I remember back in 1998.
I was working at a grocery store in Charleston, SC,
and one of my co-workers came up to me and asked, "Do you like Ska?"
"You mean, like Madness?" I replied.
"No...SKA."

I felt old.

The end of October means the end of The Knitting Factory in Hollywood.
And this also means the end of Chris Murray's Bluebeat Lounge...for now.
And while The Knitting Factory is looking for a new home, it is truly the end of an era.

I first went to The Knitting Factory in August of 2004.
The Pietasters were playing a concert that Chris Murray was hosting,
and since it was my birthday, and I street team for The Pietasters, I flew out
to Los Angeles to see what the ska scene was like.

It was impressive.

After that concert, I swore that I would move out to LA within the year.
It took me 8 months.

This podcast marks the end of two eras. The first being the passing of The Knitting Factory.
And the second being the end of this podcast. I had said earlier that I was going to do two final podcasts, but the flu cut that pledge to just this one. I simply no longer have the time, money, nor interest to keep World Ska Radio going.

This final, 95-minute podcast features artists I have seen perform at The Knitting Factory.
It easily could have been twice as long.

So thank you to Gabe Paredes of The Pressure Drop Soundcast. He designed the look and the logo for World Ska Radio. I could not have started this without him. Thanks also to my other podcasters-in-crime over at Music Is Our Occupation, Bobby Bobson and Brian Dao.

But mostly, thanks to you. At its peak, World Ska Radio had over 6,000 subscribers on 5 continents!

So, so long...and thanks for the fish!

-Andrew Lyons

Darkness Radio had an event at The Queen Mary called "The Psience Fair". It consisted of many panelists from the paranormal field, such as Chris Fleming, Patrick Burns, and Adam Blai, as well as a 4-hour ghost hunt deep inside The Queen Mary.

The panelists were very good, but I was really looking forward to spending an hour with Andy Coppock and Melissa Seghal. Andy is an engineer who had TAPS West Coast investigate his haunted work site. He now is an investigator himself and has created gadgets for TAPS in the past. Melissa is a paranormal investigator and an animal activist. This night, they were joined by Adam Blai, a demonologist.

Andy is known for doing EVP sessions with an induction probe running simultaneously. An induction probe is a tool that electricians use to see if a circuit is hot. It looks like a large pencil with a speaker at the end. If electricity is present, the induction probe will buzz. The greater the source, the louder the buzz. Andy discovered, kinda by accident, that spirits can communicate through the induction probe.

I've broken up the session into two parts. In Part One, you will hear myself and another guest speak in German because we were told that some of the entities were German. Our German phrases do attract some spirits, but not all of them are benign...

Melissa's website:
http://www.animalparanormal.com

Adam Blai's website:
http://www.religiousdemonolgy.com

My Yahoo Group: Los Angeles Paranormal Resource
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LAPR

A few minutes after Adam Blai had to dispel a malicious entity, Andy and Melissa felt they were ready to continue.

What followed was an intense session that included transmissions of Morse Code, baleful wailing, and another malicious entity who tried to trick us into thinking it was a little kid by beeping "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and more.

If you would like to learn more about the paranormal, please visit my Yahoo Group: The Los Angeles Paranormal Resource.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LAPR

Also, I will have two ska podcasts in October to mourn the passing of The Knitting Factory Hollywood. Stay tuned!

I recently attended a TAPS Para 101 class at The Granada Theater in Ontario, California. After the 5-hour class, there was a 3-hour investigation.

This 9-minute audio clip is a K2 session that I and two other did in one of the corners of the theater's stage. A K2 meter, shown in the picture above, is used by electricians to detect electromagnetic fields. As you can see there are 5 lights: dark green, light green, yellow, orange, and red. The stronger the field, the more lights light up. When we started this session, the K2 was a steady yellow, meaning that there was an electromagnetic field nearby, (likely a fuse box).

Sadly, there is no video footage, but hopefully this audio clip will give you a sense of what a K2 session is like when everything goes right. For more info on K2 Meters, visit:

http://www.k2emfmeter.com

To learn more about the paranormal, visit LAPR:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LAPR

Posted last month by Richard: "Nice to have you back - I was getting worried! Excellent choice of tunes; thank you for doing what you do!"

Richard...I got some bad news.

World Ska Radio is going on hiatus. Not permanently, but at least for a while.

Why?

A couple of reasons.

A) Most of my sources for music have dried up. The ska section at Amoeba Records has shrunk by 66%. Plus, MySpace Music is now streaming only, no downloads. So I simply can't get my hands on enough music to keep putting out episodes.

B)Time. From start to finish, it takes up to 3 hours to produce an episode. I just don't have that kind of time anymore.

C) I've traded one expensive hobby for another. It costs about $120 a year for Podomatic Pro, plus the expense of buying music. But recently, I've gotten into ghost hunting, and going on a ghost hunt can easily run $300 to $500. But, what can I say? I love doing them.

So, aside from the marketing I do for Bucket, 3FOS and Megalith Records*, this is going to be it for a while. But I did put a lot of effort into this episode. So hopefully, it will be a fitting farewell.

Before I go, a few "Thank You's". BIG Thanks to Gabe Paredes at the Pressure Drop Soundcast for designing my home page and WSR's logo! And thanks to Jason Boyd for teaching me how to use Audacity.
And THANK YOU to the over 5,000 subscribers who've downloaded episodes!!!

Will I ever return to podcasting on a regular basis?

Someday...I suppose.

