So you’ve got passes to the Long Beach Warped Tour. First off, congratulations! You’re gonna have the best time ever! Do you know why? Because this is the Warped Tour location that has the MOST ska bands this year which makes perfect sense as Orange County was one of the biggest hubs for 3rd wave ska in the 90s and 2000s. So this is your official guide for checking out the skankiest bands at the Warped Tour.
The Ska Bands
Hepcat
Did you grow up watching Boy Meets World? Did you know the guy who played Mr. Williams (Alex Desert) was the front man for a ska band? That band: Hepcat! Inspired by traditional ska, Hepcat brings the danciest, most feel good, toe tapping tunes. After the tragic passing of one of their singers, Greg Lee, Hepcat keeps his legacy alive and still gives it their all at every show. If your knowledge of ska begins and ends with ska punk you might be surprised at this. There is no punk involved in their sound. For me these guys are HIGH on the list, but just be aware of who they are before you decide on skipping another band to see Hepcat.
Notable songs: Dance Wid’ Me, No Worries, and I Can’t Wait.
Ska Mailman’s Take: MUST see if you like traditional ska.
Mad Caddies
Southern California Surfers and Ska Punkers, Mad Caddies have been a staple of the ska scene since first signing to Fat Wreck Chords in 1998. Releasing a steady flow of music ever since, Mad Caddies play everything from ska punk to reggae to dixieland jazz to pirate shanties.
Personally, I think their reggae material outshines their ska songs. That's not a knock on the ska. They're great at both, but I usually hope for a more laid-back set when I catch Mad Caddies. For me, I wouldn’t mind missing Mad Caddies if the right band was playing at the same time.
Notable songs: Road Rash, Dangerous, and their incredible cover of Green Day’s She.
Ska Mailman’s Take: Skippable, but worth seeing if you’ve got time.
Millington
The most recent band on our list is New Jersey’s own, Millington. Self-described as Brass Emo, Millington writes heavy hitting pop-punk/emo guitar riffs with a ripping trombone and sax combo. That doesn’t mean they are strangers to skanking. Though they lean into the pop punk/emo sound, they play plenty of upstrokes and can unite the entire Warped Tour in their set. A MUST SEE if you are more into the pop-punk/emo side of Warped Tour.
Notable songs: Cold in the City, Summer Disease, and Beatdown Generation.
Ska Mailman’s Take: Make an effort to see them no matter what genre you’re into.
Reel Big Fish
I meeeeaaannn… we all know how I feel about this one. I’ve been given the official title by the band of number one Reel Big Fish fan. If you wanna know more about my love and admiration for these guys read my other article here about interviewing them for The Ska Mailman Podcast. Alright, professionalism… Nah, I’ve been waiting 6 years to write this paragraph, I’m going to fan-boy for a minute.
Reel Big Fish is THE household name in ska since releasing their mega hit album, Turn the Radio Off, in 1996. A constant touring band since then, Reel Big Fish has played all over the world and even opened for KISS once. In 2020, Reel Big Fish went on hiatus. Earlier this year, they announced their return to public performing and the first show back is THIS EXACT WARPED TOUR! Lucky you! You get to witness ska history in real time! If you were to take my advice on any of these bands, you must watch Reel Big Fish’s triumphant return. I promise you, they are experienced showmen and will make you skank, laugh, and who knows, if you’re anything like me, probably cry.
Notable songs: Beer, Sell Out, and You Can’t Have All of Me. (I can only pick 3 to highlight?! This is a crime!)
Ska Mailman’s Take: Best thing of the entire Warped Tour. SEE THEM AT ALL COSTS.
Save Ferris
Another household name in ska! Save Ferris came to popularity in Orange County in the 90s. Fronted by classically trained vocalist, Monique Powell, Save Ferris has returned and been a touring classic 3rd wave ska band after Monique had a successful throat surgery and is able to sing again. You may recognize Save Ferris from the dance scene in the 1999 teen comedy, 10 Things I Hate About You. Personally, this is probably my lowest priority of the ska bands playing. Monique Powell is undeniably an important figure in third-wave ska, but over the years the band's lineup changes and public drama have made it harder for me to get excited about seeing them live.
Notable songs: Come On Eileen, The World is New, and Anything. (Bonus is Monique’s guest vocals on RBF’s She Has a Girlfriend Now)
Ska Mailman’s Take: Skippable, but respectable. See them if you’ve got time.
The Aggrolites
Formed in 2002 and coining the term ‘Dirty Reggae’ The Aggrolites lock into a groove so hard that it’s easy to get lost in it. The next thing you know you’ve been dancing the whole show and your face hurts from how much stank face you’ve been making. The Aggrolites have a deep love for 60s and 70s ska and reggae and even utilize old technology to try and recreate that tone. An extremely talented group of musicians who never miss a note. Signed to the legendary label Hellcat Records. Plus they operate as the backing band for Tim Armstrong’s solo album, a Poet’s Life, The Aggrolites are a trusted band for all things Ska and Reggae. I would make them a priority to see.
