Considered the West Coast’s favorite college party band, playing more than 200 shows a year to an extensive group of enthusiastic fans, Slightly Stoopid takes on the East Coast at Sonar on Saturday.
Slightly Stoopid is a fusion of a variety of genres. Melodic music combines acoustic rock and blues with reggae, punk and hip-hop to create a unique sound that virtually anyone can enjoy. They supply funky bass lines and pounding rhythms. The diverse sounds of Slightly Stoopid can appeal all sorts of musical tastes and just about every mood.
Growing up in the Southern California surf town Ocean Beach, the band adopted a style of music of Slightly Stoopid reflects the band’s California lifestyle. Much of its music stems from original reggae punk-rockers Sublime. However, they aren’t just another tribute band. Slightly Stoopid has developed its own original brand of music without forgetting its roots.
In 1995, when Slightly Stoopid’s front men Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald were still in high school, they were signed by Skunk Records, the record label of late Sublime member Bradley Nowell. Its first two albums were released independently on Skunk. In 2002, the band released Acoustic Roots. Everything You Need, its first official studio-produced album in four years, was released in 2003.
The band released Closer to The Sun in April 2005 under a new record label. The disc picks up just where Everything You Need left off. However, it displays more mature lyrics with an enhanced value of production. Each song is a little bit different; some feature old-school turntable scratching while others incorporate the sounds of metal and reggae.
Slightly Stoopid performs on Saturday on the main stage at Sonar in Baltimore; doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission. For more information call (410) 327-8333.