01. Raskahuele: "New Ska"
02. Madness: "One Step Beyond!"
03. Passafire: "Behind Closed Doors"
04. Deal's Gone Bad: "Good Ol' Days"
05. The Pepper Pots: "Lucky Girl"
06. Don Segundo: "I Will Not Beg"
07. Don Segundo: "Censura"
08. The Pietasters: "G to F"
09. Firebug: "Finding My Way"
10. Raskahuele: "Gasparin"
11. Blue Asia: "Abyssian Dub"
12. Passafire: "Feel It"
13. The Pepper Pots: "Stay On Your Way (feat. Dr. Ring Ding)"
14. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: "Someday I Suppose"
15. Green Room Rockers: "Everday"
16. See Spot: "Robbery"
17. Mandorico: "One Last Reminder"
18. Mandorico: "Ojala"
19. The English Beat: "Save It For Later"
20. Bedouin Soundclash: "12:59 Lullaby

*The Pepper Pots latest album, "Shake It!" is now available on Megalith Records! If you can, catch The Pepper Pots next month at The SXSW Festival, and/or their mini US Tour!

Mar 20 2009: Blue Bubble Ballroom, San Antonio, Texas
Mar 21 2009: South by Southwest 2009 Festival, Austin, Texas
Mar 22 2009: Take II, El Paso, Texas
Mar 23 2009: The Rhythm Room, Phoenix, Arizona
Mar 24 2009: Winston’s Beach Club, San Diego, California
Mar 25 2009: Bluebeat Lounge, Hollywood, California
Mar 26 2009: Spaceport 2058, Atascadero, California
Mar 27 2009: Balazo Gallery, San Francisco, California
Mar 28 2009: Phoenix Theatre, Petaluma, California

For more info, visit The Pepper Pots on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/thepepperpots

You can read my review of "Shake It!", here:
http://musicaloccupation.blogspot.com/2007/10/review-pepper-pots-shake-it.html

The Pepper Pots are now on Megalith Records!
http://www.megalithrecords.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/396

Once again, Bucket Hingley, front man of The Toasters brings his 3 Floors Of Ska show to The Knitting Factory. This year, 3FOS is teaming up with the Ska Is Dead tour to bring some of the best local, regional, and national ska bands in the US today!

This podcast gives a sampling of what you can expect to hear on February 7th. You can also check out the 3FOS MySpace Playlist by clicking here.

To purchase advance tickets and more more info, click here.

For more info on the Ska Is Dead tour, click here.

Track Listing:

1. The Toasters - Skafinger
2. Voodoo Glowskulls - DD Don't Like Ska
3. The Toasters - 2-Tone Army
4. Deal's Gone Bad - Todd's WSR Promo
5. Deal's Gone Bad - You Get The Keys
6. Buck-O-Nine - I'm Not Dead
7. Raskahuele - Tiro Loco
8. Hub City Stompers - Skinhead Boi
9. One Pin Short - Warm Embrace
10. RiceRokit - Dull Boy
11. Half Past Two - Lyin' Eyes*
12. Deal's Gone Bad - Messin' Around
13. The Toasters - Weekend In L.A.
14. The Roundabouts - Keep On Waiting

* from their upcoming album.

Once again, Chris Wise from Duke Duel.com designed the 3FOS poster. Check out his website!.

I've combed through the WSR Archives to find some of the spookiest ska and reggae songs around. Take a listen... if you dare!

1. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Frankenstein
2. The Kinky CooCoo's - 40 Miles
3. Skavoovie & The Epitones - Frog Spirit
4. Deal's Gone Bad - In The Land Where No One Walks
5. The Uptones - Radiation Boy
6. Madness - Time For Tea
7. Amparanoia - Don't Leave Me Now
8. Tne Kinkky Coocoo's - Montajuich Boneyard
9. Madness - Grey Day
10. 2 and 1/2 White Guys - BBC
11. The Specials - Ghost Town
12. The Skints - Sociopaths
13. The Makeshift Heroes - Demons
14. Smoke Like A Fish - Death Of An Angel

Check out this video: The Aquabats - Fashion Zombies!

"Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit!"

It's Oktoberfest!!! The most wonderful time of the year!
This podcast aims to capture the spirit of Oktoberfest with lots of crankin' ska tunes from Germany and around the world!

Genießen Sie!

1. World Ska Radio - Regular - Ein Prosit
2. See Spot - Hot Sauce
3. Green Room Rockers - Cold Hearted Woman
4. Inspector - Inspector A-Go-Ska
5. The Pietasters - Moment
6. Kingston Kitchen - Seven Days
7. Coldspot 8 - I Could Be Wrong
8. Ska Cubano - !ay caramba!
9. Don Segundo - Start Stompin
10. The Busters - 6 Beers And Rocksteady Music
11. Don Segundo - La Dony
12. Dr. Ring Ding - The Needle
13. The Special Guests - Waiting
14. A Brief Message from See Spot
15. See Spot - Hush
16. The Pietasters - Something Better
17. Green Room Rockers - Humor Me
18. Ska Cubano – Natty No Dead
19. Alpha Boy School - Rude Boy
20. The Busters - Enjoy Yourself
21. The Roundabouts - Return To Me

And now for something completely different.

When I was 10 and living in Germany, I used to think this band was ausgezeitnet!

This has to be the shortest podcast...ever.

At 22 seconds, it's over in a flash.
But what a flash.

2 weeks ago, I went on a ghost hunt for my birthday at Wolfe Manor in Fresno, CA. This ghost hunt was spearheaded by TAPS West Coast, along withRobb Demarest and Barry Fitzgerald from Ghost Hunters International.

While in the attic of Wolfe Manor, some other researchers were taking pictures of a storage room, claiming to have seen a shadow move. So I decided to do an EVP session.

An EVP is Electronic Voice Phenomena. It's sorta like having a seance with a tape recorder running, or in this case, a digital audio recorder. You ask questions and then pause for 5 seconds in between questions. You then play it back to see if you got any extra voices you did not hear at the time of the recording.

In this EVP, you will here me ask, "Why were you hiding by the boilers?"

