Welcome to “Ska, Punk, and Other Junk!” With this monthly column, I’ll highlight all of the cool things I discovered in the ska and punk scenes each month. I listen to more than just those two genres. I highlight some other junk I discovered along the way too! (NOTE: Not actually junk. I just wanted to go with the rhyme). There’s so much cool music out there these days. This is my attempt to cover as much of it as possible.
Hopefully, you find your new favorite band – or at least some cool new tunes to enjoy.
Before I get things rolling this month, I wanted to acknowledge the passing of Greg Lee, lead singer of Hepcat. I’ve listened to Hepcat’s music for over 25 years now, and the band really belongs in a class of its own when it comes to American ska music. Lee inspired a multitude of his contemporaries by sharing his love of ska music and ska culture with the world. It’s a devastating loss, and he will be missed.
Within the span of a month, we also lost Mikal Reich, one of the founding members of Mephiskapheles and New York’s Barbicide. He was just getting back into playing more shows after releasing Barbicide’s debut full-length late last year. Together, the ska scene owes so much to both of those men. My thoughts are with friends, family, and those who cared deeply for Greg Lee and Mikal Reich. It’s absolutely tragic neither of them aren’t here any longer, but they’ll live on through their family and the music they created.
To assuage the pain, this month’s column is jammed with so much ska that I probably could’ve just made a separate column. Please enjoy these selections.
Ska
Bill Skasby – Tales From the Tunnels
Most bands using a ska pun in their name have an element of jokiness or camp in their music, so that’s what I was expecting with Tales From the Tunnels. Instead, my ears were met with a full-on sonic assault. Musically, Bill Skasby tows the line between ska punk and ska core, though on songs like “Pack a Bowl,” I hear some Sublime influence.
Ultimately, their music encompasses the best of what the Latino ska scene in California has to offer. It’s like Voodoo Glow Skulls and Matamoska invited Sekta Core to come visit from Mexico and jammed together. Somewhere in the middle of all those bands combined is Bill Skasby. Tales From the Tunnels is the perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. This album rips.
Call Me Malcolm – Echoes & Ghosts
One of the things I like most about Call Me Malcolm is how open and honest lead singer Lucias Malcolm is about his struggles with mental health. His willingness to lay it all out there helps normalize not being okay, actually talking about his feelings, and seeking help. Our society often places stigma and shame on mental health, especially within men, so his music helps so much. It doesn’t hurt that Call Me Malcolm just keeps putting out quality music with each and every album. Echoes & Ghosts is no different.
Malcolm and gang are on the heavier side ska punk. The horn line is just as heavy and pounding as the riffy guitars. The vibrant arrangements will have you switching from dancing to moshing to two-stepping within the frame of one song, but that energy is pure catharsis. The group lets it all out and gives their fans everything they can, making the music a mutual expression of euphoric exhaustion. I’m so glad the British ska punk scene has received more attention in the American market. The country is packed with so many good bands.
Cenzo – “Beg, Borrow & Steal”
After a 20-year gap between recordings, Cenzo returned last year with an EP of covers. This month, they’re back with a brand new original track. On “Beg, Borrow & Steal,” Vinny Nobile offers up more evidence for why he should be considered one of the best trombone players in ska music. From his days in Bim Skala Bim and The Pilfers and then to Cenzo, he’s shown a command for the instrument like few others. Layer in an infectious love song with a singable chorus, and this new original Cenzo song was well worth the wait.
JER featuring Money Nicca – “Say Gay or Say Goodnight”
JER is quite possibly the most versatile and diverse musician in ska music today. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community living in Florida, “Say Gay or “Say Goodnight” is a direct assault on the homophobia and bigotry being encouraged by Governor Ron DeSantis. JER doesn’t hold back at all, resulting in their most aggressive song to date.
Musically, the song is just as diverse as JER’s music tastes and musical output. They blend ska punk, hardcore, ska core, and hip hop. The addition of Money Nicca (aka Soul Glo’s Pierce Jordan) takes the song up to an even bigger stratosphere. If given the right push, this song can become the soundtrack to the fight for equality in Florida and beyond.
Klikk Panikk – Går Amok
I’ve been purposely stepping out of my comfort zone this year when it comes to ska. I tend to stick to English-speaking ska bands for the most part, but ska is a global music, so this year I’ve been seeking out international act to feature in this column.
Klikk Panikk is a Norwegian ska punk band that combines melodic punk rock with organ-forward ska music. They are incredibly talented musicians that deserve a wider global audience. If you’re a fan of bands like Rancid, Left Alone, The Interrupters, and Catbite, then Klikk Panikk will be right at home on your playlists.
Late For Life – “M357”
I need to gush about the lyrical wordplay in this song. The first time I listened to “M357,” my head immediately went to images of the .357 Magnum and dug in for an anti-gun song. As the song goes on though, I realized Late For Life mixes imagery of the revolver and the opioid pill, M357.
It’s a song about addiction and abuse. The pill is just as dangerous as the gun if used incorrectly, so the metaphors work wonderfully here. The song’s a thinker for sure, but not to the level where you can’t enjoy Late For Life’s brand of ska punk music by way of 311, Sublime, and Ballyhoo.
