When most people think of American ska music, their head immediately goes to the days of the Third Wave. The assumption is ska didn’t really catch on State side until the mid to late nineties. That couldn’t be further from the truth though. Ska and reggae music found its footing in America as early as the ’70s. The two decades prior to the Third Wave Explosion was a tremendous time for ska music.
In 1987, The Toasters released their debut full-length album, Ska Boom!. While the band’s lead singer is British, The Toasters are one of the bands hailed as a pioneer of the American ska scene. In fact, without these pioneers, most of the ska bands that came after would like not exist.
While some of the bands featured in Marc Wasserman‘s Ska Boom! are household names to fans of ska music, the book features just as many bands that have since been forgotten. Wasserman’s new book seeks to right that wrong. Ska Boom! An American Ska & Reggae Oral History is an exhaustive history of the bands that laid the foundation for American ska music.
Before getting into the meat of his book, Wasserman begins by explaining why ska music is so important to him and why he was inspired to work on this book. He also provides a few accompanying essays (including one from a founding member of The Specials) that help set the stage for the reader.
From there, Wasserman digs right in.
Ska Boom! is set up as an oral history, which for my money is one of my favorite narrative decisions for biographical features. While I appreciate a more prose-heavy approach, there’s just something about reading the stories directly from the source. It feels like you’re just sitting in the room listening to these legends talk and tell their stories.
As someone who interviews bands and writes features, I know the work and prep it must have taken Wasserman to complete his book. Clocking in at over 450 pages, the amount of effort that went into turning all of those interviews into a cohesive and finished product feels daunting to me. But, in Ska Boom!‘s case, it was completely worth it.
Ska Boom! tells the story of American ska and reggae’s roots – straight from the mouths of those who lived it
From the bands themselves, to promoters, fans, and other music industry folks, Ska Boom! is a labor of love. The heart and passion for the music just leaps off each page. That passion drives the reader forward as they learn the history of American ska music – one band at a time. From learning about the first American reggae band (that David Geffen ended up signing), to the mod culture that brought about the beginning of The Untouchables, to the formation of Moon Ska Records, and beyond. It’s all here.
The stories aren’t always rose-colored either. Wasserman was able to get the bands to talk about the good and the bad; the happy times and their biggest regrets. He leaves no stone unturned.
From The Shakers in 1973 all the way to the Skavoovie Tour in 1993, Wasserman is the choir director for this multitude of voices.
The book is broken up in a way where each band has its own dedicated chapter. Thus, you as the reader can enjoy the stories chronologically, or they can pick and choose which bands strike your fancy for each reading session.
I enjoyed expanding my knowledge of the genre of music I love so dearly. This book introduced me to half of the featured bands for the first time while reading it. And while I knew about the other half, I learned even more from their chapters.
At 450 pages, you’re in for a sizable time investment when committing to read this book, but it’s a ride worth taking. The joy and passion and dedication for the music beams off each page, making it hard to not share those same emotions as you go along.