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Ska truly began to break into the mainstream in the ’90s, s. And yet, even during that great ska boom, only a handful of bands had an actual radio hit. One of the few to accomplish such a feat was the Orange County-based group Save Ferris, scoring big with their cover of Dexys Midnight Runner’s 1982 one-hit wonder “Come on Eileen.” This week on In Defense of Ska, Save Ferris vocalist Monique Powell discusses the group, the Orange County scene, having a popular video on MTV, and their monumental cover. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Powell runs through the somewhat tumultuous history of the band, from their 1995 formation to their break-up in 2003 to the 2013 reformation that led to a flurry of legal issues. The vocalist also recalls the band’s accomplishments, including how “Come on Eileen” ended up on their debut LP. “I don’t know if I said we were going to do it for the record, I just remember saying I wanted to play that song,” Powell says. “I just really wanted to play it live, because I love that song.”
Through all of the highs and lows, however, Powell and Save Ferris delivered some unforgettable, surprisingly popular ska — all steeped in Orange County vibes. Powell discusses how they dealt with ska eventually going out of style, and shares stories from throughout her career. There was the time she sang on Reel Big Fish’s “She Has a Girlfriend Now,” catching life changing performances from The Selector and The Queers, and being the prom band in 10 Things I Hate About You.
Listen to Monique Powell go deep into Save Ferris’ history on this episode of In Defense of Ska, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Fans can also get early and ad-free episodes by joining the IDOS Patreon, and don’t forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.
You can also support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition will be released in Oct 2024.
