It's the leather year of Checkered Past: The Ska'd Cast! For this very special episode, Celine, Rob and Joey welcomes long time guest Kayleigh of KMoy and first timer Javi of The Marijuana Brass for a long form interview. They cover a range of topics such as the state of New Tone, their individual journeys in a DIY scene and the culmination of hard…

Things are about to get hyper as CP/SC tackles the high energy mania of Japanese Ska Punk! Rob and Engineer Joey do a pick it up about pinball before diving into the world of J-Ska from the mid-90's to the modern day. They go through its Third Wave influenced beginnings to its proliferation on MySpace to its penetration into the Japanese mainstream…

CP/SC concludes its thrilling Ska-ified Dungeons and Dragons real play with this the final episode! Large-oh Hotstepper, Xena Stefani and Whydthey Clocksard face their final challenges to save their idol from the clutches of a devious fiend. A Battle of the Bands! A Final Boss! Bathrooms! It's truly a finale to remember! Go back and listen to episo…

Do the Pod Kung Fu Checkerheads! Checkered Past is diving into dark ages Canadian Ska darlings, The Salads! Rob and Engineer Joey kick off with a quick talk on video games and U-hauls before digging deep on this fascinating success story of a musical group from their funk-metal-ska beginnings to their crunchy party records to their final, laid-back…

The Ska'd-venture begins on another CPSC Dungeons and Dragons Realplay! Rob, Celine and Joey take their erstwhile band and characters to see their favourite musician perform when something unexpected thrusts them into adventure. There's flying imps, devils and maybe even a bong. How will Whydthey, Large-oh and Xena ever survive? Go back and listen …

Anata mo watashi mo POCKY! Checkered Past is digging in on the international Dark Ages Ska hit, OreSkaBand! To help, they welcome their Skassociate Producer and label magnate, Chris Reeves of Ska Punk International! Chris talks a bit about sports before going through whats new with the label and what people can expect from SPI Fest 2. Then, Rob, Ce…

CP/SC is selling out! Rob, Celine and Joey do a Dungeons and Dragons real play with friend and theme song creator, Keelan as Dungeon Master. In this, the session 0, the CP/SC crew craft their characters, delve into the world and do a first draft encounter in preparation for their first full adventure! It's DnD with a Ska twist! Tune in April 30 and…

Hope you didn't skip leg day cause its about to get heavy! CP/SC heads to the clam pizza capital of the world to dig in on cult darlings, The Flaming Tsunamis. To help discuss, they welcome back third timer Chris Ruckus and to talk about his new anime/ska/metal group Mutiny. First they catch up with a discussion on The Jinx, the Station Fire and wh…

Gay Rude Boys Unite as CP/SC digs in on the impassioned micro-genre of Crack Rock Steady. Rob, Engineer Joey and Editor Arianne open up the episode with a quick check in before diving in to the scene thats all about ACAB, recreational drug use, mental health and communal living. They go through the genres history from its origins with Choking Victi…

The Two Tone-ament concludes with the semi-finals and finals! The greatest Two Tone records single is crowned with Rob, Engineer Joey and first time guest Eevie Echoes! First, Eevie recounts her Checkered Past, the impetus of her new band The Locations and her history with Two Tone Ska. Then, the trio eliminate songs until they crown the ultimate v…

The Two Tone-ament nears its inevitable conclusion with the penultimate episode! This week we invite Andy B of Andy B and the World (plus so many other UK Ska-Punk projects). Andy talks about his Checkered Past, skate punk and morning routines before digging into the next 4 matchups. The CP/SC crew advances the quarterfinals before capping off with…

The Two Tone-ament continues as the CPSC progresses the second round of the bracket to determine the greatest 2 Tone Single of all time! To help, they bring along fan favourite guest Esteban Flores of Matamoska, Catbite and Out of Control Army! Esteban catches the crew up on what he's been working on, new fatherhood and upcoming festivals before di…

