In Defense of Ska
@indefenseofska.bsky.social
In Defense of Ska (book) on CLASH books
Check out the In Defense of Ska podcast. New episode every Wednesday
linktr.ee/aaroncarnes
Check out the In Defense of Ska podcast. New episode every Wednesday
linktr.ee/aaroncarnes
Steve Ewing from legendary St. Louis ska-alt-rock band The Urge owns his own hot dog restaurant (Steve's Hot Dogs).
On 11/26, they will combing the two greatest things of all time (Ska + Hot Dogs) into one big SKANKSGIVING party.
If you live in St. Louis, make sure you go
On 11/26, they will combing the two greatest things of all time (Ska + Hot Dogs) into one big SKANKSGIVING party.
If you live in St. Louis, make sure you go
November 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Steve Ewing from legendary St. Louis ska-alt-rock band The Urge owns his own hot dog restaurant (Steve's Hot Dogs).
On 11/26, they will combing the two greatest things of all time (Ska + Hot Dogs) into one big SKANKSGIVING party.
If you live in St. Louis, make sure you go
On 11/26, they will combing the two greatest things of all time (Ska + Hot Dogs) into one big SKANKSGIVING party.
If you live in St. Louis, make sure you go
My dude Miguel shouting out The Minutemen as an influence on his new album the other night, gave me a big smile
November 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
My dude Miguel shouting out The Minutemen as an influence on his new album the other night, gave me a big smile
This week I'm dropping some previously unreleased Supernova 2023 IDOS conversations to the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).
In this video, Flying Raccoon Suit's Andrew Heatron talks about being mistaken for Bad Time Records own Mike Sosinski.
Check it out. There's audio and video!
In this video, Flying Raccoon Suit's Andrew Heatron talks about being mistaken for Bad Time Records own Mike Sosinski.
Check it out. There's audio and video!
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This week I'm dropping some previously unreleased Supernova 2023 IDOS conversations to the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).
In this video, Flying Raccoon Suit's Andrew Heatron talks about being mistaken for Bad Time Records own Mike Sosinski.
Check it out. There's audio and video!
In this video, Flying Raccoon Suit's Andrew Heatron talks about being mistaken for Bad Time Records own Mike Sosinski.
Check it out. There's audio and video!
Everyone keeps telling me about this Catbite band and I finally gave them a listen. I'll have to say. I like what I hear!
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Everyone keeps telling me about this Catbite band and I finally gave them a listen. I'll have to say. I like what I hear!
I'm working on the 2nd draft of my novel, Little Black Book of Death. I'm nearly done with the first act. So I take a moment to talk about the music reference just in the 1st draft alone.
Full audio is on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio) and on my Substack (Link also in bio)
Full audio is on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio) and on my Substack (Link also in bio)
November 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I'm working on the 2nd draft of my novel, Little Black Book of Death. I'm nearly done with the first act. So I take a moment to talk about the music reference just in the 1st draft alone.
Full audio is on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio) and on my Substack (Link also in bio)
Full audio is on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio) and on my Substack (Link also in bio)
GRATEFUL DEAD SKA CONNECTION
Here is a photo of Berkeley ska legends, The Uptones in 1984. The person on the far left....that's their drummer Jay Lane. After his time in The Uptones, Jay would go on to playing in Primus, Charlie Hunter Trio, RatDog, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros and later, Dead & Company.
Here is a photo of Berkeley ska legends, The Uptones in 1984. The person on the far left....that's their drummer Jay Lane. After his time in The Uptones, Jay would go on to playing in Primus, Charlie Hunter Trio, RatDog, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros and later, Dead & Company.
November 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
GRATEFUL DEAD SKA CONNECTION
Here is a photo of Berkeley ska legends, The Uptones in 1984. The person on the far left....that's their drummer Jay Lane. After his time in The Uptones, Jay would go on to playing in Primus, Charlie Hunter Trio, RatDog, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros and later, Dead & Company.
Here is a photo of Berkeley ska legends, The Uptones in 1984. The person on the far left....that's their drummer Jay Lane. After his time in The Uptones, Jay would go on to playing in Primus, Charlie Hunter Trio, RatDog, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros and later, Dead & Company.
