Well look at that, a new year and a new episode to kick off the 2011 session of 23min of Ska. We start it off with a classic from the Stubborn All-Stars before getting to another classic from Madness. Now I won’t lie, I’ve just recently gotten into Sonic Boom Six, and yeah I know its late, but I’m making up for lost time here! Westbound Train and After Hours are 2 bands that just make me happy as hell and I’m happy to include these 2 songs here for you to enjoy as well. We close out w/ a Stretch (Armstrong/Magnifico/Band) song that has always been close to my heart. The first and only time I met and saw the band I picked up their EP because I was short on cash. The EP had an early version of “Household Sponge” on it, I liked it, but it lacked the awesome keyboard action that I’d come to associate with them. When the new album “Armstrong” came out I was ecstatic to hear the new version complete w/ the kick ass keyboards, so I guess that worked out personally for me. Thanks everyone of listening, downloading and spreading the word! This podcast has really grown since I put the first one up a year ago today, so thanks!
If you’re in a ska band and would like to be featured or if you know some music that you think I should hear for future inclusion, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com! I’ll play most anything.
You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Or you know, download it!
When ever I think of 3rd wave ska the first band I think of is Let’s Go Bowling and this song is the first one I think of. It is a great song and it is standard mid 90′s “hey let’s make a video with live footage w/ a bit more stuff too” action that was so common for smaller bands back then. Videos with this look really take me back, especially to a compilation VHS tape that my friend Randy made for me of cool videos because I didn’t have cable. Anyway, Let’s Go Bowling is awesome, and here’s a video by them!
Several years too late I heard about the Kingpins. I don’t know how I missed them back when they were together and my first obsession with third wave ska. They were blending the ska sound with a lot more than just the usual pop-punk that was turning up everywhere in the late 90s, it may be because of this, that several years on it still sounds fresh and alive while other contemporaries don’t. This song is a blast and the video ain’t too shabby either.
No matter what anyone says, this may just be the best Squirrel Nut Zippers song ever. SNZ were always better to me when they were being a bit sinister. What’s even cooler is this video, it’s not made up of vintage cartoon clips, but was actually made specifically made for the video. They do a really really good job of capturing the feel of that old “before my time” animation too. This video is a stone cold classic!
