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?

[Skibz McCullock]

Stephen said:

Skibz McCullock said:I don't normally have a problem with what other fans do, or who else is into the music that I'm into. The one thing that bothers me though is when people prevent me from dancing to the music just because they don't have any rhythm to speak of and would rather just run into me. Particularly when that music is so far from being music that should be moshed to that you just look ridiculous moshing to it.

The most ridiculous experience I have had to this effect was at a Mustard Plug/Deals Gone Bad Show about a month ago. For any of you have heard Deals Gone Bad, they are a ska/soul band that mostly plays more chilled out reggaeish type music that is great to skank to, but doesn't make a lot of sense to mosh to. But then some of these really huge guys from the punk band that played before get on the floor and start shoving people. I just stopped for a minute like "really?". Just think of people moshing to "easy skanking" or Desmond Dekker or somebody and you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.

I don't remember writing that, but it's interesting how my opinion has changed a bit since. Nowadays I don't quite mind if kids are "skanking" (and by "skanking" I mean the whole "running in place" thing)...I guess it's a way of simply enjoying the music, although I wish there was a bit of originality in their movement: they tend to do nothing BUT "skank" like that, and at the wrong moments it does look incredibly stupid. I remember seeing the RX Bandits live a couple years ago and there was about three kids "skanking" in a circle to a dub song. Now THAT I just don't understand.

[Rude City Riot]

Hi Skibz,
It has been about a year or so since I last messaged you - I am glad to hear that you are a bit more open minded towards entry level ska fans and their attempt to join in and be part of whatever ska is to them. We all hope and it appears true in most cases that the exposure to any ska can lead to a deeper interest and curiosity about the genre and that leads to being a hopeless fan like you and me:-)

I hope you are well.

Under the name Skaspot Live I have produced 40 ska shows in Vancouver BC in the last year.
I did it just how I said I would, I talked a cool club into doing a Ska / Reggae weekly concert series. The club has great sound and lights and a decent sized PA and best of all, good friendly house sound techs who embraced the bands. I did this in large part just to prove to the rest of us that it can be done and here is the formula. Now others around the planet need to step up and do their parts locally. It can be done. I booked over 20 ska bands and created a house ska band called The Skaspot LIve All Stars and booked 8 reggae acts in the process.
I put together a team of volunteers to run and promote the shows, mostly thru this and other social web sites like myspace and face book. And of course great monthly posters and flyers.
cheers
DC

Skibz McCullock said:

Stephen said:

Skibz McCullock said:I don't normally have a problem with what other fans do, or who else is into the music that I'm into. The one thing that bothers me though is when people prevent me from dancing to the music just because they don't have any rhythm to speak of and would rather just run into me. Particularly when that music is so far from being music that should be moshed to that you just look ridiculous moshing to it.

The most ridiculous experience I have had to this effect was at a Mustard Plug/Deals Gone Bad Show about a month ago. For any of you have heard Deals Gone Bad, they are a ska/soul band that mostly plays more chilled out reggaeish type music that is great to skank to, but doesn't make a lot of sense to mosh to. But then some of these really huge guys from the punk band that played before get on the floor and start shoving people. I just stopped for a minute like "really?". Just think of people moshing to "easy skanking" or Desmond Dekker or somebody and you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.

I don't remember writing that, but it's interesting how my opinion has changed a bit since. Nowadays I don't quite mind if kids are "skanking" (and by "skanking" I mean the whole "running in place" thing)...I guess it's a way of simply enjoying the music, although I wish there was a bit of originality in their movement: they tend to do nothing BUT "skank" like that, and at the wrong moments it does look incredibly stupid. I remember seeing the RX Bandits live a couple years ago and there was about three kids "skanking" in a circle to a dub song. Now THAT I just don't understand.

[Aidan]

Dude chill out. It's just music, people can enjoy it in any way they want. The word "poser" is a pretty ignorant one in my opinion, I only use it when I'm joking. Are you really mad that these kids like RBF, LTJ, and Streetlight? I think it's pretty cool, myself. I'd rather them just listen to those three than no bands at all.

[Derryl Vanhoover]

i am TOTALLY one of those people. and PROUD.

[Charles]

uh who cares. the only thing im worried about is people who go to ska shows and mosh. but thats a different topic.

