Today, Courtney gets down with a young, energetic ska-punk ensemble from way up yonder.  Mikey Talented is the pride of the Duluth ska scene…at least that’s what their mom tells them!

Track of the Day: “Classic Mix-Up” by Mikey Talented from the MNSKA Mixtape Volume One compilation

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 rudeboys Rocksteady Breakfast recently played a ska-fueled set at the GYLBOTS Reunion/Farewell show at Eclipse Records in St. Paul, MN.  MNSka’s Patrick Larson shot this video of them performing their song “Quien Tu?”

Be sure to catch Rocksteady Breakfast when they play at Beaner’s Central in Duluth, MN with Mikey Talented on October 16th.  They are also playing with The Toasters and Sajak at the Triple Rock on October 22nd.

Hey there MNSka peeps!  It’s a relatively quiet weekend for the ska round these parts (although Panel of Experts are supposed to be playing at the 7th Street Entry tomorrow night, I haven’t found any evidence to back it up).  Plenty of MNSka kids are road-tripping to Chicago for The Slackers show on Saturday.

Next weekend, though, is gonna be filled with fantastic shows!

It all gets going Thursday night with two great shows.  At 9 p.m., local ska/reggae/soul septet The Prizefighters play at Stasiu’s Place in Minneapolis alongside ska-rockers Panel of Experts.  The cost is $5.  At 9:30, then, at the Uptown Bar, ska-punk trio Hardcore Crayons takes the stage alongside Guzzlemug, Bouncer Fighter, and Anders Ponders.  This show is FREE, so check it out if you wanna see four great bands and don’t have much money to spend.

If you’re in the Mankato area on Friday night, then, you can see the Crayons again, this time with The Style Biters, The Body Politic, and Gumbi at the What’s Up Lounge.  The music starts at 6 and the cost is $5.

If you’re in the cities on Friday night, then you are also in luck!  Mike Park, of Asian Man Records and several great California ska bands, is playing an All Ages show at the Triple Rock along with Classics of Love (consisting of Park and several members of seminal ska-punk band Operation Ivy) and The Evening Rig.  Music gets going at 5, and tickets are $10.

There are no shows on Saturday, but there’s one last one on Sunday.  In place of the originally planned Ska Prom 2009, Duluth ska-rockers Mikey Talented are coming to the cities to play.  The All Ages show at The Red Sea Bar also includes The Brilliant Beasts, The Oh Eeks!, and Licker; while these bands aren’t ska, they are a nice collection of indie and rock bands.  Doors open and 5 and cover is $5, so come on out and check the awesome variety of this show!

There are two great shows in store tonight for MNSka bands (sorry about the late notice, my bad).  Neither one is in the Twin Cities though.

If you’re near Duluth, check out Mikey Talented at The Rex at 10 p.m. If you live near or go to school at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, or just feel like an impromptu road trip, then check out SkaFest 14.  MNSka bands 2 Tone Runts and Umbrella Bed will both be performing.  Music starts at 7 p.m.

Hello MNSka!  This weekend has two more great shows in store.

If you’re in the Duluth area tonight, check out Mikey Talented and Coal Car Caboose at Beaner’s Central.   Music starts at 8 p.m. and the cost is $5.

And tomorrow night, Streetwise Professors play the Barfly Music Room at 8 p.m.

March 18th brings a very exciting show for local act 2 Tone Runts: it’s the kick off for their “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” Tour through the Midwest.  The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. at The Hat Trick Lounge.  Streetwise Professors open, and the cost for the show is $5.  After that, the tour gets going in earnest, with the following shows:

(for more info, visit http://www.myspace.com/2tonerunts)

Hello everyone!  MNSka bands are back in action this weekend.  The Skaliticians are playing at First Avenue’s 7th Street Entry on Friday night as part of Quilombolas‘ release party for their new album, The Common Past.  There are also a TON of other bands performing, so if you’re up for a musical smorgasboard then check it out.  The show is 18+ and doors are at 9.

Also, at Eclipse Records on Saturday, Small Kitchen Appliances palys alongside Lumberjack, Ponx Attax, and Eightysixed.  Doors are at 6 and music starts at 7.

In addition, there are two shows tonight.  Dred I Dread is holding a CD release show at the Barfly music room in Minneapolis.  Doors are at 8 and music begins at 9.  The show is 18+.

If you’re in the Duluth area, then check out Mikey Talented at Grandma’s Sports Garden.  Buy a ticket from the band themselves and get a $2 discount on their EP, After The Fact.  They are performing with a host of other local bands, such as Jamestown Story, Farewell Continental, and Take Cover (.  The show is all ages, tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door, and doors open at 5 with music starting at 6.  The show poster for this show can be found after the jump.

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This weekend is packed with MNSka shows.  Tonight, Airwave Bandits perform alongside local Hip-Hop powerhouse The Blend at The Depot.  The cost for the show is $4, and music starts at 9p.m.

Also tonight, Duluth ska-punkers Mikey Talented share the stage with fellow Duluth ska-rockers Coal Car Caboose at The Boathouse in Ely.  Music is at 9, and there’s no cover–so if you’re in the Twin Ports area, check it out.

And finally, The Hat Trick Lounge hosts the Skaliticians and Zero’s Heroes tomorrow night from 4-7 p.m. as part of the Eric Shaw’s Saturday All Ages Showcase.