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.
Normally, this column arrives the last Monday of the month. With Memorial Day falling on that Monday here in the United States, I didn’t think it was appropriate to release my column on the same day. So, I hope you enjoy this month’s column – Last Tuesday of the Month Edition. Lots of great music to explore here, including some of my favorite bands from Michigan. If you ask me, it’s always a good month when I can feature more than one band from the Mitten State.
Alright, enough from me. Get to reading! And when you’re finished, sound off in the comments about which bands on my list excite you the most.
Ska
Asfixia Social – Bleeding in the Sun
With Bleeding in the Sun, Brazilian ska punk collective Asfixia Social blaze through eight songs filled with political fury. For the uninitiated, the group blends ska, punk, hip-hop, and hard rock with more traditional Brazilian influences. Their sound is familiar, yet innovative. Their brass section literally demands attention while having the range to be subtle and subdued.
It’s hard to pinpoint one particular sound for Asfixia Social because they blend them so masterfully. But if I had to narrow it down, it’s like (Hed)P.E. joined up with Voodoo Glow Skulls and Body Count to create a super group. I really dig Asfixia’s Social dynamism as they weave in and out of different genres.
Bad Fix – Assimilation of the Nation
Bad Fix is an indigenous ska core band originating from Arizona. While there’s plenty ska to be heard here, Bad Fix plays predominantly with the “core” part of their genre. In terms of heaviness, I’d put them in the same vein as bands like FUSKA and Omnigone’s heavier songs. It’s a good thing skanking and the two-step are similar dances because you’ll definitely find yourselves doing both while listening to Assimilation of the Nation. Bad Fix shows their ska chops on songs like “Crack Rez Steady,” which is borrows from crack rocksteady. While the band plays with different styles well, they shine on songs that fuse ska and harder rock.
Danny Rebel & The KGB – We’re All Going to Hell
Montreal’s Danny Rebel & The KGB are more than a ska band. They combine their love of ska with good old fashioned Motown-esque funk and reggae. No matter how you categorize it, the tunes on We’re All Going to Hell are infectious and danceable. It’s the type of album that allows your subconscious to take control: All of a sudden, you realize your legs are shaking and your head is bobbing the beat.
Danny Rebel’s smooth vocals are filled with heart, passion, and soul. That passion seeped into the lyrics as a majority of the album focuses on the different ways humans have messed up the planet. The words suck you in with their message, and the rest of the band keeps you dancing the rest of the night. While I enjoy the entire album, it was a special treat to hear Jesse Wagner from The Aggrolites sing on “You Must Learn.” If we’re all going to hell, I’m cool with Danny Rebel & The KGB providing the soundtrack.
Foolish Relics – “Forget About Tomorrow (Is This Hell?)”
The inspiration for this gut-wrenching song comes from a scary and hopeless time in the life of Dino Rustin, the lead singer of Foolish Relics. “Forget About Tomorrow” was written earlier this year when his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The uncertainty, fear, anger, anxiety, and sadness felt by the entire family during this time bleed through the speakers. Thankfully, Dino’s dad has a good prognosis because everything was caught early. Still, the emotions felt between discovery and prognosis are raw, and that rawness comes through crystal clear.
It feels weird to call a song about the emotions felt when your parent is sick catchy, but it’s undeniable. No matter the topic, Dino knows how to compose a catchy tune. The “Is This Hell?” in the chorus is destined to become an anthem fans can sing along to live. Even though the song was born out of a dark period, it’s a cathartic tune. The band is also raising money for Project Purple, and they’re donating all the proceeds from the single. Way to make lemonade out of lemons, Foolish Relics.
Grim Luck – S/T
So, this album came out of nowhere for me. Towards the middle of the month, I suddenly saw this album listed in multiple ska Facebook groups, so I had to see what the hype was all about. I’m glad I did because Grim Luck blew me away. The music reminds me ot Streetlight Manifesto, The Blue Meanies, and The Arrogant Sons of Bitches heard through the lens of Gogol Bordello. Something this bold demands attention. Within its 47 minutes runtime, the band lets every single musician shine. This includes layered and in-depth instrumental interludes where the horn line absolutely rips. Each section is intricate, and the band absolutely nails it.
What makes this release even more ambitious and epic is that it’s a concept album. Instead of simply putting out an absolutely amazing ska-punk record, Grim Luck composed a full-on SKApera. It tells the story of the pirate ship Grim Luck and their last known adventures. Because of its structure, Grim Luck demands a lot of the listener, and I’m here to tell you that the payoff is massive – if you accept the band’s challenge. Sure, the singles sound great on their own, but you must go to the next level and give the album full playthroughs.
