Checkered Past: The Ska'd Cast
by Checkered Past
Checkered Past is the #1 Edmonton-based Ska History podcast. Every two (tone) weeks siblings Celine and Rob dig in on a different ska band covering their history, impact and catalogue. Expect a lot of jokes, culture discussions and of course, ska-based puns. Great for new, lapsed and casual listeners of the genre as well as fellow Skaficianados!
Episodes
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Four Year Anniversary Special - The Finale
It's the series finale of CP/SC! Rob, Celine and Joey reminisce on 4 years and 200 episodes of the show before bringing the podcast to a close. They discuss their favorite moments, the episodes the didn't make and the dream guests they missed. It's all capped off with the Roast of Checkered Past!...
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FROM THE SKAULT - The Eichlerverse
For the month of May, Checkered Past is releasing compilations of past episodes From The Skault! Fourth week in and we are giving a true time capsule of CPSC! We compile all 4 episodes featuring fan favorite guest and HyperSka Superstar, Eichlers! It may start innocently enough but the bits…
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FROM THE SKAULT - The Reel Big Trilogy
For the month of May, Checkered Past is releasing compilations of past episodes From The Skault! Third week in and we are going way back to deliver a compilation of the entire trilogy of Reel Big Fish episodes tracing back to our first year in podcasting! If it isn't enough for you, go back and...
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FROM THE SKAULT - The Ska'd-venturer's Guild Trilogy
For the month of May, Checkered Past is releasing compilations of past episodes From The Skault! Second week is the complete Dungeons and Dragons real play we did in 2024 called the Ska'd-venturer's Guild! Featuring all your favorite characters: Large-o Hotstepper, Why'dthey Clocksard, Xena…
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FROM THE SKAULT - The JigSkaNiverse
For the month of May, Checkered Past is releasing compilations of past episodes From The Skault! First, it's a compilation of the connected JigSkaNiverse featuring your favorite Skalloween characters including JigSka, Skaba Yaga and, of course, The Skabadook! Includes: The Skalloween Spooktacular...
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68. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra Parts 4-10
It's a Checkered Past speed run! With 21 albums still to go on Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Celine, Rob and Joey decide to play an epic catch up digging in on the bands history from 2001 to today! They do one track per album discussing the bands various eras, their precision musicianship and…
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TromBonus - 74 - The Police
ACAB... and that includes Sting and the other two guys! On this episode of Checkered Past, Joey and Rob dig in on the ska/reggae sounds of New Wave darlings The Police! They run through the bands brief 7 year, 5 album history from their very punk rock beginnings to their world beat explorations…
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67. Save Ferris Remastered
It's Checkered Past: The Ska'd Cast's 200th episode special! And what better way to celebrate than to do what all music, movies and video games do... with a shot for shot remake! Rob, Celine and Engineer Joey sit down to redo their debut episode on Save Ferris using the exact same notes from the...
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TromBonus - 73 - Jamaican Music Primer
What better way to come down from a bracket about Ska Standards than by exploring the rich musical history of Jamaica? Rob, Celine and Joey sit down to run through the music of the Carribean from the regional folk music it started from to the copious subgenres of reggae to its wide-ranging...
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Madness March 2025 - The Trojan War Finals (w/ Ska Punk International)
The Trojan War concludes with the final week of classic Jamaican Ska! For both the semi-finals and finals, CPSC welcomes back long time collaborator and Ska Punk International proprietor, Chris Reeves! After he catches up the crew on the label and his thoughts about the bracket thus far, they...
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Madness March 2025 - The Trojan War Round 3 (w/ KMoy)
The Trojan War continues into Round 3 for another week of classic Jamaican Ska! For the next 4 matchups, CPSC welcomes back return guest Kayleigh of KMoy and Catbie! Kayleigh catches Rob, Celine and Joey up on her busy year of music and touring along with her thoughts on the current state of the...
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Madness March 2025 - The Trojan War Round 2 (w/ The Marijuana Brass)
The Trojan War continues into Round 2 for another week of classic Jamaican Ska! For the next 8 matchups, CPSC welcomes back return guest Javi aka El Homie of the Marijuana Brass! Javi catches Rob, Celine and Joey up on his life, musical projects and his first thoughts on the bracket. Then, the...
