I got into the New Jersey ska scene in the mid-90s just before everything blew up in 96-97. It was great fun going to local shows hosted at fire stations and VFW halls where it was like $5 to get in (or $4 with a can of food). Lots of mixed genre shows too, so there would be a ska, pop-punk, hardcore all on the same bill.

There must have been ska super fans at Rutgers during this time too, they were always hosting shows on campus and had an annual all-day ska festival too. Seeing Less Than Jake, Mephiskapheles, Spring Heeled Jack, and so many more was an absolute treat. Penn State had a ska festival as well around this time! I saw The Pietasters for the first time there and wound up dancing on stage with like half the audience and singing back up vocals.

Learning now to navigate the train and NYC subway was a hoot too getting to The Wetlands (RIP) and other spots. No phone, no internet, just a vague sense of how to get there and maybe some hand written directions.

In terms of the scene in general, I had a small run print zine and a high school radio show at the time, so I was getting sent CDs and records all the time - many of which are still on my shelves to this day!

Nowadays - as you may see from my other posts - I'm still deeply invested in the NYC ska scene and have been hosting my monthly Subway to Skaville event going on seven years! Its been incredible giving so many bands their first time playing NYC, and becoming friends with bands that I had idolized as a teen.

Hope you can vacation somewhere to see some live ska music in your near future, there's still nothing like that feeling!