Oh yeah, back with the first new full music episode of 2012! We have a lot here! A bunch of newer songs and a bit of older stuff thrown in. I mean we go way back w/ some Desmond Dekker before speeding up to some late 90′s jams from Johnny Socko and the Agents. Then it is a quick stop from Monkey on the way up to the present with the Upsessions and Do It With Malice, two of my favorite more resent bands. And we also get smacked with A Guy Named Guy’s killer new song, that should be an anthem for the new year! Ska music’s not going to die, it just lost it’s direction, now that we have a plan of action, I just want to hear the music’s personality, give me action and some dancing! This is what it all about, new ska, old ska, traditional ska, punk ska, pop ska, super mind-bending hybrid ska! It gets me up in the morning and sets the day right! Hope it does the same for you. It is good to be back!

the Upsessions – Prince Naseem (Below the Belt ’11)
Johnny Socko – She’s Righteous (Full Trucker Effect ’97)
Desmond Dekker & the Aces – 007 (Shanty Town) (007 Shanty Town ’67)
A Guy Named Guy – Ska’s Not Dead (A Guy Named Guy Sampler ’11)
the Agents – I Don’t Wanna (401 ’00)
Monkey – Trailer Park Love (Cruel Tutelage ’05)
Do It With Malice – 6-18 (the Burned Over District ’10)

If you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com.

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. Also, feel free to download this episode.

In the first new episode of 2012 I bring you 4 ska bands talking about 4 songs! Hurrah! Haven’t you always wanted to know what is behind the songs of Rude City Riot, Lockstep, Green Room Rockers and the Action League? Here’s your chance to find out!

Rude City Riot : Pray for You
Lockstep : Last Time Again
Green Room Rockers : Broke
the Action League : 13 Steps

Intro song is “Frame Up” by Siren Six! and closing song is “Tokyo” by Unsteady.

If you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com.

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. Also, feel free to download this episode.

Basically I was foolish to even attempt to do an entire English free podcast. I tried, but Frau Doktor and King Changó just couldn’t help themselves. It’s not that all these groups are particularly foreign either. King Changó is as much from New York as Venezuela, the Kingpins are at least from the French part of Canada and, well, Greenhouse is just a bunch of guys from Naperville, IL that know how to sing in Korean. I’ll admit that intro is a bit of a tease, but it was too fun not to do and a well done cover to boot. Speaking of good covers, the Kingpins take on the new wave “L’Aventurier” is so fantastic it almost makes a case for ska covers. Putting together these songs introduced me to a bunch of bands that I hadn’t heard before, like the Riddim Cats and Firebug who I’d heard of but hadn’t really looked into much, and Frau Doktor whom I found out about specifically looking for a German band for this podcast and became amazed by.

Greenhouse – 홀로서기 (Tomorrow the World ’98)
Riddim Cats – Italian Beach (We are the Cats! ’09)
OreSkaBand – Knife & Fork (オレスカバンド ’07)
the Kingpins – L’Aventurier (plan of ACTION ’00)
Firebug – Meu Lugar (Outra Coisa ’10)
Frau Doktor – Status Quo (Wer Mich Leiden Kann Kommt Mit ’06)
King Changó – Pisando la Serpiente (King Changó ’96)

If you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com.

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. As a special gift to you, I offer this download.

This episode was first posted in April 2010, back when no one was really listening to it. It was the first real theme episode I’d attempted and wanted to share it again to this now larger listenership.

Welcome to a very Special episode of 23min of Ska. I know that the point of this podcast is to primarily be a third wave ska format podcast with the occasional first and second wave stuff mixed in, but today the first half is all first wave stuff! Why? Well I’m presenting to you the very first episode dedicated to a single band, and that band is the Specials. The first 4 songs are songs that inspired/were covered by the Specials, and the last 4 are covers of songs the Specials wrote. Easy. While “Monkey Man” and “Rudy, a Message to You” have been covered several times by other bands, the Specials did it first. It was pretty hard to decide which Prince Buster song to use, but after I heard it, I knew it had to be “Al Capone” because “Gangsters” is by far one of my favorite Specials songs. The one good thing about doing all this research is that I’m now a confirmed Lloyd Charmers fan, and I now know what the Specials are onto w/ the some of the lyrics from “Too Much Too Young”. In the covers section, I have to say I was very happy to’ve found the Aggrolites version of “Ghost Town”. It is pretty damn awesome, and after listening to about a dozen other versions it is truly the best one. I was also blessed to find the “Spare Shells: a Tribute to the Specials” compilation, which is where this Dr Ragu track comes from. This Goldfinger cover never fails to crack me up (but I really wish Johnny Socko had recorded their “Nite Klub” as it is the best I’ve ever heard) and finally rounding out the cast is Big D & the Kids Table with one of the best cover songs out there. This episode is a look to the past while being firmly rooted in today, hope you enjoy it.

Dandy Livingstone – Rudy, a Message to You (Rudy, a Message to You/Till Death do Us Part ’67)
Prince Buster – Al Capone (It’s Burke’s Law ’65)
Toots & the Maytals – Monkey Man (Monkey Man ’70)
Lloydie & the Lowbites – Birth Control (Censored! ’71)
the Aggrolites – Ghost Town (Endless Bummer soundtrack ’09)
Dr Ragu – Doesn’t Make it Alright (Spare Shells: a Tribute to the Specials ’00)
Goldfinger – Nite Klub (Darrin’s Coconut Ass ’99)
Big D & the Kids Table – Little Bitch (How it Goes ’04)

If you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com.

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. As a special gift to you, I offer this download.