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Madness March 2025 - The Trojan War Round 1 Part 2
Madness March is upon us with another 32 song bracket to crown a winner! This time its to determine the greatest Ska standard of all time! In Round 1 Part 2 Joey, Celine and Rob eliminate 8 more songs of classic Jamaican Ska to advance to Round 2 making some tough, enraging and probably wrong...
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Madness March 2025 - The Trojan War Round 1 Part 1
Madness March is upon us with another 32 song bracket to crown a winner! This time its to determine the greatest Ska standard of all time! In Round 1 Part 1 Joey, Celine and Rob eliminate 8 songs of classic Jamaican Ska to advance to Round 2 making some tough, enraging and probably wrong calls....
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PowerPod - 2 - Germany (1985-1997)
It's finally back! Part 2 of the historical deep dive into Rob's second musical passion: Power Metal! He welcomes back co-host Maz and first timer Engineer Joey to break down the early German scene built around the Big 4, Noise Records and a whole lot of schtick. They go through three major parts...
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TromBonus - 72 - Hoobastank
It's the episode no one asked for! Checkered Past is back to determine again if a big radio rock band was indeed formerly a Ska band. This time around it's about alt-metal balladeers, Hoobastank! Rob and Engineer Joey listen to the entirety of the band's allegedly Ska debut record Basketball…
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Witchy With Michi - 3 - Which Witch With Maz
We welcome once again all Skalestial Beings for a trip through the Skasmos! Celine and Michi aka the Baby Witches return for another skadjacent episode of all things mystical and magikal. On this episode they welcome musician Maz (Femmes Voyous, Ratt Posion, Rekt Betties, Power Pod) to dive into...
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Madness March 2025 Pre-Show
IT HAS RETURNED and this time Checkered Past is going WAY BACK to do a very Old School bracket! In the pre-show for the upcoming bracket, Rob, Celine and Joey start with a little poo talk before diving into all the songs that didn't make the cut. What is the tournament this time? Did Rob cut the...
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TromBonus - 71 - Psychobilly Primer
CPSC finishes its three part January Primer Series with a shallow dive on the fastest genre with an upright bass: Psychobilly! Celine, Rob and Joey run through its history from its first wave in the wake of punk in the UK, to its proliferation in continental Europe in the 80s and 90s to its...
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TromBonus - 70 - Folk Punk Primer
CPSC continues its three part January Primer Series with a shallow dive on the angriest unplugged music of all: Folk Punk! Rob and Joey run through its history from its history with protest music, to its brief foray in the 77 punk scene to its explosion in the 00's! Hosts: Rob and Joey Engineer:...
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TromBonus - 69 - Swing Revival Primer
Nice! We are kicking off our three part January Primer Series with a shallow dive on Ska's 90's sibling, Swing Revival! Rob, Celine and Joey run through its history from the classics that inspired the genre, to its flash in the pan success on pop radio all the way to the club filling Electro…
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Best Of Checkered Past: The Ska'd Cast 2024 - Part 2
The year is over and that means it's time to countdown the listener voted best episodes of CP/SC for 2024! In the second part Rob, Celine and Joey run through numbers 5 through 1 while sharing thoughts and behind the scenes stories on each entrant. Make sure you listen to Part 1 first to hear...
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Best Of Checkered Past: The Ska'd Cast 2024 - Part 1
The year is over and that means it's time to countdown the listener voted best episodes of CP/SC for 2024! In the first part Rob, Celine and Joey run through numbers 10 through 6 while sharing thoughts and behind the scenes stories on each entrant. Tune in next week for numbers 5 through 1!…
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TromBonus - 68 - Skaliday Skanktacular 2024
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE SKABADOOK! In this year's Skaliday episode, the Skabadook finds himself in the woods trying to get one up on JigSka... only he gets more than he bargains for! There's past foes! Movie parodies! Songs? Oh yeah... it's a musical! Spend the holidays with Checkered Past and some...
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66. The Aquabats - Part 1 (w/ The Ska Mailman)
Call the troops cause here's a scoop for you! Checkered Past welcomes back Adam the Ska Mailman to dig in on the costumed superheroes of The Aquabats! First, Adam chats with Rob, Celine and Joey about his new project Lab Brats, his epic TikToks and even... potatoes! Then, the crew digs in on The...