[Aidan]

Okay, ska-PUNK shows can involve moshing, because it's ska-PUNK.
No, i'm not gonna mosh to the English Beat or Desmond Dekker, but yeah, I'll be moshing to Reel Big Fish.

Charles said:

uh who cares. the only thing im worried about is people who go to ska shows and mosh. but thats a different topic.

[Dan Watts]

look, i'm new here, i've only been listing to ska for about a year now, and i have to say this. WHO CARES?! i thought ska was about unity, hanging out , skanking and having fun? yes RBF is my faviorte band i really like the style blend that suburban rythum did first. yes i do like the obsure stuff but i like the fact the RBF is out their, putting ska on the table. but yeah thats all i have to say .stop whining about it and just enjoy it or don't, whatever
all i know is that i don't know nothin'

[Rude City Riot]

Actually Dan, you sound to me like someone that does know plenty. I love the history and all things about Ska but like you I believe that it is more about the live Ska experience, dancing and having fun with like minded friends, new and old, young and old, male and female.......it is a truly fun and enjoyable experience, everytime for me. It makes me nuts when I hear supossed Ska fans whinning about this or that style and how rookie skankers look out of place, talk about missing the big picture, It is about unity and a certain elite-ness in being an acknowledged Ska fan, part of the fun is the voyage of discovery about the history of ska which typically eventually makes you interested in hearing where today's ska artists are finding their personal ska influences and how it effects their latest work.
Sorry.....I am ranting again, I do that at time:-)
DC

Dan Watts said:

look, i'm new here, i've only been listing to ska for about a year now, and i have to say this. WHO CARES?! i thought ska was about unity, hanging out , skanking and having fun? yes RBF is my faviorte band i really like the style blend that suburban rythum did first. yes i do like the obsure stuff but i like the fact the RBF is out their, putting ska on the table. but yeah thats all i have to say .stop whining about it and just enjoy it or don't, whatever
all i know is that i don't know nothin'

[Alli]

i agree it is a mockery of the scene but you cant stop idiots from being idiots.
do like skanker says and forget other people.

[AlternativeBaby]

well i feel that almost everything that needs to be said has been said in topic. but i just wanted to add my 2 cents :)

while i can definitely see finding it annoying that kids say they love ska but don't know any bands besides reel big fish and the bands they tour with, I have to say i love reel big. Even though i love many styles of ska and reggae, i can confidently say they are my favorite band. Whether you consider them ska, ska-punk, or say they are "ruining the scene" or whatever else you want to say about them. i just put that all aside and like them for what they are: good music, however you wanna lable it. it can get annoying to hear every new band sounding just like them, or hear another bad cover of sell out but THATS NOT THEIR FAULT. Its not their fault that they had great timing and released their first single when thrid wave ska punk was at its peak. If it wasn't for that, they might not be so famous and all you people who bash them would probably love them. just think before you write off a band just becuase their popular, that makes you no better than the people you hate who only like them because their popular. if you just don't like the music thats cool then just say you don't like the music, don't go blaming all your problems with the ska scene on them :) just sit back and enjoy the music man. live and let live.

haha ok i probably just repeated a lot that has already been said but whatever.

i did want to say that i think its cool that people can have such an open discussion on here with out everyone just bitching at eachother and everyone thinking they are better than everyone else for whatever reason. its cool that people actually listen to what others have to say and its cool that a lot of people actually admitted to changing their minds.

[Mina]

Unity :] this is what ska is all about. As for Reel Big Fish? Yea, they are my favorite ska band, and if that makes me a "ska poser" then so be it. But of course I am cultured with other bands, I've loved ska for years and years! They just happen to be my favorite. They're a fun band with amazing members! It's no wonder people like them more. They actually take time out of their lives to talk to fans and hang out with them. That, my friends, is awesome. And if you see kids at a concert having a good time, JOIN THEM! You are both there obviously for the same reason, to see some great bands and have a great time. Don't hate people for livin' life.

[Rude City Riot]

Just a quick note to say that I agree with Mina and Alternativebaby with their comments about the labeling of various ska bands and ska styles. Well said,

If you get a chance - visit http://www.reverbnation.com/rudecityriot and let me know if you think we sound similar to RBF? We are not trying to but I do hear the odd comparision from our fans. I personally describe Rude City Riot as Power-Ska - please let me know if you agree or what you might call it.

Thanks,
Dan