In Defense of Ska Ep 204: Blammos (Arthur Leon Adams, Jimmy Boom)

In Defense of Ska Ep 204: Blammos (Arthur Leon Adams, Jimmy Boom)

Author: Aaron Carnes December 11, 2024 Duration: 56:58

Power-pop/new wave group BLAMMOS may not seem like a band that would be associated with ska on the surface, but the members actually site the genre as an important aspect of their identity. This week on In Defense of Skathe podcast welcomes BLAMMOS' Arthur Leon Adams III and Jimmy Boom to talk about the band's newest album, Sometimes I Wish You Were Dead, their history with ska music, and more.

Sometimes I Wish You Were Dead dropped on December 6th, and BLAMMOS have quite a bit to say about it. Specifically, Adams and Boom talk about why the album took over a decade and a half to make. Furthermore, the two also discuss BLAMMOS' history and how the band came to be. Along the way, they tell stories of their antics featuring folks like Vic Ruggiero and GNARBOOTS.

In addition to BLAMMOS, Adams and Boom also have a history of playing with the new wave band The Phenomenauts. As they touch on the latter, the pair talks about how the band accidentally fell into the ska scene. That conversation includes talk of the multiple ska bands that Jimmy used to play with, such as Red Session and Kongo Shock. The two also go deep on their opinions of ska-style drumming.

Listen to the conversation, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.



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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.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

In Defense of Ska
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