Here is the reply...

What does it mean to be a part of a community?

Recently, while browsing some topics on The Special's forum,
I came across a repost about a boy named Adam from Edinburgh, Scotland. Adam has Pontine Glioma, a form of brain cancer so rare that only 40 cases are diagnosed each year, globally. Because Potine Glioma occurs around the brain stem, it is inoperable...and incurable.

Adam is 5 years old.

This article further details Adam's condition:
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/features/Adams-illness-turned-familys-world.4315541.jp

His mother is writing a blog about Adam's illness and how their family and their community is dealing with it.
http://www.ajourneywithadam.blogspot.com

This organization is helping Adam's family and other children in Scotland who have cancer.
http://craigmyles.com/cclasp/start.php

So, what does it mean to be a part of a community?

To me, it means, when someone is faced with an extraordinary plight, that they, eventhough they are half a world away, are not alone.

1. The Busters - Come On
2. Skavoovie & The Epitones - Aquaman
3. Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
4. Madness - Driving In My Car
5. Jim Murple Memorial - Jim Murple Walk
6. The Tennors - Ride Your Donkey
7. Undercover S.K.A - Super Nice Guys
8. The Big Sound - Stand So Tall
9. Dub Street Rockers - The Lion
10. Deals Gone Bad - Pirates
11. Contra Coup - Rainbow Dub (Ft. Victor Rice)
12. The Slackers - Every Day Is Sunday
13. Firebug - Strange But Nice
14. Madness - The Sun And The Rain
15. Oreskaband - Shall We Dance
16. The Aquabats - For Your Own Safety
17. The Aquabats - Waterslides
18. The Cat Empire - Saltwater
19. 7 Seconds Of Love - Ninja

November 11, 2009: sadly, Adam's journey has come to an end.

http://ajourneywithadam.blogspot.com/2008/11/funeral-details.html

NR-13
NOTE: Due to language and content of a couple of songs in this podcast, this podcast is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

When I was making this podcast, I was not specifically thinking of the new Batman movie. But after I was finished, I couldn't help but notice the two songs by Crazy Baldhead and two songs by Madness, and the eerie dub feeling of "Drugs And Booze" and "Anxiety". So it's entirely possible that I was influenced on a sub-conscious level.

So, come on. Let's put a smile on that face!

1. Dance Hall Crashers - Babushka
2. The OTT Band - You, Drugs & Booze 2
3. Ruder Than You - Few Dollars More
4. Crazy Baldhead - Penguino
5. The Moon Invaders - Can't Keep A Good Man Down
6. The Pinstipes - Africa
7. Madness - Grey Day
8. Lily Allen - Take What You Take
9. Firebug - Anxiety
10. Johnny Socko - "Tobaccy In Paree"
11. Johnny Socko - Tired & Happy Life
12. No Doubt - Just A Girl
13. Ruder Than You - Self
14. Crazy Baldhead - California
15. Monkey - You Don't Know
16. Johnny Socko - Vinnie's Hooch
17. Madness - Time For Tea
18. Smoke Like A Fish - Death Of An Angel

PS: If you haven't seen "Batman: The Dark Knight", it's awesome!!

If you were to go to Yahoo! Answers and pose the question, "What are some good ska bands?", you would get the same, nauseating responses, over and over and over again.

"Less Than Jake!
"Catch-22!"
"Streetlight Manifesto!"
"Save Ferris!"
"Sublime!!!"

Clearly, the youth of America who claim to be into ska music have no sense of where ska came from or that the rest of the world has moved on from the "Third Wave" of the 1990's.

Hopefully, this "Best of WSR" episode will serve as a friendly reminder of where ska and reggae came from, and where it's going.

01. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Frankenstein
02. Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number
03. The Skatalites - Freedom Sounds
04. Dandy Livingstone - Rudy, A Message To You
05. Prince Buster & The Maytals - Jamaica Ska / Dog War
06. Desmond Dekker - 0.0.7. (Shanty Town)
07. Stranger Cole And Patsy Todd - When I Call Your Name
08. The Ska Kings - Oil In My Lamp
09. Derrick Morgan & Patsy Todd - Housewives' Choice
10. The Allstonians - Mickey Dee
11. Hepcat - Dance Wid Me
12. Police & Thieves - Love For My Baby
13. Ska Cubano - Babalu
14. The Scorchers (NYC) - Walk On By
15. Ventilators - Try Me One More Time
16. Satelite Kingston - Dificultes Con Las Chicas
17. Jim Murple Memorial - Hey Man !
18. Deal's Gone Bad - Take Time
19. See Spot - Trade It In
20. The Vessels - The Love You Need
21. The Pietasters - Triflin'
22. Hepcat - Bobby & Joe
23. Westbound Train - Seven Ways to Sunday
24. The Debonaires – Interrupted

The following is a trailer for an upcoming ska documentary:

This episode was originally going to be tagged on to the end of Ska History Month, but time just ran away from me.

This podcast focuses solely on Northern Soul and Mod Rock.
Northern Soul got its name from the Soul music that was popular in the dancehalls of Northern England in the mid to late 1960's. Aside from Ska, Northern Soul is my second favorite genre of music. And while the two are not really related to one another, there are connections.

The biggest connection came in 1979 when Jerry Dammers was trying to nail down a look for his revival of ska music. Many of his cues came from the Mod culture of the 1960's.
In fact, the origin of the 2 Tone label came from the two-tonic suits that Mods used to wear. Also, the assoiation of ska music and scooters was lifted straight from Mod culture.

Another connection came in the late 1960's. Soul music had an impact on the burgeoning Rocksteady movement that was popular in Jamaica from 1966 to 1968. Hopefully, this impact will be made clear in Track 10.

