Reel big Fish.

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

I love them, but you know what annoys me? It really makes me more sorry for them than anything else. But it's the ska posers.

Reel Big fish has gotten this horrible disease where everyone likes them and the people who like them consider themselves ska kids even though they don't listen to anything else.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I go to shows and theres always a group of preteens "skaning" (although it looks more like running when they do it) with a T-shirt and sports coat, maybe a trilby hat, and a reel big fish shirt. And I ask them what their favorite band is and they say "Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake and Streetlight Manifesto." I ask them if there's anything else and they'll say something like "I like a lot, too many to say."

This really angers me because they're practically making a mocery of the scene.

Anyone else notice this?

[skanker]

I say like who you listen to and listen to who you like.

Who cares about the rest. Stop worrying about other people!

[Doc]

Dude, I feel you however where I am from nobody really listens to much ska :(, which is cool I introduce most people to a lot of good bands, but i have noticed it in our punk scene. a bunch of kids wearing Ramones t-shirts and don't know that "Hey Ho" is called blitzkrieg bop. or even know about these 1977 punk bands that started the punk scene. it is very frustrating

So i feel your pain man

[skanker]

And when they get a little older or more into the scene it's likely that they will say "when I was younger I was such a Bozo. Now that I'm all grown up and cool I can feel so superior to the kids just getting into MY music".

[Mario]

I like Reel Big Fish and even with all the kids there it's still a fun show. I say worry less about that stuff and just enjoy yourself

[Alan A. A.]

there is some truth to what you say. One thing I don't get is that why do the preteens see to start skanking circles when there is no music playing? I don't get that. This only happened when I went to the Streetlight/Suburban/Westbound show in New Jersey. The NYC crowds are usually older or at least make sense and know how to act. But I did go to a Version City Monthly show at the knitting factory with Bomb Town, and Predator Dub Assassins, and there were some preteen types there, which was kind of cool, 1) because they were the youngest and 2) they weren't at a streetlight show or any "popular" ska show, if you know what I mean.

[Klaus Vanderson]

The only way to do it is to go to the shows, enjoy yourself, forget about everyone else.

[Ska hooligan]

i feel you bro, i mean, if you say you like them thats one thing but then to go and call yourself a ska kid or even worst a rudie than thats not cool.

[Skibz McCullock]

This is what I've been screaming at people for the last few years, but no one ever listened. Of course, I probably was one of those kids when I first started getting into "ska", but I had the common decency not to run around in checkered pants screaming stuff like "SkAnK it UP, rOo-DeeZ!!!" at the shows. However, I think I had the right to call myself a "ska kid", since I was into rather obscure ska-punk and third-wave acts since day one (Mephiskapheles, Slapstick, King Apparatus, etc.).

I do sort of blame Reel Big Fish for the deterioration of the American (particularly the southern Californian) ska scene. Being a fan mainly of traditional and 2-Tone Ska, it's gotten to the point where RBF has basically become synonymous with 'Ska' to the ears of those who aren't so familiar with the genre to the point where it becomes irritating. It also doesn't help when they release stupid shirts that say things like "I HEART SKA!", which definitely DOES make a mockery of the genre (would you wear a shirt that says "I HEART *any other genre*"?). So, yes, it does peeve me a bit when Ska is cheapened to the point where kids who only listen to RBF come to shows dressed entirely in black and white checkers, "skanking" in a circle (even to songs that aren't even remotely ska) and just doing...other...stupid things. Or something.

I also blame RBF (and a lot of ska-punk in general) for the lack of originality in the scene today. Just about every local ska band in So. Cal these days is a complete rip-off of their sound. All of these young musicians limit themselves to just the Ska they can find at Best Buy which, frankly, all sounds the same, so they never try to expand their sound or do anything different with it, which adds up to a LOT of really bland, unlistenable bands floating around the scene. I'd like to see what happens once RBF breaks up (which, honestly, they should have about four, five years ago)...I bet the entire scene will dissolve within a decade.

It's not that I don't like Reel Big Fish, by the way. 'Turn the Radio Off' is a *flawless* ska punk album and I really, really enjoyed 'Cheer Up!'. However, after hearing their last single ('Party Down'?), I chose not to buy their latest album.

[Ska Joe]

Fundamentally Ska is nothing more than that basic Ska rhythm usually played as upbeats on the guitar. Bands like RBF just combine it with different music styles than the older Jamaican bands but it’s still Ska.

To the point “Ska” is a broad term and people aren’t required to like every singles style of Ska to say they enjoy Ska. If they just like RBF’s style or the more punk Ska then good for them. Now if they went around saying they are an old school Jamaican style Rude Boy but only listen to “3rd wave” then yeah, that is worthy of commenting on.

Also you need to keep in mind bands like RBF introduce a lot of people to Ska and many of them go on to later find out about other styles of Ska and bands like Chris Murray, The Slackers, The Aggrolites, and The Specials. Plus the lead singer and the other band members are all big fans of traditional and 2-tone bands (along with many other styles of music) hence why they usually have a Jamaican and British flag on stage.