The Two Tone-ament continues with the second half of Part 1! In this episode the CP/SC crew eliminate another 8 songs from the bracket in an effort to crown the greatest Two Tone Single of all time! First they do more BookTalk before delving into the match-ups all while discussing whether or not the winning song need to be Ska at all! Tune in on al…

Madness March is BACK and this time CP/SC is going to determine the greatest Two Tone Records single of all time! In Round 1 Part 1, Robby Radiation, Celynval Golding and Joey Dammers pit the first 16 singles in head to head battle to lead into Round 2. They also ask the immortal question... does it have to be Ska to win? Tune in all March long to …

Why DON'T you play some Ska? Checkered Past presents their third ska primer, this time heading across the pond to explore Ska in the UK from 1998 to 2020. Rob and Engineer Joey chat a bit about movies and AI before delving into the UK's storied history with Ska after Two Tone from the street level Ska Punk of Citizen Fish and Capdown to the dub/reg…

Melodica Gang rise up! Checkered Past's favorite guest, Common Sense Kid is back and this time he isn't on a bracket! So in order to celebrate this momentous occasion he sets his sights on one of the most influential Ska Punk bands of the UK, Capdown! There is lots of talk about beans, CSK's performance on the 2023 Best Ofs, and where he's at in hi…

It's that time of year again... Madness March! Every year Checkered Past runs a bracket of 32 songs eliminating each until a winner is crowned. The pre-show is all about the side projects, solo projects and other hustles associated with the subject of the bracket. What is the theme for 2024? You will have to listen to this episode to find out! Host…

It's the debut of a new Checkered Past spinoff podcast, PowerPod! Rob of the CP/SC crew welcomes Edmonton musician and singer-songwriter, Maz as his co-host to begin a multi-part history of an infamous musical genre: Power Metal! In the first episode, they go through the history of hard rock and heavy metal and how it eventually shaped into what we…

Don't worry about that metalhead in the parking lot, Checkered Past is talking about the legendary Chicago Ska Punk band Slapstick! But rather than just talk about the band themselves, Rob and Joey go through the infamous Slapstick Family Tree and discuss the many offshoots, derived bands and side projects that all splintered off. It's a fascinatin…

Remember as a child when certain TV shows would come on and you'd hear some upbeats and it wasn't until you were an adult that you realized that it was Ska? Checkered Past Remembers! Rob and Engineer Joey play a series of television clips in which Ska was mentioned, played or dunked on as a joke... mostly the latter! It's a discussion on Ska's plac…

It's that time of year again! Rob, Celine and Engineer Joey countdown the best episodes of 2023 as voted by the listeners! In the second installment they go through episodes 5 through 1 all while playing clips, reminiscing of the past year and giving the listeners a peak behind the curtain on how the podcast comes together. Hosts: Celine, Rob and J…

It's that time of year again! Rob, Celine and Engineer Joey countdown the best episodes of 2023 as voted by the listeners! In the first installment they go through episodes 10 through 6 all while playing clips, reminiscing of the past year and giving the listeners a peak behind the curtain on how the podcast comes together. Tune in next week for ep…

Another year and another Holiday Special from CPSC! This year, Engineer Joey is preparing for the episode when Evil Chris interrupts to enact a plan of such malice to upend all of Ska as we know it! Joey is then thrust into an adventure across the Multiverse of Ska (re: Skaltiverse) with only his magic Vape Pen to restore order and get back to his …

Don't watch your 10... watch your back as Checkered Past digs in on highly influential Canadian Ska band, The Kingpins! In this special episode, Engineer Joey takes over hosting duties with Celine as they welcome returning guest, The Ghost of Ska Past to do some much needed Ska history! First they catch up the listener on Ska Past's Checkered Past,…

It's the annual CPSC Year-End wrapper and this year we decided to do something different... we went to our socials and the Checkerheads to get a list of favourite random stuff of 2023 and we spin a wheel to determine which one we answer! Along the way, Celine, Rob, Engineer Joey and Editor Arianne select a few non-Ska songs that they liked in the y…