For info on Northern Soul, visit Northern Soul UK

Led by bands like The Untouchables, Mod and Scooter culture became very popular in California in the late 80's and early 90's, as explained in this video:



This is Northern Soul!

1. Mr Floods Party - Compared To What
2. Detroit Party - We're Gonna Party
3. The Flirtations - Stronger Than Her Love
4. Otis Redding - Mr Pitiful
5. (Oops. I forgot this track. Will fix soon!)
6. Joe Mathews - Aint Nothing You Can Do
7. Larry Santos - You Got Me Where You Want Me
8. The Younghearts - A Little Togetherness
9. The Staple Singers - This World
10. Busty Brown - Aware Of Love
11. Inciters - Something's Got A Hold On Me
12. The Anydays - Don't Go
13. The Pietasters - Set Me Up
14. The Untouchables - I Spy (For The FBI)
15. The Anydays - Monday Morning
16. The Pietasters - Rachel
17. Andy Lewis and Paul Weller - Are You Trying To Be Lonely
18. Lord Large feat. Dean Parrish - Left Right & Centre
19. The Pietasters - Every Afternoon

Thanks to bands like The Aggrolites, The Pedal-tones, and Los Granadians, skinhead reggae is undergoing a renaissance.

This podcasts is a sequel, of sorts, to Episode 2, "The Spirit of 1969".

If you like what you hear, check out this great website:
UK Skinheads

and this MySpace Group:
Skinhead Reggae

Clocking in at 1 hour and 1 minute, this is "Skinhead Reggae 101".

1. Boss 501 - Two Gunned Down
2. Green Smatroll - Skinhead With Soul
3. The Aggrolites - Lunar Eclipse
4. Derrick Morgan - Hold You Jack
5. Red Soul Community - s/t
6. Nevil Banton - Man Cool Man
7. Erin Bardwell Collective - The Last Wilderness
8. The Destroyers - Straight To The Head
9. The Erin Bardwell Collective - Spray It And Burn It
10. Steve Taylor - High Noon
11. The Impalers - Uppercut
12. Jimmy The Squirrel - This One's For You
13. Pama International - Neither High Nor Dry
14. The Impalers - Nachmittag
15. The Aggrolites - Burning Bush
16. The Kinkky CooCoo's - Pum Pum
17. The Impalers - Mission Strut
18. The Impalers - Judge & Jury
19. The Gadjits - Skinhead Girl

In this final part, I pull out all the stops for the grand finale!

Your ears may not understand the words,
but your feet will understand the beat!

This is "Ska y Reggae en Espanol"!

26. Senor Flavio - Retirada Murguera Portena
27. Mandorico - Prision Mental
28. Ozomatli - Creo
29. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Carmela
30. Los Skanarles - Juarez
31. Discípulos de Otilia - Ecuación
32. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - El Matador
33. Sarazino - Desbaratado
34. Celestina - Un Cancion Para Ti
35. Johnny Socko - Tortugas

Some of the recored labels featured on this podcast are:

Radiola Records:
http://www.radiolarecords.com.br

Nacional Records:
http://www.nacionalrecords.com

Putumayo Records:
http://www.putumayo.com

In Part 2, I change gears a bit. This part has focuses more on Latin Reggae and Cuban Son.

14. Ska Cubano - Tabu
15. Don Segundo - Mentirosa
16. Almalafa - Mexico Libre
17. Ticklah Feat. Mayra Vega - Si Hecho Palante
18. Si*Se - Mariposa en Havana
19. Macaco - Mulata Descolora
20. Cultura Profetica - Reggae Rustico
21. Senor Flavio - Cristina
22. Ska Cubano - Soy Campesino
23. Satelite Kingston - Dificultes Con Las Chicas
24. Mandorico - Distancia
25. Los Pies Negros - Te Olvidaste De Mi

Lat year, I posted a "Cinco de Mayo" episode featuring Latin Ska and Reggae artists. But this year, I just didn't have the time.

Then a couple days ago, I got an email from this website:
http://www.thebeatfusions.mx.vg asking me if they could play episodes of World Ska Radio overnight when they were off the air.

Naturally, I was honored.

But then I started thinking...what if I did an all-Spanish podcast that they could play at night. The only problem is that most of my podcasts are only an hour long. So I would have to do something big.

This is big.

Clocking in at 2 hours and 10 minutes long, this podcast is so big that I had to break it up into 3 parts. While each part can be enjoyed individually, the intention is that they be listened to as an ensemble.

Y así, sin cualquier demoras de firther, aquí está la música!

1. Rebelation - High Noon edit
2. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Mal Bicho
3. Senor Flavio - Ministra
4. Celestina - Fiesta del Mundo
5. Kongo - A Danca
6. Mandorico - Cada Vez
7. Charanga Cakewalk - Carmela
8. Black Gandhi - Pateras
9. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Strawberry Fields Forever
10. Mandorico - Not Your Own
11. Almalafa - Son para mi corazó
12. Los Pericos - Pupilas Lejanas
13. Raskahuele - Bola De Cristal

After 1999, while ska flourished all over the globe, Ska music in the US looked pretty bleak. But things soon started to change. From the ashes of Moon Ska Records came a new label, Megalith Records.

In 2003, over 10,000 ska enthusiasts invaded Las Vegas for the Ska Summit concert. Soon after, Chris Murray and Brian Dixon would launch a weekly ska show in Los Angeles called, "The Bluebeat Lounge".

With festivals like the Victorian Ska Fest in Canada, Rudecat Festival in Spain, and the brand new Ska Splash in the UK, ska music is clearly enjoyed world-wide and stronger than ever.

This is Ska in the New Millennium.

