Lyrics, message, good sound keep ska alive
| • | The Toasters back to dishing out more pure ska |
By Catherine E. Toth
Special to the Advertiser
Here are some extra servings from The Advertiser's interview with Robert "Bucket" Hingley of The Toasters:
Q. Your band has done more than 4,000 shows. Grueling?
A. Yeah, it's grueling, but we've got our act down.
Q. Why has ska retained its popularity, even if it's not as mainstream anymore?
A. Its socially conscious lyrics, the message, the good sound. That's all important to kids today. They're the most educated music consumer we've ever seen.
Q. You started a new label, Megalith Records, to promote ska music. How's that going?
A. Quite nicely. We're picking up traditional and 2 Tone ska bands from all over the planet. ... There's still a pretty good contingent in the major cities. The countryside gets a little thin. That's always the case.
Q. Any unusual places you've found a ska contingent?
A. Yeah, Minneapolis. Didn't really expect that.
Q. What kind of music have you been listening to lately?
A. Not much on the radio. Most of the contemporary popular music is terrible. It's just terrible music with terrible messages for our kids. I listen to African, folk, reggae.
Q. What are your plans while in Hawai'i?
A. I plan to eat at Genki Sushi a lot. (Laughs.) And then go to the beach and have a funny drink.
Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.
