The 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska is ready for preorder! (Release date Oct 29, 2024)
In a mix of interviews, essays, personal stories, historical snapshots, obscure anecdotes, and think pieces, In Defense of Ska dissects, analyzes, and celebrates ska in exactly the way fans have been craving for decades. This book will enlist ska-lovers as soldiers in the ska army and challenge ska-haters’ prejudices to the core.
About
I am a music journalist and ska fan based out of Northern California. I’ve contributed to Playboy, Salon, Noisey, Sun Magazine, Bandcamp Daily, and I am the music editor at the Good Times weekly newspaper in Santa Cruz, CA, where I slip in the occasional ska story when no one’s looking.
Come see me live at a book event
Oct 24: Time Tested Books in Sacramento w/ Keith Lowell Jensen (7p)
Nov 3: Fall Brewing in San Diego W/ Julia Dixon Evans (5p)
Nov 4: Vromans Books in Pasadena w/ Dan Ozzi (7p)
Nov 15: Third Place Books in Seattle (7p)
Nov 17: Rose City Book Pub in Portland w/ Jeff Burk (8p)
Nov 21: Green Apple Books in San Francisco w/ Laura Albert (7p)
Dec 5: Barnes & Noble in Philadelphia w/ Sadie Dupuis and Jim McGuinn (6p)
Dec 6: Broken Goblet Brewing in Bensalem, PA with Marc Wasserman and Hub City Stompers (7p)
Dec 7: Scottish Dave’s Pub in Clinton, CT w/ PWRUP & Kmoy The Band (7p)
Deb 8: St. Marks Comedy Club in New York City w/ Turner Sparks and Andrew Sacher of Brooklyn Vegan (3p)
Dec 14: Hey Cafe in New Orleans. New Orleans ska panel discussion
Dec 19: Art Boutiki in San Jose w/ Mat Weir. Part of Drink & Draw. Music by Reggaedelic
Clips
“After a night with hell-raising southern rock sludge-trio Thelma and the Sleaze, you’re gonna feel a little scared, and you’re gonna be a little excited. You’re also gonna wanna be just like them. They’re like Nine Inch Nails doing stand-up at a mud wrestling match. So, go ahead and dust off those daisy dukes, faux mustaches, and pearl necklaces, because you ‘bout to have a night.” -a blurb Aaron didn’t write
Aaron Carnes 