We Are The Union- Self Care (2018)

Why I like it:

It's about flipping time I talk about the latest Ska scene and I can't think of a more fitting band to showcase then We Are The Union. 

I first started getting into We Are The Union when I heard their songs in the game Skatebird. Sidebar comment, totally worth playing for the great music and seeing birds skateboard! From there I started listening to Self Care more and then went into deep rabbit hole of what Ska has been up to since the 90s. Holly crap have I been missing out!

Many of these rabbit holes always seemed to have a connection to We Are Union in some capacity, whether it be Jer doing Ska song covers in Ska Tune Network or Brent working with Bad Time Records and other Ska bands. All these connections have highlighted to me that they are one of flag bearers of the "Pie" wave of Ska (quote taken from Jer). It's also interesting to note that We Are the Union only became a Ska band within the last 5 years of their 13 year career (I'm going off their first release in 2009). 

Self Care was the first release from We Are The Union, having Jer and Brent part of the band. It's got everything you can want from a Ska album, trumpets and dancy upbeat songs to skank to. The lyrical content is actually pretty introspective, covering topics like mental health and grappling with the state of the world (and this was before a pandemic). You wouldn't know it however with the energetic and upbeat nature of the songs. 

That's what I like about recent Ska bands is the content that's covered. It's all topics that are relevant to issues of today and are worth talking about. We Are The Union are a prime examples of this, with their latest album (Ordinary Life) speaking to the experience of lead singer Reade coming out as a trans woman. What's more punk and badass then that!?

Anyways I hope I've highlighted why We Are The Union, and other recent Ska bands, are worth your time, and of course, skanking to!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

A Better Home -"But if our stubborn bones can grow new on their own/Then we can change ourselves, and build a better home"

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Similar bands to check out:

Catbite, Kill Lincoln, Joystick!, Flying Racoon Suit

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Reviews and links to check out:

In Defense Of Ska Podcast- Interview with Jeremy Hunter

In Defense of Ska Podcast- Interview with Reade Wolcott

Question the Answer Podcast- Interview with Brent Friedman

Glidemagazine.com- Six-panel comic strip style review of Self Care

Audiotree- Live session