Ska Bands
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Ska has traditionally been separated into three waves: First Wave
(in the West Indies), Two Tone (mainly in Britain), and Third Wave
(the current resurgence here in the States). So, naturally, I have
separated the bands I have listed into their respective categories.
There are too many bands to list, so I have picked a representative from each
wave.
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The Skatalites
were the ones who started it all. Fronted by Saxaphonists
Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso with singer Doreen Schaefer,
the Skatalites are credited as
one of the founders of ska music. After more than thirty
years, they are still going strong, still touring and releasing
great albums. I highly recommend the album "Hi-Bop Ska", released
on Shanachie Records.
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| The Specials
revived ska in Britain in the 80s on the 2 Tone label, named after the
characteristic suits worn by Mod influenced ska fans. The multiethnic Specials played danceble music that oftentimes
preached racial harmony. Their self-titled release is available (as a price buster!) on the big label, Chrysalis.
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| Ok, I lied... I can't just pick one band from the third wave because it's just
too diverse, so I've picked three.
The Pietasters
harken from the suburbs of Washington D.C., bringing a modern
sound with a solid ska backbone. Their shows are insanely fun to attend; I definitely
recommend it. Any of their albums are excellent, though my favorite would have to be
"Ooolooloo", released on Moon Records (the biggest of the modern ska labels).
Hepcat
lead the "third wave old school" ska bands, who play ska like it was intended
by their founders in Jamaica. Horn-heavy and vocally harmonious, Hepcat's two albums,
"Out of Nowhere" and "Scientific", are both worth owning.
Operation Ivy,
on the other hand, took ska and put it decidedly in the modern era. Blending the
ska backbeat with hard core punk, skacore was born, resulting in a high energy, angry
blend. Operation Ivy has since broken up, with its members going on to form the more
punk than ska, Rancid.
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