By Grabthar's Hammer

Captain's Log, Stardate 2025.0613: This is Captain Daniel Rock of the USS Skatalite, joined by First Officer Todd Grassman and Chief Engineer John Miller. In our second mission aboard the Ska Trek podcast, we warp into a lively mix of ska and sci-fi, exploring Galaxy Quest, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Less Than Jake’s new tour, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. From laughing over Tim Allen’s Shatner-esque antics to reminiscing about ska-punk shows, we connect the dots between fandom and music. We also unveil nerdy treasures, like a 1984 Star Trek III Klingon mug and a signed Dr. Phlox action figure, as we skank through the cosmos.

Episode Highlights:

• Galaxy Quest Love: We celebrate Galaxy Quest as a heartfelt spoof, with its spot-on Star Trek tropes, from shirt-ripping away missions to Sigourney Weaver’s sassy role. John calls it a “love letter” to Trek fans, and we geek out over Rainn Wilson’s early role as an alien.
• Star Trek IV Vibes: The crew hails Star Trek IV as a lighthearted Thanksgiving classic, reminiscing about Spock’s bathrobe, Kirk’s pizza scene, and the punk song “I Hate You” by Edge of Etiquette, tied to the film’s iconic bus moment.
• Ska Scene Buzz: Excitement builds for Less Than Jake’s 2025 tour with Suicide Machines, Fishbone, and Bite Me Bambi, plus Five Iron Frenzy’s upcoming shows with Cody Hook and others. We share memories of Furnace Fest and Detroit ska-punk roots.
• Hitchhiker’s Guide Nods: Daniel shares bedtime reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy with his son, sparking laughs over “resistance is useless” and its quirky British humor, with a nod to Sam Rockwell and Alan Rickman’s roles in the film.
• Crew Artifacts: Daniel shows off a $2 Star Trek III Klingon mug from a vintage store, Todd reveals a signed Dr. Phlox action figure from a convention, and we muse over Star Trek: Generations toys and Peter David’s Q-Squared novel.
• Nerdy Tangents: From Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Inner Light” flute melody to comic book legend Peter David’s legacy, we dive into novels, conventions, and even Star Trek: Fleet Command’s Galaxy Quest crossover.

Our mission: to explore future interviews, music spotlights, and deep dives into these twin galaxies. Contact us at ⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠ or track our signal on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ at Ska Trek Podcast. Resistance is futile—join us as we skank to the final frontier! End log.