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. Since I listen to more than just those two genres, I also 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.
And just like that, the summer is almost over. The kids are heading back to school, the days are getting shorter, and soon, the air will have a little more of a chill to it. While I’ll miss the warm months, I also welcome the return of fall. But before we get there, let’s check out some of the bands that kept me going as I waited for the dog days of summer to stop blasting us with heat and humidity.
Ska
Downtown Fiasco – Look at the Sun
This bilingual ska punk band hails from Montreal and delivers some heavy political themes. While ska is at the core of their music, Downtown Fiasco weaves in elements of metal seamlessly. The guitar riffs turn on a dime from upstrokes and ska beats to heavy, chunky, and intricate.
The interplay between the horns and heavier guitar work even gives me Streetlight Manifesto vibes. As an American, the music gives me a lot to process, thought . I personally share the feelings the band is conveying. However, some folks would have their eyes opened to how people outside the U.S. really think of the country by listening to Look at the Sun.
Flying Raccoon Suit – “Mothership”
It’s always a good month when Flying Raccoon Suit releases new music. Following up an album like 2023’s Moonflower is no easy task, but “Mothership” comes out swinging. The wicked basslines and guitar hooks don’t stop hitting you in the face until the song ends two minutes later. Even with a short run time, the band still finds space to let everyone shine, which isn’t that hard when every single member of the band is so talented. This is my new go-to song recommendation when someone tells me they’ve never heard Flying Raccoon Suit before.
Legal Disaster – So, Here’s The Thing …
High energy ska, punk, and folk punk fill the new full length from Legal Disaster. I guess you could also call them a Crystal Rock Steady, since they took the spirit of the Choking Victim song and created a whole new ska genre. The songs on So, Here’s the Thing… flow with politics, social, and personal context, which make them relevant and accessible. My favorite song is one of the most aggressive ones, “Money.” It’s an anti-capitalist ska core song with the ever appropriate chorus, “Fuck money!”
Moon Stomper – La Vida Sigue…
Here’s another a perfect example of the bands you might miss out on if you only stick to languages you understand. Moon Stomper is a ska band from Monterrey, Mexico, and they’re not to be missed. Think Inspector meets Hub City Stompers meets The Skoidats. The band that would fit perfectly on the roster of Moon Ska Records, too, if it were still around. Filled with plenty of energy, skankable beats, and a saxophone player that rivals David Hillyard, Moon Stomper is one of my favorite discoveries of the year.
Space Monkey Mafia – Death of the Party
Minnesota is quickly becoming one of my favorite ska hubs in the United States. With bands like The Prizefighters, Runaway Ricochet, and Space Monkey Mafia calling the state home, it’s justified. Death of the Party is the latest album from Space Monkey Mafia, and it’s a treat to your ears and mind. With the opener, “Cult of Idiocracy,” the band lets you know exactly what their views are.
From that point on, you’ll get a healthy dose of current events, politics, and mental health topics. Space Monkey Mafia also don’t just stick to one type of ska. They merge it with metal, prog, swing, vocal jazz, pop, and alternative. It’s a kaleidoscope of styles that match the power and energy of lead singer Dante Leyva, who is a vocal chameleon.
The Boy Detective – “Beth Truss”
After not appearing in my column for some time, Michigan’s The Boy Detective is finally back with “Beth Truss,” the first single from their upcoming album, Disco Lunch. The song, recorded and produced by Roger Lima of Less Than Jake, steps up in their game. This team-up with Lima is destined to take the band to the next level. Having the pleasure of hearing this song live several times before it was recorded, I can also happily report the recorded version does a great job of capturing the band’s unmatchable live energy. Can’t wait to hear what’s next!
The Magnetics – Under Cover, Vol. 2
Italy’s The Magnetics play music deeply entrenched in the roots and traditions of ska, rocksteady, and reggae music. This EP has five covers, each infused with a trad ska feel. Each track is a joy to listen and dance to, but the highlights include “I Wanna Be Sedated,” “Time Hard,” and a rendition of “One Love” that takes it back to its roots.
Punk
Cheap Perfume – “Okay Party”
Ahead of the release of their upcoming new full-length, Cheap Perfume offers “Okay Party.” This infectiously catchy punk song focuses on the ups and downs of being in a band and going on tour. It’s a tasty appetizer to the main course in October. I can’t wait to hear the whole album.
Curbside – A Lifetime To Outgrow
A Lifetime to Outgrow is a certified ripper. Curbside’s drummer is either the Road Runner or has calves of steel, because he provides some of the fastest drumming I’ve heard on any album this year. I found myself listening even more carefully than usual, as I wanted to see how the band leveled up to that intensity. The answer is, with flying colors. Curbside is like Face to Face meets Red City Radio with the intensity of A Wilhelm Scream. This whole album goes to 11, and it might be one of the best melodic punk albums of the year.
Eevie Echoes & The Locations – “Dead Elders”
This song is equal parts tribute to queer liberation icons of the past and a call to arms for the continued fight for representation, equality, and rights. This blistering punk song is angry, yet hopeful at the same time. Filled with infectious hooks and anthemic choruses, if “Dead Elders” gets heard by the right people, it could become the soundtrack to a revolution.
Harley Poe – Big Feelings
Joe Whiteford is back with his folk-punk project, Harley Poe. Powered mainly by ukulele riffs, Big Feelings feels a bit different than prior albums. Sure, it’s still a mix of songs with political and anti-religious undertones, but the primary focus of this album is the love Whiteford has in his life now. The songwriting is still sharp and second-to-none, but I’ve got to admit, it’s enjoyable to hear some happy songs from Harley Poe.
Skeetch – Sunny Side Of Shitty Town
This German skate punk band hits with the power and feeling I get from ’90s Epitaph and Fat Wreck bands. Skeetch kicks off Sunny Side of Shitty Town with “Born 2 Late,” a love letter to the punk rock pioneers and sound that inspires the band. It’s a fast-paced skate punk song with gang vocals and an anthemic chorus that will get any crowd singing. While I enjoy the album’s other skate punk tunes, the one catches me most is “Hello Mr. Office.” It’s an acoustic folk-punk singalong that clearly expresses the band’s feelings about the police.
Other Junk
Lady Ybor – Sunny Side Down
Lady Ybor has a reggae, funk, and jam band sound that sounds like summer. Hailing from Florida, the group has a sun-kissed vibe that puts you in a mood to groove and dance. If you’re into bands like Ballyhoo, 311, and Pepper, then the original tunes on this EP will be right up your alley. The band also took the classic “Your Love” by The Outfield and converted it from an ’80s power ballad to a smoothed-out reggae rock jam.
Modus Fire – The Weary & The Wise
This album has so much going on, but in the best way possible, including a big horn sound throughout that complements the band wonderfully. While The Weary & the Wise has some punk and ska elements, I’m hard pressed to pigeonhole Modus Fire into a single category. I hear hardcore, prog, hip hop, pop, ska, reggae, punk, hard rock, alternative, and even some hints of blues. Being so genre fluid gives the band room to stretch out and explore the limits of the type of music they can create. The result is an record that is engaging and welcoming to curious ears. It also deserves multiple listens because each listen uncovers a new layer, especially on my two favorites: “Remember When” and “F.U.”
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 Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, and Facebook.