The Toasters

Rob “Bucket” Hingley has a simple motto: Don’t let the bastards grind you down. It’s fitting for a longtime champion of ska and the leader of the genre’s American flagship, the Toasters. All the preconceived notions and prejudices people may harbor against ska — however justified — are thrown out the door the minute the Toasters take the stage. The group distills ska music for both neophytes and aficionados who know the difference between the real deal and bouncy MTV pop-punk vomit with horns. The band’s pedal-to-the-dance-floor groove, tempered with just the right amount of surly edge, should convince even the most dedicated ska hater.