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In this episode of Hornpod Film Club, we explore the 1997 hit movie, Grosse Pointe Blank. Starring John Cusack as a hitman attending his high school reunion, the film blends action, comedy, romance and maybe a little Rude Boy mythology. The soundtrack is iconic and peppered with ska and reggae classics like "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash, “Rudie Can’t Fail” by The Clash and “A” Message to You Rudy” by The Specials. Our special guest for this episode is Ryan Reeves, guitarist for the band, The Exceptions. Ryan compares his experiences growing up as a ska kid in Detroit in the 80s to what we see on film, but also offers insights into the main character’s psyche. We get into it! All this, and Ska Canon.

Hornpod Film Club 01 The Harder They Come (1972) It’s the story of a Jamaican country boy who comes to the big city with dreams of becoming a Reggae star but ends up exploited by the music industry, cheated by the drug trade and eventually gunned down by the police. It’s Jamaica’s first feature film, a cult classic and is widely credited with introducing Reggae to the world. It’s The Harder They Come from 1972 and it is our first movie in The Hornpod Film Club! Heather Augustyn is our special guest, she is the author of Ska: An Oral History and many other books about Jamaican history. 

JJ and Matt welcome Cody Freedom, curator of the Spotify-complete-ska-release-playlist every year.  Together, we reflect on a year in ska and we compare our Top Ten lists.  

JJ and Matt are joined by many guests tonight as we explore the pop side of ska. First, Agent Jay of The Slackers and Ali and Danny of Stop The Presses call in talk about their new album, Got It. Then, Tim from Supernova Ska Fest joins us to talk about Ska Canon and other big announcements.

JJ and Matt are joined by Adam Reeves, creator of the forthcoming biography of The Skatalites' legendary trombonist Don Drummond.  Drummond's creative genius helped shape ska music in its earliest days, but his life was short and marred by tragedy.  We celebrate his music, learn about his extensive legacy and even consider a few albums for the Ska Canon.

Jazz is one of the major musical elements of Ska, so what's the deal with Ska-Jazz?  JJ and Matt sit down with the Jazz experts of Westbound Train to help us break it down.  Westbound's Obi, Rich and Thad help us crack the code of Ska-Jazz, and even elevate a few classics into the canon.

Way back in Hornpod episode 001 JJ and Matt told you how they defined ska. In this latest episode, they're putting it to the test!   First we sit down with Dan Lord and Adam Guthrie of the band Salvo. We talk about the 1990's when the "horn punk" band was called Pain. We talk about the long hiatus and triumphant return, including their new album The Traveler, out August 26th via Asbestos Records. What do the guys think of Skatune Network's cover of the Pain song "Jabberjaw"? Why is it important that their fans know they don't play ska?   And then, at long last, we submit releases by Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution and Streetlight Manifesto to the Hornpod Ska Canon. Was Tomas Kalnoky talking about doing the BOTAR project before he even left Catch-22? How old are some of these songs, actually? Why don't we talk about Streetlight Manifesto as an ethnic folk-punk band? And which of Tohkay's 21st century albums are Canon-worthy?  All this and more in the least ska edition of Hornpod: a Ska Podcast yet!

Coolie Ranx returns, and he's brought former Oingo Boingo bassist, John Avila! John brings stories about producing Boingo, Reel Big Fish and of course, The Pilfers Chawalaleng. 

JJ and Matt are joined by genuine ska celebrity, Coolie Ranx (The Toasters, The Pilfers) to talk about dancehall attitude, improvising live and committing to ska long-term.

Legendary percussionist, Larry McDonald joins us to discuss his latest collaboration with Dave Hillyard of The Slackers.  Dave and Larry have been making music together for decades as the Rocksteady Seven and their new album, Plague Doctor is out now!  We talk about Larry's days in pre-ska Jamaica all the way up to his recent work with the late Lee Perry, and everything in between.

JJ and Matt are joined again by all six members of the Slackers for more conversation about the band's new album, Don't Let The Sunlight Fool Ya. This time the focus is on the songwriting and the stories behind some of the album's songs.

The Slackers' brand new album, Don't Let The Sunlight Fool Ya will drop on April 15th- but we're here with a track-by-track preview of the record.  Dive deep with JJ, Matt and the members of The Slackers as we reveal the new tunes and the stories behind them!

It's a takeover!  Jimmy Doyle and Sean McCabe straight up infiltrate Hornpod HQ and do their own episode- all about the Long Island ska scene.  They are joined by JT Turret of ASOB and Brian Diaz of Ednas Goldfish.

JJ and Matt sit down with the author of the new book, Hell of a Hat The Rise of 90s Ska and Swing, Kenneth Partridge.  And don't you know it, we have opinions on 90s Ska and Swing.

King Django, founder of Stubborn Records has been working with our own, Matt Wixson on a very special compilation the past year, and they are joining us to reveal the details of this monumental undertaking.  

JJ and Matt reflect on a year in ska- the trends, the music, the memories.  Join us as we compare Top Ten lists and throw a few more ska-mpilations into the canon.

JJ and Matt look back to time when the 3rd Wave had crashed, but the ska scene carried on. Joined by the legendary founder of Jump Up records, Chuck Wren, we discuss a massive compilation designed to rally the scene at a time when all seemed lost.

The ska compilation: a perfect way to discover new bands and new labels. For many, a SKAmpilation album was their entry into the ska world. JJ and Matt sort through some of our favorite ska comps while reminiscing about some of the truly terrible ones.

In August 2021 reggae pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry passed at away at the age of 85. We gather with Emch and Larry McDonald of Subatomic Sound System, Scratch's bandmates during his final decade, to honor and celebrate a man who lived his life as art and changed music forever. Join us as we connect by proxy to the WiFi of the inventor of dub, the son of Neptune, Lee "Scratch" Perry.

In anticipation of Supernova Intl Ska Fest 2021, JJ and Matt chat with the artists and fans who are putting on the festival. In the final episode of this miniseries, we're joined by trumpeter Adam "Flymo" Birch who has played alongside Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan, The Toasters and The Specials.  Flymo tells us about overcoming addiction and reconnecting with ska at a Supernova festival.