Heptember - Rancid Round 3 (w/ Amy Gabba)
The Quarterfinals of Heptember have arrived! Checkered Past continues their monthlong celebration of all things Rancid and Ska to determine definitively, the greatest Rancid Ska song of all time! To help with the 4 matchups, Rob and Celine welcome Amy Gabba from Toronto's Amy Gabba and the Almost Famous. They talk about her Ska origin story, how the Canadian Ska scene has changed and getting to record with heroes before eliminating the tracks down to the final four. Then, they play a Lars-themed game of Skarmen Skandiego and top it off with a couple listener questions!
Amy Gabba
Sad songs aren’t for everyone. Just ask Toronto-based singer-songwriter Amy Gabba.
“There came a point when I just got sick of playing the sad stuff. I wanted to write songs that made people happy and made them dance.”
Gabba who got her start playing in bars at the age of 10, slowly started adding more ska to her rock-heavy repertoire. Influenced by bands like Green Day, No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, Mad Caddies, The Interrupters and of course Joan Jett, her music started to sound, well- a lot happier.
Gabba isn’t a stranger to the stage or the studio. The Alberta export has played in a number of projects, and remains active with The Gabba Heys (a Ramones/Joan Jett cover act) and AMY/DC (a female-fronted AC/DC tribute band). And last year she spent some time in Orange County, California, where she recorded an Original EP with Dave Irish — who also produced Reel Big Fish’s latest album, “Life Sucks, Lets Dance.”
Gabba’s new songs were arranged with the help of The Salads’ Dave Ziemba in Toronto, and recorded alongside Producer and Engineer Dave Irish (Pot of Gold Recording, Sound Engineer for The Interrupters), Drummer and Producer, Ryland Steen (America, Reel Big Fish), Bassist Mikey Hachey (Cirque De Soleil, String Puppies) and Guitarist/ Vocalist Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish).
“The Heart is Stupid” was the first original, solo record in a decade for Gabba which she recently followed up with the song “Fuck You Covid”; A re-make of her song “Fuck You Cupid” from the EP.
There are plans for a second record in the near future- as COVID-19 has definitely made 2020 pan out a bit different than planned. “We were supposed to be in California in April working on the second record but for now that has obviously been delayed.” In the mean time, she promises the writing hasn’t stopped.
Whether you enjoy ska, pop, rock or punk; you’ll hear several genres shine through on these songs, driven by her powerful lead vocals and clever lyrics. Oh, and for the record: there’s not a sad song in the bunch.
