Rude Echoes
Join us for an energetic conversation with Chris, the lead vocalist of Chicago ska punk band Rude Echoes. This seven-piece "new tone" ska band brings politically charged lyrics, driving horns, and an inclusive community spirit to the Chicago music scene. Chris shares the band's origin story, their unique sound featuring keytar solos, and their journey from a ska band in South Korea to the Chicago punk scene.
## Episode Highlights
**Band Origins & Formation**
Chris moved back to Chicago from South Korea with a mission: start a ska band. After falling in love with the genre while living on Jeju Island, he texted everyone he knew who played an instrument. The band came together through friends, friends of friends, and even a Reddit post that landed them their drummer. The current lineup features Robbie on baritone sax, Rose on trumpet, Kyle on trombone, Evan on bass, Cody on guitar, Tim on drums, and Chris on lead vocals.
**What is New Tone?**
New tone is politically overt ska music that returns to the genre's roots of community building and political activism. It's ska for 2025 that welcomes diverse backgrounds and identities, creating a supportive scene where everyone feels comfortable and represented. As Chris explains, while ska has always been political, new tone brings that focus back to center stage with contemporary relevance.
**The South Korea Connection**
One of the episode's most fascinating stories involves South Carnival, a ska band on Jeju Island where Chris lived. This band performed everywhere from coffee shops with eight people to thousand-person anniversary shows, incorporating Jeju culture and traditional diving women's songs into their music. A chance connection over a World of Warcraft tattoo cemented Chris's love for the ska community's welcoming nature.
**Chicago's Unprecedented Ska Scene**
Chicago is experiencing what Chris describes as an "unprecedented" ska boom. With multiple shows every month, a thriving local scene, and the inaugural Midwest Skalfast festival at House of Blues, the city is becoming a ska hub. Chris emphasizes how the community-building aspect of ska is especially important in these trying times.
**The Rude Echoes Sound**
The band's sound is described as "driving horns with emotionally driven vocals over a solid rhythm section." Influenced by third wave ska, they feature guitar and trombone solos, and their signature keytar shredding from Jeffrey (who also plays in cybergrind band Blind Equation). Chris likens their sound to a "monster cookie" - classic ska instrumentation mixed with politically motivated lyrics and unique elements.
**Writing Process**
Rude Echoes takes a collaborative approach to songwriting. Their bassist Evan handles much of the arrangement work, while songs can come from fully composed pieces with sheet music, jam sessions that organically develop, or partially written ideas that the band fleshes out together. Their EP "Unfriendly Reminder" was recorded in just two days, but their upcoming album will take a more DIY approach with recording spread over time.
**What's Next**
The band will debut new original material at Midwest Skalfast on November 1st at House of Blues, along with covers and songs from Unfriendly Reminder. They're currently working on a full-length album with a new DIY recording approach. Fans can expect the same driving energy with fresh material that the band has been crafting during their recent show hiatus.
**Rude Echoes**
- Instagram, TikTok, Facebook: Search "Rude Echoes" (look for the bat skeleton logo)
- EP: "Unfriendly Reminder" (available online)
- Merch: DIY items including lighters, buttons, stickers, and t-shirts
