Ska band Skashank Redemption and reggae band Rockstead will perform at Casa Nueva Friday in an energetic show that should get the crowd moving.
When thinking of ska or reggae, most people might not immediately consider those genres to be anything other than lighthearted or upbeat music.
But, Jacob Huffstetler, the vocalist and trombone player of Skashank Redemption, argues there is much more to ska than people might think.
"The biggest issue we have is that ska has a name for itself for being cheesy, fun lighthearted, but not serious," Huffstetler said. "And that's the most important part, is people don't really see it as being a real thing, like the musicianship can't be real."
Columbus, Ohio ska band Skashank Redemption will join Morrow, Ohio, reggae band Rockstead at Jackie O's Pub & Brewery, 24 W. Union St., Friday night.
Although third-wave ska, which is characterized by driving guitar and horn sections, may not see the same success today as it did in the 80's and 90's, Huffstetler said he is not concerned with being a part of a "ska revival."
"I don't think it will ever be as popular as it was in the 90's," he said. "I don't think it needs it. I think it will always be nice that there are people there that love it, and it kind of creates its own little niche. We seem to be doing just fine without it."
To Skashank Redemption, the crowd's involvement is just as important as the band's.
"One of our biggest complaints is that 'hipster music' is boring, people just stand there," Huffstetler said. "Our mission as a ska band is to get people off their asses and make them sweat while they're dancing. We take it up a notch. The idea is that you won't be able to last on the dance floor as long as the band's on the stage."
Skashank Redemption performed at the Halloween Athens Block Party, in October 2014, and has not performed in Athens since then.
"Everyone was willing to stand there in front of the stage in that cold, and it seemed like they were having an absolute blast," Huffstetler said. "And there's no way they knew those songs, they didn't sing along, they didn't know the melody but I was just absolutely impressed, I was floored by Athens. Hopefully that happens again."
Jacob Burns, the guitarist and lead vocalist of Rockstead, said people generally have misconceptions about reggae music as well.
"I feel like everyone feels like it's all about sunshine and beaches, which a lot of it seems to be," Burns said. "But being from Ohio we kind of pull from all aspects of our life when it comes to our songwriting, mix it all up. There's happy songs, sad songs, in-between songs. It's not as oriented in one direction as everyone may think it is."
Similar to other bands in the genre, Rockstead traces its roots to genres outside of reggae.
"There's three of us in the band that were in a punk band," Burns said. "We listened to a lot of rock and metal music, and we also listened to a lot of reggae. Our guitar player was into a lot of folk music and some acoustic tunes. Everybody has all kinds of different influences that makes up Rockstead."
Rockstead has released one studio album, and is in the process of writing material for a second. "I hope that people who are gonna come out are ready for a hell of a show," Huffstelter said.
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