Les Calcatoggios – Indestructible
While Les Calcatoggios has been together for over 25 years now, this ska band from Berlin, Germany is new to me. With Indestructible, the band dishes out ten up-tempo tracks that skirt the line between ska and big band. While most of the album is very danceable, Les Calcatoggios show their versatility on a punk-forward track called “Katopunk.”
While the entire album is enjoyable, standouts for me include the political “Little Sick Planet” and “Little Things,” which urges the listener to cherish the little things in life because they’re the most enriching. If you’re a fan of a ska band with a strong female lead, then Les Calcatoggios needs to be added to your rotation. They reminded me a lot of bands like Dancehall Crashers and The Freecoasters.
Matamoska – “Ska Show”
The phrase “good things come to those who wait” certainly applies to Matamoska and “Ska Show.” I’ve been wanting to hear new music from This band for a while now, and it’s finally here. The Los Angeles scene that Matamoska emerged from in 2000 is one filled with DIY ethos, backyard shows, and community. “Ska Show” celebrates this world. This fun, catchy, and gritty ska song does a wonderful job of representing what that scene is really about. If listening to the tune doesn’t make you feel like getting to a show and dancing your ass off, then you might want to check to see if you still have a pulse.
Old Boys in Town – Our Present World
Hailing from eastern France, Old Boys in Town creates bi-lingual working class ska. The grit and soul throughout gives off a certain energy. Musically, skinhead reggae influences shine through, but I also hear a heavy dose of trad ska, rocksteady, dub, and 2-Tone at play as well. All together, Old Boys in Town would fit in perfectly on a bill with bands like The Slackers, Aggrolites, and The Prizefighters.
Encompassing every single element that makes ska music so special, Our Present World needs to be heard. The album transports me to a dancehall that’s dark and warm, but the bands has whipped the crowd into a trance with their rhythmic ska. It’s music that needs to be experienced. Listening isn’t enough.
Spinning Compass – “When You’re Surfin'”
While Spinning Compass is a saxophone-forward ska solo project, this track features surf rock woven into the wider structure. It has this cool, groovy, retro ’60s vibe while the saxophone and ska upstrokes brings the song back to modern day. Sure, it’s a song about surfing and how surfing just helps calm the surfer’s mind, but you can extend that concept to whatever brings you a little moment of zen. Enjoy tapping your toes to this one!
The Bandulus – Tell It Like It Is
Being from the Metro Detroit area, I’m a sucker for a good dose of soul and R&B. Tell It Like It Is serves up plenty of it. The Bandulus offer up a modern spin on classic ’60s and ’70s R&B, but the backbone of every song is trad ska inspired instrumentation. It’s as if the group went back in time and merged American soul with Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae music before returning to the modern day and making it enjoyable for today’s fan.
You can dance to plenty of songs on the album, but selections like “Sunny Days” and “You Got Me a Chance” slow things down a bit so you can get nice and close with that special someone. The album showcases The Bandulus delivering tons of heart, soul, and love. It’s the kind of album you put on as the soundtrack for an intimate candlelight home-cooked meal when you’re staying in for the night with your partner.
The Kittyhawks – From Brass to Bullets
From Brass to Bullets is one of those albums you listen to in awe. Though the band is relatively new, their debut album knocks the socks off of their contemporaries in terms of musicality, songwriting, and production. Hailing from Melbourne Australia, The Kittyhawks put the entire ska world on notice. Sure, you get heavier guitar riffs every now and then, but for the most part, the group sticks with ska and reggae as their primary sound.
Another element that really sets them apart from lesser acts is how the horn section complements each song throughout the album. They set the tempo, and each song finds a way to feature them in a powerful way. The horn players show off the most on “The Dream” as the lead singer and the horn section create an outstanding call-and-response section. We get a tremendous vocal performance combined with fast, frantic, and extremely rhythmic horn lines that act as a backing chorus. Honestly, not many bands nail a debut as successfully as The Kittyhawks. I’m already anticipating their sophomore release.
Treehouse Rivals – Back to the Pit
Calling this EP Back to the Pit is fitting, considering this Michigan ska punk band called it quits (aside for some reunion shows here and there) in 2010. In 2024, the group has returned with a new lineup and a new outlook on their music. At just shy of ten minutes, Treehouse Rivals doesn’t waste any runtime on fluff. This tight four-track EP serves as a reintroduction of the band.
Musically, the band has an orgcore feel to it in terms of vocals. The grit in the singer’s voice gives them more dimension and makes them stand out from the sea of ska punk bands. The three originals are great in their own right, but the uptempo ska punk cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” will attract casual and seasoned ska fans. It’s the kind of cover I really enjoy because they took the song and made it theirs instead of being a note-for note copy.
Treehouse Rivals have now officially rejoined the Michigan ska scene. If Treehouse keeps at it for a while, and really engages with their fans, I can see them getting talked about in the same breath as bands like The Boy Detective, J. Navarro & The Traitors, and The Write-ups.
