Skank the Good Skank

There are a lot of people who think ska is dead — horns twisted and broken, checkered shoes returned to Goodwill — but these are the same people who didn't know ska existed before 1996. The Ska Brawl tour is proof ska is still alive, not to mention that as...

By Stephen Feller

February 9, 2006

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

There are a lot of people who think ska is dead — horns twisted and broken, checkered shoes returned to Goodwill — but these are the same people who didn't know ska existed before 1996. The Ska Brawl tour is proof ska is still alive, not to mention that as the world changes, the reggae-influenced two-tone ska of the Toasters hasn't changed much since 1982. Go Jimmy Go and Westbound Train follow that legendary band's example, and Mustard Plug adds a little punk to the mix for their own fan-favorite sound. The reason ska, unlike a lot of music styles, maintains a death and rebirth cycle is that the music is fun, plain and simple. We're talking head-whipping, arm-swinging, feet kicking, full-on skanking away your cares. Don't tell the bands at the Brawl that the cool kids traded ska for emo years ago. That's what keeps the music honest and makes it great.

The Ska Brawl tour arrives Friday, February 10, at the Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. Doors open at 7 pm. All-ages tickets are $12 in advance or $14 at the door. Call 954-561-4880.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning New Times Broward-Palm Beach has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.