Are Fishbone the greatest band of all time? Perhaps. But no matter how great any single person thinks the group is, it’s a fact that Fishbone is a super important, very original band. And they still matter in the year 2025. To discuss this point, we bring on a Fishbone superfan, comedian W. Kamau Bell!

W. Kamau Bell has been a hardcore Fishbone fan since the early ’90s. And he remains a fan to this day. He was also a fan when the band was less popular. He has a lot to say about their entire catalog. 

This is the Fishbone conversation you’ve always wanted to hear

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.



Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

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Why Fishbone Matters with W. Kamau Bell

Comedian Felipe Esparza may have won Last Comic Standing in 2010 and is currently touring theaters. But probably the most important thing to know about him is that he loves ska. We’re talking Madness, The Skatalites, Los Skarnales, Toots and the Maytals and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. 

We talk about all these bands with Felipe. But the group we spend the longest time on is Voodoo Glow Skulls. Felipe is friends with the group; he uses a recording of their song “Fat Randy” for his podcast theme, and he has some lore with the band. We’re talking an unaired episode of his podcast with the group, a TV show with Voodoo as the house band that never got picked up. And, Felipe’s opener, Rodrigo Torres, grew up with the Voodoo guys—he even worked at their record shop, Cheap Guy Records, for five years! 

So yes, this is a funny episode with a hilarious comedian. But you may actually learn a few things about Voodoo Glow Skulls after you listen to this one. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.





Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Felipe Esparza on Voodoo Glow Skulls and all things ska

There were a lot of ska-punk bands in the ’90s. Perhaps, none were more out there than Northern CA’s Janitors Against Apartheid: A wild group that played hyper-fast ska and had a singer who sang about Punky Brewster and Little Caesar’s in a demented Kermit the Frog voice. And the stage show was completely unhinged. Usually, stuffed animals were getting destroyed. 

This week, we talk to the sax player (And later lead vocalist) Lodge Worster. We get insight into the band’s history, their transformation to The Adjustments, and we also discuss the punk TV script that Lodge is working on with our own Aaron Carnes. Hey! 

Plus, we find out that Lodge works as a music editor on TV and film projects. So, we learn which ska songs he had a hand in editing into your favorite shows. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Read less





Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

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1 in 3000 nerds can’t be wrong: Interview with Janitors Against Apartheid’s Lodge Worster

They said it couldn’t be done! But we did it anyway. That infamous mozzarella stick meme that has come to define ska to people all over the internet—we made an entire episode about it. We dive into its history, its impact on ska and discuss why it is so polarizing. And ultimately, whether its been good or bad for the genre. 

Many people were interviewed for this journalistic masterpiece including comedians Dave Thomason, Matt Lieb, and Jaime Loftus, as well as Ska Defender Numero Uno Brent Friedman. Plus, we get a little insight about the meme from the person who made the tweet that went viral. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.



Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Mozzarella Stick Ska Meme: Its history and impact on ska

Eras of ska are, in part, defined by the ska labels. In our current era, there is Bad Time Records, but also Ska Punk International. This week, we wanted to talk about what defines Ska Punk International, who the bands are, and a bit about its history. To do that, we talk to owner/operator, Chris Reeves. 

Full disclosure: Chris Reeves is also the editor of this podcast. But we don’t talk about his editing skills this go around. This is a 100% Ska Punk International conversation. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.





Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ska Punk International: An interview with Chris Reeves

New Orleans had a surprisingly big ska scene in the late 2000s. This caught my attention after I wrote the 1st edition of In Defense of Ska. This scene would eventually give birth to Bad Operation. I spoke with them extensively about it, and even devoted a huge section of the 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska to this largely undocumented history. 

When I was touring the country promoting the 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska, I made sure to stop in New Orleans. I hosted a live panel to discuss this New Orleans ska history at Greg Rodrigue’s spot, Hey Café. This week, we are airing that recording. 

