Ska will not die – and thank the heavens for that. Following the recent success of The Interrupters, as well as the continued output from legendary acts like Toots & The Maytals (R.I.P. Toots Hibbert), The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and The English Beat, the genre continues to find new fans and influence new bands.
The latest band to carry the banner proudly is 7-piece Orange Country group Bite Me Bambi. Fronted by singer/actress Tahlena Chikami, the made up of veterans from groups like Save Ferris and My Superhero, the group started releasing their first songs last year and have continued into this year with the release of their latest single “Hot Lava” (as well as a Japanese-language version of the track). The first thing one notices is Chikami’s perfect vocals, which add a sugary pop-punk relatability to the tracks. On “Hot Lava”, she coos and seduces with insta-hooks, while the band holds down a skanking groove.
“Crazy” rips with its opening riffs, and then moves into a classic ska beat, and a chorus that sounds right out of the heyday of 90’s third wave ska. And lyrically, the group finds the seedy humor of groups like Reel Big Fish on the pumped up “Strippers on Sunday”. And while only available on Bandcamp, definitely check out their fantastic contribution to the Ska Against Racism compilation, “Carried Away”. It also needs to be said that the production on these songs is exquisite, giving them a smooth and crisp sound that makes them syrupy and addictive.
Take a listen to the next big ska band in our Bad Ass Break-Outs Playlist!
The Indy Review 
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