Fourth Wave

[Skapitalist]

What are your definitions of fourth wave? When is it coming? Is it already here? Is Tomas Kalnoky (Streetlight Manifesto and BotAR) bringing the fourth wave? How do you think it will differ, musically and otherwise, from previous iterations/waves of ska music? Do you think ska needs another popular wave or are you satisfied with it being an almost cult following?

My personal thoughts are that as long as there remains a large number and variety of good ska bands still making music, I'll be happy, even if it never becomes as popular as it has been in the past. I wouldn't mind it becoming mainstream either. I ready for whatever the ska scene throws my way.

[2Pher]

Well here are my opinions. A fourth wave, if it is to exist is just a revival of all ska. There is not definition to it as the bands that are arising all have sounds from different eras of ska. Traditional and Two-Tone bands are getting back together and touring again and I believe that may be one of the big things that will get people listening more. Also from what I have seen and heard Japan has a largely growing ska community and maybe they will bring a push to the worldwide scene. I do not believe there is a full wave yet just some splashes. One other thing in the US that seems to be pushing Ska back up is Warped Tour. A few years ago we were lucky to have one or two ska bands on the bill yet this past summer I believe there were five or six billed for the tour. Can't wait to see whats up for next summer.
Tomas Kalnoky, although I do believe he is a lyrical genius and the music his bands create is amazing he himself will not be bringing the wave. The bands he is a part of may help bring things more into the light. I would love to see ska get back to how it was in the early 2000's were there was still a scene and gas was still cheap enough so they could all tour and afford it. I think if it were to become popular again and hit radio and tv it would be just like it was in the 90's, big and sellout full. The bands that play ska now (besides the few big bands), play because they enjoy the music and what it represents and brings to the people.

[Skapitalist]

As far as a repeat of the 90s, you're probably right. Though I think some bands, while getting lots of airtime and popularity, managed to stay pretty legit. If it does become rather popular again, I definitely don't want a bunch of bad pop music being labelled as ska.

The thing I have always loved about ska music is the variety within the genre. There are so many different bands with so many different ideas and directions for ska, and yet they all retain that wonderful ska feeling. As long as that variety remains, I'll be happy.

[dannyc]

I don't know if there will be a fourth wave. Third wave already has so many branches that I think it would be really difficult to have a single type of ska to re-unite them. For example, I'm not too much a fan of skacore, but I love more traditional sounding bands. So, Voodoo Glowskulls might not be my cup of tea, and I could listen to the Slackers for a week without getting tired of them, but they're both considered third wave. So if there was a revival of traditional ska and bands like Westbound Train, The Slackers, Deals Gone Bad, etc. started popping up everywhere, it's still kind of a branch off of third wave, so I don't know if it could really be called "fourth wave".
If there was a band that created something completely new, and that became really big then that could be considered a fourth wave. The problem is that so much has been done in the era of "third wave" that it's hard to make something completely original.

[Skapitalist]

You have a valid point, but I feel like waves are both an innovation of the genre, which is the difficult part as you described, and a surge in popularity. My point is that, if ska music starts becoming popular again and gains a large following, would that be considered a new wave even if the music is largely similar to what has come before? In other words, if ska becomes more popular than radio rock or hip-hop (next to impossible, but bare with me here), but it still has a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd wave sound, is it still a new wave? Anyway, I feel that some bands--such as Streetlight Manifesto, Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, and Bedouin Soundclash, to name a few--are taking ska in a completely new direction. They manage to have a sound unlike any other, while still retaining that skanky ska energy and feel we all know and love. I think it's the almost sophisticated approach they take to the genre. It's like they take it seriously and are trying to make it beautiful, instead of just fun and energetic (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE FUN AND ENERGETIC SKA!). They have a more technical approach, but one that doesn't sacrifice artistry and creativity. I have high hopes for the genre's future. Even if there's never another "wave," I'll listen to ska until the day I die.

[gomezjuan]

i'd like to believe that the Fourth wave has already begun. and its latin ska fused with punk and hardcore. but instead of explaining it. it would be better to see it, so here are a few videos you should listen to get a feel for the new scene which is more "evil and agressive" sounding, ...and i hope you watch all of these videos..
This is just some of Sekta Core music over the years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WjkvuyA6_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn9-Ecl1 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdq2GUER ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIhVTqGB ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHRRArUllfg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQNxtGt3MBs

And these are other artists as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiNmnVcX ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH0ZrOytHDQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHOCj1O ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_U_R-D4drA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-EHyvTm ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTpZBGOhTI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-UXlgsk ... re=related

these are the only videos i could think of off the top of my head...besdies sekta core which is based in mexico most of these band play in Los Angeles...and there are many more that playy backyard and venue shows almost 2 or 3 shows a weekend...with the the early 80's hardcore punk ethics of D.I.Y. shows...let me know of any concerns or just feed back of this hispanic based ska community...