Killer Diller – Extended Play 2
Killer Diller is one of the best pure ska bands to come out of Michigan. Within the DNA of their music, you can just sense the immense love and respect they have for the traditional side of ska music. While adding some modern interpretations to the sound, each of the 13 musicians regularly involved with this group bring something unique and crucial to the overall sound.
For an instance, Brent Baxter Barrett is a guitar virtuoso. In between upstrokes, he belts out intricate guitar solos that would make Santana jealous. Aside from all of technical prowess he has on the recording, mixing, and mastering side of things, Eric Abbey shines with the trumpet, keyboards, and as a toaster. The Kachnowski brothers on trombone? Just wow. Cara and Chris with lead vocal duties? Their vocal styles complement each other so well, making Killer Diller’s music that much richer. And even though I didn’t mention them by name here, the remaining band members are masters of their discipline. Seriously. This is one of the tightest live bands I’ve ever seen. They knock it out of the park every single time I watch them perform.
Extended Play 2 is the follow-up to last year’s EP. While they’re both amazing releases, EP2 shows tremendous growth from the band’s initial formation to now. I truly enjoy each song on this record, but “Pendulum” is the big standout for me. Cara Stefanides absolutely crushes the complicated vocal arrangement. There are sections of the song where Stefanides has to speed up the tempo of her vocals to maneuver through tongue-twisting lyrics. It’s such a treat to hear her sing, enhanced even more by the hopeful message that things will swing back up for you if you’re currently being pulled down.
Matamoska! – S/T
Matamoska! keyboardist Esteban Flores has been featured on multiple Bad Time releases since the label formed. So, it was only a matter of time before his band would release an own album on the label. It took longer than I expected, but this self-titled record proved well worth the wait.
From start to finish, this album features a seasoned ska band putting on an absolute clinic. It’s a love letter to Los Angeles and Latino culture. Matamoska! have mastered several types of ska, and it’s all on display here. There’s big band trad ska that makes you want to dance. There’s catchy fun ska punk. “Problema Sin Solucion” even dips its toe into a more up tempo, aggressive ska core sound.
If you’re new to Matamoska!, this album does a great job of highlighting the band’s talent. Their passion and love for ska shines through in every track.
Mister Leu & the Nyabinghers – Born To Skank
After listening to this album, I can confidently confirm the title isn’t false advertising. Born To Skank is 35 minutes of pure dance music . It’s pretty clear that Mister Leu and his bandmates love traditional ’60s Jamaican music. With plenty of ska and reggae to serve all your dancing needs here, you’ll also hear some jazz, soul, and calypso.
The result is a complete sound that engages the listener on a primal level. The project will appeal to fans of modern bands like The Slackers and The Aggrolites, as well people who prefer classic tunes from the Studio One era. Bands like Mister Leu help reinforce ska as a global phenomenon for the masses to enjoy. This album will put you in a good mood and have you searching for someone you can take dancing next weekend.
The Mercurials – We Are the Mercurials
The premise of “Die First,” which opens up this wonderful EP from French ska band The Mercurials, is one my wife and I ponder all the time. In the song, which is a very uptempo and catchy ska love song, finds the lead singer wanting to die first so that he never misses his loved one. This fun song was made better because I could share with my wife.
The other songs were equally good. They mostly stuck with a straightforward ska sound, although I swear I heard some two-tone inspirations as well. Really, the only real knock on this album is that it’s an EP. Just as you think you’re getting into the meat of the record, it’s over. I look forward to whatever this talented group has planned for the future. Until then, I will add these tunes to my dancing playlists and have a great time.
Underneath the Lookout – “Endless Cycle”
Brand new to the scene as an official band, Underneath the Lookout is a new project from Suzy from Andy B & the World and Common Sense Kid. Together, this duo creates ska music by way of jungle, reggae, and dub. The band’s debut single features all four of their shared major influences, making it an easy song to get lost in. The use of the melodica is almost hypnotic, as it creates an eerie and engaging undertone.
The tempo shifts between ska, reggae, and rocksteady are seamless unless you’re really trying to find them. You can just put this song on repeat and get sucked into its energy. If this is the first single for Underneath the Lookout, then fans of CSK and Suzy are in for a treat.