Thoughts on this reggae/ska tinged track "Violence in the Supermarket" by SF punk band Spiritual Cramp?
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Thoughts on this reggae/ska tinged track "Violence in the Supermarket" by SF punk band Spiritual Cramp?
Supernova's very international lineup this year got changed to mostly US-based ska groups.
I chatted with founder Tim Receveur about the trials and tribulations of booking an international SKA festival in 2025, the era of Trump 2.0.
Give it a listen on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).
I chatted with founder Tim Receveur about the trials and tribulations of booking an international SKA festival in 2025, the era of Trump 2.0.
Give it a listen on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).
November 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Supernova's very international lineup this year got changed to mostly US-based ska groups.
I chatted with founder Tim Receveur about the trials and tribulations of booking an international SKA festival in 2025, the era of Trump 2.0.
Give it a listen on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).
I chatted with founder Tim Receveur about the trials and tribulations of booking an international SKA festival in 2025, the era of Trump 2.0.
Give it a listen on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).
Someone please give Oscar Isaac my number. I will restart the In Defense of Ska podcast if he agrees to be a guest. Let's go!
November 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Someone please give Oscar Isaac my number. I will restart the In Defense of Ska podcast if he agrees to be a guest. Let's go!
I love ska.
Ska is from Jamaica.
Jamaica was hit hard by Hurricane Melissa.
I visited Accompong in Jamaica in 2019 with my wife, possible because Mystic Bowie brought us.
Mystic is playing a benefit at Fairfield Theatre on Nov 29. You can also donate directly on the event page. (Link in bio)
Ska is from Jamaica.
Jamaica was hit hard by Hurricane Melissa.
I visited Accompong in Jamaica in 2019 with my wife, possible because Mystic Bowie brought us.
Mystic is playing a benefit at Fairfield Theatre on Nov 29. You can also donate directly on the event page. (Link in bio)
November 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I love ska.
Ska is from Jamaica.
Jamaica was hit hard by Hurricane Melissa.
I visited Accompong in Jamaica in 2019 with my wife, possible because Mystic Bowie brought us.
Mystic is playing a benefit at Fairfield Theatre on Nov 29. You can also donate directly on the event page. (Link in bio)
Ska is from Jamaica.
Jamaica was hit hard by Hurricane Melissa.
I visited Accompong in Jamaica in 2019 with my wife, possible because Mystic Bowie brought us.
Mystic is playing a benefit at Fairfield Theatre on Nov 29. You can also donate directly on the event page. (Link in bio)
A little while back, I posted a video of (mostly) country band The Mavericks playing a ska original. Now here's a little taste of them covering "Simmer Down" by The Wailers (And then seamlessly transitioning to "Blue Moon" by Elvis). Brilliant band all around.
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A little while back, I posted a video of (mostly) country band The Mavericks playing a ska original. Now here's a little taste of them covering "Simmer Down" by The Wailers (And then seamlessly transitioning to "Blue Moon" by Elvis). Brilliant band all around.
Ara Babajian has played drums in The Slackers for 20+ years. He was in the 1st iteration of Leftover Crack. He played in underrated 90s ska group, Agent 99.
He wrote a memoir, which is coming out on CLASH Books in 2027. I did his first-ever interview on it. It's on the IDOS Patreon (link in bio)
He wrote a memoir, which is coming out on CLASH Books in 2027. I did his first-ever interview on it. It's on the IDOS Patreon (link in bio)
November 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Ara Babajian has played drums in The Slackers for 20+ years. He was in the 1st iteration of Leftover Crack. He played in underrated 90s ska group, Agent 99.
