#46: The Toasters

Til I met you girl I was just waiting to get old

Next up are The Toasters, who have had so many members in nearly 30 years that only one of the guys pictured above are still in the band.

Wiki Says: The Toasters was one of the first American bands in the third wave of ska, and may be the longest active ska band in the United States, although singer Robert Hingley is the only original member still in the band.

They have released nine studio albums, most of them on Moon Ska Records. The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the popularity of third wave ska in North America. Their song "Two-Tone Army" is also the theme song for the Nickelodeon show KaBlam! (credited as the Moon Ska Stompers) and they recorded background music in many TV commercials, including for America Online and Coca-Cola. Their song "Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down" appeared in the pilot episode of the animated series Mission Hill. They still perform around the world, and in 2007 they celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a new studio album, One More Bullet.

Discovery: Skaboom! (1987)
Thrill Me Up (1988)
This Gun for Hire (1990)
New York Fever (1992)
Dub 56 (1994)
Hard Band for Dead (1996)
Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down (1997)
Enemy of the System (2002)
One More Bullet (2007)

Favorite Songs: 10. Underground Town
9. I'm Running Right Through The World
8. New York Fever
7. Weekend in L.A.
6. Night Train to Moscow
5. Thrill Me Up
4. Underground Town
3. Sitting On Top of the World
2. 2-Tone Army
1. Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down

Years Active: 1981-Present

Seen live: 3 times. September 05 in Asbury Park, NJ. Baltimore in November 08 and 09

The Toasters (well, their lead singer Bucket) have kept the USA ska scene alive all these years. He has made his own labels and put out a 64-band North American ska compilation that ranges from bands like The Miasmics from Verona, to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. While Wikipedia has over 30 former members listed, they've been able to continue and always make good music and good live shows. You'll know the video I posted from Kablam! on Nick from back in the day.

Up next: My favorite new band of 2009, with a great name