The band that you came to know as "Seven Days of Samsara" originally formed in the mid 90's as a hardcore influenced ska band cleverly named "Seven Days of Skamskara." Known exclusively for their high energy, blood & sweat drenched live shows, they shared the stage with many of the Milwaukee and midwest greats including the Pacers, Wild Kingdom and Little Blue Crunchy Things. This recording was primarily used to get shows but through a network of underground tape traders the demo made its way to Chicago ska DJ, Chuck Wren who invited them to be part of the original "American Skathic" compilation. Due to an error at both the printer and the pressing plant, "Best Friends Forever" was accidentally left off in place of some crappy Invaders song. Around that time, ska really started gain popularity. Shows were getting bigger and bands were signing to major record labels, but the Skamskara boys found themselves at a crossroad. Their shows had become too big for all the venues they loved to play at so rather than jump in the ska bus on the first Warped Tour with No Doubt and Sublime (which they were asked to do), they went their separate ways.

A few years later, thanks to a chance meeting in a college book store, the guys decided to get the band back together. This time, they ditched the checkerboard, covered everything in sheet metal and slightly changed their name. They reimagined some of their original tunes and these "new" versions of "Best Friends Forever" and "Bury Your Head" became staples of their live shows for years to come. If you were lucky and caught them on the right night, they might even break out their improvement of Operation Ivy's "Sound System" to give their new fans a peek at their checkered past.

Unfortunately, both iterations of this great band have packed it up and packed it in and show no signs of picking it up again. Thanks to Yann Kerevel of the Bounty Hunters, these original songs are seeing the light of day once again. Plans are already in motion for an extensive multiple CD/DVD package of Skamskara's greatest moments that should be out in 2022 on Hellcat Records.


- Ben Carr, August 2021
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
(you know, the dancing guy)