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TromBonus - 67 - Pezz
Time once again to pop sugar tabs from disembodied heads! Checkered Past digs in on the maybe Ska, maybe not Ska debut album of CanCon band Pezz (different Pezz hardcore punk fans!). Rob and Engineer Joey dig in on the bands one and only record, Watoosh! blind listening from front to back. Then,...
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Label She's The Bomb - 1 - Community Records (w/ Stuck Lucky)
By popular demand CPSC is moving up a fan favorite segment to a full length episode in a new series: Label She's The Bomb! For the first iteration Checkered Past welcomes Tennessee Ska-Punkers Stuck Lucky to talk about Community Records! Will and Jonsy start by discussing their Checkered Past…
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TromBonus - 66 - The Fest 22 Special
Back by popular demand our favorite Skacore-respondent (who is also a dog), Maxi Taxi is on the ground at The Fest 22 in Florida to interview concert goers and bands on the ground for another patented series of Back Alley Interviews. Hear interviews with Plastic Flamingos, Hans Gruber and the DIe...
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65. King Prawn (w/ Sonic Boom Six)
Checkered Past is crossing the pond once again to get in touch with our Wildstyle! Rob, Celine and Joey welcome Barney Boom of the one and only Sonic Boom Six to dissect King Prawn! First, Barney discusses his checkered past, the origin of the band and the uniqueness of the London Ska scene.…
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TromBonus - 65 - The Have Nots
It's going to get VERY Boston on this week's CPSC! The crew heads back to the dark ages to shallow dive the ska-influenced tracks of street punkers, The Have Nots! First, Joey picks it up with his recent spat of Faux Doubt shows, then him and Rob dig in on The Have Nots from their…
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64. Mest (w/ Eichlers)
Back for his annual appearance on Checkered Past is the Hyperska Superstar, Eichlers! To kick the episode off he catches Rob and Joey up on his new album Ike World, his various other projects and his new, shocking, musical obsession. Then, the trio dig in on the Ska discography of Mest from their...
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TromBonus - 64 - Skalloween Spooktacular 2024
Checkered Rob's Birthday comes but once a year, and always a round the spookiest season. Engineer Joey has decided HE will make the games and is ready to surprise Rob and Celine for a special games-only episode... but both are missing! Enter Jigska and his nemesis The Skabadook who have their own...
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63. The Chinkees (w/ Aaron Carnes)
It's another Ska Pod crossover! CP/SC welcomes on In Defense of Ska book author and podcast host, Aaron Carnes to discuss Mike Park's The Chinkees. First, Rob and Joey did a brief pick it up before talking to Aaron about his Checkered Past, the new edition of his novel and the early days of his...
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TromBonus - 63 - Midwest Ska Primer
Time for a companion piece to CP/SCs Blue Meanies episode... a primer on the Ska scene in the American Midwest from 1990-2010! First, Celine regales Rob and Joey with her trip to Italy before the trio run through 15 tracks of the weird, the trad and the punk. Rob builds the playlist focusing on…
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62. Blue Meanies (w/ PWRUP)
Checkered Past heads to Illinois to talk about the TV Smashers themselves: Blue Meanies! For the discussion they bring along return guests Aaron, Eric and Justin of Western Mass genre band: PWRUP! They talk about local shows in Edmonton, Eric's Checkered Past and the angular Chicago music scene...
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TromBonus - 62 - Zox
It's time to take a breather from the Heptember bracket to dig in on another dark ages Ska cult classic, Zox! Rob and Engineer Joey do a quick pick it up before digging in on Zox's 00's discography from their ska heavy first album to their Side One Dummy sleeper hit to their indie rock inspired...
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Heptember 2024 - The Reel Big Skirm-ish Finals (w/ Jordan Morris)
The quest to determine the greatest Reel Big Fish cover song finishes with return guest and podcaster extraordinaire, Jordan Morris! The CP/SC crew kicks off with a quick pick it up before chatting with Jordan on his new graphic novel Youth Group, Christian Ska and 90s YA Horror Comedies. Then,...
