Ska Blah Blah » interviews

King Django on CKUT

JJ Loy — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:36:27 +0000

I didn’t get the chance to promote the episode of Roots Rock Rebels that featured Gabe Pressure, Bobby Babylon and myself, but I was very happy with Aaron’s troicket of podcaster interviews. Right on the heels of his media spectacular comes another interview- this time with King Django!

Django and his Version City and Stubborn Records institutions have fallen on some hard times and several tragedies have plagued Mr. Baker, this summer. But on the bright side of things, it sounds like some really killer records are on their way out. Look forward to new Sic and Mad as well as a new Victor Rice Dub record.

While your at it, go ahead and listen to the show: Listen to Roots Rock Rebels interview with King Django

And if your still in an interview listening mood, surf over to Pressure Drop and check out Gabe’s new chat with Horrace Painter from the Specials.

The State of Ska Blah Blah

JJ Loy — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:25:38 +0000

I’ve come to the end of another series of interviews. Small Talk concluded with just as much punch as it began with- and I am honored to have spoken with each and every artist featured within.

I know the site has been wonky with Safari and Opera, lately- and I think that issue is resolved at the moment. Please let me know if you are still having trouble viewing SkaBlahBlah.com. A site overhaul is in the works. Until then, here’s a complete hunk of links- everything I’ve produced for Ska Blah Blah:

Series One – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

01.Chris Murray
02.Victor Rice
03.Dave Hillyard
04.Joey Altruda
05.Vic Ruggiero

Series Two – Cut the Chit Chat

01.New Ska
02.Skinhead Reggae
03.Hard Edged Dub
04.Ska Rap
05.Ska Demos
06.Even Newer Ska

Series Three – Small Talk

01 – Victor Axelrod
02 – Green Room Rockers
03 – Babylon Party Machine
04 – The Impalers
05 – The Aggrolites

Special Episodes

00 Field Trip to Ska Weekend ’07
00 A Look Back at The Skatalites Middle Period

New episodes aren’t in the near future, but the blog side of Ska Blah Blah will continue to bring you lots of Ska Links and Videos. If you haven’t already, please subscribe with your favorite feed reader.

Thank you all so much for reading the blog and listening to the podcasts, especially those of you who have really contributed by commenting on the various posts. I encourage everyone to leave a comment or drop me a line with your thoughts on all things Ska.

Thanks,

-JJ Loy

jjloy@skablahblah.com

Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk – Episode 05 – The Aggrolites

JJ Loy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:04:46 +0000

Brian Dixon has been a major influence in LA’s Ska and Reggae scene for years now. He’s been a key player in the Rhythm Doctors and the After Hours project- his latest thing is a little band you might have heard of- called The Aggrolites.

Brian and I discuss The Aggro’s writing process and their belief that everyone can love good Reggae, on this, the last episode of Small Talk.

Get The Aggrolites newest record Reggae Hit LA Link

Watch The Aggrolites Videos on YouTube Link

Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk – Episode 4 – The Impalers

JJ Loy — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:38:48 +0000

Lars Nylander, once the great valve T-bone player for Skankin’ Pickle and now the (even greater) keyboadist to the Impalers, talked to me at length for this episode of Small Talk. We discuss the maturation of his music as well as the production techniques that distinguish The Impalers from their Skinhead Reggae brothers, The Aggrolites.

The Impalers are an impressive band and Axe Records is a quality label, I encourage everyone to check them out.

Links:

Axe Records Link

Impalers MySpace Link

Buy Blood, Rum & Reggae from iTunes Link

Bobby Bobson’s review at Musical Occupation Link

Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk Episode 03 – Babylon Party Machine

JJ Loy — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:05:53 +0000

This episode, Matt Wixson- former keyboardist to the Flaming Tsunamis. He’s the one and only member of Babylon Party Machine, an electro-Ska experiment who (last year) released two albums online. For free. At once, Wixson’s music can seem contradictory and more than a little controversial, but then all forward thinking music is.

