The Witzard

DOOM REgulator painting (ART CREDIT: Ryan Callisto @moonofjupiterart) Operation Ivy—often, affectionately know as simply "Op Ivy" —were only active for two years in-between 1987-89, but have remined one of the most influential Ska Punk/Hardcore eevr since their all too brief tenture. Op Ivy's Lint AKA Tim Armstrong and Matt McCall AKA Matt Freeman would go on to play in Rancid together, who are still actively recording and touring some 32 years later. Armstrong and Op Ivy vocalist Jesse Michaels briefy reunited in 2013 on a song called "Living In A Dangerous Land" as part of his extensive Tim Timebomb & Friends singles series and again in 2022 to play a rendition of "Sound System" as backed by The Interrupters at Musack's Rock "N" Roll Carnival. Armstrong & Michaels additionally co-wrote a handful of songs together for UK Punks Grade 2, which appeared strewn across Graveyard Island , Graveyard Island: Acoustic Sessions, and Gr...

Jesse Michaels is most widely known as the frontman of seminal "East Bay" Ska Punk band, Operation Ivy, which featured both Tim "Lint" Armstrong & Matt "McCall" Freeman, who would later go on to form Rancid. Operation Ivy (or Op Ivy) were only active from about 1987-89, but their '89 debut, Energy—later, re-packaged as Operation Ivy in 1991 and 2007 with additional EP and compilation tracks—helped shape the 90's Ska Punk genre and is often cited as one of the most influential releases across the genre. Michaels would go on to expand his creative talents across art, painting, and literature, as well, and went on to form a number of bands, including Big Rig, Common Rider, and Classics of Love. Jesse Michaels, additionally, guested on a wide array of albums, EP's, and releases by other artists in recent years, including Screeching Weasel, The Bruce Lee Band, Leftöver Crack, One Time Angels, Rise Against, and one-time bandmate Tim Armstrong...

Pick It Up! Ska In The 90's , which is being billed as "the definitive Third Wave "Ska-cumentary'" (AKA a Ska documentary) is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray, digital, etc. Whether they're presently aware of it or not, anyone from about the age of about 28-45 should have either vague or vivid memories of Ska/Punk in the 1990's; most people are familiar with either No Doubt , Less Than Jake, The Mighty Might Bosstones , Reel Big Fish, or Rancid/Operation Ivy . 90's Ska is commonly known as Third Wave Ska, following in the traditions of both First Wave Jamaican and British Two-tone/2 Tone Ska through the 80's. For me, personally, I would say one of my earliest memories of Ska was hearing Goldfinger 's "Superman" on the in-game soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (1999) which, also, included selections form Dead Kennedys , Primus, Suicidal Tendencies , The Suicide Machines, and The Vandals . Pick It Up! was directed/produced by ...

"Strictly Covered: Big D usually writes an EP in-between writing LP's, so that you can get the gears moving and begin your creative process. This time, however, we decided to do a covers record for fun. These are a collection of songs we have been inspired by though out the years." - David "Big D" McWane (@david_mcwane1) Strictly Covered by Big D and the Kids Table 1. "Dr. D" (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) "I believe, "Dr. D" is the best example of fast, fun, spastic Skacore. It's a blast! The Might Mighty Bosstones began to play a Swing-style [version] of this song live, so we added parts of that at the end of the original. The Doped Up Dollies joined us for the Swing bit. I love this tune and it was prefect for the first track, as it has all the elements, later, found through out the record." Strictly Covered by Big D and the Kids Table 2. "Yellin' In My Ear" (Operation Ivy) "Operation Ivy would,...

Landfill Crew is a fictional animated Punk Rock band set during the mid-80's heyday of the formative East/West Coast Punk & Hardcore scenes. Landfill Crew AKA LFC 's self-titled debut 2x7-inch EP was originally recorded on March 12, 1987 in Bagga's Basement , although, it was just properly released earlier this week on Pirates Press & Hellcat Records . According to the record's inserts, Landfill Crew consists of frontman Anthony "Hux" Campbell , guitarist & vocalist Bagger "Bagga Bullets" Russell , drummer Jennifer "Jenny" Arellano , guitarist Cliff "Pakman" Esmond , and bassist Horace "Baby" Harringtton . Its reverse sleeve denotates the 2x7-inch EP was produced by Tim "Timebomb" Armstrong , with artwork & layout by J Bonner , and sends a very "special thanks to Clarence for bringing the donuts." However, much in the same vein as like-minded animated Alternative Rock/Hip-Hop b...