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?

[Rude City Riot]

Hi Steven,

Please allow me to put on my Band Manager's hat for a moment (pork pie, of course)

I have big trouble relating to some of the comments I have read recently about other fans of the genre. "too young" "dressing the part but not passing the what is ska quiz", "they like a certain band that plays a certain kind of ska so somehow that's bad for the scene? just cause they are not aware of other bands as much as someone who has done more research, etc" Ska Joe's comments are perfect, if someone feels they way I just listed, take the time to try and turn some of these "posers" and "Ska kids" as you call them on to other bands as a friendly gesture, if they don't want to hear it, doesn't make them bad ska fans, just on a different level than you, for now. Sure, some of them will be opinionated and clueless but that happens in all walks of life, right? I expect critical observations from those totally out side our ska genre cause how would they know anything about ska but I am saddened to hear it from inside the greater ska community. I don't see the up side, if we are trying to grow and promote this love of ska music worldwide , of slagging ANYONE who remotely shows and interest in any form of ska. We must accept that we all don't like the same things at the same time and that some folks will never go as deep into the genre as us experienced and well researched ska fans.

As a band manager, I love every last one of those (posers?), if they show up, buy tickets and product, dance and have a good time, are likely to come to another of my bands shows and bring others, I bleeping love them. I want them all, I could care not a bit, who else they like or dislike, doesn't matter, I just want them to have a great time at our shows and hope that we turned some new fans on to our particular style of ska music. I love seeing them all dressed up, trying to be part of a social music scene. Were you never there at some point?

This has nothing to do with "just trying to make money" or anything on that cynical level. We all try to make a living at music doing what we love, no shame in that but trust me, it ain't easy and you really need to be smart, and certainly not alienate any potential fans who might support your efforts. (clueless or not) You need them all (and their friends)


When I first met ska, a really funny story really, I would not have known it if it had bit me on the ankle, I come from a California rock background, I worked with guitar army type bands, I thought, what the hell is this, 3 chords and a cloud of dust?, way too repetitive, way too..........hold on. my foot started tapping to the music, I start laughing at the antics of the ska band on stage, next thing I know I am reggae dancing, then it speeded up and I was practically running in place........I never recovered and started managing a ska band with in a month of having heard it for the first time.

I will fade away for now, forgive my rant? Thank you for your comments and opinions, they inspire me to respond.

cheers,

dannoo
The feeling very old today ska kid

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

I'm glad I made this topic, cause I think I learned something. There's really no point in getting my panties in a bunch. Most of these guys will get more into ska over time, and the rest will just die off.

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad this topic has shown some great opinions.

P.S. I love Reel Big Fish, Hell, Aaron Barrett is recording my band...

[Rude City Riot]

I am glad as well Steven, this is all great dialog. I would love to know more about your band and how the recording sessions go. Especially the nitty gritty part of being organized in and for the studio. What kind of a producer is Aaron, what's his style in the studio and working with bands he produces?

I really like the way you fairly consider the input in these blogs, you are a smart guy, smart guys learn fast and make changes and adapt to what ever's coming their way.

I have a feeling the ska world will hear of your efforts, keep your head in it and be clever and you and your band will start making progress and forward movement.

I find it neat that we can inspire each other AND we are 1000 miles apart as the crow flies. I am in Vancouver, BC

Have a great day

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

Yeah, I'll definately be making a big post about my Aaron barrett experience.

It's also Dave Irish, I doubt very few people know him but he's recorded lotsa ska bands including Suburban Legends and Jeffries Fan Club.

[Hazel]

Please get over it. Everyone has to start somewhere.
In the words of Gerard Way (MCR): "If for one minute you think you're better than a sixteen year old girl in a Greenday t-shirt, you are sorely mistaken. Remember the first time you went to a show and saw your favourite band. You wore their shirt and sang every word. You didn't know anything about scene politics, haircuts or what was cool. All you knew was that this music made you feel different from anyone you shared a locker with. Someone finally understood you. This is what music is about."
Be open-minded.
Peace

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

If you had taken the time to read my later comments you would see that I already changed my mind, in a loving, movieesque way.

[Hazel]

Good to hear bruv. I mainly posted my response for anyone who thought like u used to to read.
Peace

[Angel]

those bands are great! hah i dont even care that most of the other kids just barely getting into it lol maybe in time theyll get more sucked into the scene its only the surface for them so let em dig and figure out that skipping is different than skanking! i say w.e man i remember going to my first shows and getting amped up on some of that good stuff i kept up with it, picked up a trumpet and never looked back haha i mean who knows maybe theyll do the same and do something amazing with it and progress us into a new wave of SKA!! so dont get down on Groms so much cuz they could be the next big thing someday

[chad]

it annoys me when kids skank during a song that isnt even a ska song

[Skibz McCullock]

That IS one of my pet peeves, but what peeves my pet even more is when kids 'skank' really fast and wild to slower, mellow, reggae-ish songs. It looks reeeeeeeeallly stupid, in my opinion...

[Tre]

RBF & LTJ Have been around for years.............more than 10 ~ whats the problem?
A mocery of the scene.......
funny these posts sound the same as they did 10 years ago.........
what happened to Unity? Ya know what? I have a great thought...........
Obviously the music isnt really that important to you.....cause if it was you'd let everyone b, and just worry about yourself.
Stop being so greedy, music is meant to b shared with the world. There should b NO discrimination with music.....and there is.....how lame..........

[Andrew Lyons]

It annoys me when kids mosh to ska songs...