In Defense of Ska

• When Smash Mouth was a ska band

  Back in the mid-90s, ska was on the rise in the US. A new band formed in San Jose, CA that played ska-punk and pop-punk tunes. They were called Smash Mouth. Oh, they did have one garage-pop song on their debut record. That song, “Walking On The Sun” blew up on alternative radio. Smash Mouth hasn’t played any ska since. That is until a recent single—a ska cover of The Beatles, “Love Me Do.” In celebration of Smash Mouth’s return to ska, we talk to Paul De Lisle, their bassist—and only current original member—about the band’s ska years in the mid-90s. We cover their formation, the grinding years and their debut album, Fush Yu Mang, which was recorded independently and later picked up by Interscope Records. Lots of great San Jose content in this episode too, including Taco Bravo, Dot 3, Frontier Wives, Cactus Club, Laundry Works, and Monkey. Plus, we learn all about the original members of Smash Mouth’s early ’90s bands. 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.Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.Donating for LA fires:California Fire FoundationPasadena HumaneMutual Aid LASupport The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource TabSupport In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Why is Bob Marley more popular now than ever? A conversation with Roger Steffens

  For most of his life, the legendary Bob Marley was actually something of a cult artist. After his death in 1981, though, his popularity only grew and grew. Now, he stands as a bonafide icon. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, Bob Marley expert Roger Steffens joins the podcast to chat about where Marley's legacy stands in 2025. Listen now.From his hugely popular posthumous album Legend to last year's biopic One Love, every year it seems like the reggae icon gains even more fans. Steffens -- who has penned several books on Marley, including the 2017 definitive oral history So Much Things to Say -- has some thoughts as to why.The crew discusses One Love and analyzes several other key moments from the past 40 years that have elevated Marley’s place in culture. Steffens also leads the gang down several fascinating side journeys, like Marley’s relationship to U.S. soul artist Johnny Nash.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.Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.Donating for LA fires:California Fire FoundationPasadena HumaneMutual Aid LASupport The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource TabSupport In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• The Precure album returns: Kayleigh Malloy & Anj Capizzi discuss the reissue of Kmoy's Precure album

  Kayleigh “Kmoy” Malloy released The Precure Album in 2021. It’s a brilliant, ska concept album that could be described as “Laptop Ska.” That’s changed. Now Kmoy is a full band with guitars and drums. And it sounds incredible. But something else is happening in the world of Kmoy. The Precure Album is finally getting a vinyl release. You can pre-order it here!This week we talk to Kayleigh (and Anj Capizzi, who did the art for the vinyl re-issue) about The Precure Album, Kmoy the Band and what it’s been like for Kayleigh since she’s transitioned. We also talk about the art book, the mix on the record, a few key songs on Precure, and we get to hear Kayleigh’s riveting Jeff Rosenstock story. Plus, we get the full story of Kmoy The Band’s cover of “Shed Some Skin” by Slow Gherkin. 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.Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.Donating for LA fires:California Fire FoundationPasadena HumaneMutual Aid LASupport The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource TabSupport In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Political dance music: A conversation with Sergio Rotman from Argentinian ska band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

  At this point in their career, perhaps it’s unfair to call Los Fabulosos Cadillacs strictly a ska act. The band blends the genre with reggae, wider rock, and various Latin rhythms. However, when they started in the mid-’80s, they were certainly a ska band. Good enough for us! On this episode of In Defense of Ska, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs founder and saxophonist Sergio Rotman joins the podcast to chat about the band, politics, and art. Listen now.Along with Rotman, the crew discusses how the oppressive politics of Argentina at the time of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs’ formation informed their music — and how they ultimately chose to fight back. They chat about the group’s early, very ska-heavy lyrics and explore the lingering effects of Argentina’s economic issues from that period.Then, they touch on a funny little thing that happened in the ’90s — Los Fabulosos Cadillacs blowing up thanks to their killer song “Matador.” Along the way, they also chat about collaborating with salsa queen Celia Cruz, covering a Clash song, and the major influence of Madness.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.Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.Donating for LA fires:California Fire FoundationPasadena HumaneMutual Aid LASupport The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource TabSupport In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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  47:34
• Mike Park’s Best Friend: An interview with Chris Candy

  It's no secret that the In Defense of Ska crew loves them some Mike Park -- the musician, ska aficionado, and Asian Man Records founder. So, this week, the gang invites Park's best friend onto the show -- Chris Candy. Listen to Candy discuss Park, his own band Chotto Ghetto, Vans Warped Tour, and more.Candy, the son of comedy legend John Candy, has a whole host of stories to share. Be it his hijinks playing in ska bands in his early days, his trips to Hawaii, his run-ins with figures like the legendary Stockton booker Middagh Goodwin, or directing music videos for Coldplay, the dude has certainly lived a life.Elsewhere, the polymath also touches on photographer Hiro Tanaka, his acting experience, and (as promised) his close friendship with Mike Park.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.Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.Donating for LA fires:California Fire FoundationPasadena HumaneMutual Aid LASupport The Music Community - Fire Loss + Resource TabRead lessSupport In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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