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rude boys and rude girls

December 2, 2009 | music

When I was in 8th grade my two older cousins took me to my first ska show. It was at the Fireside Bowl. A beat down bowling alley on Fullerton where they would have rock shows.

I couldn’t tell you what bands were playing. I just remember being mesmerized by the blaring horns and standing on a chair because I was so much smaller than everyone else. Catching flashes of girls with shaved heads but only bangs, guys with creeper covered feet kicking and stomping and arms swinging, which I’d soon learn was called skanking, in this tiny cramped space.

It Means Everything by Save Ferris was the first ska album (third wave, if you want to be all technical) I ever bought. I worshiped Monique Powell. I wanted nothing more than to dye my hair fire engine red and be able to belt out a song like her. I played that album until it could play no more.

(they are actually the band playing at the prom in 10 Things I Hate About You if you’ve seen it)

Operation Ivy. Less than Jake. Goldfinger (a bit more pop punky ska but still way fun). Reel Big Fish. Dance Hall Crashers. Blah blah, I could go on and on.

There is absolutely no way you can listen to any of those bands and not want to get up and move. It’s just not possible. I’m far from a dancer but I’d totally let go when my friend would grab my hand, drag me to the middle of the floor and we would skank our little hearts out. My lack of coordination didn’t matter much.

It’s just fun, upbeat music and a total pick me up.

This week coming up I’ll be doing some temp work. Mainly data entry which will probably be pretty tedious so I’m stocking up my iPod with some good music. I felt a little nostalgic and dug up some stuff I haven’t listened to in awhile.

Anyway, I can’t promise I won’t be dancing around in my chair while copy and pasting with stuff like this in my headphones.

P.S. Ska. Get yourself educated.

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Oh yeah, this totally brings me back to high school. I had countless albums and went to as many shows as an underage high school kid could possibly get into.

The Dexy’s Midnight Runners original version of Come On Eileen is awesome, but I think the Save Ferris version is one of the best covers ever. YAY!

Love it! I pink puffy heart Save Ferris.

OMG, I LOVED Ska! I went to the Ska Parade concerts and was obsessed with the Aquabats. Good times!

I LOVED that band in 10 things I hate about you! What a great movie. I used to know all the words to the whole thing. “I know you can be underwhelmed, and you can be overwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?” haha SO profound

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

@jenniferalaine, I’m totally whelmed by this comment right now.

I seriously get that love of ska. As music trends and fads come and go, there will always be a little ska head inside me. Thanks for reminding me of my love

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

@Kez, I hope you’re digging around for some good music now

Ah, skanking – love it! One of the best concerts ever was going to see Big D and the Kids table with my bf who had a broken foot and our friend who had a broken arm and they still managed to skank like crazy. Less Than Jake – I Think I Love You – best song ever!

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

@Jackie, a broken foot? Oh man, that is some dedication right there! haha

Love ska!

those bands take me back to high school. i never would have pegged you as an opivy fan, but i’m glad you are because they rock!

I LOVED Save Ferris in high school. I met Monique Powell once after one of their shows and got a picture – I thought I died and went to heaven. Will have to dig up my MxPx, Goldfinger, Save Ferris, etc. cds and start listening to them again, its been too long!

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

@Julianne, I never got to see them live so I’m totally jealous!

dancing to ska involves alot of jumping… and I am totally ok with that… because EVERYONE can jump.

not everyone can dance.

Remember when No Doubt used be fun and ska-ey like this? I miss that No Doubt.

What Leahchristine said … I got into No Doubt because they had a ska-like style. I love, love, love Save Ferris, and like you, I can’t help but dance!

I’ve always loved trumpets and trombones in music. We need more of them!!

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

@Angela, absolutely agree!

Re: 10 Things I Hate About You, are you sure the band isn’t Letters to Cleo? Also, I do realize this sacrifices a little bit of my masculinity to consider this.

And ska was totally a part of my upbringing, too. pickitup,pickitup,pickitup!

Goldfinger. Yes.
I’ve seen 10 Things I hate about you and loved that scene. And their cover of Come on Eileen.

Omg those are the days huh? Lol 10 Things is one of my favorite movies ever. I miss Save Ferris and Reel Big Fish. We used to have lots of ska bands during the popular ska period. Many concerts and people danced like crazy. I miss it! Good old times!:)

that brings me back! My favorite band was Reel Big Fish back in the day. And I loved me some Save Ferris. Did you ever listen to Zebra head? they were pretty good. Mxpx, Less Then Jake… ahh, I’m going to have get some of that old music back. Thos were good times.
I always, always, went to a ska concert after a break up or particularly hard time in my life.. very therapeutic.

That brings back a ton of memories!

OMG, love Save Ferris singing “Come on Eileen!” I got it back in the Napster days and it’s still on most of my good mixes )

Back when I was more immature than I am now (yes, it’s possible), I used to watch 10 Things every single day, because I had an irrational crush on the late Mr. Ledger. And in watching this movie 14,000 times, I grew to really love the music and lo, I discovered SKA.

I play “Come on Eileen” when I’m feeling sluggish in the morning and usually end the song dancing naked. Not a good look, per se, but definitely a great way to start the day.

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

@barbetti, I think we all had crushes on Heath. And the singing? OH THE SINGING.

/swoon

I saw Less Than Jake at a tiny little dive bar last week in St. Paul. It made me feel 14 again and I LOVED it. I had a boyfriend back in the day that got me into ska like that, and to this day those horns and trumpets just get me going. Also? I LOVE SAVE FERRIS.

Jamie Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

@Doniree, I KNOW. You don’t know how jealous I was.

Also? I love you.

I didnt know you liked Ska! Me too!! I used to be obsessed when I was younger, but I still listen to Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Less Than Jake, and of course Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I also love my friends ska band, What’s Your Problem Brian.

Yay Ska!

Oh ska! I love love love ska! And RBF. Listening to You Don’t Know and singing along at the top of my lungs on the way to work every morning helped me deal with an awful awful boss some years back.

The hubs got me into Vampire Weekend (although I know there’s much debate about their ska status). They are pretty freaking awesome too.

dude.

trip down memory lane.

like whoa.

Oh my. The Fireside Bowl. I can’t even count how many times I waited outside for the guy who’s name escapes me, but was ALWAYS late to open the doors. LTJ, Bosstones, DHC, Blue Meanies, Let’s Go Bowling, Op Ivy… I loved them all. If you don’t have the American Skathic CD compilations, you need to find them. Or email me and I’ll copy them for you. They were my favorite thing EVER, and I still love those CD’s, and a lot of those Midwest bands. http://www.jumpuprecords.com/jump001.html

Now I’m homesick.

You should check out the “Harder They Come” soundtrack. That’s some old school reggae and ska there!

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