In Defense of Ska episode 196: MC Lars

In Defense of Ska episode 196: MC Lars

Author: Aaron Carnes October 16, 2024 Duration: 1:06:57

While the late 2000s wasn't exactly a booming time for the genre of ska, the 2009 ska-injected song "The Gigantic Robot Kills" was able to leave its mark. This week on In Defense of Ska, the podcast welcomes nerdcore rapper MC Lars to talk about the story behind the song, his history with the genre, and more.

"The Gigantic Robot Kills" was the product of numerous musical collaborations. MC Lars talks about all of the folks that were involved in the construction of this song, from the featured artists Suburban Legends and MC Bat Commander to the demo that was originally created with Wheatus. He also touches on the involvement of Wesley Willis, as well as the unbelievable time he got to work on a song with "Weird" Al.

Music, particularly ska music, has been a large part of MC Lars' life for a long time. The rapper talks about the many artists that he has seen in concert that have inspired him, including Fall Out Boy and Less Than Jake. He even got to see co-host Adam Davis' old band Link 80 in concert when he was in high school.

Then, MC Lars lets some of his hot takes rip, including his thoughts on mainstream emo and whether Hot Topic could be considered punk rock.

Listen to MC Lars' 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’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon

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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