Syracuse Ska Forum

The Up Beat focuses on Utah's ska scene, but also explores the history and roots of the genre. For the film, Smith interviewed a number of prominent figures in the ska scene at large to explain the roots of the music, including Toots Hibbert of The Maytals, Buster Bloodvessel of Bad Manners and members of The Slackers. Ska began in Jamaica in the 1960s as a fusion of American jazz and soul and Caribbean styles like calypso and mento. The result was a musical style with an upbeat rhythm, a walking bassline and horn riffs that gave way to improvisation. The second wave of ska occurred in England in the late '70s when the energy of punk rock was infused into the traditional Jamaican style and combined with an emphasis on racial unity. The third wave of ska was born when the genre was brought to America. Originally, it bore a strong resemblance to the second wave, but later incorporated more rock-oriented sounds of the '90s. One aspect of the music many of the interviewees brought up was the spiritual and up-beat nature of ska, which is partly where the film's title comes from. Smith tells us, "I tried to take a positive approach to the film because it focuses on a positive music." Smith believed it was necessary to include a history lesson on ska to clear up misconceptions about the genre, as well as to make it more accessible to those outside of the devoted fan base. Smith says, "I think that the history and the roots are important to why it hit so big in Utah and particularly in Utah county."

Like so many other musical movements, ska in Utah became popular because it gave kids something to do in a place devoid of much culture. Another important factor in the popularity of ska in Utah was that it provided a safe yet rebellious outlet for Mormon kids to get their pentup energy out in a positive way. Smith explains, "They didn't have to go to bars, and there was a style and a culture behind it. They could dress up and make themselves feel like individuals." Ska not only gave kids something to do, but it gave them something to be a part of. Ska bands and fans built the scene from the ground up, creating venues out of aerobic studios and lumber yards and transforming Provo into a ska mecca that national touring acts wanted to play in the early and mid '90s.