One of the original bands from the Mope-a-thon album that never was, the Mad Caddies helped me lay on my floor and worry my roommate most of last summer. They are one of those bands I keep waiting for them to make it big. They are really very soulful but at the same time pretty fun. A great band all the way around.
http://www.madcaddies.com/
Video for "leavin'"
A live video for "drinking for 11"
While just saying Ryan Scroggins and the Trenchtown Texans is a mouthful they have a good sound and I really enjoy their instrumentals. I have heard from a couple of guys I know that these guys are really bad ass live and a cool bunch of folks. Unfortunately I have only heard a few tracks so I am with holding judgement at this point. I definitely feel that there is some real upside here, just give it time to mature.
My god this is bad. Usually I try to at least find some nice things to say when i write these things. Hmm. Let me think... NJope. Nothing. Bomb Town is just another crappy ska bad that has popped up on my radar for no real reason. Bleh.
http://www.bombtownnj.com/
Deal's Gone Bad plays the kind of ska yopur parents and maybe even your grandparents can get into. With soulfull lyrics and a sound that is reminiscent of the oldies station their sound is really something unique. I haven't decided just how much I like Deal's Gone Bad, but they are definately a good band worth checking out.
http://www.dealsgonebad.com/news.php
Their video for "Moving On"
Hub City Stompers put the steel toed boot back in ska. With songs about kicking ass and fucking fat girls what else could a man want. AND, if that wasn't enough they do it in as tasteful manner as possible to a smooth reggae beat. They are still touring but I haven't had much luck finding a date that they'll be up in the pacific northwest. So for now I'm stuck watching their videos online...
http://www.hubcitystompers.com/
Click here to see their videos
Inspecter Seven is one of my favorite ska bands trailing only the Toasters and Skoidats. They played through much of the 90's but called it quits a while back. They mixed a lot of different sounds from early ska to oi messed it in such a way that created a very danceable sound. Or drinkable in my case. There are several videos on youtube but the sound quality is a little rough. Still they might be worth a check.
Check out Inspecter 7's videos:
Chatterbox, Sharky 17, the game, sleeping with the enemy
As far as I know it the Brass Knuckle Boys aren't playing anymore but I'm out of the loop sometimes so, well, yeah... I was fortunate enough to have seen them a couple times and have a really kick ass demo they put out with an Iron Cross on the cover. They are definitely some kick ass working class rock and roll if I've ever heard it.
Check out an old video of theirs
The brother band of sorts to the Doozers. They called it quits sometime after 02 but they were never the same after they kicked Chris out. My father recently found this album on Amazon for me that has some of their later stuff on it. Its defiantly good working class rock and roll, its a shame theres not much stuff of theirs. There are several demos and sort Cd's they produced and used to hand out to their friends. Unfortunately an ex of mine walked off with probably my favorite demo of theirs. Easily one of the best bands I've ever heard live.
Crosshair was a skinhead band from Texas a few years back. I was lucky enough to see them several times. They even saved my necks in a roundabout way at the Warped Tour back in '01. I also have a very early demo of theirs which is still good to pop in occasionally. Recently a friend sent me another demo that I wasn't aware existed they released with their full track set. I haven't found any information on them for a while so I'm guessing they're done but I'll keep looking for something to share.
The Vanilla Muffins are no doubt different than anything I had heard before. Pioneers of the sound called Sugar Oi, the Vanilla Muffins really took me by surprise. Think of your traditional oi bands meets synth pop. For the most part they sing about all those things we hooligans love. It is one of those bands that if you enjoy oi you need to take the time to listen to just so that you can say that you have.
http://www.vanillamuffins.ch/Home.html
I am a Flogging Molly snob. I'll admit it. I act like I know every song they wrote before they got big and I was their only fan. That's crap and we all know it. Still it was hard when I noticed frat boys wearing their shirts. That aside I recently sat down and listened to some of their new stuff. Maybe its a little more polished, but I reluctantly admit it isn't all bad. In fact you might even say its good. You might, those words won't be coming out of me. After all I'm a proud proud man.
http://www.floggingmolly.com/
link to their video "Drunken Lullabies"
The Scotch Greens are definitely a force to be reckoned with. They have a solid sound and indiscernible lyrics that every great band has. They are so good I actually gave my two dollars to Itunes just to have 'em forever. Thats a rarity, because I am a cheapskate. No one likes a scrooge but I can safely say everyone likes the Scotch Greens.
As one Johnny Courage put it: "It simply amazes me how hard you motherfuckers rock. My face is melted a little bit more every time I listen." Now that is a testimonial!
http://www.scotchgreens.com/
link to their video "Professional"
With a sound VERY simular to early Flogging Molly the Killigans are on the scene. I'm having a hard time thinking of anything to write other than they sound so much like Flogging Molly. I know one individual that would say that Flogging Molly and that whole sound is just a complete rip off of the Pogues. At which point I would roll my eyes and continue on with whatever I was saying.
http://www.thekilligans.com/