Notable songs: Free Time, Pound for Pound, and Countryman Fiddle.
Ska Mailman’s Take: High priority. Seriously weigh your options if you’re considering skipping.
The Expendables
California reggae rock at its finest. The Expendables definitely lean more reggae than ska, but they have their ska moments for sure. They’ve also toured a lot with Reel Big Fish. If you’ve got time and haven’t had enough Jamaican riddims in your day, then definitely check them out! I like this style of reggae just fine, but I might opt to see most anyone else I like if there was a conflicting schedule.
Notable songs: Bowl for Two, Wicked Game, and Let Her Go.
Ska Mailman’s Take: Skippable unless your thing is reggae rock.
Comedians
Need a break from the circle pit for a bit? Check out the comedians in the unplugged tent who love Ska as much as they love making people laugh!
Brandie Posey
Owner of Burn This Records and outward ska fan, Brandie has been carrying the checkered flag for ska since her discovery of the genre. With multiple podcast appearances (including The Ska Mailman Podcast) she’s shared scene stories and has been a contributor to the scene in ways you probably were never aware of! You can check out her set at the unplugged stage. Check out her album Opinion Cave featuring a checkered fit on the cover and the joke within Ronald Reggae (bwow bwow bwow bwooooowww) and her newest album, Milk Job.
Anna Valenzuela
A comedian on Burn This Records and another outward ska fan, Anna has been talking ska on podcasts since the invention of podcasts (also on The Ska Mailman Podcast). Anna has gotten close with the Dance Hall Crashers family and can be found skanking along with ska bands at Warped Tour and Fest in Florida every year. She’s become a friend of mine and I can’t recommend going to see her enough! She’s very kind and giving and funny as hell! Check out her set on the unplugged stage and her album, Murderpuss.
Honorable Mentions
The following bands aren’t considered ska bands, but I would still recommend them if you are a ska fan because they have a lot of similarities that the average Warped Tour going skanker would love.
Bad Cop Bad Cop
Another Fat Wreck punk rock powerhouse, Bad Cop/Bad Cop has toured with ska bands including The Interrupters and bring the same non stop energy that you would expect from a ska band. I’ve gotten to see them a couple of times and after the show they were very kind and great to talk to. Very funny and very badass!
Notable songs: Breastless, Womanarchist, and Retrograde
Bowling For Soup
Undoubtedly you remember Bowling For Soup if you were alive in the early 2000s. With witty and funny pop punk tunes, any ska fan would love the show Bowling For Soup puts on. They are no strangers to stopping a song to do bits and make jokes. Plus they did the Phineas and Ferb theme song which IS a ska song, though they don’t play it in a ska style live. Last time I saw them live they were co-headlining with Less Than Jake.
Notable songs: 1985, Girl All the Bad Guys Want, and Punk Rock 101
Gym Class Heroes
Travie McCoy of the Gym Class Heroes has flirted with ska and reggae riddims since the beginning. Gym Class Heroes blends hip-hop with funk, rock, and reggae.
Notable songs: Cupid’s Chokehold (feat. Patrick Stump - a HUGE ska fan!), Stereo Hearts, and Travie McCoy’s feature in the Bruno Mars songs, Billionaire.
Hoobastank
Did you know Hoobastanks used to have 2 sax players and played a lot of ska songs? It’s true! Listen to their 1998 album, They Sure Don’t Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To. They definitely aren’t playing any of those songs at the Warped Tour, but hey maybe you’ll get lucky!
MxPx
Though they aren’t considered a ska band, they definitely were an influence in the 90s and 2000s Christian Punk and Ska scene. They dabble in ska rhythms now and then and they have that same energy we were all looking for at that time. Plus Mike Herrera now plays bass for Goldfinger so his ska credibility has only gone up.
Notable songs: Punk Rawk Show, Let’s Ride, and Chick Magnet.
Simple Plan
I don’t think Canadian Pop Punkers, Simple Plan, have ever played a ska song, but they have toured with ska bands and have a really fun focused show. Plus they did the What’s New Scooby-Doo theme song. I think we can all agree that Scooby-Doo has some real ska energy.
Notable tracks: Addicted, I’d Do Anything, and I’m Just a Kid.
There are a lot of incredible bands playing Long Beach this year, but nowhere on the Warped Tour schedule is better for ska fans. Whether you're catching legends like Reel Big Fish and Hepcat or discovering a newer favorite like Millington, Long Beach is the closest thing Warped Tour has to a ska paradise this year. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, look out for each other, and if you hear offbeat guitar coming from the next stage... follow it. DON’T STOP SKANKIN’!