Be Decent Question “Human Nature” On New Single

NYC ska upstarts Be Decent have released their debut single, Human Nature, a spiky punk rock anthem inspired by The Jam and Elvis Costello and featuring guest vocals from indie legend Ted Leo (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists). The song is about how phony moral crusaders tear others down in hopes of landing on the ‘right side of history’, on the buildup to the towering chorus, lead singer Jimmy Doyle is disappointed, if not exactly surprised. Human Nature is the first taste of Be Decent‘s debut full length, Now’s The Time, that is due out on September 18th, the album at Deep Dive Studios in Brooklyn with engineer Mitch Rackin with Agent Jay (The Slackers) handling mixing duties.

Be Decent formed in the summer of 2022, when lingering pandemic boredom led bassist Kenneth Partridge, the author of the 2021 book Hell of a Hat: The Rise of ’90s Ska & Swing, and drummer Geoff Bickford to issue a call for musicians on social media. That’s how they met Doyle, a veteran of ska bands like The Fad and The Forthrights, and in 2024, they officially added ace saxophonist Matt Mason, who’s played with the likes of The Pietasters, Bad Manners, Chisel, and Stranger Cole. 

This Thursday, Be Decent embark on a mini tour with The Scrub Ups that will take them to DC’s Wonderland Ballroom, NYC’s Otto’s Shrunken Head and Pawtucket, RI’s News Cafe.