On September 25, 2026, the ska collective THE FAMILY BUSINESS LTD released their self-titled debut album via Hellcat Records. The trio draws from the rich sound textures of Two-Tone ska, creating a balance between the cheerful, lively melodies of Jamaican ska and the Two-Tone punk lyrics, as heard in their latest single "Bambi."
The pulsating "Four-on-the-Floor" groove of "Bambi" meets earth-shattering bass, an infectious horn section, and a chorus that you want to sing along to at the top of your lungs. The song, which was written before the COVID-19 pandemic together with Tim Armstrong and J Bonner from The Aggrolites, is pure ska pleasure.
The link to BAMBI is as follows:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3w4B5rp2NY
THE FAMILY BUSINESS LTD is a cross-generational collective of ska punks, including Jordan Cardy (RAT BOY), Preston (The Ordinary Boys), and Antonee First Class (The English Beat), complemented by Tim Armstrong and Jesse Michaels from Operation Ivy as additional creative contributors. The collective unites multiple generations of ska, blending cross-genre energy, the revival spirit of British ska from the 2000s, and legendary Two-Tone toasting. Antonee, who represents a unique cross-section of ska's evolution, explains that his enthusiasm stems from "bridging the gap between generations and bringing together people who have come to ska from different backgrounds."
Cardy and Preston met in 2014 in Essex and eventually landed in Los Angeles in 2023, where they wrote songs together with Tim. "In the studio, it clicked right away, and the songs came together almost by themselves. Tim suggested bringing Antonee on board, and before we knew it, the album was written and recorded within two weeks," Cardy recounts. They also brought in their label mates from The Calamatix, another Two-Tone ska band, as the backing band: "With them, it really felt like a proper band. They brought so much energy to the record, especially through the rhythm section and bass lines, helping to round out the sound in a way that made every song shine even more."
Emerging during the ska revival of the late 1970s, Two-Tone combined the danceable rhythms of Jamaican ska with the attitude and aggression of punk rock. Its name comes from the label "2 Tone Records" founded by Jerry Dammers of The Specials, which referenced the multi-ethnic makeup of the second wave ska bands and their fanbase. Maintaining the "skanking rhythms" and horn parts of Jamaican ska, Two-Tone combined socially critical lyrics with driving reggae bass lines.
For the band, ska remains one of the most enduring cultures in the music scene. Antonee explains: "Ska and Two-Tone make no distinctions. The message of peace, love, unity, and togetherness is just as relevant today as it was decades ago. Times may have changed, but the struggles that people sing about have remained the same."
