2008 Woodie Awards
The Death of Ska
Mordechai Shinefield
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: Arts & Culture
Ska is Dead Tour
B.B. King's Blues Club
www.bbkingblues.com
Ska never died. You may have never heard of it. You may believe that the pseudo-punk slash reggae musical genre no longer has any resonance. You may be wondering the relevance of Ska to your life. If you fall into any of these categories, pay attention.
Ska originated in Jamaica, just like a religious use for marijuana and the popularization of reggae music. Not coincidentally, Ska music is based off of reggae. The general use of the genre refers to the mixture of reggae and punk that The Specials really forwarded in the 1970s. The term "Second Wave Ska" refers to bands like The Specials and 2-Tone Records.
Most likely, if you've heard of Ska at all, this isn't the Ska you know. You are thinking of Third Wave and post-Third Wave Ska. No, I can't come up with a conceivable reason why Rock music never got labeled as First Wave, Second Wave, etc. Anyway, you are probably thinking of bands like Reel Big Fish, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Catch 22. Catch 22 evaporated and some of the members reformed as Streetlight Manifesto. Along with Voodoo Glow Skulls, Streetlight Manifesto headlined B.B. Kings this last week. The tour has been dubbed "Ska is Dead," and I hope it is meant tongue-in-cheek. If Streetlight Manifesto and Voodoo Glow Skulls are any indication, Ska has some time to go before it takes its last gasp of air.
Why would someone think that Ska is dead? At a certain point, it had experienced an explosion of popularity. Every teenager knew about Less Than Jake, and the vibrant celebration of punk, horns and thumpy beats enticed consumers of all affiliations. The movement peaked and declined. Or so those in charge of charting musical trends declared. In reality, B.B. Kings was packed with people of all ages, hairstyles and religions. (At least one yarmulke was spotted at the event. Whether or not it belonged to the writer need not be expanded upon.)
If punk represents the disruptive child with ADD, than Ska personifies the joker in the back of the room, his desk cluttered with spitballs and his mouth with vulgar humor. I found the critical detachment that should come naturally to me absent. Amidst the excitement and laughter and people dancing and bands rocking on the stage, my ability to coldly analyze music evaporated. All I wanted to do was roll my shoulders and stomp around the room as if Ska music had been birthrighted to me. I found myself not alone. The energy at the concert conjured up visions of electric wire sending sparks out into the air.
B.B. King's Blues Club
www.bbkingblues.com
Ska never died. You may have never heard of it. You may believe that the pseudo-punk slash reggae musical genre no longer has any resonance. You may be wondering the relevance of Ska to your life. If you fall into any of these categories, pay attention.
Ska originated in Jamaica, just like a religious use for marijuana and the popularization of reggae music. Not coincidentally, Ska music is based off of reggae. The general use of the genre refers to the mixture of reggae and punk that The Specials really forwarded in the 1970s. The term "Second Wave Ska" refers to bands like The Specials and 2-Tone Records.
Most likely, if you've heard of Ska at all, this isn't the Ska you know. You are thinking of Third Wave and post-Third Wave Ska. No, I can't come up with a conceivable reason why Rock music never got labeled as First Wave, Second Wave, etc. Anyway, you are probably thinking of bands like Reel Big Fish, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Catch 22. Catch 22 evaporated and some of the members reformed as Streetlight Manifesto. Along with Voodoo Glow Skulls, Streetlight Manifesto headlined B.B. Kings this last week. The tour has been dubbed "Ska is Dead," and I hope it is meant tongue-in-cheek. If Streetlight Manifesto and Voodoo Glow Skulls are any indication, Ska has some time to go before it takes its last gasp of air.
Why would someone think that Ska is dead? At a certain point, it had experienced an explosion of popularity. Every teenager knew about Less Than Jake, and the vibrant celebration of punk, horns and thumpy beats enticed consumers of all affiliations. The movement peaked and declined. Or so those in charge of charting musical trends declared. In reality, B.B. Kings was packed with people of all ages, hairstyles and religions. (At least one yarmulke was spotted at the event. Whether or not it belonged to the writer need not be expanded upon.)
If punk represents the disruptive child with ADD, than Ska personifies the joker in the back of the room, his desk cluttered with spitballs and his mouth with vulgar humor. I found the critical detachment that should come naturally to me absent. Amidst the excitement and laughter and people dancing and bands rocking on the stage, my ability to coldly analyze music evaporated. All I wanted to do was roll my shoulders and stomp around the room as if Ska music had been birthrighted to me. I found myself not alone. The energy at the concert conjured up visions of electric wire sending sparks out into the air.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
david daisley
posted 11/23/08 @ 6:04 AM EST
I thought ska and rudeboy was a year or two before reggae.Bob Marley did ska with an early version of the Wailers.Rudeboys were always well dressed.Smart working class men. (Continued…)
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