Link to Babylon Party Machine MySpace

Link to Matt Wixson’s MySpace

Link to Free Copy of The Back of My Hand EP

Link to Free Copy of God Hates Babylon Party Machine

Link to Free Copy of Matt Wixson’s solo album, Best Intentions

Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk Episode 02 – Green Room Rockers

JJ Loy — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:27:26 +0000

If you’ve been following the scene this past year- If you read blogs like this or Musical Occupation- If you lurk around forums like Dancin’ Mood or Chatty Mouth- then you’ve surely heard the buzz surrounding Indiana’s own, Green Room Rockers.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8cU8Hpp034]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FExZGzpmm8E]

I talked with Green Room Rocker Mark about acoustic Ska, the Mid-West scene and the formation of his band.

Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk Episode 01 – Victor Axelrod

JJ Loy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:07:25 +0000

Your eyes have not deceived you- It is a new series for Ska Blah Blah. This time around, the interviews are a bit shorter and the artists are a bit newer. I’ve also broadened the focus from mere Ska Revivalism to a more encompassing umbrella of Jamaican Revivalism. This is to better fit with this millennium’s crop of bands and DJ’s.

I’m starting off strong with my interview with Victor Axelrod, but subscribe to the feed and you’ll automatically get interviews with The Impalers, Babylon Party Machine, The Aggrolites, and The Green Room Rockers as they become available.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and Dub mixologist, Victor Axelrod isn’t quite a household name, even if you live in the hippest of households. He’s worked with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Antibalas, Easy Star All-Stars, Lily Allen, and even Amy Winehouse- so it isn’t like he’s shying away from the spotlight. However, Axelrod’s love of pseudonyms has at times prevented audiences from connecting the dots of his work. His newest solo record seeks to reconcile this by featuring a virtual soundclash between himself and his better known alias, Ticklah.

I spoke with Victor about making retro music, working with Victor Rice, and of course his newest solo record, Ticklah Vs. Axelrod.

Ticklah Vs. Axelrod is out now on Easy Star Records where you can purchase the cd or digital download LINK

National Geographic’s Podcast Interview with Ticklah LINK

Wishtank’s bit about Ticklah’s Don’t Trip Studio with lot’s of extra info LINK

Rock Paper Scissors bit about Ticklah with a great review and press pack goodies LINK

Be friends with the man himself at MySpace LINK

Tommy McCook Interview on YouTube

JJ Loy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:08:56 +0000

Here’s a cool little vid from the 70′s or early 80′s, where Mr. McCook covers his early career and plays a few of his Skatalites compositions. My favorite part is how seriously he shoos away the noisy kids from the back yard- you really get a sense of how important it is to McCook to put his story on record. His story covers a lot of familiar ground, but it’s fun to see the man speak and play live.

This is only a partial clip, if anyone has leads to the full presentation I’ll add it to this post.

[flash http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=-4NdBA3bv6A]

Ruggiero Interviewed for Music With Soul Records

JJ Loy — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:50:21 +0000

I just got hip to an eight-part interview with Vic Ruggiero from his last trip to the Netherlands. The series of vids is credited to Music With Soul Records, but I can’t find any information on them what-so-ever. What I can tell you is that the host of the interviews, Alex, does a great job despite a slight language barrier. It’s Vic relaxed and happy- playing his guitar and talking about music and family. There’s even a little insight into a few Slackers songs.

Links:

So I need to give a shout out to my listeners in Holland! Like my new pal Baldy84, who’s music collection covers current European Ska, Mid-West US Ska, and tons of classic compilations. So thanks not only for the tracks but for pointing out another place where I have a few subscribers.

And thanks to Chris for leading me to these videos.

Field Trip – Ska Weekend ’07 – Special Episode

JJ Loy — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:43:00 +0000

I drove from St. Louis to Knoxville, TN to attend the big Ska Weekend, in the hopes of snagging a few interviews and catching a bunch of live sets from today’s top Ska artists. And wouldn’t you know it? I did just that.

While this piece tracks my day, the people I talked to and the music I was most interested in, it is by no means a report on the event as a whole. You’ll hear live songs by Deals Gone Bad, Westbound Train, Dr. Ring Ding feat. The Drastics and The Slackers. Plus, interviews with King Django, Anthony from the Drastics, Dr. Ring Ding and Agent Jay Neugent.

