Raise a fist in the air…and wave it ’round like you just don’t care.  Time to take to the streets and speak out for human rights with Twin Cities ska band 2 Tone Runts.  And be careful, because tear gas and pepper spray really stings!

Track of the Day: “On The Front Line” by 2 Tone Runts from the album On The Front Line

This episode is brought to you by the Fancy Pants Gangsters, a Twin Cities netcast network and MNSKA, Minnesota’s Ska Community.  If you are in a ska or reggae influenced band and would like to be featured on the show, email Courtney at MSM@fancypantsgangsters.com

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MNSka band 2 Tone Runts had their debut full-length On The Front Line reviewed by Adriana Rodriguez on the blog What’s Bluesdaddy Listening To? Here’s what she had to say about the Minneapolis ska band:

On this debut album, the Minneapolis based sextet explain America’s weak points and their hatred of war, which is reminiscent of  Anti-Flag’s anti-capitalist view points. From acoustic numbers like “The Internationalist” to up-beat  ska love songs like “Cute Girls In Combat Boots,” they prove that revolution is just around the corner. Songs are complete with interesting  trumpet solos and this incorporates the need for solidarity and peace in this world.

Despite not knowing the difference between a trumpet and a trombone (an honest mistake), Rodriguez gives the guys a decent review.

Local sound engineer Andrew Zoellner is no stranger to the Minnesota ska scene.  He spent several years playing guitar and singing in the MNSka band The Supersmashers as well as assembling/mastering the recent MNSKA Mixtape Vol. 1 compilation.  He even co-produced, recorded and mixed the album On The Front Line by MNSka band 2 Tone Runts.

Now Zoellner has finally found a recording studio to call home.   The studio (called Shock And Audio) is located in Uptown in Minneapolis (near the intersection of Lake St. and Lyndale Ave).  You can check them out at their website  HERE (currently under construction).

So if you are in a ska band (or any band) and you find yourself in the Twin Cities, you’ll want to check out Shock And Audio for your recording needs.  Whether you want to record a few songs, an EP, or even a full-length album, Andrew would love to help you out.  You can contact Andrew for info or for a tour by emailing him at andrew@shockandaudio.com.

Big show coming up on Saturday, October 17th at Eclipse Records in St. Paul, MN.  MNSka bands 2 Tone Runts, Zero’s Heroes, and Corp D will be playing along with Illinois band The Projection.  Show starts at 7pm with a $6 cover and it will be ALL AGES.  Like we announced previously, 2 Tone Runts will be featuring their brand new drummer at this show.

MNSka band 2 Tone Runts have recently acquired a new member to their ska-funk lineup: Greg Futchi.  This video is his grand introduction to the MNSka scene and to the fans of the 2 Tone Runts.   He will be the band’s new drummer and will be playing his first show with the group on Saturday, October 17th at Eclipse Records in St. Paul, MN.  Be sure to check out that show which also includes The Projection (Illinois) and MNSka bands Zero’s Heroes and Corp D.  The show is ALL AGES and starts at 7pm with a $6 cover.

Minnesota’s rudest DJ’s Reverend Evan and Citizen D bring you a Labor Day Weekend edition of Rude Radio this week.  The dynamic duo welcome the students back to the University of Minnesota with ska, dub, reggae, and rocksteady music from yesterday and today.  This week’s Roots Rock Roadtrip brings us across the pond to London, UK where on September 27th Madness will be playing at Regent Street.  There was even a local song set featuring bands with numbers (Siren Six, 2 Tone Runts, 3 Minute Hero) as well as announcing the upcoming local shows on the Skancert Skalendar brought to you by MNSka.com.

Rude Radio is broadcast every Sunday on Radio K (KUOM 770AM Mpls-St. Paul).  You can stream this week’s episode HERE.  This week’s playlist can be found after the jump.

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Another skanktastic episode of Rude Radio, the ska and reggae show on Radio K (KUOM 770AM Mpls – St. Paul)!  The dynamic DJ duo of Reverend Evan and Citizen D rooted around the Radio K studios and pulled out ska hits both old and new, including song from MNSka band 2 Tone Runts and up-and-coming Indiana reggae-soul artists Green Room Rockers.  The “Roots Rock Roadtrip o’ The Week” brings us to Hollywood’s Bluebeat Lounge to see the Chris Murray Combo on Wednesday .  As always, the guys also announce the upcoming shows in the Skancert Skalendar brought to you each and every week by MNSka.com.

You can stream this week’s episode HERE.

Check out this week’s playlist after the jump.

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MNSka’s resident videographer Patrick Larson attended the Vans Warped Tour on Sunday, August 2nd at Canterbury Park and was able to take some videos for us.  We’re certainly glad he did since this year was jam packed with ska bands.  We posted earlier a video of MNSka band 2 Tone Runts, but Patrick also managed to captured footage from Less Than Jake, Westbound Train, and Big D and the Kids Table as well.

You can find the videos after the jump.

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MNSka band 2 Tone Runts recently played at a set at this year’s Minneapolis Vans Warped Tour date on the Ernie Ball stage.  The above video shows the band performing the song “It’s Not Funny” from the 2 Tone Runts EP and is also featured on the MNSka Mixtape Volume 1.

You can find can find photos of the guys at the Warped Tour on their MYSPACE page.

MNSka would like to give big thanks to Patrick Larson for shooting this video!

South High students Zach McCormick (Airwave Bandits), Joe McKenzie and Aaron Mayer created “21 and Under: The TCU and the Minneapolis All Ages Music Scene,” a video about the TC Underground, a Minneapolis All Ages venue, and its demise. They produced the piece with help from the Minneapolis Television Network (MTN) through the Voices program.  The video features interviews with MNSka notables such as the 2 Tone Runts, Tim Aderhold (Airwave Bandits) and Aaron Porter (The Prizefighters, GYLBOTS).