23min of Ska : Something is Missing

Bucking the trends and going against the grain. Doing what you want, without a worry about shame. I don’t care what people say and how they define ska music, I know what I know. There’s nothing missing in any of these great songs, even if some would have you believe that there is. If you guess what is missing easily, then you’ve been paying attention. If you never figure it out because it is all such awesome music, then you’re awesome too. If you are at pains to figure it out after repeating this episode time and time again, don’t worry so much, it was never a contest anyway.

Drewvis – It’s All Good (Disposable Pleasures and Meaningful Pursuits ’11)
Operation Ivy – Artificial Life (Energy ’89)
Cartoon Violence – Attic (Whatever Happened to the Likely Lad? ’09)
My Superhero – Long Gone (Solid State 14 ’97)
the Aggrolites – By Her Side (IV ’09)
Bobby Pins & the Saloon Soldiers – Dancing on the Moon (Dancing on the Moon ’09)
the Offenders – Life on Grime (Shots, Screams & Broken Dreams ’11)

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 and throw down with the Big Ska Gamble.

23min of Ska : Doubled Up Vocals

Here’s a fine collection of ska where you get two people singing lead! It is like 2 episodes in one for you here! Whatta a bargain! I hope you all enjoy this episode, as I enjoy myself in the wilds of Hawaii!

MU330 – State O Mind (Chumps on Parade ’96)
the Heat Machine – Housebreaker (No Coast Dance Party ’09)
the Fabulous Rudies – Sushi (Keep On Movin’ ’04)
Tip the Van – Cherry Red (Passion, Love & Pride ’09)
On Your Marx – Friends (Resound ’10)
the Amphetameanies – Sunday Driver (Now! That’s What I Call… ’06)
Big D & the Kids Table – Fatman (Good Luck ’99)
Sounds Like Chicken – Take One Down (…Like a Cannonball to the Ocean Floor ’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. Also, feel free to download this episode.

23min of Ska : It’s Complicated

This episode’s theme is songs that have only appeared on compilations. Say you’re a big fan of a band and have all of their albums, you still may have never heard these songs! That’s a shame, because there are some classic tracks on here! Seriously, I believe this is the only song from the Silencers that had ever been released. If I’m wrong, tell me, I really would like to know! Also, I think I may’ve stretched it with the final song but it is classified as a “video compilation” so I’d say I’m in the clear!

MU330 – Please Don’t Run (Ska is Dead ’07)
the Toasters – the Stage (Ska Island ’97)
Johnny Socko – Art Show (A Polka) (Misfits of Ska ’94)
Red Soul Community – Anymore (the Soul of Pum Pum Hotel Vol. 1 ’11)
the Silencers – Policeman (Give ‘Em the Boot ’97)
Blind Spot – As Far as Thieves Go (This is Raj and This is Ska ’95)
Greenhouse – 822 Anywhere (Smash Your Radio! ’98)
the Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Common Decency (Video Stew ’97)

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. Or just click here and totally just download this episode. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook.

23min of Ska : Last Minute

There’s something in a name sometimes and this time it means that I put this episode together at the last minute! I really try not too, but this time it happened. Lucky for you listeners, I had several of these songs picked and ready to use, and luckilier I also have a short stash of “great songs I haven’t used yet” on reserve and even better they fit well together to get this fantastic episode! I’m not going to lie, I’m shocked at how well this episode turned out… maybe I should start half-assing it more often…

On Your Marx – First Punch (Demo ’11)
the Slackers – the TV Dinner Song (the Great Rocksteady Swindle ’10)
the Oldians – Along Came Betty (Arts of Seduction ’10)
the Grittys – Mad Girl (the Great American Moshing Pit ’11)
Skapone – Another Day (the Black & White Album ’08)
the Upsessions – Sammy Wear No Gun (Beat You Reggae ’09)
Jimmy the Squirrel – How I Go (Whatever the Weather ’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 want, find & like us on facebook. Don’t forget to do the portable thing and download this episode.

23min of Ska Interview : Ruder Than You

Dave Dubrosky (sax, vocals) of the legendary Ruder Than You takes some time to talk to Rad Jose. They discuss the long history of Ruder Than You, the 3rd wave ska scene and what happened when the bottom fell out. Dave also compares Ruder Than You to the Blues Brothers and explains the meaning behind the title track from their latest album “Creation Sounds.”

You can find Ruder Than You at: http://www.RuderThanYou.net

Ruder Than You’s song “Uncle Albert” was featured in the episode “Meanies” from March 23rd, 2010 and their song “On a String” was featured in the episode “Roof Access” from July 23rd, 2011.

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. You can also download the episode! Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook.

