I honor of Reel Big Fish and The Aquabats venturing to The Garden State lastnight…it’s an all Ska playlist. Deal with it, my allegiances lye with this genre. Once a Ska-kid, always a Rude Boy.
Reel Big Fish
These Godfathers of Third-Wave Ska started the latest installment of the revolution out in California nearly two decades ago and are still going strong. This next track is off the band’s 1998 album Why Do They rock So Hard.
“Thank You For Not Moshing” by Reel Big Fish
The Aquabats
Not only are The Aquabats a legendary Ska collective, but they also run a prominent, and trippy as shit, children’s show on Nickelodian called Yo Gabba Gabba. Watch and enjoy this track off the band’s brand new EP Radio Down, put out only days ago.
“Radio Down (feat. Biz Markie)” by The Aquabtats
Suburban Legends
Suburban Legends have always been overshadowed by bands such as the aforementioned pair, but they reside from the same hot bed of Ska as RBF and The Aquabats and have put out some gems including this next off the band’s 1999 debut Origin Edition.
Streetlight Manifesto
Streetlight Manifesto is at the top of the list of East Coast Ska-Punk royalty with Less Than Jake, Big D & The Kids Table, and Catch 22. Tomas Kalnoky and the crew continue have continued to impress for the better part of a decade and don’t appear to be fixed on quitting any time soon as the band is currently back in the studio. I can’t wait for the new record, but for now, here’s something from the band’s debut Everything Goes Numb.
Less Than Jake is one of the elder statesmen of Third Wave-Ska and with a birth year of 1992 is right on par with Reel Big Fish for the longevity race. The band has moved away from its Punk roots with its last few releases but put out one of the best Ska-Punk albums ever made in 1998 with Hello Rockview…enjoy this sample.
“History Of A Boring Town” by Less Than Jake
Big D & The Kids Table
I love Big D & The Kids Table and not enough people know about them. These Beantown Rude Boys put out one of my favorite albums of the last decade with their 2004 release How It Goes. This next track is from it.
“My Girlfriends On Drugs” by Big D & The Kids Table
AND A BONUS TRACK BECAUSE I’M FEELING ESPECIALLY JOVIAL:
The Mad Caddies
The Mad Caddies are a hidden gem amongst the masses of Ska bands in the market today. If you want to mellow out and listen to something laid back…The Mad Caddies can assist. However, if you want get crazy and throw down…The Mad Caddies can help you out. For now, I’ll give you something to chill to, because I suppose, any injuries suffered on bealf of this music can be attributed to me. Thus, a song from the band’s 2003 record Just One More.
“Good Intentions” by The Mad Caddies
Speak Into My Good Eye 