1. Streetlight Manifesto - Everything Goes Numb
2. Bomb Town - Dirty Dancehall Sex Party
3. Ska Cubano - Chango
4. Deal's Gone Bad - City City
5. Ska-D-Lite - Special Request
6. The Pietasters - Late Nite Call
7. Go Jimmy Go - The Govenor's Daughter
8. Los Furios - 1977
9. Oreskaband - 20 Tips
10. Westbound Train - Don't Cry

Ska Joe looks back at the Ska Summit concert of 2003
at Music Is Our Occupation

And check out this video by Pannonian Allstar Ska Orchestra!

One of my favorite books as a kid was "Flowers For Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, in particular the idea of The Algernonic Curve or The Algernon Effect. If you've never read the book, you should...for the book is a perfect allegory for the American ska scene in the 90's.

The 1990's would see ska hit the American mainstream like never before.
From underground obscurity in 1990 to mainstream TV and radio by 1997 to utter implosion by 1999.

In other parts of the world, ska fared better, with bands springing up in Europe, Latin and South America, and Japan.

This is Ska in the 90's

1. The Busters - Come On
2. Hepcat - Bobby & Joe
3. The Ventilators - Try Me One More Time
4. The Slackers - Run Away
5. Chris Murray - Ex-Darling
6. The Pietasters - Night Before
7. No Doubt - Stricken
8. Reel Big Fish - She Has A Girlfriend Now
9. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
10. Sublime - What I Got

Also, check out my interview with Dave Hillyard!

And this video from Los Fabulosos Cadillacs!

Jamaican Ska lasted from roughly 1958 to roughly 1966.
Then the more soulful, Rocksteady, was all the rage until 1968.
In 1969, Toots Hibbert had a hit with "Do The Reggay", and Jamaica never looked back.

Ska was dead.

In 1978, some young punks from Coventry, UK, dusted off some classic ska and added a decidedly punkish flavor. The Specials were born and other acts soon followed.

1. The Specials - Gangsters
2. Madness - The Prince
3. The Bodysnatchers - Let's Do Rocksteady
4. Bad Manners - Ne-Ne, Na-Na, Na-Na, Nu Nu
5. The Beat - Hands Off She's Mine
6. The Selecter - Three Minute Hero

By 1983, most of the 2 Tone bands had broken up.
But ska began to take root outside the UK.
Ska was back, and the world never looked back.

7. The Loafers - Living In A Suitcase
8. The Villains - Ska Music
9. Fishbone - Party At Ground Zero
10. The Toasters - Recrimination(s)

In case you haven't heard, The Specials are going to attempt a re-union later this year!

BBC reports on a possible Specials re-union

Huzzah!

Now that I've gotten my April Fool's Day silliness out of my system, it's time to celebrate SKA HISTORY MONTH!

Ska History Month was started by myself back in 2003 to honor and educate Ska's roots. Each week this month, I will be posting a podcast highlighting a distinct era of Ska. And hopefully, some of my partners-in-crime at Music Is Our Occupation will be posting podcasts this month as well.

And so, without further ado, this is...JAMAICAN SKA!

1. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Frankenstein
2. The Skatalites - Freedom Sounds
3. Prince Buster - Rude Rude Rudee
4. The Silvertones - True Confession
5. Baba Brooks - Musical Communion
6. Lord Tanamo - I'm In The Mood For Ska
7. Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Don De Lion
8. Laurel Aitken & The Unitone - Rudi Got Married
9. Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica
10. Toots & The Maytals - Pressure Drop

Don't forget to check out World Ska Resource for articles and essays on Ska's History!

World Ska Resource on Yahoo. Over 750 Links!

Music Is Our Occupation

The Ska Spot Network

Special Thanks to Chris Wise for the logo!

http://dukeduel.com

5 Years...

5 long years since the start of The Iraq War,
and there's no end in sight.

At this point, it's pretty useless to protest the war, or
write a letter to your Congressman. With the death toll approaching 4,000,
the protests get smaller and smaller, and chances are
your Congressman isn't going to do anything anyway.

I do recommend watching a dvd called, "The Ground Truth".
http://www.thegroundtruth.net

It highlights the plights of six soldiers who have returned from
the War In Iraq. Their stories are sobering.
So is the statistic that 23% of all US homeless are veterans.
Not only were our Troops lied to by their President, but they are coming home to a country whose citizens are more interested in what's going on
with American Idol than the American Government.

Our Troops deserve more than apathy.

1. The Pinstipes - Groovin'
2. Mandorico - Last Time Around
3. Jim Murple Memorial - Song For Tommy & Roland
4. Lily Allen - Friend Of Mine
5. Contra Coup - Ship Of Fools
6. Pama International - It's All About The Money
7. Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra - Ignorance
8. Johnny Socko - Hey Hey Hi
9. Mandorico - Waiting
10. The Upsessions - Rudie, Cool It Down
11. The Pioneers - Let Your Yeah Be Yeah
12. The Greenhornes with Holly Golightly - There Is An End
13. Bedouin Soundclash - Gunships
14. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Don't Worry Desmond Dekker
15. Deal's Gone Bad - Movin' On

(Note: Inclusion in this podcast doesn not necessarily reflect the opinion of the artists towards the War.)

The recent Bluebeat Lounge Anniversary show and the 3 Floors Of Ska show highlighted some of the best bands from around California.

This podcast expands that theme to include even more great bands from around California. If you play in a band from California and would like to be included in future podcasts, email me an mp3 to:

ca_ska@podomatic.com

Thanks!

