Friday, April 10, 2020

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril X


Oreskaband, "Carry On!" from the Carry On! E.P. (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey-san)

Skammentary: Welcome to "Little Toyko," day two of four. Oreskaband are SKApril debutants, coming to my attention via one of the ska podcasts I started listening to in March during my disaffection from several of my previously-favorite Catholic podcasts in the wake of the pandemic panic-driven Mass cancellations. These podcasts also served as a ska tune-up in the ramp up to SKApril, because there is so much going on in the ska world as the long-desired fourth wave emerges.

Male instrumentalists fronted by a distaff singer is a ska staple: the The Selecter, No Doubt, Dance Hall Crashers, Save Ferris (original recipe & extra crispy), Tip the Van, & Bite Me Bambi,
et al. Oreskaband, however, is an all-girl band. We don't go much for "girl power" here at The Secret Base, because we're not sexist; women are smart & capable & are better off when not shackled with the soft bigotry of low expectations. They're an all-girl band? Good for them. But are they any good? Rude girls & rude boys, Oreskaband would not be part of SKApril if their music wasn't up to snuff. We have our SKAffirmative Action program to make sure that the headlining bands don't hog all the limelight, but we're not running a charity here. Nobody makes the cut who can't cut it.
"Yo, brothers and sisters,
It's time to become one with us.
If you want to be free,
Now's your chance!
Let's go!

"Carry on! Carry on!
You may be right, you may be wrong,
We go smiling either way,
Carry on, oh every day!
Carry on! Carry on!
You know you know where you belong,
We go smiling either way,
Carry on, oh every day!…"

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