Punk
SNUFF – Off on the Charabanc
SNUFF has been together for almost 40 years. Bands don’t last that long out of sheer luck. Sure, there might be some luck to it, but talent and perseverance are key to artistic longevity. When a group reaches a certain age, their fans know what to expect for the most part. With SNUFF, the expectation is hook-heavy melodic punk with plenty of singalongs, witty lyrics, and a dash of old-school UK punk rock.
Off on the Charabanc fires on all cylinders here and won’t disappoint fans. Things veer off the normal path on the entire second half of the album, as the band makes the stylistic decision to offer up acoustic renditions of many new songs. This approach really gives listeners a chance to hear the group in a whole new light.
To be completely honest, I thought a lot about Tony Sly and Greg Graffin’s solo efforts a lot when listening to the acoustic set. The songs feel less punk rock and more country or folksy singer-songwriter. It’s refreshing to hear a different side to SNUFF, and it’s also really awesome that they trusted their fans to allow them to be open-minded when the band was most vulnerable.
Totally Slow – The Darkness Intercepts
Totally Slow is hardcore political punk rock perfection. It can’t be easy being a progressive band in the Southern States, but the band refuses to back down. If anything, I would say The Darkness Intercepts is even more in your face and aggressive than their previous album, Casual Drag. That makes sense because the political landscape hasn’t really changed for the better since then.
This time around, they channel bands like Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Adolescents and draw inspiration from Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu. The result is a fast-paced and angry wall of sound with machine gun drums motivating the listener. Political punk is often best during an election year. Totally Slow continues to prove my theory with some no-frill political hardcore punk rock.
Winona Fighter – “I’m in the Market to Please No One”
“I’m in the Market to Please No One” is a punk anthem empowering women to get out of toxic relationships and stick up for themselves. An underlying feeling of anger flows through the lyrics, but it’s not necessarily an angry song. Instead, it’s filled to the brim with the type of empathy people expect from fast and melodic pop-punk. It has the infectious pop from Ramones and the energy and meaning from bands like Paramore and Bad Cop/Bad Cop.
Other Junk
Bad Blooms – Goodbye
My introduction to Liz Fackelman came from her work in The Best of the Worst. She’s an amazing trombonist, but her vocals on “Short Change” stopped me in my tracks. From there, I was hooked. The contrast of her voice with the more hardcore vocals is a masterclass in song structure.
I only learned of her other project recently. She joined forces with guitarist Chris Grzan to create Bad Blooms, an electric folk duo from New Jersey. Their first EP, No, was a more stripped-down affair featuring a more traditional folk sound. Goodbye has Bad Blooms blossoming (pun intended) into a more robust sound with the addition of keys, drums, trombone, and bass. On songs such as “Quicksand,” the sound even morphs to a vocal jazz feel. I immediately picture a smoky jazz club as Liz’s soulful and soaring voice fill the room and escape to the sidewalks outside.
Graduation Speech – Arcane Feelings
I really liked Graduation Speech when it was a solo project from lead singer and guitarist Kevin Day. With this month’s release of Arcane Feelings, Day debuts a full band version. The band’s evolution into a complete band has been a joy to experience though. While the tunes have a familiar atmospheric element to them, the band fleshes out Day’s ideas into something that is akin to The Get Up Kids and The Weakerthans.
One track on Arcane Feelings could’ve just as easily been recorded back in the beginning days of the band. “09-12-20” presents Graduation Speech with more fullness and richness in tone with the addition of the full band.
The remaining five tracks on the EP magnify Graduation Speech’s evolution. The songwriting is as sincere as ever, but the music accompanying raises the stakes. You can hear multiple layers of intricate guitar work throughout. It’s plenty to chew on while listening for every trick, distortion, and fuzz pedal flowing in each song.
Jay Alan Kay – Songs Before Work
Jay Alan Kay is the solo project nom de plume of Jason Kotarski of Singing Lungs). With Songs Before Work, Kotarski trades in a full band for intimacy, offers up a different side of the singer you might not expect. Literally writing and recording the music before he left for work in the morning, the album has a beautiful sense of urgency. The songs don’t feel rushed, but there’s really no room for extravagance in the way the album is constructed.
It’s Kotarski, his instruments, and a cassette recorder. The result is lo-fi perfection. Even with the lo-fi approach, the guitar work really soars, as it’s chunky, riff-heavy, and melodic. On the whole, Songs Before Work splits the difference between punk rock and American singer-songwriter fare a la Tom Petty.
Near Beer – “Your Favorite Band”
Near Beer is a band from Los Angeles who sounds right at home on a college alternative rock station. “Your Favorite Band” is The Hold Steady meets The Replacements. It’s alternative power pop with meaningful lyrics about the anxiety of getting older combined with a catchy chorus and melodic hooks. The band is working on a new full-length, so if what they’re working on is as good as “Your Favorite Band,” they need to put their foot on the gas. I have no doubt the album will be amazing.
If you want me to listen to your ska, punk, or other junk, please feel free to contact me here. You might just see yourself in a future column! You can also reach out to me on my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts.