Ska is NOT dead. It is barely alive, but it is certainly not dead. There is a tiny ember burning in the Christian ska world, and there are still bands out there doing what needs to be done to keep the genre going. I really miss going to ska shows and dancing till my legs felt like they were going to fall off. I remember back in the early to mid 90′s when the third generation of ska was in full swing. Bands like The Toasters, The Pietasters, The Pilfers, Spring Heeled Jack, The Bosstones, Public Service, Ruder Than You were all blowing up in the scene.
When I was at Cornerstone there was ONE ska band (at least that I knew of). Send Out Scuds represented Christ and ska at the same time. Although the entire band didn’t make it, they still managed to put on several awesome shows, which I danced till my legs hurt, and got up on stage and filled in with all the “ska stuff” (you know, the “pick it up, pick it up, pick it ups and Chugachick chicks…all you old ska head will know what I mean). SO read on, Kim, Sam, and Dustin (who was filling in on drums) answered some questions about the band. Pass it along!
BAND: Send Out Scuds
Music Style: Ska
Home Town: Southern Florida
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Q: How and when did Send Out Scuds get its start? Where did the name come from?
A: (Sam) Send Out Scuds was started in 2004 when Kim (trumpet) got together with a former band member and started a ska band. S.C.U.D.s Servants of Christ Untill Death. We would like to go out, make disciples, and send them out and they would send them out etc…
Q: Seems like you guys have had some lineup changes, who is currently active in the band?
A: (Dustin, who is filling in on drums) Yeah there has been numerous member changes; but the line up at the moment seems to be pretty amazing. The band has 7 people in it to my knowing: Jeremy, Kim, Sam, Tony, Dave, Josh, and Josh. One thing you should know is in the part of Orlando were in there’s a lot of people named Dustin and Josh haha.
(Kim) The line up Dustin gave you was correct except for one of the Josh’s. He recently had a baby with his wife and is on hiatus until further notice.
Q: What does everyone do when they are not playing in the band?
A: (Kim) We all have normal jobs and one or two of us are in school. Sam and I are currently unemployed but we are heavily involved in our churches and try to make ends meet doing other small projects. Jeremy works in a warehouse stocking and shipping Hollywood memorabilia. Tony works for a resort. Josh Peters is in graphic design and David is the owner of his own DJ company.
(Sam) I perform as Radical Sam at concerts and other events. I am also am very active in my church South Brandon Worship Center as a youth leader, Sunday worship team member (bass guitar), and family group member.
Q: Send Out Scuds is a Christian ska band, what do you say to people who think that ska is dead?
A: (Sam) With God all things are possible! lol, Ska is kinda dead, but it’s very possible to revive it but first we are concentrated on reviving souls, then ska, so it may be a while ha ha.
(Dustin) I think everyone who thinks ska is dead needs to wake up from their cave haha. The one cool thing that cornerstone taught me was even the HXC kids love ska! It was great, if anything I think ska is coming back and it’s here to stay. If you ever get a chance go to Michigan; there seems to be quite a ska scene over there. Kenny Plont, he books shows and is in a ska band called Take a Hint and is doing a good job of keeping ska alive and well over there.
Q: Where do you guys find inspiration for your songs? Are there particular books or verses in the bible that you find inspiration from?
A: (Sam) I write a lot of the lyrics for S.O.S. and I get %100 of my inspiration from God. The songs are about what God is telling me He wants our fans to hear at the time and most of the time He puts it in my heart first for me to live it out and relate, and then He’ll allow me to use it artistically. Not one step with out Him!
Q: How is the band generally accepted in the music scene, when you play shows does anyone ever turn their nose up at the fact that Send Out Scuds is a Christian band?
A: (Sam) I’ve personally seen secular bands and fans dance their butts of to a few SOS songs and as soon as I deliver the Gospel one or two of them will stick around and the rest will step out of the room for the duration of our set. Other than that, we are accepted in our music scene as the Christian ska band, what else is there to know us by? lol and I rarely get high noses, if fact more people will show respect than lift their noses. I like to give non-believers the benefit of the doubt and let them find out for them selves the real truth as we deliver right in front of them.
(Dustin) I’ve only had one person that has had a problem with the whole Christian band thing. The cool thing about that is he ended up being nice to me after the show cause of the way I treated him, God does cool things.
Q: You guys are out of Florida, there are a lot of great hardcore bands coming out of Florida, do you guys do mixed shows with hardcore bands, or is there a resurgence of ska in Florida that we need to know about?
A: (Kim) Tampa seems to have a bigger ska scene than it is given credit for. There are a lot of secular ska bands and a lot of secular hardcore but surprisingly Florida has a lot of Christian hardcore bands. Lately we have noticed this trend is sort of fading and the pop-electro bands are becoming more prominent. We do play shows with hardcore bands but for the most part we try to stay as close to our genre as possible so there will be a better turn out.
Q: Send Out Scuds has one album that I am aware of and it is fantastic, is there another album that I am not aware of? How can folks get a hold of Send Out Scuds albums?
A: (Kim) We did have a demo with a bunch of old songs but we have scrapped those. There has been the debate of whether to re-vamp them and try to make them into something better. This link can help you find the Sower Seed EP http://www.fireoutside.com/fomstore/sendoutscuds.html
Q: Is there anything in the works for future albums? What can we expect from Send Out Scuds?
A: (Sam) Expect an EP with no release date as of yet, but it will soon be finished.
