In Defense of Ska

In Defense of Ska

Author: Aaron Carnes Language: English Episodes: 100
There's a persistent idea that ska music is just a punchline, a relic of checkerboard Vans and goofy horn sections. In Defense of Ska dismantles that notion with genuine passion and deep knowledge. Hosted by Aaron Carnes, who literally wrote the book on the subject, and musician Adam Davis, this podcast goes far beyond nostalgia. Each conversation, whether with scene veterans or curious outsiders, digs into the genre's rich history, its surprising cultural footprint, and the vibrant community that keeps it alive. You'll hear personal stories that trace ska's influence in unexpected places and passionate arguments for its artistic merit. It’s not about blindly championing every upstroke; it’s about thoughtful, often funny, and always dedicated discussions that give the music the serious consideration it rarely gets. Tune in for a refreshing reevaluation that might just change your mind about what ska has been and what it continues to be. This is a defense built on facts, stories, and undeniable love for the sound.
Episodes
The Exit Interview with Sammy Kay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:05
Oh, wait a minute! We have one more episode. Three-time IDOS guest Sammy Kay couldn’t let us walk away from the podcast without doing a proper exit interview. So this week, Sammy asks Adam and Aaron a bunch of questions…
The Final episode w/ special guest Mike Park [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:28
Well, folks, this is it. You’ve made it to the end of the In Defense of Ska podcast. Nobody can say it wasn't a great four-and-a-half-year run of interviews, discussions, laughs, and hard-hitting ska journalism. Hosts Aa…
Why Fishbone Matters with W. Kamau Bell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
Are Fishbone the greatest band of all time? Perhaps. But no matter how great any single person thinks the group is, it’s a fact that Fishbone is a super important, very original band. And they still matter in the year 20…
Felipe Esparza on Voodoo Glow Skulls and all things ska [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:40
Comedian Felipe Esparza may have won Last Comic Standing in 2010 and is currently touring theaters. But probably the most important thing to know about him is that he loves ska. We’re talking Madness, The Skatalites, Los…
The Mozzarella Stick Ska Meme: Its history and impact on ska [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:31
They said it couldn’t be done, but In Defense of Ska laughs in the face of such faithlessness. It's with great pride and honor that the crew unveils this week's episode -- a lengthy discussion and breakdown of the infamo…
Ska Punk International: An interview with Chris Reeves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:25
Eras of ska are, in part, defined by the ska labels. This week on In Defense of Ska, the crew chats with the head of one of those labels helping make the modern age of the genre -- Chris Reeves, owner/operator of Ska Pun…
The beginning of a global trad ska revival: Potato 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:29
In England, two-tone ska was absolutely huge -- but only for a brief time. By the early ’80s, the country had moved on to other sounds in pop music, and most of the two-tone bands broke up or moved on to play non-ska tun…
Japan’s finest: Hey Smith singer Shu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:24
This week on In Defense of Ska, the gang travels to the ska-loving country of Japan to interview the amazing ska-punk group Hey Smith. Listen to the band's singer and primary songwriter Shu and trombonist Ume (also of Ki…