Links of Interest:

Ska Weekend Website
Musical Occupation’s coverage of the event

05 – Vic Ruggiero – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

JJ Loy — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:34:00 +0000

Being the band leader, songwriter, keyboard player, and vocalist of The Slackers, Vic Ruggiero is a very busy man. But he took an hour out of his schedule to talk to me in this, the final episode of the series.

Vic picks up where Joey Altruda left off, last episode, talking about working within a genre’s parameters. And Ruggiero also answers my many questions about his lyrics and the various themes that appear in them. In doing so, he represents the connection between American and Jamaican Roots Music. All this plus Vic’s take on fate, collective thought, and Os Mutantes.

You’ll also hear lot’s of live music from The Slackers, as well as New Vic Solo Stuff.

Links of Interest:

-The Slackers live sets on Archive.Org
- The Slackers merch page
- Ruggiero’s MySpace with Downloadable tracks for Free and for Fee
- JupUp Records sells Vic’s Japanese Solo Record, Hamburguru
- Vic and The Slackers on NPR
- And On Austin Radio

04 – Joey Altruda – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

JJ Loy — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:30:00 +0000

I was back on the phone to LA this episode. This time, to talk to Joey Altruda about his part in the California Trad Ska scene, as the leader of Jump with Joey. Not only has he played with many of Ska’s founders, as my other guests have, Altruda has genuinely befriended his Ska and Jazz mentors. He’s played countless shows with Ernest Ranglin and Plas Johnson, toured with Roland Alphonso, and produced sessions with Coxsone Dodd.

He also discusses the maturation of the LA crowds, and the few things American Ska fans have in common with the original Sound System audiences of yesteryear.

Links of Interest:

- Joey Altruda’s Myspace.
- A video interview with Joey, about a theme song he wrote.
- Amazon Link to Jump With Joey CDs. Mostly used, but cheap. And the buy now feature often links to a local shop somewhere.
- Altruda’s Merch Page
- A wonderful NPR story about Monty Alexander and Ernest Ranglin, with live music and interviews.

03 – Dave Hillyard – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

JJ Loy — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:23:00 +0000

In this Episode, you’ll hear my interview with Dave Hillyard, as well as some live music from his bands, The Slackers and The David Hillyard Rocksteady Seven. Hillyard talks about life on the road, as a touring musician, and life at home, as a husband and father. We discuss playing for non-ska audiences and the different reactions he’s gotten from Jazz-heads. He also talks about his trip to Jamaica, and the times he’s worked with some of Ska’s earliest legends.

Other Links of Interest:
-Hillyard’s MySpace page with Downloadable tracks for Free and for Fee.
-A Press Kit for RS7′s United Front.
-YouTube Results for Dave

02 – Victor Rice – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

JJ Loy — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:33:00 +0000

This edition features the words and music of Victor Rice. Recorded in Sept. of ’06, from his home in Sao Paulo, Rice talks about his early career in the NYC Ska scene, and the work he did for Moon Records and Version City. In the 90′s, Rice was a prolific producer and bassist for such bands as The Scofflaws, Mephiskapheles, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, and many more. We also discuss some of his lesser known projects, his current work as a Dub engineer in Brazil, and the future of Samba Rocksteady.

Other Links of interest:
- Rice’s Resume
- A place to get Age of Insects
- Get music from Victor
- A place to get many of the records Rice has produced

01 – Chris Murray – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

JJ Loy — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:52:00 +0000

In this episode you’ll hear my interview with Chris Murray from Dec of ’06, as well as a few tunes from various points of his career. We spoke about his early 4-track solo style, and his recent recordings with The Slackers Murray answers questions about working for Moon and Asian Man Records, and talks about the LA Ska and Reggae concert series, The Bluebeat Lounge, which he also hosts.

Other related links:
-Chris Murray’s Homepage
-A place to buy Da Whole Thing at Version City
-A place to buy Chris Murray feat. The Slackers: Slackness (good luck)
-Murray’s solo albums can be ordered here