, all backing a slew of great vocal lines. Plus a wikkid trombone solo, for extra ska flavour. Pick it up!
The Aggrolites – “Lunar Eclipse” mp3
I can only go so many ska doggie days without some Aggy’s. Formed originally as a one-off backing band for the legendary Derrick Morgan, The Aggrolites have since become internationally known as one of the tightest ska/reggae bands on the live music scene. Always a great show, go see ‘em when u get the chance. Here’s an early instrumental with their patented “Dirty Reggae” sound. Ah, that sweet Hammond Organ. Great guitar work on this too, and their riddim section can’t be beat. I haz happy.
