Who are you and where do you come from?

[skaisyourfriend]

This discussion is all about introductions. We all know that Florida has a big 'peninsula' (euphemism for male genital) and there are several diverse scenes so what's your location? How did you first find out or become involved with your local scene? Who are your favorite bands in your area (extinct bands are OK)? What else would you like the group to know about you?

[skaisyourfriend]

I'll be the first to reply to the topic I started ;) I'm originally from Gainesville and got into ska when LTJ hadn't even recorded Pezcore. Of course it was local bands like LTJ, the Usuals, Sleepy Odie, Baker Act, and a few others that will probably come to mind in the middle of the night, that were responsible for getting me into ska. There were also a few "not quite as local bands" like Skif Dank (Thanks for Joining), Magadog, King 7, Buck-O-Nine, Skankin' Pickle, and Mephiskapheles that played a role as well. As I went through college (UF 1996-2000) I got into more bands as they popped up (The Know How, Spitvalves, etc) and many older bands from the 2Tone era and the 60's... this part of my life is what I call the "Education Years" (Sorry for the cheesy movie reference). In 2002, I got married and left the area as I moved to the Fort Myers area and into a new job. With a very small (almost non-existent) scene, I decided to remain connected with ska music through the internet. Soon I created a "SKA" MySpace, a SKA Podcast, Website, and this network (before partnering up with SKA Summit). Through it all I've met some incredible people and bands but I wanted to keep in touch with the FL scene... so I started this group. So that's my intro... Next!

[Mick]

Whats Up! My name is Mick and im from Cape Coral. It Is the worst town for ska. All there is are metal and emo bands and it just is a very depressing scene over here.the only ska band is my band which has no name and dosn't play shows at the moment. Im kinda starting the ska scene over here but still need major help.If you read this and have a ska band, just start booking bands over her and help get it going. Enough about my troubles, my influnces include the punktuations, louder than monks, streetlight manifesto, reel big fish, and of course sublime. I got into ska way back when tony hawks proskater came out and the only song i listened to was sperman by goldfinger and then got some cds and got into high school and that is when i realized that the ska scene sucked around here and tryed to make bands that had the worst players imaginable(i had to teach them how to play everything).and that leads to now where i travel 4-5 hours to fort laderdale to see shows and have a decent ska band that is going to play shows starting in March.

[DiSK]

I'm from Jacksonville, and the ska scene here is kinda lame. I actually got into ska through more mainstream bands like Sublime, and No Doubt. But as it goes, I do enjoy some Florida locals such as Can't Do It, and the saskatones. I'm currently in the upstart phase of creating my own band, Skank Nasty. So hard to find horn players that like Ska in Jax. But I'm workin on it, even buying and starting my own venue for DIY punks, skinheads, rude boys and all around good bands.

[Shelby]

im from the capital
my brother kinda got me in the scene even know he doesn't listen to ska much anymore
but my fav local band is Call For Fire Double Deckers The Soular System LESS THAN JAKE

[PVB_Rudi]

Im from Jacksonville and i agree with Disk the scene here sucks Ska is Dead in J-ville, i play guitar and have been for about 5 yrs and i have played bass for about 4 i tried to start a ska band but the scene sucks so i cant find enoug ppl,In jville theres only the pop/rap scene and it SUCKS

[BRB Jax]

Hey there. The best way to start a scene in Jax is to support whats out there. Next saturday we have some great bands coming to The Pit. you should come check it out. myspace.com/battlefor9thandmain

[Jonny]

I'm from Jax and recently got into Ska music.
Which kinda sucks cause Ska doesn't seem to be big here, everyone I meet seems to be obsessed with mainstream garbage and gives me blank stares when I ask about Ska music.

[Melissa Toro]

Hey guys,

I'm from Miami. Which is probably further south than any of you. Which sucks for me right? lol. When I was in high school it was the peak of the ska craze in the late 90s and even Miami had a bustling ska scene. But now that I'm older and have moved back to Miami I've got a couple strikes against me. For starters i'm almost 30, so I'm not exactly hip to what the kids are doing these days. And its kind of creepy for me to be making friends with high school kids I think. 2ndly, i've been out of the city for so long that i'm totally out of the loop. If there is a scene here its totally underground because I can't tap into it. Sadly Miami is a shitty place for good music these days. I keep hearing about these bands and shows in Tampa or Orlando and it sucks for me. So I've decided that I'm on a mission to bring Ska back to Miami. So if any of you guys are in bands or know ppl in bands please please please come down to Miami!! WE NEED YOU!!