“How many people here were heavy on the Brew and light on the Ska Ska,” Less Than Jake vocalist-guitarist Roger Lima asked the crowd as his band closed out the 11th edition of the Brew Ha Ha craft beer and music fest (affectionately renamed Brew Ska Ska for its ska-infused lineup) at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado on Saturday.
The patrons who stayed until dark were a dedicated bunch — they had shown up in the early afternoon for the four hours of craft beer tastings from dozens of breweries and remained in good spirits and ready to dance by the time the headliner hit the stage just after 7 p.m. It was a scorcher out in the canyon with temperatures hitting the mid-’90s, but fans sought refuge from the blazing sun in shade provided by massive trees and under misters located throughout the sprawling grassy venue.
Skanking fans have a blast during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Hepcat performs during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Roger Lima of Less Than Jake performs during Brew Ha Ha Productions’ annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Skanking Fans have a blast during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Chris DeMakes and Roger Lima of Less Than Jake perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Dave Kirchgessner of Mustard Plug performs during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.(Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Greg Lee and Alex Désert of Hepcat perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Skanking Fans have a blast during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Chris DeMakes and Buddy Schaub of Less Than Jake perform during Brew Ha Ha Productions’ annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Skanking Fans have a blast during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday., Sept. 11, 2021.(Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Greg Lee and Alex Désert of Hepcat perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Roger Lima and Chris DeMakes of Less Than Jake perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Skanking fans have a blast during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites performs during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Less Than Jake performs during Brew Ha Ha Productions’ annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Dave Kirchgessner and Colin Clive of Mustard Plug perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Jesse Wagner and Jeff Roffredo of The Aggrolites perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.(Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Greg Lee and Alex Désert of Hepcat perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
The Aggrolites perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Less Than Jake performs during Brew Ha Ha Productions’ annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Hepcat performs during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
The Aggrolites perform during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Skanking fans have a blast during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Fans relax and try to beat the heat during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Beer and ska fans pose for a photo during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Beer and ska fans pose for a photo during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Beer and ska fans pose for a photo during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Beer and ska fans pose for a photo during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday., Sept. 11, 2021.(Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Fans share a moment during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Fans of all ages have fun during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.(Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Fans relax and try to beat the heat during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Fans stand along the barricade during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Fans relax and try to beat the heat during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Beer and Ska fans pose for a photo during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
Beer and Ska fans pose for a photo during the annual Brew Ska Ska (Brew Ha Ha) at Oak Canyon Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)
It had been a long day, but Less Than Jake revived the party. The band, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, played a mix of fan favorites and new offerings off its latest album, “Silver Linings.”
“We won’t bore you with too many new songs,” vocalist-guitarist Chris DeMakes said. “The old songs are just better.”
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He was joking, of course, but also selling the new material short because “The High Cost of Low Living” and “Lie to Me” fit in perfectly alongside old hits like “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts,” “Automatic,” “Plastic Cup Politics” and “The Science of Selling Yourself Short.”
Southern California ska-reggae band Hepcat brought a more mellow, but very much welcome vibe to the event with vocalist Alex Désert’s soulful vocals turning heads and getting couples cozying up to one another and swaying along. Los Angeles reggae band The Aggrolites and Grand Rapids, Mich.-based ska-punk band Mustard Plug got thousands of fans stirring earlier on. Orange County bands Bite Me Bambi and Half Past Two both held their own, but also had to compete with free cups of tiny beer being handed out.
Some of the craft beer standouts came from Artifex Brewing Company in San Clemente with its Llama Goat Hazy Double IPA with hints of citrus and mango; San Juan Capistrano’s The Dog Pawrk Brewing Co. with its Crush Orange Slice Gose; and Orange-based Green Cheek Beer Company’s Le Squawk Hard Seltzer’s Lavender Lemonade..
Newport Beach’s Helmsman Alehouse offered two really unusual flavor combinations: the Vacay Mode Piña Colada Milkshake Hazy IPA and the On The Rocks With Salt Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita Gose. There were a lot of Mexican lagers on tap, but Calidad Beer from Los Angeles stepped it up a notch, breaking out their signature lager and mixing it with their own El Titán Style spicy Michelada Mix.
