Hailing from Baltimore, MD, The Players Band has made some of the best big band ska and reggae in the country since 1999. From trad ska and reggae to 2 Tone, the group finds inspiration from multiple styles of Jamaican music. Their love and passion shine through in their live shows and recorded music.
In 2025, The Players Band is on the verge of releasing their sixth album, SKAVILLA!. While the recording is complete, the band turned to crowdfunding to get it pressed and released. Currently live on Kickstarter for the month of March, the album is an instant classic. The band’s drummer, Andy Schneider, answered questions about the band, the album, and their hopes for 2025.
So, for people who might not know you are, despite your 25-year history, who is The Players Band?
We are a 10-piece ska band from Baltimore, MD. We play high-energy Jamaican ska and reggae since 1999. Our lineup includes a big four-piece horn section, keys & piano, drums & percussion, bass, guitar, and vocals. Our style is dynamic and versatile. We can lay down a classic Skatalites tune like “Confucius,” move into an original reggae track, jam on “Chameleon,” and jump right back into high-energy two-tone ska. Mixing it up keeps us engaged while also making every show fresh and a little less predictable.
The band formed right as major labels started moving away from ska. How do you feel the scene has developed within the last 25 years? Do you think we’ll see another major label ska push in the future?
Ska has always been a niche genre, but that’s part of what makes it special. Playing and listening to ska since our high school days, we’ve been fortunate to share the stage with some of the musicians who inspired us. We opened for Joe Strummer, Toots & the Maytals, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Toasters, The English Beat, and The Skatalites. We have also had guest musicians sit in with us, including Adam Birch, Jeff Richey, Buford O’Sullivan, Dr. Ring-Ding, and H.R. to name a few.
As for another major label ska wave? Who knows—but ska has always thrived, with or without mainstream backing. That’s in no small part to dedicated fans and passionate organizers like Tim and April at the Supernova International Ska Festival in Virginia, where we were fortunate to play in 2021. They do a phenomenal job bringing world-class and worldwide ska bands to the East Coast. We also see a growing appreciation for the originators of ska and reggae, thanks to the excellent work of writers and content creators like Heather Augustyn.
Who are some of the bands that get you excited these days?
Since we’ve been around for a while, we always love seeing the bands that helped shape the scene. I’m talking about The Pietasters, Toasters, Slackers, English Beat, Aggrolites, Eastern Standard Time, Mephiskapheles, King Django, Chris Murray, and Western Standard Time. As for groups we’ve come across more recently, we highly recommend checking out The Fishska, NYC Ska Orchestra, Chinatown Ska, Vieja Skina, and The Bluebeaters.
We’re also big reggae fans, so we have to give a shoutout to the Loving Paupers and Baltimore legends Jah Works. We recently created a Spotify playlist called East Coast Ska & Reggae that highlights well-known and lesser-known artists.
You’re back with a new album called SKAZILLA!, and it’s a monster. It boasts almost an hour of music, mixing work from Victor Rice, and guest vocals from Vic Ruggiero of The Slackers. What was it like working with those two?
Working with Vic and Victor is an absolute privilege. Both are legends in the ska/reggae world, and their musicianship and experience are next level. We’ve had special guest musicians on tracks before, like Steve Jackson (The Pietasters) and Natty Roc (Jah Works). We knew our song “Foolin’” was a perfect fit for Vic Ruggiero’s vocal style. As for Victor Rice, he’s worked on three of our six albums now. On SKAZILLA!, he mixed the entire album, added partial dub treatment to “Wanted,” and fully dubbed “Dub Land Dub.”
The Players Band is a veritable who’s who in modern ska. Who were the featured players on SKAZILLA!?
The album showcases 12 musicians across 14 tracks—12 original songs and 2 covers: “You Don’t Know How It Feels” by Tom Petty and “Freddie Freeloader” by Miles Davis.
Below is the list of musicians and the bands they currently play in:
- Nick Reider – Trumpet, Vocals (Bumpin Uglies, Jah Works)
- David Saunier – Sax, Keys, Vocals
- Mike Gorman – Bari Sax
- Craig Considine – Trombone (The All Mighty Senators)
- Joe Ross – Guitar, Bass (The Pietasters)
- Dan Schneider – Guitar, Keys, Bass, Vocals (Loving Paupers)
- Kristin “Lady Hatchet” Forbes – Bass, Vocals (Rude Girl Revue)
- Andy Schneider – Drums
- Marc Levine – Percussion
- Pablo Fiasco – Organ, Vocals (Left Alone)
- Mark Leary – Vocals (Unity Reggae)
- Vic Ruggiero – Guest Vocals (The Slackers)
For the release of the new album, you’ve decided to head to Kickstarter to fund a vinyl release. What was it about crowdfunding that interested you?
