Topic: Streetlight Manifesto

[mouse_clicker]

And unfortunately it appears The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, who, along with Operation Ivy (I've been listening to Energy all day), founded 3rd wave ska, might break up. The only good thing that could possibly come out of it is if the Bosstones' trombone player joined Less Than Jake. He filled in for Buddy a while back when LTJ was on tour and stuck around a bit after Buddy got back, which made their live shows even better. I also don't think it's a coincidence that Hello Rockview, easily the best LTJ album, had 2 trombone players.

[Ian Sane]

"The Impression That I Get, by the Might Mighty Bosstones, is the best ska song I've heard to date."

Whoa!  That's a song I've heard on mainstream radio before.  Are we allowed to talk about it in a positive way?

[mouse_clicker]

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Whoa! That's a song I've heard on mainstream radio before. Are we allowed to talk about it in a positive way?

Surprisingly the radio does play ska from time to time, rare as it is- I once heard a Reel Big Fish song on the radio, which is very ironic considering they're (excellent) debut album was titled "Turn the Radio Off".

[Uglydot]

There is a lot of Bosstones that is never played on the radio.  I enjoy them a lot, but I woudn't say anything they put out was the best ever.  

It is true that ska tends to be very gimmiky, that is because ska is meant to be fun.  

"We don't you slammin in the pit, NO..."Skankin's meant for fun, not for gettin hurt!"

[Hostile Creation]

You can be fun without being gimmicky.  We are at a Nintendo forum, are we not?

Style is very important to me.  The Bosstones seem to have it.  Others seem to have some, but not as much as they could.  Music should be fun, but it should also be more than fun.  I can't imagine becoming a musician and doing what they do.

[KnowsNothing]

*high fives Hostile*

You have good taste in........animals.

Anyway, skanking is the most fun way to dance ever (except for my own style.  those of you who saw the dancing ghouls video know what I'm talking about. ).  I'm absolutley horrible at it, but it so goddamn FUN.  FUN DAMMIT.  NEEDS MORE SALT.

[mouse_clicker]

I had a dream a few weeks ago that I was standing in some random driveway and these little kids were playing tag hide and go seek all across the neighborhood. Then out of nowhere Sleep it Off starts playing out of the ska and I skanked in the driveway.

[Hostile Creation]

I remember the first time I heard the term skanking.  It was here, and Bloodworth was talking about skanking to the Mario Kart: Double Dash title screen music with his girlfriend.  It sounded like much fun.

I'm not sure how to skank, but I don't mind.  I do what I do and you can't define it, which is fine with me.

[Uglydot]

"1.  Get off your seat
2.  Stomp your boots to the beat
3.  Throw you knees in the air
4.  Like you don't caaaare"

That is about as close as you need to follow.  Everyone has their own little style.  I love seeing people with a different style from my.

[mouse_clicker]

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I'm not sure how to skank, but I don't mind. I do what I do and you can't define it, which is fine with me.

I'm not entirely sure how to skank, either, but I know it's based on a sort of run-in-place dance rudeboys did in Jamaica during the first wave of ska. I think beyond that you pretty much just do what you want.

[StrikerObi]

The old adage for skanking is

"If your knees aren't touching your elbows, you aren't doing it right"

This is a general rule. But there is really no wrong way to skank. It's just a running-in-place high stepping sorta dance. Feel the beet and go for it. Depending on the type of ska (if it's punk/ska or not) also changes it a bit. Plus it's awesome to jump into the mosh pit and just start skanking to a band like Less Than Jake. A few people will follow your lead, and if it's a really skankable song (like Johnny Quest) then you can get everybody skanking. Regardless, running around in the mosh pit screaming out lyrics at the top of your head is the most fun you can possibly have on this planet.

[mouse_clicker]

Less Than Jake organizes running rings and whatnot, too, it's awesome. They're such a great live show.

[Uglydot]

Circle pits are by far my favorite pits.  Hard to keep them sometimes though.

[StrikerObi]

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Originally posted by: mouse_clicker
Less Than Jake organizes running rings and whatnot, too, it's awesome. They're such a great live show.

Not to mention they've also brought fire-eaters on tours, which is awesome. And then there's Mr. Skull. Right now Vinnie's latest obsession is confetti cannons.

[mouse_clicker]

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Right now Vinnie's latest obsession is confetti cannons.

I myself have some authentic LTJ confetti from last year's Warped Tour. They also shot shirts out of canons, which was pretty cool.

[Uglydot]

I enjoyed the cannon.  Nice touch.