A word from your host: Hey rude boys and rude girls!  I’ve been sitting in my lair, regrouping, retooling and refining the Midwest Ska Moment podcast to make it bigger and better than before.  I have decided to widen the scope of the podcast past the Midwest and feature bands and artists nationwide.  What I’d like to do is feature bands that are both largely known and rare gems in the ska, reggae, rocksteady or otherwise Jamaican-influenced community.  With this, the show will be renamed as well.

Along with the scope change, there will also be a format change.  I will now be mainly doing interviews with bands and prominent figures in the ska world.  I’ve already lined up some really great people, including interviews with bands like The Toasters, Westbound Train, The Slackers, Less Than Jake, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and much more.  As of now, this podcast will be a weekly show and you will be able to subscribe to it via iTunes and I will still be partnering with the Fancy Pants Gangsters Network.

So there will be some changes in the show, but I hope all you listeners out there will enjoy the show more and see this as a change for the better.  If you are in a ska, reggae or rocksteady band, please email me at MSM@fancypantsgangsters.com so we can book you on the show.  No band too big or too small.  Skank On!

“SPRING HEELED JACK IS BACK.”  These words were posted by Pete “JR” Wasilewski (Less Than Jake) on his blog (JR’S BLAHG).  After posting a brief history of the third-wave ska band from New Haven, CT, JR goes on to say that Spring Heeled Jack has a reunion show (or two) in the works for this year and they are currently beginning the booking process.  To celebrate this occasion, the band is re-releasing both of their albums, Static World View and Songs From Suburbia, on vinyl via Asbestos Records.

Spring Heeled Jack features members that have played in The Mighty Mighty  Bosstones, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, and the Pilfers.  The band broke up in 2000 and played a benefit reunion show in 2002 to raise money for a scholarship fund in the name of their late drummer Dave Karcich.

Resident MNSKA photographer and videographer Patrick Larson shot this video of ska-punk veterans Less Than Jake when they played at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN last month.  Let’s hope these guys come back to the Twin Cities soon!

Gainesville, FL ska-punkers Less Than Jake spent all of last summer on the Vans Warped Tour.  If you’re like me and you missed out, no need to fear!  The good folks over at Absolute Punk have posted video from their entire set at the Orlando, FL tour date.  Enjoy as the band rips through all the main hits: Last One Out Of Liberty City, Automatic, Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts, The Ghosts of Me and You, and more!

Check out the rest of the videos after the jump!

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Today’s video is from third-wave ska rockers Spring Heeled Jack.  It was from a performance at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City in 1998.  This band featured quite the horn section, including Pete “JR” Wasilewski (Less Than Jake) on tenor sax, Tyler Jones (Reel Big Fish) on trumpet,  and Chris Rhodes (Bim Skala Bim, The Toasters, Mighty Mighty Bosstones) on trombone.

Tip The Van are the up-and-coming  female-fronted ska-pop group from Connecticut.  They have appeared on the Ska Is Dead compilation and have played many shows with bands like Less Than Jake and Big D and the Kids Table.  This video is a behind-the-scenes look at how they made their music video for the song “Cherry Red.”

Vinnie, the Less Than Jake drummer, takes some time to soak in the nice warm Florida weather before the upcoming Fall/Winter tour.  Although the soundtrack harkens back to the movie Deliverance, you will notice that they are coming to Station 4 in St. Paul, MN on November 25th.

The MNSKA LTJ contest is still going on until November 18th!  Please email us your craziest Less Than Jake story to mnskanews@gmail.com for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the November 25th show!!

These videos are coming to you courtesy of Alternative Press.  Gainesville, FL was packed last weekend as Fest 8 rolled through with hurricane-like strength.  Veteran ska-punkers Less Than Jake had home field advantage and played a set on Halloween night.  The above video shows the band playing the fan-favorite “Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin” from their Hello Rockview album as well as them wishing bassist Roger a most happy birthday.

A reminder that the MNSKA.COM Less Than Jake contest is running through November 18th, so email your LTJ stories to mnskanews@gmail.com for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see them live at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN on November 25th!

Check out another LTJ Fest 8 video after the jump of them playing the song “Conviction Notice” from their latest album GNV FLA.

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In honor of the upcoming November 25th show at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN featuring Less Than Jake, MNSka.com is announcing a new contest!  The winner will receive a pair of tickets to the show, courtesy of Mr. Chan Presents, that also includes The Casualties and The Swellers on the bill.

The contest is simple.  Email us at mnskanews@gmail.com and tell us about your favorite Less Than Jake experience.  Was there a Less Than Jake show that holds meaning for you?  Did you lose your virginity to the Losing Streak album?  Has LTJ ever saved your life or bailed you out of jail?  We are looking for any story that somehow involves Less Than Jake.  Be creative!  Send us pictures or illustrations if you have to.  The best story will score you a pair of tickets to see the band play on November 25th at Station 4, which is actually an ideal, intimate place to see their off-the-wall live show.

The contest will end on November 18th, so what are you waiting for?

Gainesville, FL ska-punkers Less Than Jake are back again at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN on Wednesday, November 25th.  Tickets for this 16+ show have just gone on sale HERE.  Also on the bill are the NYC street punk band The Casualties and Michigan punk band The Swellers.   The doors open at 6pm.

This tour is to promote an upcoming Warped Tour movie in honor of the 15th Anniversary of the Vans Warped Tour.  Prior to the music, the show will open up with a 45-minute sneak preview of the movie.  It will be in stores in March 2010.

Stay tuned to MNSka.com for chances to win tickets to this show courtesy of Mr. Chan Presents!