(Kim) It still needs some tweaking and the artwork is almost complete. Once this is done we will announce the title and release date. At the moment we are taking a break from shows and concentrating on our full length. We are in the process of learning new songs and finishing up writing a few. Once that is complete we will be demoing them out and recording them professionally.
Q: Are you guys planning any tours in the near future?
A: (Sam) We will be touring off of our Sophomore EP and will begin booking as soon as it is released. You can book us in your town at sendoutscuds@gmail.com
(Dustin) There will most likely be no touring till early 2011 or the summer of 2011. Cornerstone baby!
Q: What was the most fun show Send Out Scuds has ever played? What cool bands have you guys shared the stage with?
A: (Kim) The most fun one to me was Cornerstone FL 2006. The audience was packed! We have shared the stage with bands like Children 18:3, White Collar Sideshow, The Insyderz, Abandoned Kansas, Flyleaf, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Eleventyseven, and a whole lot more!
(Sam) I’ve been in the band for about two years now and for me, one of the most fun shows we played together was Real Fest 2008 when we shared the stage with Fly Leaf. The crowd was pretty big and those people really loved dancing with us.
let’s see bands we’ve shared the stage with: Fly Leaf, Eleventyseven, White Collar Side Show, Children 18:3, Showbread, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Hand Drawn Mountains, Abandon Kansas, and a loooottt more.
(Dustin) Out of all the shows I’ve played with them I’d have to say every show has been amazing! Even on a bad night, I just love playing and touring with them. SOS has shared the stage with band like Eleventyseven, children 18:3, White Collar sideshow and so many more.
Q: What is everyone in the band listening to? Who should we check out?
A: (Kim) Currently I try not to listen to too much music on my own. I like my alone time with my thoughts and conversation with God. I would like to promote a few bands that I think are worth checking out. Strengthen What Remains, Hand Drawn Mountains, Nathan Stiteler, Children 18:3, White Collar Sideshow, Glenn Clark and the Family, Fight to Remember, Radical Sam, Levi the Poet, and Take a Hint.
(Dustin) Oh! Wow, asking me that question is crazy! I have about a billion bands you should listen to haha. I listen to Hawk Nelson, Showbread, Emery, Lights, The Pinstripes, No Doubt, Blink 182, and so many more. As for bands to check out. The Pinstripes, A Billion Ernies, Sent by Ravens, Poema, (me and Kim share a love for this band) Straylight Run, Cady Groves, We Came AS Romans, I See Stars, K Sera, Mates of State, David Lehr, Go Radio, Take a Hint, Await the Day, Nathan Stiteler, Hand Drawn Mountains, Strengthen What Remains, Write This Down, The Postal Service, Levi the Poet, and Listener. Trust me, I could go on for days with that question haha. Everyone else listens to anywhere from Less Than Jake to Green Day to Dragonforce to Tool to Poema haha it’s crazy.
(Sam) I listen to new school punk and ska. Less Than Jake, MXPX, Billy Talent, Slick Shoes, Rise Against, Dogwood, Operation Ivy, Value Pak, stuff like that. I also love Jimmy Needham and a few other one hit wonders in today’s contemporary Christian music scene. All the bands I mentioned are worth checking out.
Q: Is there a little romance going on the band (correct me if I am wrong, 
but I think Kim and Jeremy are engaged – juicy!!!) Do tell, do tell! Will there be a Send Out Scuds wedding!
A: (Sam) Yup! Jeremy and Kim are getting married soon we all can’t wait.
(Kim) The wedding will be in November. We have been dating for 2 years now and are more than thrilled that God has provided us with each other. We were friends for over 4 years before we even thought of one another in a romantic sort of way. It’s amazing who God can pair you up with when your not even looking!
Q: What message do you want to send to the Christian ska, ska community?
A: (Dustin) The message that God sent Jesus Christ, His son, to die for sinners like you and me! That anyone who believes on His name and realizes that there is no other way to heaven but by Him! And that ska won’t die without a fight 
(Kim) Christ came to us in the form of a man to die for us. Without His death payment we would not be able to have eternal life. We can now enter the kingdom of heaven because of His sacrifice on the cross. All you have to do is trust that Christ died for your sins and then you will have eternal life. There are no extra good deeds attached or works. It is very simple and not complicated. Just trust Him and you can have this free gift!
(Sam) Pick itrrrrrrrr(tongue rolling thing) up! Kim answered this question pretty much the same way I would. And, Ska is a great genre, but don’t let it (or music period) take over your life like it did mine. At one point in my life I was worshiping music as a huge idol in my life and when I trusted that Jesus had come to die for me, I was then living for Him only and then music came back into my life as a huge part of my ministry. So God needs to come first or else everything will fall apart. Jesus is the rock, the solid foundation!
Send Out Scuds – Live at Cornerstone 2010 – Jesus Village Stage
Q: Feel free to share any messages, links, shout-outs, etc, Thanks for the interview. Thanks for letting me get up on stage with you at Cornerstone and making a fool of myself!!!
A: (Sam) Everyone who reads this please go to www.RYFO.org they are an organization that helps Christian bands like us stay on the road by giving us places to stay over night and also helping us spiritually. They have been a huge asset to us and many other Christian bands out there but they need more host homes around the country. Please visit their web site now and see how you could help by becoming a host home.
(Kim) We enjoyed your company and the tent you provided at Cornerstone! We wear your sticker proudly on the back of our trailer and equipment cases 
Take care!
Kim
(Dustin) Well, once again thanks for everything! I love you and what you’re doing; and thank you for skankin’ it up on stage, truly amazing.
