The CCM to Ska Pipeline (ft. Aaron Carnes) episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 22, 2025 · 56 MIN

The CCM to Ska Pipeline (ft. Aaron Carnes)

from Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music · host Andrew Gill and Leah Payne

Aaron Carnes is an expert on ska, but is self-aware enough that his book (and podcast) are called In Defense of Ska. Like Christian rock, when folks admit to liking ska they often brace for being mocked. Aaron knows something about both worlds since he was only allowed to listen to CCM growing up. This conversation is wide-ranging, covering the roots of ska (Madness didn't invent it), the waves of reinvention it has survived and how it was put to use by Christians to good effect (Five Iron Frenzy, The Israelites, Runforyerlife) and questionable effect (The OC Supertones, B.O.B.). Plus a little story about Sonseed.----Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at (629) 204-4264.If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdrIf you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing [email protected] up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.Buy RTDR merch here.

Aaron Carnes is an expert on ska, but is self-aware enough that his book (and podcast) are called In Defense of Ska. Like Christian rock, when folks admit to liking ska they often brace for being mocked. Aaron knows something about both worlds since he was only allowed to listen to CCM growing up.  This conversation is wide-ranging, covering the roots of ska (Madness didn't invent it), the waves of reinvention it has survived and how it was put to use by Christians to good effect (Five Iron Frenzy, The Israelites, Runforyerlife) and questionable effect (The OC Supertones, B.O.B.). Plus a little story about Sonseed. ---- Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at (629) 204-4264. If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount) Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show. You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing [email protected] Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments. Buy RTDR merch here.

NOW PLAYING

The CCM to Ska Pipeline (ft. Aaron Carnes)

0:00 56:16

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music?

This episode is 56 minutes long.

When was this Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music episode published?

This episode was published on October 22, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Aaron Carnes is an expert on ska, but is self-aware enough that his book (and podcast) are called In Defense of Ska. Like Christian rock, when folks admit to liking ska they often brace for being mocked. Aaron knows something about both worlds since...

Can I download this Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!