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.
Normally, my first column of each year is filled with hope and optimism. January typically presents an opportunity to make the year ahead better than the one you left behind. But just a month into 2026, and I’m already numb. To be honest, focusing on my column this month has been a real challenge. ICE agents are murdering American citizens in Minnesota, and I’m supposed to share my favorite musical picks of the month? I have so much rage and anxiety and concern over the direction our country is going, and frankly, I feel guilty even sitting down to talk about music. Every time I start to listen to something, my mind wanders and I catalog all the bad things going on in our country.
How can I write about music at a time like this? Does it even matter?
Those two thoughts persisted in my head all month. Then I saw a video that completely shifted my perspective. I’m paraphrasing, but the content creator said that what matters right now is that we stay human. If we stop finding joy, stop creating, or stop fighting, then we’ll lose our humanity. That was the message I needed to get back on the horse and write about the kick-ass music I discovered this month.
Ska
Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – Roma! Roma!
While Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are mostly known for their role in the ’90s Swing Revival, pigeon-holing them into one genre does them a major disservice. Their discography reveals a diverse catalog from a band that can do anything. Roma! Roma! finds the group delivering their most ska-forward release to date. But while ska is in the forefront here, they also share a healthy dose of big band ballroom, funk, Eastern European folk, and punk. Don’t sleep on the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – this is their best album to date.
Detroit Riddim Crew – “Reclaimed Space”
Bandleader Eric Abbey starts off the year right with “Reclaimed Space.” The second single from Detroit Riddim Crew’s upcoming full-length, it has Detroit funk and soul buzzing through it with Fonte Everette’s masterful bass playing. Woven around that bass groove is a an absolute love letter to traditional Jamaican music. If this is a preview of things to come, the eventual album will get a lot of spins from me this year.
Filthy Militia – High Ground
This seven-piece ska punk band celebrated their tenth anniversary in style by releasing their debut full-length. High Ground finds the North Londoners with a much bigger sound. From metal breakdowns to hornlines reminiscent of Streetlight Manifesto, the album showcases a band that is comfortable taking the next step. It’s an exciting time to join the Filthy Militia, as this record puts them up there next to Call Me Malcolm in the UK ska scene.
Kalles Kaviar – Nine Feet Tall
Listening to Nine Feet Tall feels like stepping into a time warp into the late ’60s. Everything sounds as authentic to first wave ska, rocksteady, and reggae as possible. The recording even has a warm fuzzy pop from time to time, making it feel like I’m listening to a first pressing Studio One vinyl on my turntable. While all the players are extremely talented, the standout is the organ playing from Bennet Uk, as he drives the rhythm and groove of each song. If you like bands like The Aggrolites and The Slackers, Kalles Kaviar is a must-listen.
Space Monkey Mafia – “Fuck ICE”
Hailing from Minneapolis, Space Monkey Mafia is intimately aware with how messed up things are in the Twin Cities right now. As a response to those horrible events, the band released “Fuck ICE” this month. While there’s some humor and levity present in some of the lyrics and upbeat ska beats on the song, the subject matter is serious. The band spreads information about available mutual aid on the song’s Bandcamp page. As they sing towards the end of the song, “If you lick the boot, you ain’t no friend of mine.”
The Bandulus – The Stars Above
One month into the year, and I’m already ready to make a prediction. When the dust settles on the calendar, The Stars Above will have a spot in my Top Albums of 2026 column. The album checks so many boxes. It’s firmly rooted in both traditional Jamaican music and Southern US soul, rhythm, and blues, though I also hear funk undertones on tracks like “In That Picture.” The record has modern sensibilities, but it also features an authentic sound that can only be created at a place like Daptone Records – where The Bandulus recorded this gem. Powered by the emotional dual vocal attack of Jeremy Penã and Leah Farmer, and fueled by one of the tightest rhythm sections in the trad ska revival scene, The Bandulus are at the absolute top of their game with The Stars Above.