We’ve always self-funded and self-promoted our albums, but the upfront costs of creating a professional release can be substantial. For this album, we turned to Kickstarter to help cover many of the initial expenses and offset the production costs of making LPs and CDs. It’s a great way to involve our friends and fans directly in the process and make sure the project comes to life the right way.
Aside from marketing the release on Kickstarter, do you have any additional plans to promote the album? A tour perhaps?
Right now, our focus is spreading the word on the band and on the new album as far and wide as possible. We’re really happy with this record, and there’s nothing better than seeing people connect with the music. We’re also really appreciative of outlets like Ska, Punk, and Other Junk and Bearded Gentlemen Music for supporting independent bands. As for touring, we’re hoping to link up with some of the bands we mentioned earlier for a few short runs later this year.
Speaking of touring and playing shows, what’s a typical show for The Players Band sound like?
Expect a mix of styles from traditional ska, to two-tone, to reggae. We aldo inject a dose of classic covers like “54-46,” “Sledgehammer,” “Nite Klub,” and “No No No” to keep the crowd moving. We also have one of the baddest horn sections around, so if you like big, horn-heavy arrangements, you’re going to dig our style.
Fast forward to the end of 2025. What’s the one thing that could happen for the band that would make you consider it a success?
We have a few goals, but the top two are a successful album launch and reception, and getting on the road for some short-run tours later in the year. It’s been a long while since we’ve played outside of the Baltimore/DC/VA region, so hitting the road at some point would make 2025 a win for us.
When I think of Baltimore, one of the first things that pops in my head is always The Wire. How wrong is it to just assume all of Charm City is operating like the TV show?
“You come at the king, you best not miss!” No doubt, The Wire is one of the greatest shows of all time. Like any city, Baltimore has its share of desirable and less desirable areas. Overall, it’s a city full of history, vibrant neighborhoods, a great music scene, and the best steamed crabs around (see Nick’s Fish House). They don’t call it Charm City for nothing! Speaking of The Wire, we actually met the creator and producer, Baltimore’s own David Simon, at one of our shows last summer. We totally fanboyed, took a picture of him holding our album, and gave it to him as a souvenir!
What would you show people to give them a dose of the real Baltimore?
Plenty! Start with the cobblestone streets and historic pubs of Fell’s Point, or enjoy the waterfront views and great food in Harbor East. Catch a ska or punk show at The Ottobar or visit the National Aquarium. You could watch the O’s or Ravens at Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium. Tour Fort McHenry, where The Star-Spangled Banner was born. Stroll down the Avenue in Hampden to sample the legendary Dangerously Delicious Pies, and then grab some pasta in Little Italy. If you need more, just let us know!
What’s your favorite song from the new album and why?
We’re copping out and breaking it down by genre, since picking a favorite is like choosing a favorite child. For two-tone, it’s “What I See” and “Elementary.” For reggae, “Wanted” and “Dub Land.” For everything else, “Can’t Go Back to Buffalo” and “Cut & Run.” If you’re a straight-up ska head, then our breakneck cover of Miles Davis’ “Freddie Freeloader” is for you.
Fill in the blank: If I like “blank,” then I will love The Players Band….
I’ll keep consistent with some of the names mentioned earlier. If you love The Skatalites, The Pietasters, The Slackers, The Toasters, The English Beat, and Toots & The Maytals, then you’ll love us.
What movie would you choose if you had to pick SKAZILLA! for the soundtrack? Why? And you can’t say Godzilla or any kaiju movies,
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. First off, The English Beat are prominently featured, as their tune “March of the Swivelheads” plays during the iconic chase scene at the end of the film. We even cover that song from time to time. SKAZILLA! shares some of the same energy and fun that the film and Ferris specifically represent. We’re upbeat, different moods, and overall carefree, as we like to keep things moving, with a little something for everyone along the way.
Any last words?
Support local musicians! Go to their shows, buy their records, pick up a shirt. That, and remember, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
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Editor’s Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.