On The Upbeat

RJ and Gary welcome Asa and David from the ska/punk band For The Record to this weeks show! We talk about how the band formed, what got them into ska, and the recording of their upcoming release! For The Record Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6qUDhaWVkcZSEQMWy5q1S6 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortherecordska/ Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/fortherecordska/ On The Upbeat Soci...

This week’s episode is a host only episode. So listen as RJ and Matt talk about meeting in real life since April of 2020 and Gary tells jokes and funny stories. Also, Matt makes an announcement about the show. We spend most of the episode picking ska bands for our own ska festival and once a band is picked they can’t be picked again. We of course give you some ska news and our ska picks of the wee...

This week we are joined by Karen Roberts from Chase Long Beach. Karen tells us how she got into ska music and where the name Chase Long Beach came from. Karen also discusses how the band got back together for their 20th anniversary show. Karen tells us her favorite tour story and what it’s been like being a female in a male dominated scene. Lastly, we have ska News and our so picks of the week. On...

This week we are joined by Common Sense Kid. Craig (Common Sense Kid) tells us how he got into ska and how he started making music. We learn the story behind his name and what the UK ska scene is like. We listen to his cover of a Bloodhound Gang song and we discuss being on ska twitter. Lastly, we give you ska news and our ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. Instagram.com/onthe...

This week we have a super sized episode with some of our ska podcast friends. On this episode we have Brian Cambra from The Rudie Librarian, Aaron Carnes and Adam Davis from In Defense of Ska and Chris Reeves from Ska Punk International. We discuss how we knew we loved music, our favorite books, how we created the tone of our individual podcasts and our thoughts on the current ska scene. Lastly, w...

This week Kurt, Rosey and Chris from Hans Gruber and The Die Hards join us. They tell us about picking tracks for the album, how the album art work came together and we listen to a song off the album. We also discuss band drama, playing live music again and what the band would like to see change in the ska scene. Gary tells us about the band Blinking Underdogs in another episode of Here Today, Ska...

This week we are joined by Tim and Joe from Space Monkey Mafia. The episode starts with some chitchat, Ska News and Gary give us his review of the latest Hans Gruber and The Dir Hards album, With a Vengeance. Next Joe and Tim tell us how they got into ska music and how Space Monkey Mafia started. We also learn where their band name comes from and we listen to the band’s latest song, Stand Tall. We...

This week we are joined by Rob Casas from The Ruffolos. First we start the show off with some chitchat and some ska news. Next Gary tells us about Tip The Van. Than Rob tells us how he got into ska music and how he learned to play guitar. Rob also tells us how The Ruffolos got their start and we hear one of the bands songs. We discuss the bands new music video and what Rob would like to see more o...

This week we are joined by Richard Lamas from Rundown Kreeps. Richard tells us how he got into ska and how the band came together. We discuss their musical influences and what it’s like playing in the Los Angeles ska scene. We listen to their song Held Down and discuss what makes a good ska show. Lastly, we give you ska news and our ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. Instagram...

This week RJ and Matt start the show by discussing how they spent their weekend. Than they tell you about the latest ska news. Next they chat with Coolie Ranx. Coolie talks about how he got into ska music and how Pilfers got their start. Coolie talks about his upcoming album and we listen the first single, Incredible. Coolie also discusses life on the road and what he would like to see more of in...

This week we are joined by Tara and Max from Half Past Two. They tell us about their weekend of shows with We Are The Union and Eichlers. We discuss what touring is like with Half Past Two and we discuss favorite band shirts. We also chatted about what three ska albums we would play for someone who said they weren’t into ska music. Gary tells us about the band Skabba The Hut. Lastly, we give you s...

This week we are joined by Jermey and Erin from The Step Daughters. They tell us how they got into ska music and how the band got it’s start. We listen to their song, Whatcha Gonna Do and we learn how their new record, The Right Sound, came together. Erin and Jermey talk about what it’s like playing in the Orange County ska scene and what they would like to see more of in the ska scene. Gary, tell...

This week we are joined by Drew Shriver from Kill Lincoln. Drew tells us how he got into ska music. Drew also talks about coming up in the New Jersey ska scene and how we become the hypeman in Kill Lincoln. Next we discuss what three ska albums we would want with us on a deserted island. Lastly, we give you ska news and our ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. Instagram.com/onth...