The Scrub Ups – Thought Bubbles
I’ve been a fan of Mephiskapheles for 30 years now, so when some of the band’s original members started a new band, I was immediately excited. That band was Barbicide, and their debut album made it onto my Top 23 Albums of 2023 list. Tragically, when founding member Mikal Reich passed a few months later, Barbicide disbanded. From the ashes of that band comes The Scrub Ups, led by Brendog Tween and Irena Jaroszewskis. Not wanting to rest on the accomplishments of his earlier bands, Tween takes a similar direction with The Scrub Ups. Adding banjo and pedal steel to the mix, the group honors the legacy of the original Barbicide tracks and breathes new life into them.
The Wavebirds – “The Raid Boss Killed All My Friends”
Sometimes, you just need to yell “Leeeeeroy Jenkins” and charge blindly into a raid. The exhilaration and nostalgia I feel when I think about my days of playing City of Heroes and World of Warcraft online 20 years ago rushes to my head when I listen to this new single from Vancouver’s The Wavebirds. This song is the perfect palate cleanser to what has been a challenging start to the year. It just makes me feel happy.
Punk
Calling All Captains – The Things That I’ve Lost
The Things That I’ve Lost is the perfect release for January 2026. It zeroes in on anxiety, grief, burnout, regret, and loss and really puts those feelings under a microscope. The result is equal parts raw and cathartic, as the arrangements match the raw intensity of the topics in the lyrics. There’s an explosion of sound present with melodic breakdowns, tempo changes, hardcore screams, and pure energy.
Forgetaboutit – Orchestrated World
Leave it to a band from Norway to create an album that perfectly encapsulates everything that made the ’90s skate punk scene so special. While the album is filled with one speedy singalong anthem after another, Forgetaboutit isn’t afraid to slow it down from time to time either. For instance, “One Way Ticket” allows the emotion of the lyrics drive the song forward. If you like bands like NOFX, No Use For a Name, Blink-182, Millencolin, and Bad Religion, you don’t want to forget about Forgetaboutit.
Rifle – S/T
So much raw aggression immediately cofrmes through on this album. Rifle’s music is distorted, loud, fast, and angry. The pounding bass and speed demon guitar riffs transport me back to the ’70s garage punk days. It’s The Stooges meets Subhumans with a dash of Black Flag thrown in for good measure. Also, a majority of the album is politically charged. In a time when not enough bands are speaking out about what’s going on in the world, I hope the sonic assault from this self-titled album lights some fires everywhere.
The Suicide Machines – “Thank You”
The Suicide Machines are back with a blistering punk anthem about accepting your flaws and moving towards self-improvement to live a happy life. Clocking in at just over a minute long, “Thank You” is short, sweet, and the punch in the face you need to start getting your shit together. Our time on this rock is short, so we should do everything possible to make things better.
Tsunami Bomb / The Hammerbombs – Bombs Away!
I was such a big fan of the BYO Split Series when I was younger. When I see bands putting out similar releases these days, I’m immediately intrigued. On Bombs Away!, we’ve got two Northern Cali heavyweights, Tsunami Bomb and The Hammerbombs, doing the honors. For this split 7-inch, each band provides two covers and an original. Just by including some organ, Tsunami Bomb adds an eerie undertone to The Hammberbombs track “Things Aren’t Going Well.” The Hammerbombs offer up their own spin as well, turning their Tsunami Bomb covers into energetic street punk anthems.
Wasting Time – “Ripped Blue Jeans”
The easiest way to describe the sound of “Ripped Blue Jeans” is to imagine what it would be like if Matt Skiba was the lead singer for late ’90s Green Day. At times, I even pick up some Mike Herrera rasp. I can’t wait to hear more from these Toronto melodic punks, because they make catchy punk songs that scratch all of my itches.
Other Junk
Mega Infinity (featuring MC Lars) – “And The Crowd Goes Mild”
On their latest single, genre-fluid Long Island band Mega Infinity take aim at AI and the degradation of art, music, and culture because of it. Coming along for the journey is MC Lars, who shows why he’s known as one of the pioneers of lit-hop on his verse. “And The Crowd Goes Mild” is a damning indictment of AI and a celebration of the important of art created by real people. And in true Mega Infinity fashion, they morph through several genres from start to finish, keeping the listener on their toes, entertained, and inspired.
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.