The moment that upstroke occurred it reminded me instantly of “Bicycle Seat” by The Daycare Swindlers, but from there any comparison disappeared…I mean yes it’s a well crafted song with catchy hooks and more that are similar, but “Sotah” is also tinged with a melancholy that is a stark juxtaposition with the usual automatically upbeat feeling of ska.

Fairly recently I had shared how the recent ska revival lead by Bad Time Records helped me get through the pandemic because even when songs have sad or sarcastic lyrics, the songs often feels distinctly upbeat—think Dancehall Crashers. This song by Sotah has all the danceability of my favorite ska songs, but like an itch in the brain that I can’t scratch or something just outside my peripheral vision, the sorrow is there.

It’s partly the lyrics and their delivery, but it’s also somehow the bass pattern that bring this sadness. And yet, despite despondent nature of the song, there is still that ska-ness too it that also makes me smile albeit it’s a little wan and rueful.

OMG I’m on my fifth listen: Right after a the song turns more punk, it ends with the bass and drums dropping out and a simple strum of a few chords with a plaintively delivered chorus overtop and then it reaches its final end a forlorn sigh that just hit me to the quick. The loss felt is real. The hope of something better is there, but the pain has not subsided and perhaps never will.

****After I finished writing this post, I was searching for photos to use on this blog, I found the image below. This is all starting to make sense now. Maybe this is why I’m digging this because other than ska, I spent a lot of time listening to sad punk like Off With Their Heads, and while Sotah’s lyrics are of a different vein, I guess its not a horrible stretch to say that its like if OWTH was a ska band.

9/22 They are playing with Murphy’s Law (Always fun to see live) and Grade 2 (I’ve never gotten to see them yet) in New Hampshire. Currently my calendar is clear, so unless my own band gets booked a last minute show that day, I’ll be making a 2 hour drive to catch them. You should too! And hot damn—it’s Sotah’s album release show too!

You can also listen on their Spotify or on my punk or on my ska playlist—both of which are filled with sick bands!

Also check out their online stuff: Instagram, Merch Store, Facebook and LinkTree

Need a song reviewed or playlisted? Contact me using the link below (Keep in mind, I only review bands I actually like; you can go elsewhere for insincere or negative reviews.)

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