Big D and the Kids Table News: Ska is still (Not!) Dead

Big D and the Kids Table
Originally uploaded by DanCox_

Am I so uncool to still enjoy the skapunk sound even though it was last cool in the 90s? Regular readers of the Dissident Times will notice I still harbor affection for bands like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Bosstones, and Reel Big Fish.
Big D and the Kids Table are a great band to get you ska going. They are regulars on the Ska is Dead Tour and the Warped Tour. Right now they are finishing up some east coast dates and getting ready for the 2009 version of Warped Tour. I heard recent noise that they are due to release a new cd in the summer of 2009. Catch em on the Warped Tour if you get the chance.

Voodoo Glow Skulls!

Voodoo Glow Skulls
Originally uploaded by Riff55

For those who say that ska is dead, The Voodoo Glow Skulls drive a stake right through their head. Since 1988, these SoCal skacore aficianados have been bringing it. I have been into these guys since the Band Geek Mafia days, and they continue to put out great music. Check out Epitaph Records website and Victory Records for free mp3's of these guys. I love the "in yer face" attitude of their music. My favorite tracks by these guys are "Left for Dead", "Steady as she Goes" and "Hit a Guy With Glasses". Check them out!

Reel Big Fish and other Ska-licious News

Aaron Barrett of Reel Big Fish
Originally uploaded by mjambriz

The music critics eulogized the ska-punk genre dead sometime back in the 90's. That is unfortunate for them, because there is still alot of good music going on in that scene. One of my personal faves is Reel Big Fish. Somewhere back there, I got my hands on a copy of "Turn the Radio Off". I like the in-yer-face-we are ska and we admit it tone to their sound. If you are a frequent visitor to this site, you know I like punk, ska, indie and all other styles without the judgment or hipsterism of other websites. Let the music speak on its own!
So from Punknews.org, here is a ska roundup of sorts:
Reel Big Fish have posted the cover art for their new covers album. The record is titled Fame, Fortune and Fornication and is due out January 20, 2009. The band will take on songs like Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me", Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", John Mellencamp's "Authority Song", and The Eagles "The Long Run" as well as ska/reggae classics like Desmond Dekker's "Keep A Cool Head" and Toots and The Maytals "Monkey Man."
Track Listing
1. Nothing But a Good Time (Poison)
2. Mama We're All Crazy Now (Slade)
3. Veronica Sawyer (Edna's Goldfish)
4. Authority Song (John Mellencamp)
5. Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
6. The Long Run (The Eagles)
7. Won't Back Down (Tom Petty)
8. Keep a Cool Head (Desmond Dekker)
9. Monkey Man (Toots and the Maytals)
10. Talk Dirty to Me (Poison)


The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have announced the dates for their 11th annual Hometown Throwdown show. The shows will take place December 26th through 29th at the Middle East Nightclub in Cambridge, MA, and December 31st at Lupo's in Providence, RI. The band noted:

There will lots of great bands, special guests and surprises along the way. Please check back for more info in the coming weeks. We have made some changes to the ticketing situation in response to the rampant ticket scalping that went on last year: The Middle East shows will have a strict 2 ticket limit and will be Will Call only, paperless shows. In other words, no actual hard tickets will be issued or exchanged. We apologize for any slight inconveniecne this may cause - it's the only way we can keep the tickets out of the hands of Grinch-like scalpers and ticket services.

Mighty Mighty Bosstones News: Politics and the New CD

Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Originally uploaded by marius032

Dicky Barrett of the The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, spoke out about the election of one Barack Obama, or as he is also known, "That One". Barrett noted:

I feel like the world is now a better place, and a large chunk of my faith in my country has been restored. I don't think we made a good choice, I think we made a great choice. I'm looking forward to living in a country where the guy who runs it is smarter than I am.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have also announced plans for a brand new full length and before that, a new 7-inch. The band explained:

Lately we have been busy writing and recording music for a new MMB record. Two of the songs, "Impossible Dream" and "next To Nothing" will be released next month on a limited edition 7" on our own Big Rig Records (500 on black, 500 on white). We added these two songs to the player TONIGHT in order to commemorate and celebrate this historic election. Enjoy!

You can check out the songs on their myspace page

MMB has also announced the dates for their 11th annual Hometown Throwdown show. The shows will take place December 26th through 29th at the Middle East Nightclub in Cambridge, MA, and December 31st at Lupo's in Providence, RI. The band noted:

"There will lots of great bands, special guests and surprises along the way. Please check back for more info in the coming weeks. We have made some changes to the ticketing situation in response to the rampant ticket scalping that went on last year: The Middle East shows will have a strict 2 ticket limit and will be Will Call only, paperless shows. In other words, no actual hard tickets will be issued or exchanged. We apologize for any slight inconvenience this may cause - it's the only way we can keep the tickets out of the hands of Grinch-like scalpers and ticket services."

Who says ska is dead? Well the MMBs did a tour called Ska is Dead. But I think it is still alive and kicking. I caught on to these guys back in the 90s. My favorite track is from the Kiss My Ass compilation, where they covered Kiss tune "Detroit Rock City". That one rocks the house.