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
Behind The Curtain: Is Ska A Four Letter Word? W/ Victor Rice (Teaser) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:57
One of our favorite guests, Victor Rice, is back! He listened to our discussion with Daraka Larimore-Hall about whether third-wave ska deserves the backlash it got, and it got Victor thinking. He wanted to share his thou…
In Defense of Ska Ep 171: Suggs (Madness) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:12
In 1976, a couple friends got together and started a band. They called themselves the North London Invaders, but after quickly rethinking the branding, changed their name to Madness, a reference to a Prince Buster song.…
SKACHELLA: A Ska Review of Coachella [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:57
This year’s Coachella belongs to ska. Or at least it’s the ska performances that are making all the headlines. And it makes sense. Sublime is back together. Jakob Nowell is fronting the band in place of his dad, Bradley…
In Defense of Ska Ep 170: Jeremy Pena (The Bandulus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:27
What drives a musician to play music overtly rooted in traditional ska and rocksteady? And how do they honor the roots while simultaneously giving it a contemporary flavor? This is the subject this week for our conversat…
In Defense of Ska Ep 169: Save Ferris' Monique Powell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:04
In the ’90s, ska began to break into the mainstream. And yet, even during the great ska boom, only a handful of bands had an actual radio hit. One of the few acts to accomplish such a feat was Save Ferris, scoring big wi…
In Defense of Ska Ep 168: The Steady 45's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:23
One of the best ska bands of the past decade is The Steady 45's, a trad ska group based out of Los Angeles. They are one of the few bands that have been able to call both LA’s lively trad ska and vibrant Latino ska scene…
Behind The Curtain: I worked At Asian Man Records w/ Bob Vielma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:47
One thing we love doing on this podcast is talking to former members of Asian Man Records and getting all the dirt on Mike Park. This is our third episode in the series. We’ve already spoken to Skylar Suorez and Lazlo Ha…
In Defense of Ska Ep 167: Half Past Two (Tara Hahn & Max Beckman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:32
Half Past Two have been around for almost two decades, and yet they still feel like a breath of fresh air in the ska scene. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, lead vocalist Tara Hahn and guitarist Max Beckman discuss…
In Defense of Ska Ep 166: Daraka Larimore-Hall (The Adjusters) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:11
After forming in 1995, The Adjusters quickly made a name for themselves in the bustling Chicago scene for their blend of ska and soul, as well as their intensely political edge. Over time, the group has only gotten more…