The best thing to do is the next time you run into a Ska loving kid who only knows the Ska-Punk stuff say something like “If you like Ska then you should really check out this type of Ska” and suggest a band or two that would easy for them to go listen online. Don’t think of bands like RBF as disease but rather a gateway drug, and use it as an opportunity to introduce more people to the music and bands that make you want to dance.

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

I'm not talking about the ones who only like ska-punk. I honestly have no problem with that (they should know at least some of the history though, but even that isn't a big woop.) I'm talking about the ones who specifically like Reel Big fish, no one else (maybe Less Than Jake or Streetlight) and call them selves ska kids (or whatever.)

And tis a good point that it gets them into the genre and I guess that does count for a big something.

[redlandsskakid]

i happen to like reel big fish alot. and i have liked them since i was little. they were my "gateway drug" that got me into the genre. if it were'nt for them i would not be on this sight right now. they have intrduced me to so many good bands! my main thing now is mostly 2 tone and traditional jamaican ska, but i stil say that RBF is my favorite band.

personally i don't think ska is even big enough to have posers. where i live it's not cool to listen to ska.

[Rude City Riot]

Amen brother, I wish I had said that. What you say is so true. I hope a few of our bitter members here will take heed of your wise observations.

I am afraid they are basing their opinions and observations on a view through too small a lens. It is cool that they dig deep and learn about ska in its various forms, not cool that they disrespect other humans who also like the same or similar music FOR WHATEVER reasons. What the h*ll does it matter how they dance or how they dress or how those newer to the genre are less informed of the history and traditions..............who cares, I love everyone of them because I share a love for the same music on some level. Forget this judgemental crap, what is the positive outcome of that? If someone is into anything enough to actually dress up / do a dress code thing / have fun at gigs with other friends who feel similarly, that is a truly great thing that is likely to graduate to a true appreciation of all forms of ska.

But, having said that, It is true that some of us can be quite opinionated and dare I say, closed minded to allowing others to express themselves as they feel necessary. (not so strange that these critical observations I am seeing posted come from struggling ska musicians a bit unhappy that they are not being appreciated by enough local fans for ..........whatever reason) I will apologize in advance for what I am now about to say and keep in mind, this is only my opinion, ok?

In my experience, ska bands break down into 3 catagories - Professional, Semi-professional and baby / hobby bands. Professional bands, the ones who record great records, tour internationally, write or cover great songs and feature great musicians when playing live, and have solid label, management and booking support, they get there by being smart and putting in the time to become world class at what they do. No short cuts and no time wasted worrying about what others are doing or saying, they pursue their passion to the point they master their skills and certainly not worrying about the "scene" or what fans are dressing and dancing like.......

Semi Pro bands - they try to do everything right, they do their homework and research, they know they need good tunes, a catchy name, good logo and graphics, a web site, fan management, to make industry connections ie: management, agent, label or indie agenda. Some do quite well using the above mentioned techniques, so not so well.

Many are happy to be in a real band, work fairly steady, maybe even enough to quit the day job, and enjoy regional celebrity status but many struggle, no gig offers, CD doesn't sound so great in the light of day 3 months after the recording is released and they have to apologize for it each time they give one away, can't secure an agent or management and sadly they get to the position where they feel it isn't their fault they aren't a huge success, it is the industry's fault, or the stupid fans, or the lame promoters and agents or labels, or .................They guy who wrote a bad review of the band live or new CD, he is an asshole who doesn't know what he is talking about (sometimes true!)
Many of the bands in this category self destruct by way of playing a un-controlled "showcase" where they are the 3rd band on the bill, the lights are focused for the headliner, the house sound guy is trying to get laid and misses the cues for solos, the managers, labels and agents they invited don't show up or show up late after the "strong songs" in the set are done, they only hear the filler tunes --- bottom line, they don't survive that first "Bad impression". Nobody is going to give them credit for how good they may get in the next year, they will just remember the lame showcase and say they remember them as "not great",

Reality check - if you are not truly great live or making great records with seriously good songs, accept your reality, embrace it and work even harder. If you do, fans will find out and support you.

Baby bands or hobby bands - just that, they have no professional experience or knowledge of live performance protocol or backstage experience. Typically don't have a properly structured set or show and usually there are songs in the set list that are not strong enough to be played live but they do anyway. No point being judgemental about bands on this level, just wish them well and be happy that they are having fun and found others to play with and look for little nuggets of potential that could be developed.
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What any of this has to do with the life and death of a "scene" is beyond me and I couldn't agree that the demise of any particular band would cause a music genre such as ska to die. Ska will continue in all it's forms, traditional and hybrid and whatever else comes down the pike. It is all good, all good. Only buy and go see what really turns your crank and know that manny others will agree and many others will like another flavor of the ska genre. Doesn't make them bad or wrong,

Please follow my up coming response to Klaus on a different blog about why promoters select one support act over another, my rant continues there.......... please remember, this is only my opinion, I may be full of crap........ and I trust someone will point that out or agree with me. That's the beauty of these forums, we all get a chance to try and make our point and I include our friends here who are worried for the future of ska.