NY Ska Memories w/ Marco on the Bass!

I got the opportunity to talk on some Ska memories with the amazing blogger and bassist,  Marco on the Bass (also known for his integral affiliations w Bigger Thomas, Rude Boy George and Heavensbee) His new podcast Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Podcast is getting us amped up his new book, Ska Boom: An Oral History About the Birth of American Ska & Reggae which should be dropping in 2021. From talking to him I realized that Checkerboard Kids will be 25 in September. We should definitely do something about that in the future. But for now take a listen to this!!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1336366/5708557-ska-boom-episode-004-the-checkerboard-kids-show-phil-dejean

Checkerboard Kids gets Rude Boy George (2014)

If you don't know Rude Boy George yet, let me enlighten you. It's a cool supergroup comprised of members of Across The Aisle, Bigger Thomas, the Duff Guide to Ska and Marco on the Bass!  What's the hook you may ask? They do 80's New Wave tunes in a ska stylee. Tomorrow night they will be on the Checkerboard Kids Program. Don't fret if you miss it.  I'll be sure to post it all online if you can't get MNN where you are. Here is a sample of the action:

… And yeah they even get me to do a lil' singing and skanking on the dance floor! I couldn't resist!

Major props go out to the MNNStaff, Especially Drew and Roberto. My crew is equally off the hook: Anne Marie Offer on camera, Paul Ortiz on robocam, my homegirl Jeany Lee on switching and Rolling Rhinos own Vince Lombardi in the directors chair! I am so grateful for my posse! It makes me proud to put great music on the air lo these many years!

Don't Know What Ska Is?

I just did a fun webisode with Alicia American where we speak about Ska Music. Note: I am no skaologist.  for that I defer to my homegirl Michelle at NYC Ska (http://www.nycska.com/)

Americast 88: Ska Lessons with Checkerphil

The Coolest Ska Blog ever!

No! I didn't write it! it's by Marco from Bigger Thomas! He uses his Ska influence to procure the choicest interviews, pictures, whatever!Its the nuttiest Ska blog around! He even is running a little interview with moi! Do I dig saying "dig" that much? Crikey! In any case go to http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2008/06/phil-esquire-nyc-ska-icon-cable-access.html It rules!

Pilfers/ Bigger Thomas / Ghost Front @ Knitting Factory

Last night I had the pleasure of MCeeing the Pilfers newest reunion at Knitting factory with a percentage going to National Hopeline Network There was such a positive vibration going on! So shout outs go to the entire Bigger Thomas Massive, Roy Radics, Shay, TC, Kevin Batchelor, Snow White, (Former Toasters Drummer) J-Mac who is in Ghost Front with this dude that sounds like Robert Smith from the Cure (with less whine) My homey Skarno and I agree awesome band! And he's a mad music snob yo! Also DC Ska Girl, Michelle from the NYC Ska myspace, anybody friendly that said "Hi!", the young ladies upstairs who love dancing and that security guy who shut that drunk girl down (It had to be done!) I'm listening to "Flicker" on Plifers MySpace page it's fantastic the live version yesterday really had me hyped!! Speaking o' Flikr I have mad pictures from last night up so peep it out! Right now I'm working on the logistics of getting Pilfers on the TV in February!