Is Sugar Ray Ska? In order to answer this earth shattering question, CPSC welcomes back thirdtimer, and HyperSka Superstar, Eichlers! But first, Ike catches the crew up on his last year, his tour of Japan and what new music he's listening to. Then, Rob, Celine, Engineer Joey and Ike dig in on the entirety of Sugar Ray's career with a focus on the l…

It's the best fest with the number that doesn't match its year! Once again CPSC has enlisted a trusty Checkerhead to put boots on the ground at another major festival to do some patented Back Alley Interviews! Our Skacore-respondent this time is our resident talking dog, Maxi Ska Taxi who asks inane questions to both concert goers and musicians ali…

Who do voodoo we do?! Checkered Past finally digs in on legendary Riverside Skacore band, Voodoo Glow Skulls! To help with the discussion they welcome Bex, Andy and Duck of the one and only Joystick! But first, they dig in on Duck's checkered past, how Bex and Andy joined up with Joystick! and the group's new firebrand EP, Dwell! Then, Rob, Celine,…

You wanted more Back Alley Interviews and you got 'em! Rob and Celine interview a bevvy of guests live from The Catbite show in Edmonton! From the studio they share stories from the show, play music from the bands that played and bumper each interview with typical CPSC nonsense. Guests include Ben from Minivandal, Nina aka Yours, Sincerely, KMoy an…

This one's for the kids of the mulitculture! Checkered Past heads over to Manchester to deep dive on the genre defying discography of Sonic Boom Six! To help in the discussion they welcome back Michi and Diglo of equally genre-defying band Mega Infinity! First, they discuss their new record, the differing music style that define their music and eve…

It's October again and time for another Halloween Special! To celebrate, Celine and Joey plan on surprising Rob for a birthday celebration! They have invited guests a plenty to share in the magic but unfortunately, Rob has disappeared yet again. Instead, an old friend shows up to enact his vengeance from last year but unfortunately, he gets more th…

Listen, Checkerhead, Listen! Checkered Past digs in on the brief but explosive history of one of East Coast Ska darlings, Skavoovie and the Epitones! To help break the band down, Rob and Joey welcome Carmela of off-kilter East Coast skasters, Sgt Scag! Carmela talks about her checkered past, trip-hop and the triumphant return of Scag with their new…

Did CP/SC make it down to the biggest Ska festival of the year? Well, no, but we did enlist our special Skacore-respondent Chipzen Zolsa to put boots on the ground for Checkered Past's patented Skanzo journalism! Rob, Celine and Joey listen back to the antics as Chip interviews festival goers, musicians and promoters at the Supernova International …

Take a little ride on Checkered Past to continue the three part exploration of legendary New York Ska institution The Toasters! Rob and Engineer Joey welcome back Ska wunderkind, KMoy to break down the early 90s era of the group. First, Kenny catches the CP/SC crew up on their last year, tell several more tour stories and talks about their evolutio…

Stop pretending you're a superman and start listening to Checkered Past! Rob, Celine and Joey breakdown the entire discography of Ska-sometimers, Goldfinger! They listen to tracks from their early SoCal days to their more political departure to straight punk to their modern supergroup personas. All the while they talk about the podcast frenemy, Fel…

What better way to decide the greatest NOFX song of all time then with the biggest cast of guests yet? Rob, Celine and Joey welcome 80% of Western Mass Skacore band PWRUP! Justin, Gary, Aaron and Jeff discuss their checkered pasts, the impetus of their band and their new singles and album on Ska Punk International. Then the whole cadre dig in on th…

It's the Quarterfinals of Punk In Bracket: the month long tournament to determine the greatest NOFX Ska song of all time! To judge the next 4 matchups, the CP/SC crew invites along Chris Graue aka Lo(u)ser to progress the next batch of songs to the semi-finals! First, Chris catches up the CP/SC crew on his live show since his SPI Fest set, his chec…

After a grueling two week first round, CP/SC is ready for Round 2 of Heptember 2023: Punk In Bracket! To progress the next 8 matchups to determine the greatest NOFX Ska song, the gang welcomes back perennial second rounder, Common Sense Kid! Craig catches the crew up on his US excursion, his first live shows and what's in store for his future. Then…