-Andrew

Also, check out CA SKA on MySpace.com,
http://groups.myspace.com/CASka

or, CA SKA on The Ska Spot Network.
http://skaspot.ning.com/group/caska

Not from California? Check out World Ska Resource,
http://groups.myspace.com/WorldSkaResource

Playlist files:

1. Chris Murray - California Time
2. The Aggrolites - Funky Fire
3. The Suppressors - Small Time Hustler
4. See Spot - Trade It In
5. Sloedub Experience - La Tierra
6. Upground - Skanking Monkeys
7. The Bohunks - Mama (live at BB Kings)
8. The Vessels - Tall in the Saddle
9. Esco Chris - Put it on the side
10. Gadfly - One More Time / Hundred Years
11. Raskahuele - Bola De Cristal
12. The Pedaltones - Lunar Grave
13. Monkey - Shanty Party
14. The Untouchables - Wild Child
15. The Upbeat - Going Through The Motions
16. Los Hooligans - Any Other Day
17. Fishbone - Skank N' Go Nutts
18. Chris Murray - Steady Beat Convention
19. Debonaires - See You Again

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I created this podcast because the Christmas music we play at work sucks. And chances are, you're pretty sick of the Christmas music that's been bombarding your ears since September.

Thankfully, there's ska and reggae Christmas music to the rescue.

This podcast features a group of musicians out of Northern California that call themselves Strange Manor. Strange Manor has, for the past two years, put out holiday music that is honest, sincere, well-crafted, and actually enjoyable to listen to.

For more info about Strange Manor, go here:
http://www.thesoulcaptives.com/strangemanor/07

and here:
http://www.thesoulcaptives.com/strangemanor/06

and here:
http://www.myspace.com/strangemanorproductions

Merry Christmas!
Frohe Weihnachten!
Joyeux Noel!
Feliz Navidiad!

-Andrew

1. Las Cabriolas - Here She Come
2. Go Jimmy Go - Christmas Morning
3. Strange Manor - Bluebeat Christmas
4. The Israelites - Wise Man
5. The Pietasters - Step Right Up
6. Deal's Gone Bad - Run From Me
7. Squirrel Nut Zippers - Carolina Christmas
8. Strange Manor - Santa, Go Straight To The Ghetto
9. Los Hooligans - This Thing of Ours
10. The Pietasters - Mellow Mood
11. Strange Manor - Sleigh Ride
12. The Israelites - Angels
13. Go Jimmy Go - Mele Kalikimaka
14. Strange Manor - Christmas All Over Again
15. Pama International - Fisherman

There are special episodes of World Ska Radio, and then there are SPECIAL episodes of World Ska Radio.

This is the latter.

This episode is special for two reasons. The first being that it's a collaborative episode with Gabe from The Pressure Drop Soundcast, something we haven't done in a long time.

The second reason is that this podcast is an all-label podcast, meaning all the artists are from the same record label. In this case, it's the Do The Dog label out of the UK. Kevin Flowerdew was kind enough to send Gabe and I several cd's from the Do The Dog catalogue.

This podcast features Gabe's and my favourite tracks.
For more info on the bands featured today, visit:

http://www.dothedog.com
http://www.myspace.com/dothedogmusic
http://www.dothedogforum.com/forum/index.php

Many thanks Kevin!

Andrew's Prologue

1. Robb Blake - Foot In Mouth
2. World Ska Radio - Do The Dog promo
3. The Specials - Do The Dog

Gabe's Picks

4. The Good, The Bad & The Grande (Rebelation - High Noon edit)
5. Skylar - Wings
6. New Town Kings - Don't Be Deceived
7. Rebelation - Minor Incident
8. Splitters - Stolen Reciever
9. Squid 58 - Strangers On A Train
10. Four0 - Broken Springs
11. Robb Blake - There She Blows
12. Gabes WSR Promo

Andrew's Picks

13. Splitters - Medals For Misery
14. Robb Blake - I'll Be There
15. Four0 - Fight For Life
16. Too Many Crooks - Tie Me Up
17. Splitters - Work Faster
18. Rebelation - Waiting For You

Hello! And welcome back to World Ska Radio!

I took a little break, but I am back with an exciting new episode!

First I want to welcome all my new listeners at the Do The Dog forum,
http://www.dothedogforum.com/forum/index.php
Hope you like what you hear!

Secondly, I want to say "Merci beaucoup!" to Jace from One Night Band for doing a World Ska Radio promo while they were in Los Angeles.
Some piece de merde stole some of their stuff at a show in Canada. So if you don't already own their debut cd, you can check it out, here:
http://www.myspace.com/theonenightband

Enough chat. On to the music!!

1. Kingston Kitchen - Kroska
2. Dance Hall Crashers - State Of Mind
3. Monkey Shop - Make It Work
4. Madness - In The City
5. One Night Band - One Night Band WSR Promo
6. One Night Band - Rescue Me
7. Skaville UK - (I Wish It Was) 1973
8. Bluekilla - Horseman Style
9. Contra Coup (ft. Victor Rice) - Rainbow Dub
10. Maria de Barros - Riberonzinha
11. Freetown - The Funnyman
12. The Upsessions - Cool Ska Time
13. Inciters - Something's Got A Hold On Me
14. Hepcat - Hooligans
15. Steady Ernest - Scrumpy
16. The Pinstipes - We Come Apart
17. Bedouin Soundclash - Until We Burn In The Sun
18. The Pietasters - oolooloo
19. Tony Tribe - Red Red Wine

First of all, I would like to send my condolences to Hepcat and the Fuentes family for the loss of Dave Fuentes.

A memorial fund has been established to help his family. Please spread the word to friends and fans who may wish to do something in his honor.

Contributions can be made via PayPal by logging onto http://www.paypal.com.

Enter davidfuentesmemorial@gmail.com as the recipient's email.

This podcast episode marks the end of summer and is intended to mirror Episode 1.

