For the past few years, Adam Wallace has been better known to much of the ska community as The Ska Mailman - the enthusiastic fan, interviewer, podcaster, and scene advocate who's spent countless hours introducing listeners to new bands and talking with everyone from rising independent artists to ska veterans. Through The Ska Mailman Podcast and his work covering the scene, Wallace has become a familiar face to ska fans well beyond his hometown of Boise, Idaho.
Now he's stepping back into the laboratory.
Inspired by the fear of the number thirteen, Triskaidekaphobia explores anxiety, anger, self-doubt, and mayhem without ever losing its sense of humor. The album mixes upbeat synths, driving guitars, and catchy sing-along choruses with the band's signature mad-scientist stage persona, creating a record that feels equally at home in a haunted laboratory and a packed ska show.
"Triskaidekaphobia is an upbeat confession from someone who's publicly known as a positive, happy guy but still deals with panic and fear. I've always loved the juxtaposition of darker lyrics with upbeat music. That's something third-wave ska has always done so well. Talking with bands like Reel Big Fish gave me the confidence to write honestly about what I was going through. I had a really difficult year and decided to turn those feelings into a full on ska party instead of sitting in my discomfort. By the end of the album there's hope again. That's what Lab Brats is about. Fun, silly, carefree...but honest."
Known for energetic live performances featuring lab coats, props, theatrical antics, and an interactive stage show, Lab Brats have quickly become one of one of the Pacific Northwest's most theatrical ska-punk bands. Featuring artwork and merchandise designed by Parker Jacobs, artist, animator, and co-creator of The Aquabats!, whose unmistakable style helped bring Lab Brats' monster-filled universe to life.
While Idaho isn't always the first place people think of when they think of ska, Lab Brats have been steadily carving out their place in the scene, recently sharing bills with The Aquabats! and Half Past Two and preparing for upcoming shows including Joker's Republic. Rather than treating ska as nostalgia, Lab Brats lean into the genre's long tradition of theatricality, humor, and genre-blending while carving out a monster-filled identity of their own.
Although Wallace has spent years helping shine a spotlight on other ska bands, Triskaidekaphobia marks a moment where the spotlight shifts back to his own. It's less a departure from The Ska Mailman than a continuation of the same mission: celebrating the creativity, community, and unapologetic weirdness that have always made ska special.
Triskaidekaphobia is available on all major streaming platforms. Physical merchandise, including limited-edition shirts, buttons, and stickers, will also be available at live performances and through the band's online store. Lab Brats hope Triskaidekaphobia reminds them of one thing: life's a lot more fun when you embrace the weird.
About Lab Brats
Lab Brats is a ska-punk band from Boise, Idaho, combining fast-paced punk, upbeat ska rhythms, B-movie science fiction, and over the top live performances into an unforgettable experience. Equal parts concert and laboratory experiment, Lab Brats deliver songs built for dancing, shouting, and embracing the fun in life.