Our musical gift today is a rousing bit of bubbly, bouncy Cali ska: Lumanation is an unsigned DubRock quintet of veteran musicians based in San Rafael, California. The band is a popular touring outfit that makes friends wherever it goes. So far, Lumanation has opened for headlining performers in more than a thousand theaters. The members have really earned their growing success. You can expect a full-length album coming soon.

In the meantime, one of their songs won a spot on Quickstar Productions’ Ska for Life compilation series (volume 5), which you can find on iTunes. Learn more about Lumanation from its ReverbNation page. Enjoy a taste of modern ska from Lumanation: “Big Ol’ Spliff.”

Download audio file (Lumanation – Big Ol’ Spliff.mp3)

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Today’s feature is a mix of politics and music from north of the border.  I first heard this song at the beginning (and end) of a video from Jodie Emery, when she interviewed her husband from jail, and knew instantly that I must share it with my fellow stashers!

The song, “Free Marc Emery” by The Ground Luminosity delivers a critical message in an entertaining style.  Hailing from Roberts Creek, BC, The four member band is, according to their MySpace page, “Roberts Creek premier party band, bringing rootsy and tribal beats mixed with ska and a modern sounding funk element, bridged by a rock energy that just won’t quit.”  Their influences range from Leadbelly to the Red Hot Chili Peppers with some Pink Floyd and Bob Marley thrown in.  Take that unique sound and add lyrics demanding Marc Emery’s freedom, and you have got one hell of a toker tune.

Find more about The Ground Luminosity on their Facebook page or on MySpace

To keep up on the latest news and find out how you can help Marc visit cannabisculture.com or pot.tv.

Download audio file (The Ground Luminosity – Free Marc Emery.mp3)

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The Mile High State is not just the nickname we have for how high we sit geographically.  It is also the state of mind we hold in Colorado.  And, that state of mind triggers the creation of some of the grooviest bands and tunes you will hear anywhere.

One of the grooviest groups that has been around for a while in our aweseome Mile High State is our hometown favorite Reggae/Ska band ‘P-Nuckle‘.  Beside the funky name and music you can be assured wherever this band goes it brings a huge crowd with it that can be spotted and followed by the heavy cloud of smoke hovering overhead.   Many places in the world have hidden gems of talent that deserve to see the light of day and given the opportunity success usually follows in some form or another for most.  ‘P-Nuckle’ over the last decade has certainly conquered Colorado, and are now trying to parlay their local success to the national stage.  They will continue to tour outside of Colorado as to build that national fan base, and continue to push their message of hope and triumph over the odds.  Don’t miss ‘P-Nuckle’ and please offer your speakers the ability to satisfy themselves with the grooving tunes of this band.  Check out their MySpace, (MySpace is still sweet as heck to check out music, not dead yet for that) and be sure to find them on i-Tunes!  Its ‘P-Nuckle’ from Denver, Colorado with “Love to Love Her”.  Enjoy my friends.

Also, this my Valentine Day song to y’all.  Dudes, do not forget to get SOMETHING!

Buy P-Nuckle on I-Tunes

Download audio file (P-Nuckle – Love To Love Her.mp3)

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News of the World in the UK is reporting that Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps is one of us!

THIS is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history.

In our exclusive photo Michael Phelps, who won a record EIGHT gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong.

And after sporting chiefs announced laws which mean four-year bans for drug-taking, Phelps’ dreams of adding to his overall 14 gold medal tally at the 2012 games in London could already be OVER.

Those dreams seemed the last thing on his mind when he puffed from the bong during two days of partying with students last November, a quiet time in the swimming calendar when athletes would not expect to get tested for drugs.

As he basked in his hero status, Phelps knocked back beers and shots of spirits. And when a student offered him the glass bong engraved with red writing, he did not hesitate, says our source.

Our source said: “You could tell Michael had smoked before. He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do.

“He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold medal winner of bong hits. Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place.”

The US Olympics Committee, who have pledged to clamp down on drug use, refused to comment, as did USA Swimming and Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman.

More surprising still was the World Anti-Doping Agency’s refusal to comment, given that they introduced the four-year ban on sport’s drug users.

Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us.

In return, he asked that we kill Phelps’ bong picture. Bloxham said: “It’s seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World.”

So, you wanna explain to me how marijuana smoking will make one a lethargic, unmotivated loser who will never get anywhere in life?  This should be fun, watching sponsors and Olympic and USA Swimming officials trip all over themselves.  I expect to see a special exemption or a sudden new rule that lets firt time offenders skate with some sort of class and community service.  Does anybody really think they are going to end Michael Phelps’ career, the greatest Olympian ever, and a huge marketing and endorsement cash cow, for a picture of him doing something that isn’t even criminal in thirteen states?

It’s Friday here on the stash, so take this musical puff from a UK punk rock group that was together from 1995 to 2002. The group P.A.I.N (which stands for Propaganga and Information Network) recorded the song “Grow More Weed” in 2001 with none other than Mr. Nice himself, Howard Marks, who joins lead vocalist Jon Eris on this heavy-dub reggae, ska-influenced tune. Mr. Marks famously spent seven years in an American prison for drug trafficking and later ran for election to UK Parliament on the single issue of the legalize cannabis campaign. He didn’t make Parliament, but he continues to write and campaign vigorously for the legalization of recreational and medical cannabis. Visit his page on the web here, or find out more information about the band P.A.I.N at http://music.podshow.com.

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