1. The Upbeat - Space Case
2. The English Beat - Twist And Crawl
3. The Toasters - Why Oh Why
4. Johnny Socko - Next Big Thing
5. Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra - PASO
6. The Movement - Down Down
7. Boss 501 - Boss 501
8. Discípulos de Otilia - Ecuación
9. The Pietasters - What I Do
10. Go Jimmy Go - 808 P.D.
11. Monkey - Summertime Sun
12. Jim Murple Memorial - Jim Murple Walk
13. Dance Hall Crashers - Othello
14. Phenomenauts - I Am Robot
15. SKWZBXX - Shine
16. Oreskaband - Shall We Dance
17. Kingston Kitchen - Sealed With A Kiss
18. Johnny Socko - Hasselhoff

Just got back Sunday from the ISC in Las Vegas.
Had a blast, but it was damn hot.

This podcast features the songs off of the "Ska Is Dead" compilation that I liked as well as my first celebrity WSR promo, courtesy of Todd Hembrook from Deal's Gone Bad!

You can order the "Ska Is Dead" cd through Asian Man Records
http://www.asianmanrecords.com

And you can check out the remaining West Coast tour dates for Deal's Gone Bad, here:
http://www.myspace.com/dealsgonebad

1. Bedouin Soundclash - Bells Of 59
2. The Porkers - Too Big For Your Boots
3. Todd Hembrook - DGB WSR Promo
4. Deal's Gone Bad - The Cost
5. The Heptones - Message From A Black Man
6. Hepcat - Earthquake And Fire
7. Go Jimmy Go - Don't Stop Everything (Dancehall Version)
8. Big D & The Kids Table - Noise Complaint
9. Chris Murray - Dangerous Hearts
10. King Django - Hard, Hard Thing
11. The Sensations - Born To Love You
12. The Aquabats - For Your Own Safety
13. The Aquabats - Waterslides
14. The Staggers - Do The Ripper
15. The Pietasters - G to F
16. Almalafa - Mexico Libre
17. The Planet Smashers - Raise Your Glass
18. Mu330 - Please Don't Run
19. Bedouin Soundclash - Walls Fall Down

This podcast is a supplemental podcast to a review I did of "Ska Is Dead", a new compilation by Asian Man Records. So it might be best if you read my review first. And you can do that, here:

http://musicaloccupation.blogspot.com

Ska music is syncopated, meaning it's played on the offbeat.

Rock and punk are played on the beat.

1..2..3..4..1..2..3..4..

Ska is played on the offbeat.

..1..2..3..4..1..2..3..4

I don't care if ska is played slow or fast. In my opinion, if it doesn't have that syncopated beat, it's not ska.

The purpose of this podcast is to show that around the world, many acts are putting out quality ska. And, that the bands that are "ska punk" aren't just adding a horn section to a punk band.

(Note to long-time listeners: In order to list the best ska bands today, I have had to repeat songs that appeared on CA SKA Soundcast episodes.)

1. Ska Cubano - Tabu
2. Upground - Accept It
3. Lily Allen - Friday Night
4. The Special Guests - Waiting
5. One Night Band - When I Fall In Love (My Space version)
6. The Amphetameanies - Say Something Special
7. Skarabazoo - Rudy scopre l'amore
8. Monkey - Attraction
9. The Pietasters - Sketch Dub
10. Don Segundo - Mentirosa
11. Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra - Ignorance
12. The Pietasters - Triflin'
13. The Liptones - Dressed In Pink
14. The Toasters - Bits And Pieces
15. Oreskaband - Yeah! Ska Dance
16. Firebug - Finding My Way

This podcast contains a groan-inducing joke.
All apologies in advance.

1. Inciters - Don´t Make Me Wait
2. Victor Rice - FCC
3. The Skatalites - Lucky Seven
4. La Loi Des Cactus - Tout Pour
5. One Night Band - Le Monde
6. This Is England - Al Barry & The Cimarons - Morning Sun
7. The Adjusters - Armstrong
8. The Skatet - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
9. Celestina - Fiesta del Mundo
10. St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review - Under The Big Top
11. Russkaja - Gopstop
12. Dr. Ring Ding - The Needle
13. The Uptones - Bonnie Dub
14. The Dualers - Traveling
15. SKWZBXX - Stay Awake
16. Planet Smashers - Blind
17. The Makeshift Heroes - Demons
18. O-Shen - Siasi

Want your band to be included in a future podcast?
Send an mp3 to: ca_ska@podomatic.com

This episode featured a litlle ska, a little soul, and some reggae.

Featured in this episode is a new band out of Austin, TX called "Contra Coup". Their lead singer Billy Geoghegan is also in The Stingers ATX.
So check out their My Space page and many thanks to Billy for the tunes!

http://www.myspace.com/contracoup

1. The Upbeat - 17 @ 17
2. Contra Coup - Godot Never Showed
3. The Anydays - Rollercoaster
4. Dance Hall Crashers - Java Junkie
5. Los Hooligans - True Love
6. New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble - Hawaii
7. Desorden Publico - Black Market Man
8. The Robustos - Purse String Blues
9. Jim Murple Memorial - Keep Cool
10. Go Jimmy Go - In-Between Times
11. Contra Coup - Wrong Street
12. Dengue Fever - Ethanopium
13. Skavoovie & The Epitones - Wildfire
14. Deal's Gone Bad - Take Time
15. Firebug - Strange But Nice
16. The English Beat - Save It For Later
17. Matisyahu - Jerusalem

Welcome to Episode 5 of World Ska Radio.

This podcast features some bands signed to the UK label Do The Dog, as well as great bands from Brazil, Canada and Japan.

Enjoy!

