PLAIN FOLK by Ron Mason It sometimes seems like yesterday, but it’s just over twenty years since I found myself shoulder to shoulder with other young twenty-somethings skanking up a storm with the Hopping Penguins at the U of C’s MacEwan Hall Ballroom. The Penguins were a fantastic ten piece Canadian ska band that whipped many excited students across Canada into a dance frenzy during the 1980s. Ska is the high-energy syncopated sound from which reggae music was born. The genesis of ska was Jamaica in 1962 when Cecil Bustamente Campbell, aka “Prince Buster,” asked his guitarist to emphasize the afterbeat instead of the downbeat. This new sound became the music of the unemployed working class, or “Rude Boys” as they were known. This first wave of ska ended in 1968 but one of its most popular groups, The Skatalites, endures to this day. The Skank is the jog/strut style dance of ska music. I have not experienced a more energy filled good time while dancing, than to skank it up with great friends and music. Jamaican immigrants brought the sound of ska to England in the 1970s. Smartly dressed youths known as Mods, and aggressive young skinheads embraced this new music of Black Jamaicans. In 1979 Jerry Dammers ignited a second wave of ska and started 2-Tone records, which sparked a black and white and checkered clothing craze. This style, along with racially integrated bands like The Specials, The Selecter, Madness, and The English Beat, promoted unity in a country torn by racism. This exciting style of music has largely remained underground, not making it into the mainstream. Ska has had its influence on many of today’s popular groups such as No Doubt, Goldfinger, and The Mighty Mighty Boss Tones. This third wave of ska, which is ongoing, spans the gap from its traditional roots to new directions in punk, pop, and reggae. Canada has a thriving ska music scene in cities from coast to coast. Toronto and Montreal have the most active clubs and venues offering live and recorded ska and reggae music. In Victoria B.C. a ska festival occurs from July 17 to 19, attracting groups from all around Canada and the States. Right here in Alberta we have excellent reggae/ska groups such as The Mad Bomber Society, One, and the Kingpins who can often be found performing throughout western Canada. A good way to check out some of Canada’s best ska is the All Skanadian Club compilation recordings, volumes 1-4. Ska has developed a style and culture that is sharp, hip and built for speed. One listen to classic songs like Lip Up Fatty, Mirror in the Bathroom, or One Step Beyond and you can see why this music has a dedicated following around the world. To check out the world of ska, go to www.SkaSummit.com http://www.SkaSummit.com/ and you will find fascinating things to see and hear. Who knows, you might just find yourself tapped into that underground craze and start skanking up a storm in your own living room! |