The Skoidats were a mélange of Ska, Oi!, Jazz, and Punk with a contemporary sound rooted in the old school Ska tradition of Baba Brooks, The Ethiopians and The Skatalites. The Skoidats formed in the summer of 1995 in Helena, Montana. Soon after their inception, they relocated to Missoula, Montana, losing two members in the move. After arriving in Missoula, the three original Skoidats placed an ad in the paper to find a new horn section. It was soon answered by two members of the University of Montana marching band.