Jamaica Ska, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires (1964) Byron Aloysius St. Elmo Lee formed the Dragonaires while attending St. George’s College in the early 1950s. Originally playing mento Jamaican music, they expanded into calypso, soca, rock steady, reggae and ska. Their recording of Jamaica Ska was covered by Fishbone (with Annette Funicello) in the 1987 schlock comedy Back to the Beach.
The Skatalites‘ tribute to Christine Keeler at the Uptown Nightclub, Oakland, California, April 2012. Formed in 1964 in Jamaica, this immortal group is still performing. Doreen Shaffer “the Queen of Ska” remains the only original Skatalite in the current lineup.
“A mixture of roots rock, vintage blues, and swampy Bayou boogie,” The Delta Saints formed in Nashville in 2007 “to play some music and drink some beer.” They built a strong following, released some records, then went on hiatus in 2018 to raise chillun and pursue other interests.
“David is a great blues player. I like his style!” – Johnny Winter Canadian singer, songwriter and bluesman David Gogo began playing guitar at the age of five; at 15 he met and was encouraged by Stevie Ray Vaughan; a year later he formed his first band. He’s won numerous awards, including six JUNOs (despite EMI spiking his solo album in the US).
News of the Week: Men are vying for WNBA positions, there’s trouble on the USS Abraham Lincoln, and the WWI Memorial on the National Mall was vandalized. Trump got to ride in a catering truck, and his name is going back onto the Kennedy Center. Marco Rubio received an autographed MarcoMeme collection, and a solar eclipse snubbed the US. These stories and more might or might not but probably won’t be discussed in depth at the Time of the Porch tomorrow. See you there.
*UPDATE: Apparently I’m the only one in the world who still plays Flip The Day of the Week Day. The .Gif Friday Post will appear tomorrow, and Porch Time is scheduled for Sunday as usual.
Pressure Drop, The Clash (1979) “Now when it drops on your dirty little head (oh yeah)
Where you gonna go?” In 1979, premier UK punk group The Clash covered The Maytals’ 1969 hit.
She’s Gone to Napoli, Laurel Aitken (1963) Dubbed The Godfather of Ska (and later Boss Skinhead) Cuban-Jamaican Lorenzo “Laurel” Aitken moved to the UK in 1960 and dropped 15 singles before heading back to Jamaica three years later. He returned to the UK in 1970 and continued performing and recording until his death in 2005.
Tom Waits being Tom Waits. Video from 2012 is reminiscent of the digital animation template showcased here.
Eliza Stark & The Dappers: “The only rockabilly band based in Montenegro. A classic trio of guitar, drums and hot chick slapping double bass and regular guests of national TV and festivals, they also well-known for their true and original music far beyond the borders of Montenegro.” – ES & The D Facebook Page
One of the top ska bands of the UK, Bad Manners are still performing (and celebrating their 50th year). It appears that frontman Buster Bloodvessel chose to sit this one out.
I got the porch if you got the time. Be there or be an equilateral rhomboid.
It’s a song about revenge, but in the form of karma: If you do bad things to innocent people, then bad things will happen to you. The title was a phrase I used to say. If someone done me wrong, rather than fight them like a warrior, I’d say: ‘The pressure’s going to drop on you.’—Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert
The end of a long year deserves a playlist to bring in the new one, so here’s a compilation of tunes that tugged on my earballs in 2025. Each set is in chronological order by date of recording.
Set 1 – January, February, March & April
Set 2 – May, June, July & August
Set 3 – September, October, November & December
I omitted seasonal tunes from the Halloween and Christmas playlists. Last year’s playlist (2024) is here, and the 2023 EoY list is here.
And one more thing:
May You Have a Happy & Prosperous New Year!
[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of these recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only.]
SKAyway is a band from Makati, Philippines, that plays “punkSKAdelic music twisted with reggae, blues, swing and rock.”
Krakin’ Kellys is a Belgian Celtic punk pub brawl band that has generated a lot of attention since their formation in 2017 for their mix of traditional Irish tavern sounds with skate punk energy.
Just a few more days to get stuff wrapped and to the post office so gifts don’t arrive really late. I was thinking about doing it tomorrow, but the porch is calling. You know the drill. Noonish o’clock. There. Be.
Award-winning bassist, singer/songwriter Lisa Mann grew up in West Virginia, moved to Portland, Oregon. She says the song is based on a true story, so it’s either about a boyfriend’s addictions, his a-ho buddies, or both.
From his bio: “Guitarist Joe Hodgson hails from the village of Ballymagorry in Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His music, shaped by his upbringing during The Troubles, mirrors the fierce rain and winds of the Emerald Isle. It is both sweeping and intense, boldly blending rock, blues, jazz, and Irish traditions into finely crafted instrumentals.”
On 14 June 1775, 250 years ago, the United States Army was founded.
Happy anniversary to the greatest protector of freedom and liberty in the world:“This We’ll Defend!”
Lotta stuff to cover at porch time tomorrow. See you then and there.
Tacky Raccoons 