From Marco on the Bass:
As part of my ongoing quest to document the origins of the American ska scene of the early and mid-80's, I am profiling key bands and musicians who served as trailblazers in giving birth to ska scenes all over the U.S. These early local scenes would later knit together an American ska scene that would nurture and support early touring bands like The Toasters, Bim Skala Bim, The Untouchables and Fishbone. While Los Angeles was certainly a key ska capital of the U.S.. its neighbors to the north in San Francisco (home to The Hoovers) and to the south in San Diego deserve honorable mention in the development of ska music in the U.S.
San Diego in particular has always supported a diverse music scene including rock, punk, ska and reggae bands. One band in particular was Trowsers who featured San Diego music mainstay Joyce Rooks. With Rooks on the guitar and vocals and her co-vocalist Y-Lee, Trowsers created an upbeat, unique and lively sound fusing reggae, ska, elements of dub, afro-pop and a unique sense of humor and anti-establishment politics that endeared them to audiences across Southern California. The band was most notable for the contrast between Rooks soulful vocals and the almost indescribable and unmistakable vocals of Y-Lee (who sounds like a cross between Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys and Dicky Barrett of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) on a variety of short and longer songs that in some cases are like nothing you've ever heard before. The band were so hot at one point that they drew the attention of both Los Angeles music impresario Kim Fowley (who discovered The Runaways) and Stiff Records honcho Jake Riviera.
Read more.