23min of Ska : Seven Inches

Here’s bunch of songs that I ripped from my seven inch record collection. The one thing I’ve always enjoyed is going to a concert and picking up a seven inch record from a band I just saw. I don’t know if it is because of the delayed time in between buying it and driving home before you can listen to it or if there really IS something special about how vinyl sounds. If you hear any pops or crackle… well, that’s kind of the point.

the Forthrights – Other People (Anywhere I Roam/Other People 7″ ’09)
the Smooths – Fish in My Bed (Kiss the Carnage 7″ ’95)
the Amphetameanies – Good One Go (Nothing’s OK/Good One Go 7″ ’09)
the Articles – Black Eyes (Song of the Volga Boat Men) (Romanov’s Bones 7″ ’96)
David Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7 – Change of Plans (Change of Plans/Esta Tarde 7″ ’09)
the MIBs – MIB (the MIBs 7″ ’96)
Spies on Sabbatical – Inside Out (On Safari with Beat Happy Music 7″ ’95)
the Hotknives – Seaside Skank (Echo Beach/Seaside Skank 7″ ’02)

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. You can also download it and keep it for your collection. Also if you’d like, find & like us on facebook.

23min of Ska : Story Book

What’s the story fellow ska fans? I’ve got a fine new batch of songs ready to go! Oddly enough when I started this episode every song was from 1997 and 1998, but as the days went on I found more and more great bands that I just had include! Some of these I got by being super sneaky and stalkery on facebook, others I found when I went looking for new songs by other bands and happened to see mentions of these fine bands. Seriously, four of these bands I didn’t even know about until this month! The current state of ska continues to surprise and delight me. I couldn’t be happier to be putting together podcast for you guys every 11ish days, I hope you all continue to enjoy listening to this as I do making it!

the Heat Machine – 10 Things I Hate About Your Boyfriend (No Coast Dance Party ’09)
the Waffle Stompers – the Genius Behind Being a Fool (Black on Black ’08)
Hepcat – No Worries (Right on Time ’98)
Victor’s Lament – Living for Today (Victor’s Lament EP ’09)
Survay Says! – Tomorrow or Today (Well… Here it is! ’10)
the Agents – Long Time (401 ’00)
Critical Mass – It doesn’t Really Matter (Give it Up, Let it Go! ’97)

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 at 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. And for safe keeping, you can download it!

23min of Ska : On Tour

It is Summer, when a young band’s thoughts turn to touring this great country of ours, to play shows, bring joy, dancing and maybe even sell a few records to folks away from their usual stomping grounds. There are trials a tribulations that every band must go through on the road and here collected are stories of a few of them. It is tough out there kids, so do what you can to support any band nice enough to come out near you! And like Dan sings in “Hang Tuff Hold Tight” “If your mind can’t add it up, then follow your heart.” So true, so true.

Johnny Socko – Shiznit (Full Trucker Effect ’97)
MU330 – Hang Tuff Hold Tight (Chumps on Parade ’96)
Spring Heeled Jack – Mass Appeal Madness (Songs from Suburbia ’98)
Big D & the Kids Table – Ruin You (Beijing to Boston ’07)
the Smooths – CCTX (No Brakes ’98)
Manic Sewing Circle – It’s a Longggggggggggg Way to Chicago (Summer Spins ’07)
the Pinstripes – Wanna Go Home (the Decay ’07)

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 at 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. Or if you’re on the go, download it!

23min of Ska : We Survive

The great thing about ska is that it always survives. It has been what, 5 or 6 decades? That is pretty long lived. Nothing slows it down & it keeps us dancing. And us ska fans? We survive too, trends or not, it makes no difference, we just like ska. We survive, ska survives, long live ska! Yay!

Green Room Rockers – Twenty-Five (Green Room Rockers ’10)
Stretch Armstrong – Gladly Pay You Tuesday (Lollygag ’94)
Skankin’ Pickle – David Duke is Running for President (Skankin’ Pickle Fever ’92)
Too Rude – No Short Cuts (Re-Invention ’04)
Deal’s Gone Bad – You Get the Keys (the Ramblers ’07)
King Django Quintet – Rise to Find You (Brooklyn Hangover ’10)
Moon – Running Back to You (the Landing ’11)
Monkey – Attraction (Cruel Tutelage ’05)

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 at 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, you may download it.

Most of the music in today’s podcast was purchased at Amoeba Records. If you’re ever in California be sure to visit an Amoeba Records in Hollywood, Berkley or San Francisco or just make sure to support your independent record store where ever you are.

23min of Ska : Secret Agents

I was giving a challenge, if I chose to accept it, from my friend James over at the Ska Geek podcast. The mission was to do an episode of 23min of Ska with a spy theme, this is that podcast. Spies, secret agents, G-men & the FBI are all well represented here. 23mins of ska for your ears only!

the Toasters – Maxwell Smart (Hard Band for Dead ’96)
Skapone – Samantha Clench, Private Eye (Bold New Flavor ’98)
7minds – Spy vs. Spy (No Time ’97)
Save Ferris – Superspy (It Means Everything ’97)
the Untouchables – FBI (I Spy for the) (Free Yourself ’85)
Regatta 69 – G-Man (Fat-Free ’95)
the Selecter – James Bond (Out on the Streets ’92)
Bluekilla – Secret Agent Man (Ska is Our Business ’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 at 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. Check out my buddy James who gave me this episode’s theme, over at the Ska Geek podcast. Oh, and don’t forget to download this episode either!