Skacore, like it, hate it?

[AmandaLucia]

So I have been touring now with a hardcore/ska band for about 4 months. The skacore scene out there is smaller than the hardcore, punk, and ska scene, so shows are typically filled with a skacore band + ska bands, or a skacore band + punk bands. It seems like people are either embracing the genre with enthuisiasm, or completely loathing it because it is not 3rd wave enough.

Collectively the members on this forum have mixed tastes, wondering how you all look at this genre.

[Skibz McCullock]

"Skacore", as in the new wave of Hispanic ska-influenced thrash? It's as much related to ska as reggae is related to Reggaeton. It's not my cup of tea, but it seems to be it's own subgenre...I very rarely, if ever, see skacore or ska cross paths at either shows or within fanbases.

[Danny C]

Depends which Skacore you mean. I like the Bosstones, they're considered Ska-core. I like that kind of stuff.

But then there's stuff like Leftover Crack. Which I don't really consider a Ska band. Just because it has something played on the upbeat and a trumpet doesn't equal ska. Like Skibz said "It's not my cup of tea". I'll listen to it, I mean have some stuff like that on my iPod, but I prefer more traditional stuff over that.

[Rudeee]

Personally, it seems that where im from people are into skacore more then ska itself, but thats just the majority of the local ska bands. But that dosnt mean that we've forgotten about the 3rd wave, its just to me skacore is more local and 3rdwave is more for shows at venues.

[SERENITY2167]

As as an "Old Guy" from back in the days of 2 Tone, i really don't have a lot of time for Skacore, i thought 3rd wave had lost it's way, but skacore seems to be running into a dead end too.
I think the problem is that they have got the "mix" wrong, too much "oi" and "Thrash" punk, not enough "Ska".
I don't have the answer, but trying to be more "extreme" than the next band on the block, isn#t working either.

[oneboycircus]

Here's the thing, I love SkaCore... when it's done right.
It's one of those things where so many of the bands that play it suck, frankly. It's a bummer, because it'd be rad if it was a bigger skacore scene and there were more good bands.

[AmandaLucia]

Like what bands?

oneboycircus said:

Here's the thing, I love SkaCore... when it's done right.
It's one of those things where so many of the bands that play it suck, frankly. It's a bummer, because it'd be rad if it was a bigger skacore scene and there were more good bands.

[4thwaveDave]

Blue Meanies and The Bosstones are probably the best in my opinion...

oneboycircus said:

Here's the thing, I love SkaCore... when it's done right.
It's one of those things where so many of the bands that play it suck, frankly. It's a bummer, because it'd be rad if it was a bigger skacore scene and there were more good bands.

[King Duncan]

I typically find Hardcore usually does well when translated into or fused with Reggae. Both genres share an emphasis on the bass carrying the melody. With minor emphasis change, songs written can sound like a decent fusion of both. Bands like Bad Brains really broke new ground in that kind of crossover sound.

Unfortunately, my ear has a hard time grasping Skacore. Ska bass is akin to old blues style - typically called 'walking bass'. It moves through the chords and serves as a backbone for horns to carry the melody. The bass emphasis is on the downbeat which anchors the ear to offset the guitar upbeats. Herein lies the issue with Skacore: it's a pain in the ass to work around a Ska beat when the Bass in Hardcore 'theory' carries the melody. Most Skacore bands either fall into two categories because of this: A. Hardcore bands with horn sections, or B. Third Wave bands with obnoxious amounts of distortion.

Obviously there are bands who can and do pull it off but you'll also find these bands have far more influences than just Ska and Hardcore. Otherwise, it's a one trick pony.

[AmandaLucia]

Yeah, that is what I see a lot of. RX Bandits are huge influences in this genre.

King Duncan said:

Obviously there are bands who can and do pull it off but you'll also find these bands have far more influences than just Ska and Hardcore. Otherwise, it's a one trick pony.

[oneboycircus]

VGS, Choking Victim, Bosstones, Blue Meanies and so on and so on. There's this great band from NJ called Cannon Law, it's like grindcore/ska haha sounds lke the worst idea ever, but they're pretty rad.

AmandaLucia said:

Like what bands?

oneboycircus said:

Here's the thing, I love SkaCore... when it's done right.
It's one of those things where so many of the bands that play it suck, frankly. It's a bummer, because it'd be rad if it was a bigger skacore scene and there were more good bands.

[Tucker]

Almost all skacore sounds the same, I really don't care for it except a few bands. Glad to hear the Bosstone references since they coined the term. It really seems to be an age thing in my opinion. The younger crowd around here is super into it which is fine, do your own thing, but when they start hardcore dancing and pitting when a trad or rocksteady band plays it annoys the ever living fuck outta me. If you are having problems with 3rd wavers, I can't imagine what you'll face when you some real traditionalist. They don't even like 90% of 3rd wave.

[2-Tone Kid]

Well in my own personal taste its not for me because I think ska-core and sometimes 3rd wave ska go against what the original intention for ska was. But the eveloution of it is acualy a good thing. Its for poeple that want to mosh and skank at the same time. So i have my respect for ska-core.