Punk In Bracket marches along as CP/SC continues their odyssey to uncover the greatest NOFX Ska song of all time! In this second part of Round 1, Rob, Celine and Joey work to eliminate another 8 tracks to lock in the songs that will progress to Round 2. Along the way they discuss weird music videos, create the genre of "Hyperbilly" and figure out w…

It's time for another bracket and this Heptember, CP/SC is pitting 32 NOFX Ska songs against each other to determine the greatest of all time! In Round 1 Part 1, Rob, Celine and Joey blind listen to the first 16 tracks to move to Round 2. They discuss what they look for in a NOFX ska song, cultural non-appropriation and self deprecation all while m…

Handds up, fists high, headphones on, volume up! Checkered Past is ready to tackle the one-and-done Ska of Toronto's The Flatliners! In this TromBonus, Rob and Engineer Joey break down the Flatliners debut Destroy to Create, their B-sides and their change in styles over the years. They also touch on the bands live show, their current stance of Ska …

Men die as dogs die Checkerheads! CP/SC welcomes back Ska keyboard phenom, Esteban Flores to run through another batch of records by legendary Ska band, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra! Rob welcomes guest co-host, Skassociate Producer Chris Reeves to dive in to the bands late 90s fare, from the city pop of Tokyo Strut to the vocal-based Arkestra befor…

Another year, another glorious Ska-Punk song bracket to enrage the Checkerheads over! This year, the CP/SC crew pits 32 songs by Ska-sometimesers NOFX in a head to head March Madness bracket to crown the ultimate NOFX ska song! For the pre-show, Rob, Celine and Joey go through NOFX's history from their Epitaph beginnings to their political years to…

Honk honk calling all Canadian Geese! Checkered Past welcomes return guest Ben of Saskatchewan skasters Minivandal to continue their discussion on The Mad Caddies! Ben catches Rob and first time co-host Arianne on what his band has been up to, the journey through COVID in creating their new album Fuel Me Twice and how he defines his genre of "Skalt…

Grab your best purple, immigrant punks! Checkered Past does a shallow dive of the Skadjacent discography of Gypsy Punks, Gogol Bordello! Celine and Rob run through their catalogue from their indie roots, to their blockbuster releases on Side One Dummy to their major label years and ending on their most recent return to the indies... all while going…

You get this podcast for nothin and the jokes for free! Checkered Past finishes off their trilogy of episodes on the poster children of third wave Ska, Reel Big Fish! To discuss the band's later years, Rob and co-host Engineer Joey welcome Gary of Backyard Superheroes and the On the Upbeat Podcast! First, Gary discusses his checkered past, his long…

Hot off the heels of the band's new Ska playlist, Checkered Past sticks their middle fingers up at governments to talk about punk rockers Anti-Flag! Rob, Celine and Joey run through Anti-Flags discography from their street punk early days to their major label flirtations to their indie return all the while playing songs and picking into the group's…

It's CanCon baby! CP/SC finally gives the card to the man and the band that started it all for Ska in Canada... King Apparatus! To help the discussion, Rob and co-host Engineer Joey welcome Courtney and Aaron of Trad-Ska band The Prizefighters! They discuss their checkered pasts, the dark ages of ska and the generally made up divide between trad an…

The CP/SC spinoff, Witchy With Michi returns for episode 2! For this iteration Celine and her co-host, Michi (of Mega Infinity) welcome tarot reader/intuitive/spiritual translator Jenny The Mermaid Mystic! The BB Witches do Checkered Past with tarot followed by tarot readings from their guest and ending with a game of tarot taboo and listener quest…

Time to re-enter the Jeff Rosenstock-verse as Checkered Past dives in on the highly influential and brief run of Long Island Ska Punkers, Arrogant Sons of Bitches! To do this, Rob and Celine welcome Ilan of Indica In Decay and Sad Snack to break down the band's entire run from their rough hewn debut, to their flurry of EPs to their problem-riddled …