Punk
Burntmill Ghosts – Old Records
Old Records is one of those albums that when you listen to it, you immediately assume the band has been around for decades and have perfected their craft over years of touring and recording. However, this is the debut full length from Burntmill Ghosts. It’s carefully crafted punk rock that appeals to the orgcore crowd and skate punk bands. Imagine Red City Radio by way of Lagwagon and No Use For a Name.
Old Records gets its name from the tales of yesteryear the band weaves throughout their songs. Whether it’s a song about an historical event, literature, or something more personal, the songwriting is top-notch. “The Body” starts from Stephen King’s novella of the same name, but instead of taking the perspective of the boys, it tells the story through the eyes of the dead body. “Tulsa Heat” shines a light on the 1921 Tulsa Black Wall Street Massacre. Never thought I would hear a melodic punk rock song about that topic, but I’m glad I did.
Seriously, we should all keep our eyes on Burntmill Ghosts. Their approach to songwriting and the quality of the finished songs they complete is exciting. I can’t wait to hear what they come up with next.
The Anti-Queens – Disenchanted
As a father of two fiercely independent daughters, I’m drawn to bands that embody the spirit I want my kids to keep with them as they grow up. The Anti-Queens perfectly fit that description. With Disenchanted, this Toronto punk band raises the stakes with songs about society, interpersonal relationships, and finding the power to persevere against a world that always throws its worst at you.
If you like bands like The Distillers, Hole, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, and L7, then The Anti-Queens needs to be in your listening rotation. The songs are angry, yet hopeful and inspiring. Much like a lot of albums written during pandemic times, there’s a lot of self-reflection going on here as well. This is the perfect music to blare in your car while you’re driving to a punk show this summer. Let all the people on the sidewalks hear you screaming the anthemic choruses at the top of your lungs.
Eat Defeat – My Money’s on Me
Too many music fans from Gen X or older generations stick to the same stuff they listened to as teenagers instead of branching out and discovering new artists. Sure, I love all the music from my younger years and still have those bands in heavy rotation. But, there’s nothing cooler than discovering a new band that takes you back to that feeling you had going to your first real rock shows. Eat Defeat does that for me.
With My Money’s on Me, I’m transported to the side stages where I saw some of my favorite bands for the first time. Eat Defeat sound like they came directly from the heyday of pop-punk. If they made a new Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game in 2024, this band would fit right in with the likes of No Use For a Name, Millencolin, and New Found Glory.
Each song is pure pop-punk perfection. Rapid-fire drums, upbeat riffs, hooks for days, and pitch-perfect sing-a-longs. This music was meant to be heard live with a group of your sweatiest peers having a call-and-response with the band as they jump right before the breakdowns. There’s an underlining of positivity throughout the album, too. With a title like My Money’s on Me that makes sense.
A track like “Everything is Broken” has a chorus that declares, “Everything is broken, but I’m not.” It’s a great moment because, whether it’s a relationship or something involving the world around us, it’s so easy to lose hope these days. The chorus of that track might just be my mantra for 2024 and beyond when things get a little challenging. If you’re new to Eat Defeat, you must take a chance on them. They’re already betting on themselves, so might as well see why they’re so confident. You won’t be disappointed.
Krang – Listens to Krang Once
If you grew up in the the ’80s and ’90s, you need to listen to this album at least once for nostalgia’s sake. Then you need to listen to it again, because Krang puts together some well-crafted skate punk songs. The band’s name is an obvious reference to one of the primary antagonists of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That’s but the first of many Gen X / Millennial references you’ll catch throughout the songs.
The way Krang uses nostalgia isn’t gimmicky though. They use the familiar to dig down deeper into something more personal about the individual or society. On “Cowabunga,” it’s all about the connection between growing up and still hanging onto the innocence and love for the Ninja Turtles. On “ALF,” the band sings about feeling out of place and not of this world, like ALF was when he crash landed on Earth.
Everything hinted at in the songs of Listens to Krang Once comes from my childhood, so I connected to this album on multiple levels. First, the nostalgia and familiarity rang true to me. Second, the songs are damn good. To me, Krang reminds me a skate punk band that would’ve been on Drive-Thru Records along with bands like Fenix TX and New Found Glory. Just solid punk music from great musicians with clever wordplay and subject matter.
Middle-Out – S/T
When reviewing the bands in my local Detroit scene, I always look for one or two bands that I think will blow up to the next level. Middle-Out is the band I’m currently watching. Musically, they’re extremely tight. The drums drive the songs forward with a flair for melody and hooks from the guitar and bass. One of the best melodic punk bands making music right now, Middle-Out should be right up your alley if you’re fans of bands like Face to Face and The Copyrights.
