Hell of a Hat: The Rise of ’90s Ska and Swing

by Kenneth Partridge

In the late '90s, third-wave ska broke across the American alternative music scene like a tsunami. In sweaty clubs across the nation, kids danced themselves dehydrated to the peppy rhythms and punchy horns of bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish. As ska caught fire, a swing revival brought even more sharp-dressed, brass-packing bands to national attention. Hell of a Hat dives deep into this unique musical moment.

Prior to invading the Billboard charts and MTV, ska thrived from Orange County, California, to NYC, where Moon Ska Records had eager rude girls and boys snapping up every release. On the swing tip, retro pioneers like Royal Crown Revue had fans doing the jump, jive, and wail long before The Brian Setzer Orchestra resurrected the Louis Prima joint. Drawing on interviews with heavyweights like the Bosstones, Sublime, Less Than Jake, and Cherry Poppin' Daddies--as well as underground heroes like Mustard Plug, The Slackers, Hepcat, and The New Morty Show--Kenneth Partridge argues that the relative economic prosperity and general optimism of the late '90s created the perfect environment for fast, danceable music that--with some notable exceptions--tended to avoid political commentary.

An homage to a time when plaids and skankin' were king and doing the jitterbug in your best suit was so money, Hell of a Hat is an inside look at '90s ska, swing, and the loud noises of an era when America was dreaming and didn't even know it.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2021

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! This book brought back a ton of memories & reminded me of how incredible the Adjusters are, even though they were only briefly mentioned. It had me playing songs that I haven’t listened to in a million years (I know ska isn’t cool anymore but some of these songs are still really good, sorry!!!). Recommended for everyone who was a ska kid in the late 90’s, for sure.

[Maire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and brings the nostalgia

[Jaimes Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the stories behind The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and their song 'The Impression That I get', to The Royal Crown Revue band and their experiences on the set of The Mask film with Zoot suits; and to generations growing up oblivious to who Elvis or Sinatra are (page 71) this book is full of 2-Tone wisdom!

''Ska as entertainment, and as a vehicle for social change.'' (page 96) ''Reviving the Ska Against Racism banner amid the COVID-19 lockdown.'' ''It's something that even during the pandemic, we can get behind, and through the power of music, we can still make a difference.'' (page 101)

This book is packed with listening recommendations, so much so that you may find yourself stopping on a regular basis during reading to hunt down said songs for later! (be nice if there was a online playlist to accompany this book... Hint*)

Overall, this is a genuinely wonderful book and a testament to the rich history of Ska, and one-hundred-percent worth staying awake all night to read! (It's now 5am and sleep beckons me)

[koza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda disappointing. Much as I can relate to the urges to geek out about the Bosstones and write a love letter to Vic Ruggiero, I don't really know who this book is for. Billboard rankings, some cobbled-together interviews, a weakly-supported thesis that the third wave happened because people were... happy, maybe? Too nerdy for the average reader, too skimpy on anything new for a ska kid (admittedly, I skipped the swing chapters). Focuses on mainstream success and sales rather than trying to describe the scene the way Pick It Up did, so it all feels a bit hollow. I agree with the reviewers who noted you can build a decent playlist from it, though.

Think I'm going to have to write In Defense of Reel Big Fish...

[MH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter covers a handful of third-wave ska or neo-swing acts from the 90s - it's a lot of interviews with musicians telling their stories. And they have a lot of feelings about being part of a very, very brief moment where suddenly ska and swing were on MTV and going platinum (some still cheerfully gigging, some looking back fondly, some very bitter, and more than a few wanting to talk about why THEIR band was more authentic than others and that they didn't want to sell out, anyway). Partridge is a friendly writer, and his goal is to provide a bunch of bands with a bunch of narratives rather than analyze the times and the scenes - I sort of wish, though, he had focused on one sub-culture or the other and spent more time exploring the cultural meanings of these scenes, because when he does he's really sharp, but the book's kind of a must-have for people who love these 'hats and horns' scenes.

[Chris Donaghey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who made an Angelfire fan page for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in the late ‘90s, I’m likely biased here. Partridge does a great job covering innumerable important ska and swing artists of the sound’s breakthrough into the mainstream during the Clinton administration, a development that shocks me to this day. He doesn’t spend too much time on any one group, though highlights those who received the most widespread attention. I feel like creating a playlist on Spotify after this quick <250 page read. Also, suffice to say, I feel like skankin’. #ReleaseTheHorns

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would have been a quick read, but for numerous breaks to consult spotify and subsequently fall down rabbit holes of long-forgotten bands and songs. What an absolute pleasure cruise of 90s nostalgia. Thanks to this book I now have a playlist with several dozen lost gems that also includes some new to me discoveries. It's hard to believe some of these songs ever cracked mainstream airplay, and I enjoyed reading the author's theories about why the conditions were just right for that to happen.

[Nick Spacek · Rating 4 out of 5]

partridge's inclusion of the swing movement which was contemporaneous to the '90s ska revival really demonstrates just how big a deal big bands with horns who made you dance were for a couple years. focusing on the prevalence of bands with a big presence on mtv and the radio allows for a streamlined approach to his material, but he's still willing to digress here and there to mention smaller acts, which gives hell of a hat the sense that there was more to this than just what you might remember.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are or were a fan of ska then this is the book for you. Particularly if you were into the 3rd wave 90's version of ska and swing. I enjoyed this book a lot and as a bonus it introduced me to some bands that I had somehow missed the first time around.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

hooray for horns

[Kenny Plont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenneth does an excellent job of covering two stigmatized music scenes from the 90s. He does a great job of covering a lot of ground, while keeping it cohesive and engaging to read. Most importantly, it destigmatizes ska and swing, while still pointing out some of the obvious flaws and ongoing conversations about cultural appropriation and cultural exchange (see the discussion surrounding CPD's "Zoot Suit Riot"). He also touches on the anti-racist politics of 90s ska acts like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which was often was overshadowed by white, suburbanite ska punk's stereotypical dorkiness and oversaturation of bands, who were trying to find the fleeting fame that heavyweights such as Reel Big Fish, No Doubt and Goldfinger experienced during this era. Kenneth hits the nail on the head. Highly recommend this book.