In the late '90s, ska bands were everywhere. Save Ferris, Reel Big Fish and the Dance Hall Crashers were some of the top underground bands of the time.

St. Louis, during this time, had produced a thriving ska scene all its own, which included bands such as Mu330, The Urge and Secret Cajun Band. After the death of the ska trend around 2000, the St. Louis ska scene fizzled too.

In the past few years, however, a new wave of ska bands has started to emerge across America. Kids fed up with the over-saturation of the current pop-punk emo/ hardcore trends have literally banded together to inject the scene with the rowdy fun that is ska. Spearheading the St. Louis ska-revival-revival is the youthful 2-Tone ska band, the Monskasities.

Formed in the fall of 2003, under the leadership of guitarist/ lead singer Lawton Hall and drummer Sam Wangler, the Monskasities quickly snow-balled into their current line-up and began making a name for themselves.

Bassist Dan Younglove and horn players David Whitwell (trombone), Annie Tichacek (tenor Sax) and Josh Garner (trumpet) as well as Alex Koenig, the wildcard sitar player (that's right, sitar. Check out the song "Bombay Reggae" to hear him shine) all joined the band shortly after.

Considering that they are still in high school, it is amazing how far the Monskasities have come in just over one year together. They fulfilled many of their dreams over the past six months by having the opportunity to play with ska heroes the Toasters, as well as other nationally renowned ska and punk bands, such as Mustard Plug and Authority Zero.

Like most ska bands, the Monskasities are at their best live. Their six-song EP "The Argyle Album" is a great ska record, but nothing can compare to seeing the Monskasities live.

Last month, the Monskasities brought their joyous live act to the Griesedieck Hall lobby along with SLU acts the Urkel Jerx and First String at Amnesty International's Jamnesty concert.

As soon as the Monskasities hit their first upbeat note, the crowd in Gries lobby began to engage in the mysterious skadance known as "skanking." For the next hour, the Monskasities' crowd never once stopped skanking.

It wasn't because the Monskasities were their favorite band or that they were all lunatics; the crowd couldn't stop dancing because the Monskasities put on such a good show.

The band put just as much energy into their music as the crowd put into skanking. This is a phenomenon that rarely occurs in bands, especially local bands. It is a sign of true greatness.

After having what was arguably the best time imaginable in Griesedieck Hall, many SLU students were converted by the Monskasities' gospel of fun.

This, in addition to the saddening announcement of Jason Mraz as the lead musical performer at Spring Fever, has created a high demand for the Monskasities' live show on campus.

Luckily, the Monskasities have two upcoming shows in St. Louis: one on April 28 at the Creepy Crawl with St. Louis ska legends Mu330, and another on May 10 at the Hi-Pointe with the Suburban Legends.

With a new full-length album in the works for this summer and the promise of new songs, it is in everyone's best interest to try to make it out to these shows. Such a young and talented band is a rare thing today.

Regardless of whether you're into ska, metal, indie, pop-punk emo or even if you are one of those poor, misguided Jason Mraz fans, you are bound to have a good time with the Monskasities.