23min of Ska : an Early Delivery

BAM! When you least expect it, here’s a full on music episode! Time to get down and dance! A lot of newer stuff going down here too! We open up w/ the Shifters, who if you haven’t heard of by now, now you know, and now that you’ve heard them, you love them. It’s cool, it happens to everyone! Love of the Shifters is inevitable. This episode also as Survay Says bringing some awesome ska-punk from their new single and the Suburban Legends hitting us up w/ some pop-ska from their latest album. The Upsessions and the Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation bringing us all some great music from Netherlands and a brand new song from the Loose Ties and their upcoming album. This episode closes out w/ a song from the One Droppers who sadly broke up late last week. You were a great band, the One Droppers, you’ll be missed! Thanks for all the music!

the Shifters – You Say (In It! ’12)
Survay Says! – Gas Money Millionaires (Dear JCP&L, I’m Tired of This Nonsense ’12)
the Upsessions – Hold Me Belinda (Beat You Reggae ’09)
Suburban Legends – Emergency (Day Job ’12)
Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation – No More Sorrow (Motiv Loco ’07)
the Loose Ties – Where’s the Girl? (Champ of the Week ’12)
the One Droppers – the UpBeat (the Big One ’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. Also, feel free to download this episode.

Don’t forget to enjoy the fruits of my labor and get some awesome ska vinyl by hitting up the Big Ska Gamble.

the Big Ska Gamble – a 7″ vinyl record subscription club

Head directly to the Kickstarter page!

Do you remember the joy of finding new bands? The thrill of listening to a new record? The excitement of getting a package in the mail? I sure do and nothing else ever did come close to those feelings again. In trying to spread that wonderment I’m starting a 7″ subscription club focusing on bringing you the best in current ska music.

To that end, I took my time and found 6 bands to work with from across the United States. These bands and their records will comprise a record subscription club named the Big Ska Gamble. The subscription club will send out 2 7″ records starting in July and continuing every other month after that.

The participating acts are:
the Action League – ska/punk from San Luis Obispo, CA
Do It With Malice – ska/metal/hardcore punk from Buffalo, NY
the Georgetown Orbits – ska, reggae and dub from Seattle, WA
Lockstep – reggae punk from Indianapolis, IN
the Shifters – rocksteady from Washington D.C.
Stop the Presses – ska/surf/punk from Miami, FL

When I say these bands are participating, I mean just that, they are doing this. It isn’t some wish list. These artists have been hitting the studio over the last few months and have been laying down music. Right at this moment I have a lot of the songs from these bands with the rest coming in soon. We just need to get the money so that we can turn that cash into wonderful records for you to enjoy at home! Already having access to the music means one big thing: NO DELAYS! The bands and I have been working diligently to make sure every record will ship on time, provided we make our goal.

Once these records are sold, they are gone. Only a limited number of these are ever going to be pressed. You wouldn’t want to miss your chance on this opportunity would you?

So, there’s my pitch. The music is done. It wants to be heard. We’re all ready to go. The question is, are you ready to throw your money on the table and let it ride? Are you ready to take part in the Big Ska Gamble?

23min of Ska Interview : the Dropsteppers

Hot off their new album, “Get Up In It!” I get a chance to talk to Tom McDowall and Albert C. Perez of the band the Dropsteppers. We talk about what brought the band together, how they developed their sound and what it was like to get an e-mail from Bucket Hingley. We also discus the inspiration behind the song “Bring It On Home To You” and take a listen to it in this episode.

You can find the Dropsteppers at:
http://www.theDropsteppers.com

Upcoming Dropsteppers shows in November
* Saturday November 5th at 8 PM at Club Garibaldi’s in Milwaukee, WI
w/ the Beatdown and Something To Do

* Sunday November 6th at 8 PM at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, MN
w/ the Beatdown.

* Wednesday November 30th at 9 PM at the 331 Club in Minneapolis, MN

The Dropsteppers song “Hot Mess” was featured in the episode “So Ace” from October 23rd, 2011.

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. Don’t forget to download this episode.

The intro music for this episode is the song “When the Band Plays” also by the Dropsteppers.

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 : Plastic Grass

Just in time for your Easter celebrations, it’s 23min of Ska! We’ve got in all this episode! Midwest ska/punk, classic first wave ska, ska from Japan, rocksteady from the Netherlands and more! 9 whole songs to sink your ears into! Sink your ears into? What I’m saying is that it’ll be a good time ok? This is just the thing to listen to after a long day of eating jelly beans and chocolate bunny ears!

By popular demand I’m now listing the tracks on this page. They’ve always been in the podcast’s description, but this makes it even easier for you find the bands you want to know more about!

the Malcontents – Trapped on the Right Track (Never Enough ’03)
Isaac Green & the Skalars – Phat Steaks (Skoolin’ with the Skalars ’96)
Unscandal – Peace (Forca! ’08)
Highball Holiday – Orange Stars (Highball Holiday ’97)
Stranger Cole – Rough & Tough (Rough & Tough ’63)
Stuck Lucky – Dance of a Thousand Switchblades (Possom Soul ’09)
OreSkaBand – Cooler Society (オレスカバンド ’07)
the Upsessions – Why You Done Me Wrong (the New Heavyweight Champion ’07)
Red Soul Community – Lost in the Ocean (Pump Reggae ’08)

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 that’s always a highly encouraged option! Or hey, download it and take it on the go to grandma’s house.