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Heptember 2024 - The Reel Big Skirm-ish Round 3 (w/ Bad Mary)
The quest to determine the greatest Reel Big Fish cover song continues with first timers, Bad Mary! The CP/SC crew kicks off with a quick pick it up before chatting with Bad Mary on the formation of their band and their new EP Better(er) Days. Then, Rob, Celine, Joey, Amanda and Mike all dig in…
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Heptember 2024 - The Reel Big Skirm-ish Round 2 (w/ Devon Kay)
The quest to determine the greatest Reel Big Fish cover song continues with fan favorite guest, Devon Kay! The CP/SC crew kicks off with a quick pick it up before finding out what's new in the world of Devon Kay and is Ska-djacent project The Solutions. Then, Rob, Celine, Joey and Devon all dig…
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Heptember 2024 - The Reel Big Skirm-ish Round 1 Part 2
It's the continuation of the annual Heptember bracket! This year, CP/SC is on the hunt to determine the greatest Reel Big Fish cover of all time, pitting 32 songs in mortal combat. In Part 2 of Round 1, it's just the Checkered Past Crew as they run through the final 2/3 of the bracket…
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Heptember 2024 - The Reel Big Skirm-ish Round 1 Part 1
It's the debut of the annual Heptember bracket! This year, CP/SC is on the hunt to determine the greatest Reel Big Fish cover of all time, pitting 32 songs in mortal combat. In Part 1 of Round 1, it's just the Checkered Past Crew as they run through 1/3 of the bracket, eliminating tracks as they...
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TromBonus - 61 - Ice Nine Kills
If you're still walking on sunshine then this episode is for you! Rob and Engineer Joey sit down to do a full blind listen of the first two albums by modern metallers Ice Nine Kills! Both have only heard the Reel Big Fish song and are going in completely unaware as they listen to the entire...
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61. Voodoo Glow Skulls - Part 2 (w/ Joystick!)
Hot off their Top 10 episode of 2023, Joystick returns to continue chatting about the one and only Voodoo Glow Skulls! From the airport on their way to a tour of the UK, Bex and Duck share their thoughts on the crowdstrike crash, mall shopping and bad tattoos before diving into VGS for a second...
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Heptember 2024 - Pre-Show
Heptember is BACK for 2024! Rob, Celine and Joey sit down to prepare for another month long bracket to determine the best song by a band! In the pre-show they go through this year's band's side projects, other bands and the songs that didn't make the cut to mentally prepare themselves for the...
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TromBonus - 60 - In Defense Of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Don't be scared by the title! In light of the controversies surrounding Bosstones singer Dicky, Rob makes an impassioned plea to reconsider the scene contributions of the bands legacy. First, Rob and Engineer Joey pick it up with a conversation about he carnival and IMAX movies before doing a...
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CP/SC Presents - The Real Banana Man H
It's a very special episode of Checkered Past! On this episode we invite in the man who was the first ever to wear the famed Banana Suit and dance at Ska shows: The Real Banana Man H! He walks through the early days of the scene, his business making banana juice cleanses for celebrities and his...
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TromBonus - 59 - Post-Third Wave Primer
What is Post-Third Wave you ask? Why it's a subgenre coined by Checkered Rob of course! It's a regional Ska-Punk boom that existed between 1999 and 2005 after the death of mainstream Ska and before the advent of the true Dark Ages. It consisted of bands that were in high school or college, made...
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60. Big D and the Kids Table - Part 1 (w/ Runaway Ricochet)
Hey elitists from the internet! Checkered Past is finally tackling one of the most requested subject bands: Big D and the Kids Table! To help with the discussion, Rob, Celine and Joey welcome Saxton of Prog Ska Midwesterners, Runaway Ricochet! They dig into Saxtons history with Ska, the evolution...
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TromBonus - 58 - The Potato Pirates
Take a deep breath, cause we are heading to the Mile High City to drink, fight and play the bagpipes! That's right CP/SC is talking about Dark Ages Ska-Punksters, The Potato Pirates! Rob and Engineer Joey kick off the episode with a rare sports talk and the hockey atmosphere of Edmonton. Then…
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SPI Fest 2024 - Back Alley Interviews
It's the third part of a three part series detailing Checkered Past's trip to SPI Fest 2024! On the third episode, it's a return of the fan favorite back alley interviews from SPI Fest 2023. This year the featured interviews include The Marijuana Brass, Bad Mary, The Ska Mailman, PWRUP and The…
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About this show
Checkered Past is the #1 Edmonton-based Ska History podcast. Every two (tone) weeks siblings Celine and Rob dig in on a different ska band covering their history, impact and catalogue. Expect a lot of jokes, culture discussions and of course, ska-based puns. Great for new, lapsed and casual listeners of the genre as well as fellow Skaficianados!
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Checkered Past