He wrote a memoir, which is coming out on CLASH Books in 2027. I did his first-ever interview on it. It's on the IDOS Patreon (link in bio)
He wrote a memoir, which is coming out on CLASH Books in 2027. I did his first-ever interview on it. It's on the IDOS Patreon (link in bio)
New Orleans ska band Samurai Deli circa 2006
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
New Orleans ska band Samurai Deli circa 2006
Hepcat drummer Greg Narvas made a cool zine series called "I was a teenage Filipino skinhead." It documented his time in 80s' LA ska scene, becoming a rude boy...mod...and finally skinhead. I learned a lot from these
These zines are why I knew I had to interview Greg for my book In Defense of Ska
These zines are why I knew I had to interview Greg for my book In Defense of Ska
October 31, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Hepcat drummer Greg Narvas made a cool zine series called "I was a teenage Filipino skinhead." It documented his time in 80s' LA ska scene, becoming a rude boy...mod...and finally skinhead. I learned a lot from these
These zines are why I knew I had to interview Greg for my book In Defense of Ska
These zines are why I knew I had to interview Greg for my book In Defense of Ska
Big News! The Slackers drummer Ara Babajian wrote a memoir. It's getting released on CLASH Books in the summer of 2027. I got to read an advanced copy of it and LOVED it. He writes about his childhood, Agent 99, Leftover Crack and The Slackers. I spoke with Ara about it for the Patreon (Link in bio)
October 31, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Big News! The Slackers drummer Ara Babajian wrote a memoir. It's getting released on CLASH Books in the summer of 2027. I got to read an advanced copy of it and LOVED it. He writes about his childhood, Agent 99, Leftover Crack and The Slackers. I spoke with Ara about it for the Patreon (Link in bio)
One of the greatest bands ever, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, just released their latest album. It comes with a companion video game called Phantom Quests. If you play the game you might find this delightful little Easter egg.
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
One of the greatest bands ever, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, just released their latest album. It comes with a companion video game called Phantom Quests. If you play the game you might find this delightful little Easter egg.
I was a guest on the podcast Rock That Doesn't Roll, a Christian music podcast. I talked about...Christian ska! (What else?). The expanded 2nd edition of my book In Defense of Ska covers the Christian ska scene (link to buy in bio). Give Rock That Doesn't Roll a listen, wherever you get podcasts
October 29, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I was a guest on the podcast Rock That Doesn't Roll, a Christian music podcast. I talked about...Christian ska! (What else?). The expanded 2nd edition of my book In Defense of Ska covers the Christian ska scene (link to buy in bio). Give Rock That Doesn't Roll a listen, wherever you get podcasts
Hey, I just began the 2nd draft of my novel, Little Black Book of Death.
I also like to talk about it to the camera and say really obvious things! You can listen on my Substack (Link in bio) or my Patreon (link in bio)
I also like to talk about it to the camera and say really obvious things! You can listen on my Substack (Link in bio) or my Patreon (link in bio)
October 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Hey, I just began the 2nd draft of my novel, Little Black Book of Death.
I also like to talk about it to the camera and say really obvious things! You can listen on my Substack (Link in bio) or my Patreon (link in bio)
I also like to talk about it to the camera and say really obvious things! You can listen on my Substack (Link in bio) or my Patreon (link in bio)
The first New Orleans ska show post-Katrina was on Nov 6, 2005 with The Slackers, Captains of Industry and Fatter Than Albert at Maple Leaf Bar. The city was mostly empty and the National Guard was still in the streets. I covered this show in the 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska (link to buy in bio)
October 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The first New Orleans ska show post-Katrina was on Nov 6, 2005 with The Slackers, Captains of Industry and Fatter Than Albert at Maple Leaf Bar. The city was mostly empty and the National Guard was still in the streets. I covered this show in the 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska (link to buy in bio)
Holy Moly! Look at this lineup!
If you are in, near, or willing to travel to LA on Wednesday, Nov 19, you should definitely check out this incredible ska panel discussion!
If you are in, near, or willing to travel to LA on Wednesday, Nov 19, you should definitely check out this incredible ska panel discussion!
October 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Holy Moly! Look at this lineup!
If you are in, near, or willing to travel to LA on Wednesday, Nov 19, you should definitely check out this incredible ska panel discussion!
If you are in, near, or willing to travel to LA on Wednesday, Nov 19, you should definitely check out this incredible ska panel discussion!
At my friend Greg's recommendation, I am reading the Nomeansno oral history. Enjoying it already
October 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
At my friend Greg's recommendation, I am reading the Nomeansno oral history. Enjoying it already
Jacob Collier ska album when?
October 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Jacob Collier ska album when?