Many folks participated in the panel discussion like Greg and D-Ray, Brian Funck of Thou, Travis of Tha Supaflies, Kirah of the Big Top, Hunter from Fatter Than Albert, and others. 

Sit back and enjoy a fun, lively and educational conversation. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.





Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The story of Ska in New Orleans post-Katrina: A live panel at Hey Café

2 Tone ska was huge in England. It was also very brief. By the early ’80s, England had moved on to other sounds in pop music. Most of the 2 Tone ska bands had broken up or were playing non-ska tunes. But in this atmosphere in 1983 England, a band called Potato 5 formed. They played ska. But it wasn’t 2 Tone style ska. They were an instrumental band, and they were directly influenced by The Skatalites

This week, we speak to four original members of Potato 5, and we learn about their career, which ended in 1989 (Though it started again as of 2018). During their original run, they ended up having three different lead singers: Floyd Lloyd, Spider Johnson, and the legendary “godfather of ska” himself, Laurel Aitken. Plus, they worked with Mad Professor early in their career. We talk about all of it! 

But we also look at their story as an important early step towards a global traditional ska revival that would blossom in the years to come. Their importance can’t be understated. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.



Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The beginning of a global trad ska revival: Potato 5

This week, we travel to the ska-loving country of Japan to interview the amazing ska-punk group, Hey Smith. Specifically, we have Shu, their singer and primary songwriter. To help us translate the interview, we have an old friend and former guest, Ume, who plays in the band Kill Lincoln. He’s currently filling in on trombone with Hey Smith as well!

We discuss the band’s history, how their popularity has been growing, their recent US tours, signing to a major label, and how they wrote ska-punk songs for more than one popular Anime program recently. 

Plus we try to sneak in a few questions for Ume, but he wasn’t having it. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska] to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.



Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Japan’s finest: Hey Smith singer Shu

This week, we have a special episode. Adam hit the road in March with Omnigone. And he interviewed a ton of ska musicians during his tour. What wanted to know was: What is life like on the road for a ska musician in 2025, and how is it different than it was in the 90s. 

He got a lot of interviews. He talked to members of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Big D and the Kids Table, Suicide Machines, Jeff Rosenstock, JER and so much more. This episode gives a strong glimpse into the world of touring—but not just for ska musicians. For any DIY artist out there right now, trying to figure out how to make it work, and make it fun. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska] to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.



Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Touring in a Ska Band: Life on the Road

There’s a piece of Gilman lore that involves a huge fight between punks and nazis in the late 80s. And, the punks kick the nazis butts. So much, that they never show their face at Gilman again. This tale was documented in a scene in the excellent documentary Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk. But now, it’s been fictionalized and used as the inspiration for a story in the new film, Freaky Tales. 

Today we look at this nazi punching Gilman lore. We talk to the Freaky Tale directors, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, to get a sense of how and why they adapted it for their film. We talk to Turn It Around director, Corbett Redford. And we talk to three Gilman punks that were there when it went down: Kamala Lyn Parks, George Hated and MDC singer Dave Dictor. 

We also learn how Operation Ivy factored into this whole thing. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska]! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lives]. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks [https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/watch-where-you-walk] two LPs [https://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Fearless-DAN-BRICKS/dp/B07987C2LJ]. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska [https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/aaron-carnes-in-defense-of-ska] will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/]. Their latest record, Against The Rest [https://omnigone.bandcamp.com/album/against-the-rest] released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International [https://www.skapunkinternational.com/]. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska] to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.



Support In Defense of Ska by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/DLXVmMB

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Punching Nazis: A True Gilman Punk Rock Story

Ska no longer needs to be the butt of every joke. IDOS is flipping the narrative on this style of music that they love dearly.

Hosts Aaron Carnes (author of "In Defense of Ska") and Adam Davis (Link 80, Omingone) chat with people in and outside of the ska scene to tell its stories, show its pervasiveness in culture, and defend it to their last dying breath.