Recalling the fact that Inspector 7 was and remains one of best live ska acts of the third wave (RIP) hadn't ever convinced me to check out the Hub City Stompers. Comprised of the 7s' former members in addition to some folks that did time in Predator Dub Assassins, this group isn't as enormous as the nine piece predecessor. And even considering the success of Inspector 7, the guys here chose to go in a bit of a different direction.

While both of the Inspector 7 discs trafficked liberally in ska, punk and Oi!, the Hub City Stompers have upped the ante on those more aggressive influences. Their website figures the following:

Proudly roaming the no-man's-land between the popular ska-core world and the elitist trad-ska world, Hub City Stompers choose to entertain and offend everyone equally and stick to their underground roots.

That pretty much sums it up. I can't say that trad ska fans are gonna wanna toss this on, but who knows. The problem with this particular disc - the band has released two previous albums, both on Megalith Records - is that band sounds schizophrenic. And not in a good way, like Major Accident. The moving back and forth between straight up punk and dub doesn't work. Flat out. This isn't meant to denigrate the players here as everyone has ample room to display their talents, but even King Django, who produced this, seems confused at times.

The album, Ska Ska Black Sheep, is ostensibly split into two sections. The first six tracks, all of which are new compositions, work in and out of the ska genre and get stuck in the mire of punk a bit too frequently. That doesn't disallow Jenny Whiskey and her sax from working out some fine solos, but the overall experience of that portion of the disc just isn't too satisfying.

As the second half of the disc begins, though, the Hub City Stompers  are able to exhibit their JA influenced chops. Although, this portion of the disc is given over to straight dubs, the personalities of each band member come through pretty easily even if "I've Got a Melodica" sounds like the progression to "Skinhead Girl" by Symarip. Of course, the fact that anyone's still playing ska at this point is more than admirable.

Oddly, though, "Dub of 3" could very easily be a Sublime track. The production on the drum kit and the way in which the sax is mic'd just makes it so. Sorry skinners, it does and there's no undoing it. So while there probably isn't a local ska band in your town - and if there is it's made up of high schoolers - the Hub City Stompers might not give your ears too much more pleasure. It's kinda sad to say considering how many times I've spun those Inspector 7 discs, but it's true.

While I finish listening to the end of this, though, I'm gonna go and find my Hub City Ska shirt. I think it's still in the closet.