RJ and Gary take over host duties this week. They update you on some new ska releases. They also discuss Epic Games buying Bandcamp. Next they discuss what it was like to try and find new ska bands in an era before social media. Lastly, they give you their ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. Instagram.com/ontheupbeatska www.facebook.com/ontheupbeatska www.twitter.com/ontheupbea...

On this week’s episode we chat with Salvador Luna from Meskales. Salvador tells us how he went from listening to ska music to play ska music. We learn about Salvador’s first band in Mexico and how he later moved to the states and started Meskales. Next we listen to the band’s new song, Mis Amigos. Salvador also talks about being in a Latin ska band in an area where there aren’t many other Latin sk...

This week we are joined by The Rudie Librarian, Brian Cambra. Brian tells us how he got into ska music and why he started The Rudie Librarian. Brian also tells us about starting his podcast and all that he has learned. Brian tells us about some of his favorite books and ska from 2021. Next, we have a group discussion on what literary characters would be into ska. Lastly, we give you ska news and o...

This week is a host only episode. First, Gary talks about living in snow and Matt talks about his birthday weekend. Next, they give you ska news and RJ breaks downs the ska history of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Than Gary gives us his list of five NFL team names that would make good names for ska bands. Lastly, Matt and Gary give you their ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. I...

This week is our 100th episode. We celebrate this milestone with Tahlena Chikami, T-Bone Willy and Mike Berault from Bite Me Bambi. We discuss how Mike and T-Bone got into ska music. We also hear some fun stories from Bite Me Bambi’s Midwest tour. Tahlena tells us how the band finds its sound. T-Bone shares with us about the Orange County Ska scene in the 90’s and his time in Save Ferris. RJ asks...

This week on the podcast we are joined by Josh Douglas from Urban Crater. Josh tells us how he got on the ska and punk music. We also learn about the early days of the band and where their name came from. We also discuss paid to play shows and the Baltimore ska scene. Lastly, we give you ska news and our ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. Instagram.com/ontheupbeatska www.faceb...

This Week Matt and Gary are joined by King Django and Matt Wixson. They discuss how they both got into ska, how Stubborn Records got it’s start and how the Still Stubborn compilation came to be. Django and Wixson also tell us how the songs were chosen for Vol.1 of Still Stubborn and their thoughts on the current state of the ska scene. We also talk pizza, Italian Restaurants and Blues Traveler. La...

This week Matt Sullivan of Title Holder visits the podcast. First, we chat about putting shopping carts back and we discover Matt Vest (Podcast host) is a lazy jerk. We also give you some ska news and Gary returns with another installment of Here Today, Ska Tomorrow. Next, we discuss Matt’s (Title Holder) journey into ska music and what got Title Holder started. We listen to their latest song, Han...

We are back with our first episode of 2022. First, RJ and Matt discuss their holiday breaks. We announce that Gary from Backyard Superheroes will be joining the On The Up Beat team. Gary tells us about the Canadian ska band,The Barrymores, in a new segment called Here Today, Ska Tomorrow. Next, RJ and Matt discuss their 2021 ska favorites. Lastly, the give you ska news and their ska picks of the w...

This Patreon bonus episode was recorded and shared with our patreon subscribers in August of 2021. Is this the greatest episode of any podcast known to humans? Gary and RJ think it just may be! While attempting to cover the first twelve issues of Jeff Lemire's "Sweet Tooth" they may get off on a few tangents, including but not limited to Gary's previous jobs, the band Cake, and other non-superhero...

This Patreon bonus episode was recorded in April of 2021 and shared with our patreon subscribers in July of 2021. For this bonus episode, Matt is joined by Tara Hahn from Half Past Two. Tara and Matt discuss Half Past Two's song, Bitter. You will learn the story behind the song, how it was written and how it was recorded. You will also learn just how Tara and Matt became friends. Please consider j...

This week Tara from Half Past Two and Gary from Backyard Superheroes join us. This is our last episode of the year. We spend most of the episode discussing the ska highlights of 2021. And of course, we give you some ska news and our ska picks of the week. On The Upbeat Social Media: www. Instagram.com/ontheupbeatska www.facebook.com/ontheupbeatska www.twitter.com/ontheupbeatska On The Upbeat Patre...