Creativity in the Capital: Aaron Carnes and Mendes on underground music scenes and DIY movements to self-discovery

By Casey Rafter | Solving Sacramento From left: Anthony Mendes runs Mendes Entertainment, which showcases local musicians, and Aaron Carnes is a writer who has authored a book called “In Defense of Ska.” (Photo by Casey Rafter) Writer Aaron Carnes fights for the music he believes in. It’s a very niche genre and a necessary fight. His tactics come in the form of his book and podcast called “In Defense of Ska.” The book explores the history of ska as it travels from its roots in Jamaica to the United Kingdom, to the States and explores where it has gone and will go next.  On his podcasts, he has musicians and fans of the genre on to reveal their perceived taboo fandom for a genre that gets a bad rap for pogo dancing and juvenile lyrics, but Carnes and his guests implore us all to pick it up. In his journalistic endeavors, he’s had work published in Playboy, Salon, Sacramento News & Review and Bandcamp Daily. He’s also written for and been music editor at Santa Cruz’s alternative weekly, Good Times. Mendes Entertainment celebrates 916 loud and proud. Its owner, Anthony Mendes, who’s known colloquially by his titular surname, is...