I’m a bit late in writing about this, but it bears a post none the less. Gabe over at Pressure Drop Soundcast called me up and we discussed podcasting and the state of the current ska scene. It was a lot of fun and he gave me the entire set list to play some new and not so new stuff. You’ll hear some brand new Slackers, lots of Greg Lee and Alex Desert tracks, and yours truly supplying long winded answers to Gabe’s questions. Link
This is the song I’ve been waiting for, since I first heard about Yo Gabba. It’s Alex from Hepcat singing with GOGO13, in an animated segment about cleaning you’re room, aptly titled, Pick It Up. Check out the apparent love of Two-Tone culture- from Rude Boy Dad, Skinhead Son and Beat Girl Daughter to Go Feet t-shirts and spinning Mod Targets.
I’ve seen dead links to this for a while now, but this is the first active one I’ve found.
Yo Gabba is the best ska on cable since USA’s Up All Night: New Years Ska Dance Party or maybe that one time when Mtv played Mephiskapheles.
These days, it seems like a most of the bands that had been releasing straight ska albums, several years ago, are now cutting their fair share of Skinhead Reggae tracks. Sure, the popularity of the Aggrolites has probably spurred this on, but maybe there’s a lot of folks like me, that don’t want a bible lesson every time they listen to Reggae.
This Rasta-free Reggae isn’t so much about social messages as it is about funky organs and foot stomping. This episode is exclusively Skinhead Reggae, and in keeping with this series’ theme, I’ll be interrupting the music as infrequently as possible.
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Oh my goodness! This is one of the strangest/most exciting new shows to come down the development pipe in quite some time:
It’s called Yo Gabba Gabba! and it premieres on NickJr. on Aug 20. It’s a kids show, naturally, but it seems to have enough musical and psychedelic elements to keep the grown-ups paying attention. Guests like Elijah Wood and Biz Markie, along with the design styles of such artists as Kid Robot and Paul Frank, should lend Yo Gabba Gabba a high degree of production value. Here’s an official description:
Yo Gabba Gabba! is a fun live-action program for young children ages 1 and up. Join our host DJ Lance Rock as he introduces us to friendly toy monsters in a magical land full of music, dance, colorful cartoons and simple life lessons that will get you and your children up off the floor to learn and dance along.
So, why am I posting about this on a Ska Blah Blah? Well, not only is the show created and run by the Jacobs Bros (Christian and Parker of The Aquabats and GoGo13 fame) but scheduled musical guests include The Aggrolites, Mark Mothersbaugh, The Aquabats, GoGo13 and Alex Desert. Other (non-scene musicians) include Smoosh, Sean Kingston, Rahzel, and The Shins.
YGG song, Party in my Tummy, feat. a very Don Hertzfeldt style of animation, though I doubt that it his actual work: