In Defense of Ska Ep 54: Jenny Whiskey (Hub City Stompers, Rude Girl Revue, Rude Boy George)

Everyone at 2021's Supernova International Ska Festival was talking about Rude Girl Revue, an all-star, all-women, 16-piece ska band, comprised of members of many bands (The Scotch Bonnets, Catbite, Half Past Two, Stop The Presses, The Pandemics, The Skluttz, and more). Today we talk to one of the group's founder's Jenny Whiskey, who's also been a longtime member of Hub City Stompers, and has been more recently, playing with Rude Boy George. 

Jenny started playing ska in the 90s. She almost got to play in Catch 22, but her mom wouldn't let her. However, in the early 2000s, she joined Hub City Stompers and helped keep ska music alive during a time when the music was in decline. 

We talk about this unique period of time, as well as how she perceives the sudden interest in ska in the last few years from Brooklyn Vegan and other non-ska outlets. She also gives us the story of the viral song "Jesus is a Friend of Mine" and we all make a plea to Mephiskapheles to record a split with Sal Polichetti, who re-recorded the song with Rude Boy George. 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.