Hans Gruber and the Die Hards recently released a BEAST of a ska-core album. Last week, I saw them play in Sacramento, then I interviewed Rosie and Kurt about the new record for the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio)

From England with love

The only ICE I support

30 years ago, i roadied for Skankin Pickle for a tour they did in the Midwest. 7 Seconds were main support. Slapstick opened several of the shows. Middagh Goodwin (ie This is SKA) was the other roadie on the tour. Here's the end of the tour photo after the final show in Fort Collins, Colorado.

San Francisco ska band Sad Snack released their debut LP, Vending Machine, last year. There's even a track that features the hosts of In Defense of Ska. If you've listened to it, what's your favorite track?

Almost 5 years ago, Rolling Stone ran an excerpt of my Operation Ivy chapter from my book, In Defense of Ska. One of the coolest things to happen during my book roll out.

New fit, who dis?

Kurt SKA-negut meme By: Burritoska

Hey, do you miss hearing my sweet, smooth voice in your ear drums? I am now co-hosting a bi-weekly podcast called The Nutshell True Story Hour (Along with Amy Bee and Keith Lowell Jensen) You can listen to the podcast at inanutshellstorytelling.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Meme by @burritoska

NekroSKAblikon

When you tell the homie that you don't like ska anymore

Had anyone ever seen Dan Potthast and Bernie Sanders in the same room?

chris demakes a defense of ska

Oh Yeah!!!

We never got the chance to have Chris DeMakes on the In Defense of Ska podcast, but I did interview him years ago for my book. He and I covered a lot of territory. A few quotes even made it into In Defense of Ska. I just dropped the interview to the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio)

Vive la résistance Photo by: Glam Doll Donuts

I regret to inform you that I no longer have Home Alone Villain* hair *My friend Kiry told me I had Home Alone Villain hair

Name this ska band!

Hey it's Jeff Rosenstock's old ska band ASOB playing at Warped Tour (which they snuck into). But who's that guy in the straw hat? That is FAMED Central CA promoter Middagh Goodwin. I interviewed Middagh for the 2nd edition of my book. I just dropped that interview to the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio).

I heard Our House by Madness. Ska in the Super Bowl @indefenseofska.bsky.social

We could have had a ska president! Back in the 2010s, Middagh Goodwin (aka This is SKA) ran for president. He didn't win, and look where we are now! Middagh knows a lot about ska. I interviewed him for the 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska, which is now uploaded to the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio)

Hey Superbowl fans, here's video of Green Day covering Operation Ivy (A major influence on the group)

If you love America, forget about the Alternative Superbowl. Instead, spend that time thinking about the time Kid Rock opened for Johnny Socko. Or better yet, watch the real half-time performance and pray that Bad Bunny plays his ska song, "Maldita Pobreza."

Give me a "HOW NOW LOW BROW" if you remember Slow Gherkin's amazing music video

Happy birthday to the greatest podcast co-host/religious leader that has ever existed.

Today is Amy Bee's birthday! She edited my book, In Defense of Ska and married me (but not in that order) Everyone wish Amy a happy birthday!

Still thinking about that time Slow Gherkin's James Rickman sang a ballad to Jeff Rosenstock's guitar

Shout out to Bandcamp for posting The Chains' delicious t-shirt on their social media account. This officially makes ska eternal! Amen!

I just uploaded an old (2014? 2015?) interview I did with Slow Gherkin lead singer James Rickman to the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio). It's the interview he did for my book. That's James holding In Defense of Ska. And next to him is Christoph Paul of Clash Books, the number 1 ska book publisher!

I, for one, think that every magazine should publish this cartoon

To celebrate The Impossibles playing Supernova International Ska Festival this year, I am posting this brilliant tweet by Rory Phillips. And yes, this is true, the "Hi" at the beginning of Bad Operation's LP is from The Impossibles.

Keep up the good work, Minneapolis Sticker by Dan Ozzi

To celebrate The Impossibles playing Supernova International Ska Festival this year, I am posting this flyer, which is the only time my band, Flat Planet, and The Impossibles shared the stage. It was an outdoor DIY space at a recycling plant in Austin, I believe.

Finally some good news in the media

My favorite podcast, Switched on Pop, recently made their 2026 pop predictions. One of them was that Bruno Mars would finally release a new solo album and that it would be ska. I'm all for this prediction, especially since he performed a SKA rendition of "Lazy Song" on the Today Show 15 years ago.

Marry ska. Fuck ska. Kill ska.

Start ska. Stay ska. Die ska.

Black MirrSKAr

Me excited about the upcoming Bad Time Records tour Meme by @thebandsilikeonlycharge18bucks

Shout it from the mountaintops!

Fun fact! Blue Meanies worked with collaborators on 4 songs on their 2000 major label album, Post-Wave. The Go-Go's Jane Weidlin co-wrote and sang vocals on the song "She Breathes Fire." Here's a photo of Jane and Blue Meanies singer Billy Spunke deep in the pits of songwriting abyss

Blue Meanies were a good band. But even better astronauts. From the Full Throttle photo session in 1997. I talked to guitarist Sean Dolan on the IDOS Patreon (Link in bio) about how THEE Melissa McCarthy was a friend/fan of the band! Yeah, I know, MIND BLOWN!

Heading into 2026 like...

With 95% certainty, I believe I am the only author in the history of the world to ever get a circle skank pit going during one of their book readings. This was at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco in 2021. The club is closing at the end of 2026. One of the greatest venues SF ever had.

Who remembers this gem? Blue Meanies' music video for "Smash The Magnavox" (1997)

“That hoodie is wild man. Ska, now more than ever.” - a stranger to me as I walk my dog. @indefenseofska.bsky.social I did tell him it was for a podcast.

Found my copy under the tree. Thanks Santa!

Alright, what are we calling this particular subgenre of late 2000s ska-influenced pop? Eric Hutchinson's "Rock & Roll" from 2008.