1. St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review - Policy Of Truth
2. Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
3. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra - Theme From Enter The Dragon
4. Fishbone - Ma And Pa
5. Lily Allen - Alfie
6. Satelite Kingston - Dificultades Con las Chicas
7. King Hammond - Skaville UK
8. The Liptones - Dressed In Pink
9. One Night Band - Can't Stand It
10. New Town Kings - La La World
11. The Specials - Stupid Marriage
12. The Kinky Coo-Coo's - Message From Me
13. St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review - Babysitter Stomp
14. Boston Sidecar - If You Only Knew
15. Monkey - Trailer Park Love
16. Pama International - Penny Wise, Pound Fool
17. Rebelation - Reggae Woman
18. Squid 58 - Whitewash
19. Madness - Lovestruck
20. 7 Seconds Of Love - Ninja

OK. I know what you're gonna say...

"The Arctic Monkeys aren't ska!!!"

You're just gonna have to trust me. The song works.

Welcome to another episode of World Ska Radio.
This episode has some great tracks from around the world,
including Brazil, Hungary, Canada, and The UK.

If you're tuning in via The Ska Toolbar, welcome!

Be sure to check out these sites as well:

http://groups.myspace.com/WorldSkaResource
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/WorldSkaResource

1. Yardbeat - Wild Honey
2. Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra - All Night Long
3. Kongo - A Danca
4. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Surfer Calavera
5. Bim Skala Bim - Murky Water
6. The Dead 60s - You're Not The Law
7. New Town Kings - Somebody
8. Streetlight Manifesto - If And When We Rise Again
9. Madness - Baggy Trousers
10. The Specials - Friday Night, Saturday Morning
11. 2 and 1/2 White Guys - Eye for an Eye
12. Radio Freedom - King Of The Dancehall
13. Monkey - Voice Of America
14. Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker
15. The Upbeat - Lies & Greed
16. The Toasters - Thrill Me Up
17. The Kiltlifters - Nanoose Bay
18. Deal's Gone Bad - Run From Me

Want your band to be included in an upcoming episode?
Send an mp3 to:

ca_ska@podomatic.com

There's a fantastic movie by Shane Meadows coming out in America next month called "This Is England". The movie centers around a young lad who gets swept up in the world of skinheads in Thatcher's England. I recently bought the soundtrack at Amoeba Records and it's awesome.

So this podcast is kind of like "Skinhead Reggae for Beginners".

Hope you enjoy it.

The Spirit of '69

1. The Cats - Swan Lake
2. The Aggrolites - Black Lung
3. Desmond Dekker - Israelites
4. Eric "Monty" Morris - (Strongman) Sampson
5. The Aggrolites - Fury Now
6. Pama International - It Aint Funny
7. Vessels - The Love You Need
8. Stranger Cole And Patsy Todd - When I Call Your Name
9. THE Kinkky Coocoo's - No Mess No Fuss
10. A Brief Word From Our Sponsor - "Are You English?"
11. The Pietasters - Crying Over You
12. Lee Perry - The Night Doctor
13. Take 5 - Incomplete
14. The Hotknives - Cryin' (live)
15. The Uptones - Bad Men from Bodie
16. Pama International - One Step
17. Bad Manners - Lip Up Fatty
18. The Specials - You're Wondering Now
19. Gavin Clark - Never Seen The Sea

For more info about the movie, visit:

http://www.thisisenglandmovie.co.uk/#

Also, check out:

http://groups.myspace.com/soulskinsandmods

http://groups.myspace.com/skinheadreggae

Summer's here and that can only mean one thing: great summer tunes.

This inaugaral podcast of World Ska Radio should keep your head bobbibg and your feet tapping all summer long.

1. Go Jimmy Go - Radio KWSR?
2. The Movement - Hola
3. Lily Allen - Smile
4. Johnny Socko - She's Righteous
5. The Pietasters - Crawl Back Home
6. The Toasters - Life In A Bubble
7. See Spot - Right Now. Kick It Up
8. Go Jimmy Go - Feed This Hunger
9. Deal's Gone Bad - Things Are Gonna Get Better
10. Infinite - Pass To Paradise
11. Dissociatives - Paris Circa 2007 Slash 08
12. Boss 501 - Reggae 69
13. The Movement - Cold Outside
14. Johnny Socko - Full Trucker Effect
15. Skandalous All-Stars - One Way Or Another
16. Los Hooligans - Any Other Day
17. Phenomenauts - Neptune City
18. Fishbone - Everyday Sunshine
19. Deal's Gone Bad - Messin' Around
20. Firebug - Finding My Way

Photo courtesy of Jason Boyd.

If you've ever read MOJO Magazine, you'll know that every once in a while they will include a cd in which they pick an artist, or a group, and they will create a playlist of tracks that is supposed to capture the "essense" of the artist, or group they've selected.

So this podcast aims to capture the "essense" of The Pietasters. Some of the tracks are obvious influences; some are...inspired choices. And while I left out, for various reasons, bands like The Specials, The Rolling Stones, Bad Manners, and 4 Skins, I think this podcast is a fitting profile of The Pietasters.

This is The Pietasters Jukebox.

1. The Untouchables - The Lonely Bull
2. The Beat - Tears Of A Clown
3. Fishbone - Lyin' Ass Bitch
4. Boss 501 - Night Shifter
5. Laurel Aitken w/ The Skatalites - Rudeboy Dreams
6. Baba Brooks - Duck Soup
7. The Loafers - Skinhead
8. The Clash - Rudy Can't Fail
9. Madness - The Return Of The Los Palmas 7
10. Delroy Wilson - It Hurts
11. James Brown - Don't Be A Dropout
12. Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)
13. A Brief Message From Our Sponsors.
14. The Anydays - Monday Morning
15. Eels - Rotten World Blues
16. The Clash - London Calling
17. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Rascal King
18. Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
19. Phenomenauts - Where is the X-38?
20. The Aggrolites - Time To Get Tough

Picture of The Pietasters, courtesy of Judd Irish Bradley.
http://www.juddirishbradley.com

New Pietasters album "All Day" coming August 21st, 2007!
http://www.thepietasters.com

The Pietasters on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pietasters