MNSKA heavy-hitters The Prizefighters had a busy weekend that involved several shows with Chicago’s Deal’s Gone Bad and Milwaukee’s Something To Do.  Last Friday, the band played in Milwaukee at the Bay View Brew Haus and debuted a brand new version of their song “Take Some Time.”  As you can tell from the video, this is a horn-driven instrumental version and it will appear on the vinyl release of Follow My Sound, coming out in a couple months on Jump Up Records.

You can check out the video on YouTube HERE

It’s a Midwest ska fest!  Chicago’s veteran reggae-soul band Deal’s Gone Bad is returning to Minneapolis on Saturday, May 14th.  The 18+ show will take place at the Triple Rock Social Club and will feature Wisconsin pop-ska group Something To Do and MNSKA traditional-ska rockers The Prizefighters.  Doors open at 9 pm.

You can get discounted tickets for the show HERE.  Better act fast, this show will likely sell out!

For more information, check out the Facebook event HERE

Chicago’s long-running reggae-soul band Deal’s Gone Bad have just posted a brand new music video!  The video is for their new song “Far From Home” which will be released this month as a 45.  The whole thing was shot at the Innertown Pub in Chicago and was directed and produced by Little Cabin Films.  As you can tell, “Far From Home” is a hot little soul-stomper and features an epic Charlie Daniels-style pool match of good vs. evil.

You can watch the video YouTube HERE

The new Deal’s Gone Bad 45 (featuring “Far From Home” and “These Arms Of Mine”) are available for preorder HERE.  They ship on May 24th.

Be sure to catch these guys in the Midwest this month, including a big show in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 14th at the Triple Rock with Something To Do and MNSKA band The Prizefighters.

WI ska-pop band Something To Do has made a music video for their song “Red Stripe Beer,” an ode to their favorite beer.  The song appears on the band’s Souvenir EP, released last Summer.  Rumor has it that the band will be playing in MN in the coming months, so stay tuned!

Boo Scott Walker!  HOORAY BEER!

You can check out the video on YouTube HERE

Our ska brothers from Wisconsin, Something To Do, have posted a video of the beginning of their set at Skappleton 2010 at Tanner’s Bar and Grill in Kimberly, WI. Check out their snow ninja outfits! If anyone else has any other videos from Skappleton, let us know; we want to post them on the site.

You can check out the video on YouTube HERE.

Although this podcast is based out of Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, today’s episode is deep-rooted in the land of Brats, Beer, and Cheese.  Courtney connects with his good friend and fellow Wisconsinite Kenny Dinkis, guitar player for pop-ska band Something To Do, to promote the upcoming 17th annual Midwest Ska Fest known as Skappleton.  The two reminisce about former bands, chilly Wisconsin outdoor concerts, and how to turn a guitar into a deadly weapon.

Skappleton is taking place Saturday, May 22nd at Tanner’s Bar and Grill in Kimberly, WI.  The festival is All Ages and will feature bands like Something To Do, The Invaders, 2 Tone Runts, Car Full Of Midgets and many more!

This show is brought to you in part by MNSKA.com, Minnesota’s Ska Community and the Fancy Pants Gangsters podcast network.  Become a fan of the show on Facebook, follow Courtney on Twitter, or email him at FOSS@fancypantsgangsters.com.

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You can download this episode HERE or subscribe to the show on iTunes.

JUST ANNOUNCED! The largest and longest-running ska festival in the Midwest, Skappleton, will be taking place on Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 at Tanner’s Bar in Kimberly, WI.  The first wave of bands have been announced:

Something To Do (Waukesha, WI): A great mixture of ska and pop-rock who put on an unforgettable live show!

The Invaders (Milwaukee, WI): Veteran two-tone ska band that you can’t help but dance to!

Car Full Of Midgets (Appleton, WI): Young ska-rock band with a HUGE horn section!

2 Tone Runts (Minneapolis, MN): MNSKA’s own ska-reggae activist band!

Boss Rude (Milwaukee, WI): Energetic third-wave ska!

Skattsmen (La Crosse, WI): A refreshing and eclectic take on ska-punk!

Cold Feet (Appleton, WI): Great ska-punk band with a roaring horn section!

Orpheus (De Pere, WI): Rude ska vibes with hot pop-vocal hooks!

1,2,3 Walrus (La Crosse, WI): A perfect mixture of ska, reggae, and snotty, disaffected punk vocals!

More bands to be announced!  This is a great opportunity to check out some of the up-and-coming ska bands in the Midwest and is a great opportunity to meet up with fellow ska-lovers.  We at MNSKA will keep you posted on the details surround this year’s Skappleton!

There’s nothing better than the catchy, bouncy, happy sounds of third-wave ska!  Well, there might be a handful of better things, but in the terms of this episode, punchy third-wave ska is tops!  Something To Do from Waukesha, WI have been using their pop vocal hooks and flashy horn section to entertain the masses of the Midwest for quite some time now.  You’d be doing yourself a favor by checking them out.

Track of the Day: “Brown Eyed Guy” by Something To Do from the album I Command You To Dance from Trapdoor Records

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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This weekend, our neighbor’s to the East (aka Wisconsin) are hosting one of the longest running ska festivals in the midwest: Skappleton.  This is the show’s 15th year in existence and will host a whole bunch of midwestern ska bands, including MNSka’s Umbrella Bed and 2 Tone Runts with Chicago’s Deal’s Gone Bad as the festival’s headliner on Saturday, May 16th in Kimberly, WI.

Since 1 day of ska-filled fun is never enough, they have expanded the festival to include a date right here in Minneapolis, MN!  Head on down to the Triple Rock on Sunday, May 17th for the All Ages “Minne-Skappleton” show, featuring the aforementioned Umbrella Bed and 2 Tone Runts as well as WI ska bands Something To Do and Car Full Of Midgets.  We want to pack the Triple Rock on Sunday to show those WI bands how we get down…we hope that they will continue to expand the festival to include more bands for next year’s Minneapolis date!

MNSka would like to think Miss Upsetter for creating the flyer for this show!

Waukesha, WI ska band Something To Do recently visited 91.7 FM WMSE, a non-profit, listener-supported radio service educationally licensed to the Milwaukee School of Engineering.  The band played an exclusive in-studio performance for the Local Live show, including the songs “Bad Boyfriend”, “Reflections on Chuck Norris”, “Duct Tape”, “Red Stripe Beer”, and “Rebel Yell.”

You can dowload the show HERE (their set starts at the 2:01:00 mark).

Be sure to check out Something To Do at “Minne-Skappleton” on Sunday, May 17th at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis, MN.  They will be playing with Umbrella Bed, 2 Tone Runts, and Car Full of Midgets.