Interview with Josh Raphael from Jokes For Feelings

Interview by: Sarah K.

These past few months have been quite hectic for Bay Area Ska-punk group, Jokes for Feelings. Earlier this year, they released their album "We Don't Need Your Label Anyway", have played numerous shows around the Bay, and are currently working on a split album with another local Ska-punk band, Kung Pow, which will be out this summer. Despite the band's busy schedule, Big Wheel recently had a chance to talk to vocalist and guitarist, Josh Raphael, about what it's like to be in one of the Bay Area's finest and most hard-working Ska groups, and what's in store for the future.

 

For those who aren't sure, can you elaborate on the principles of the band?
We are a ska punk band. Our principles are to focus on our music, and try to throw memorable ska and punk shows in the Bay Area. We have  noticed that image is important in today's music scene which makes sense but some of us are just too lazy to get dressed up all fancy pants.


How did you guys come up with the name for the band?
Tony our drummer came up with it. We started off doing alot of comedy style punk songs with serious undertones, hence Jokes For Feelings.


Some of you guys are from Palm Desert. How does the Ska scene differ in Northern California versus Southern California?
There are alot of similarities between both scenes, but there are also alot of differences. Today I am noticing the Ska scene in Southern California is heavily influenced by Latin Ska Core type music and that scene seems to be really strong with alot of great bands. In Northern California Traditional Ska has been popular for a while now but ska punk is emerging up again in a strong way. In my opinion I think the 4th wave is hitting Northern and Southern California now. Like for example two years ago it was hard to even find a ska show up here to go to. Now there is one or two every month. Back in the 3rd wave when I was growing up in Palm Desert in the early 90s I always associated NCAL ska with bands like Operation Ivy, Dance Hall Crashers, The Uptones, Skankin' Pickle, Nuclear Rabbit, Link 80... and SOCAL ska with bands like Reel Big Fish, Voodoo Glow Skulls, No Doubt, Save Ferris, Assorted Jelly Beans, Falling Sickness, The Aquabats, The Skeletones... In Palm Desert we were just happy to get any of those bands to come out and play our town or somewhere close enough for us to see them play.

 
The band has a music video out for the song "Welcome to the Show". Can you tell us a bit more on the music video making experience?
My sister's boyfriend Aaron Garcia is a film maker in LA and he did it for us. We actually filmed it in exactly one hour because we were running out of batteries. The funniest part of the shoot was Billy's pants falling off. I am glad we caught that before the batteries ran out.

 
Would you guys do another music video? Why or why not?
YES! We are working with Aaron and his friend who does animation to do an animated video of "Jolly Roger". We always wanted to do an animated video and now its happening. We are really excited about it.

 
Who have been some of your favorite bands to play with?
We like all the bands we play with for the most part. But some local bands that we collaborate with alot are bands like Black Dream and Kung Pow. We are actually doing a split with Kung Pow real soon. Some of the memorable shows we have played are with bands like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Big D and The Kids Table, Guttermouth, Agent Orange, La Banda Skalavera, Skeletones, and The Murder Junkies. Then we did this event called "Ska in the Park" where alot of our favorite bands were a part of. It was alot of fun.

 
Jokes for Feelings has played at the infamous 924 Gilman many times. What keeps you coming back to this venue?
This venue is just amazing. The crowd is always having fun and not just sitting around looking cool in a pair of tight hipster jeans. People come to the Gilman to have a fun night, and enjoy music. That is what the scene should be all about! Music and having fun! Jeff Armstrong runs the "Ska Nights" with the help of Tony Two Tone and it is really cool that they let us be a part of such cool events like those. There is actually going to be a 3 day Ska/Punk Festival Aug 26,27,28 at the Gilman that we are also going to be a part of, so stay tuned for more info on that to come.

Does the band have any silly rituals they do before performing?
Loading in way too fucking early.

 
You guys have a lot of members in the band. How hard is it to work around everyones schedule and get together to practice?
Very Hard. We usually have to practice at weird late hours in order to get the whole band out but we seem to have worked out a system. And that system is practicing really tired after a long days work and screaming at each other.

 
Has the band been working on any new material lately?
Yes we have. We just finished two new songs called "The Dirty D and Me" about Palm Desert, and a song called "Twisted Tango". We are also working on more new songs.

 
What is your favorite aspect of the Ska-punk genre?
The great shows and the people that go to the shows.

 
 Who does the band claim as major influences?
Blue Meanies, NOFX, Agent Orange, and Assorted Jelly Beans are the main inspirations for this band. But every time we hear a new band that we like it will inspire us to write more stuff.

 
Jokes for Feelings is playing a show soon with Agent Orange. How do you guys feel playing with such a esteemed band?
It is quite an honor. We grew up listening to them. Agent Orange is such an excellent band and they are really cool guys as well. We have supported them a couple of times before and they always put on such a great show "FAST CARS, CHEAP THRILLS!!!!". We are really excited to share the stage with them again.

 
Do you guys have anything else planned in the near future?
We are working on a split with Bay Area ska punk band Kung Pow, an animated video, a few tours, and a full length in 2012.

 
Would you like to add anything else for our readers?
Come check us out at The DNA Lounge (SF) May 5th, and with Agent Orange May 18 at The Vice Ultra Lounge (Walnut Creek). Lets keep this Bay Area Ska Punk scene going strong everyone. PICK IT UP PICK IT UP!

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jokes-For-Feelings/58829077881?sk=wall