The songs here are very personal, dealing with life, love, loss, and everything in between. The band takes a more mature approach to these topics with their lyrics, so there’s a lot here most people can empathize with.
This self-titled debut is going to be on end of year lists, guaranteed. In ten or fifteen years, we’ll all be reminiscing about the times we saw Middle-Out play at tiny clubs. There’s just no way a band like this won’t succeed.
Norcos Y Horchata – Unkind Sometimes
Detroit’s Norcos Y Horchata continue to stake their claim as one of the best garage punk bands in the Michigan. There’s a raw power and aggression with everything they release, and this two song 7-inch is no different. The A-side is a brand new original called “Unkind Sometimes.” A rumbling drum beat drives most of the song before it joins the musical chaos created by the fuzzy and distorted guitars.
The B-side is a cover of “Don’t Come Crying To Me” by an old punk band from Detroit called Cinecyde. Cinecyde played in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and this song was their biggest hit. I prefer covers where the band isn’t afraid to put their own touch on the original so you want to listen to both versions. Luckily, Norcos takes the track and makes it theirs, while also keeping the spirit of the original. While this 7-inch is great, all it’s done is make me want even more new music from the band.
Ricky Rochelle – The First Few Years
Ricky Rochelle is mostly known for his work with The Young Rochelles. but while that band sits squarely in the genre of Ramones-esque punk bands, Ricky uses his solo work to explore different music. This EP is much more in line with melodic punk like Menzingers and Social Distortion.
I absolutely love Ricky’s voice, so hearing him sing different styles of punk also gives him the chance to flex his vocal ability even more. From the Americana punk of “My Perfect Gem” to a more aggressive thrash vocal on “Tucker Carlson Sucks,” this record really shows off his range. While I recommend this EP to fans of The Young Rochelles, I also think any pop punk fan will find something to enjoy here.
The Corps – Fractured Protocol
Sometimes, a band is just tailored to your sensibilities. It’s not a question of if, but when, you finally hear them. For me, one of those bands is The Corps. This Canadian act creates fast-paced melodic skate punk music that is heavily grounded in the world of comic books. Don’t let the comic book talk scare you away. While there are definitely comic book references throughout the band uses them to offer their commentary on life. You can take their comic book-inspired lyrics at face value if you’d like, but the real meat is listening to what they have to say.
Honestly, even if I wasn’t a comic book nerd who recognized some of the nods, it wouldn’t matter. The political commentary and exploration of various social themes are really where Fractured Protocol shines. It’s totally worth your time to get hit with a 30-minute sonic blast of message-based skate punk.
Other Junk
Extra Arms – RADAR
RADAR is a power-pop fan’s dream. Infectious hooks, melodic choruses, pounding drums, and great lyrics intertwine throughout this album. Lead singer Ryan Allen’s voice has a particular rasp to it that adds yet another dimension to the craftsmanship on display. While the music of Extra Arms sounds 100% their own, the band isn’t shy about letting their influences shine through, including Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, The Buzzcocks, and Guided By Voices.
While I love the overall catchiness and melodies of the record, my favorite song is “Space and Time,” mainly because I wasn’t really expecting it. A country song beautifully accompanied by a a slide guitar, it’s a nice palate cleanser for those of us sick of what passes for country these days. Whatever the case, Extra Arms has released the best power pop album I’ve heard so far this year.
Micah Schnabel – The Clown Watches the Clock
While he got his start with the band Two Cow Garage, Micah Schnabel mainly focuses on his solo career these days. As a singer-songwriter, Schnabel is Kurt Vonnegut, Tim Barry, Woody Guthrie, and Neil Young all wrapped up in a tattooed package. He’s a troubadour with sharp wit and a biting tongue when it comes to his observations about life and the world around us. His music is extremely sociopolitical, poking at the dirty underside of our society in ways most people aren’t comfortable doing.
“Christian Band” is spoken word poetry put to music. Schnabel tells a tale of struggling through a Christian band’s concert as he listens to them rip off popular music and make it their own. “Real Estate” and “4 Vignettes From An American Strip Mall” juxtapose capitalism and the economy with conflicts of self and a loss of hope. Each song on this album embraces the idea that there’s nothing really left to hope for in life. It’s a completely melancholy but incredibly beautiful piece of work. The record is pure poetry, as you’ll run the lyrics around in your head all day, analyzing what Schnabel has to say.
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.