This episode was first posted on September 2010, back when no one was really listening to it. I consider it my first really good episode and wanted to share it again to this now larger listenership.

It is that time again, the end to an other year, the end of another session of 23min of Ska and soon the end of the holiday season… but we’re not there yet folks! There’s plenty of music and festivities to dance for and because of. So put your dancin’ shoes on, bundle up, get out to a show, or your grandparents house, and kick it up and have some fun! It doesn’t matter what you celebrate, as long as you are having a celebration!

Skavoovie & the Epitones – Nut Monkey (Fat Footin’ ’95)
Mr. T-Bone & the Young Lions – Then I Saw You (Nothing to Lose ’11)
Cartoon Violence – Overtime (Christmas Bonus) (Christmas Special ’10)
the One Droppers – Shake Your Legs (the Big One ’11)
Ruder Than You – Pussy Cat’s Revenge (Philly Stylee ’05)
Eli Whitney & the Sound Machine – Objective (Mickey ’11)
Hepcat – Open Season… Is Closed (Right On Time ’98)

If you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com.

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. As a special gift to you, I offer this download.

Woah, a lot of great and awesome music came out this year! Seriously! Here’s a small selection of it! This is not a highlights reel, heck, a lot of great music that came out in 2011 that’s not even represented here! This is just a reminder that even in 2011, ska is still well and good and very much vibrantly alive! Keep it up, I love doing these episodes!

the Forthrights – Stay Out Late (Camp Birdman ’11)
Less Than Jake – Goodbye, Mr. Personality (Greetings from Less Than Jake ’11)
Maroon Town – Bullit (Urban Myths ’11)
the Boss Beats – Get Movin’ (the First E.P. ’11)
Big D & the Kids Table – Clothes Off (For the Damned, the Dumb & the Delirious ’11)
the Grittys – Frustration (the Great American Mosh Pit ’11)
Yum!Yum!Orange – Dan!Dan!Dan! (Dan!Dan!Dan! ’11)

If you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com.

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. Go ahead and download this episode for safe keeping.

This is a very special and awesome interview, I’m talking to the Pinstripes! Specifically Leonardo Murcia (Trombone/Vocals), John Bertke (Drums), Chris Grannen (Bass)and Mike Sarason (Vocals/Saxophone) about their forthcoming record “I”. Not only do we find out what went into recording this album, but we also get a sneak listen at the songs “the Wokkabout” and “the 1070 to 1963″ and also a bit about the meaning behind the songs.

the Pinstripes can be found at:
http://www.thePinstripes.net

Upcoming Pinstripes Shows:

* Friday December 2nd at 9 PM at Victory’s in Columbus, OH
w/ Team Danger

* Saturday December 3rd at 10 PM at the Kinckerbocker in Lafayette, IN
w/ Circle City Deacons

* Friday December 16th at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, IN

* Saturday January 21st at the Beat Kitchen at in Chicago, IL
w/ the Green Room Rockers and the Dyes

* Friday February 3rd in Cincinnati, OH

IIf you’re in a ska band and would like to be interviewed or have a song featured, please email me at radjose[at]gmail[dot]com. This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. Hey, why don’t you download this episode?

The intro song used was “Rest Your Head” by the Pinstripes from their split 10″ (with the Green Room Rockers) “Midwest Soundclash”

When getting into new ska bands, it is always a gamble. They could be good, they could be great, or they could outright suck. In this case, each of these albums I got with little to no knowledge of the songs on them, and everything turned out awesome! Totally awesome! I’m more than extremely pleased to share all these songs with all the listeners. Pay attention to the 3rd track by Infamous Jake & the Pinstripe Mafia, if you like it, check out the kickstarter campaign to re-release the album this track comes from on vinyl. All the proceeds go to charity, so not only are you rocking out, you’re rocking out for a good cause. Time to do some good and dance, let’s roll!

Catch-It Kebabs – Bluelight (Return of the Kebabulance ’07)
the Action League – Mundo Loco (Mundo Loco ’10)
Infamous Jake & the Pinstripe Mafia – If Assholes Got Awards, I’d Have a Trophy Case (This is the Beginning of the End ’03)
the Georgetown Orbits – On My Good Days (Super Sonic ’11)
Beat the Red Light – the Scene is Under Attack (Beat the Red Light ’10)
the Nix86 – Step on the World (Relate, Reject, Repeat ’10)
the Articles – Dragonfly (Flip F’real ’97)

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. Go ahead and download this episode for safe keeping.

Jump on the Kickstarter page!

In celebration of my recent wedding I cooked up this podcast. Is it a little mushy? Sure, but man, that’s what makes weddings a fun time. OK, maybe I’m getting a little personal with this episode, but heck, can you blame me? Get up, dance, drink a beverage, eat some cake and pretend you were there.

the Pepper Pots – the Garden of Love (Shake It! ’07)
doctormanette – Something I’ve Been Meaning to Say (the Same Thing Over & Over ’99)
the Pinstripes – Sweet Lovin’ (Sweet Lovin’ ’10)
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble – You are My Love (Step Forward ’08)
Prince Buster – My Girl (My Girl/Here Comes the Bride ’65)
Isaac Green & the Skalars – I Love You (Skoolin’ with the Skalars ’96)
Reel Big Fish – We Close Our Eyes (Dead Band’s Party ’05)

This episode and all episodes can always be found here. You can also subscribe to the podcast by going to your advanced tab on iTunes, then select “subscribe to podcast…” and entering this address: http://23minofska.podomatic.com/rss2.xml into the box that opens. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook. Feel free to download this episode as a parting gift.