Tuesday, April 25
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
$20 adv / $25 dos
All Ages
+ $3 at door if under 21
The Slackers
https://www.theslackers.com/
The Abruptors
https://theabruptors.bandcamp.com/
For 31 years, the NYC-based and critically
acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world
with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.
Since 1991, the Slackers have released fifteen albums and
countless singles, while their 1000s of live performances
feed their fans with energetic sets of ecstatic music.
The press state that the Slackers are “the best ska band in
the world” (Rude International), “the pick of the US crop”
(Metal Hammer), “the sound of New York’ (New York
Times), “is about as close to perfect as it gets” (Ink 19),
and “one of the best bands in the United States” (axs.com).
In April 2022, The Slackers released a new album, “Dont
Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” (Pirates Press) which quickly
shot to the top of the US billboard charts. This is the first
time that a Slackers’ album has charted! Ironically after 30
years as a band, this qualified them as a Billboard ‘new
artist.’ The Washington Post noted that the Slackers
“remain at the top of their game.”
The chart topping performance of “Dont Let The Sunlight
Fool Ya” capped a 2 year comeback of the Slackers. When
Covid stopped live shows in 2020, the Slackers pivoted to
livestreams and made 5 full band concerts that were
broadcast internationally. After the shows, they stayed in
the studio and recorded the tunes that became Sunlight.
Returning to live gigging in the 2nd half of 2021, the band
celebrated their 30th anniversary with 30 shows across
the United States and Canada.
In 2022, the Slackers have 90 shows booked in the United
States, Canada, UK, and Europe. At 31 years old, the band
has been renewed and is looking to grow their cult
following into its 4th decade.
Tue Apr 25 2023
8:00 PM (Doors 7:00 PM)
$20.00
All Ages
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The Slackers, The Abruptors
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The Slackers have spreading their gospel of “Jamaican Rock N Roll” for 21 yearsnow. While they have been influenced, and even personally taught by Jamaicanska/reggae originators, like the Skatalites and the Upsetters (Original backing bandfor the Wailers) they play it with a decidedly American accent. Basically, this band isequally appreciative of old blues, country, 60s soul, rock, and Rnb as it is of reggae,rocksteady, dub, and Ska. It is as if the Rolling Stones or the Yardbirds had grownup on Bob Marley as well as Muddy Waters.Smashing the stereotypes of “ska” as happy,uptempo, and shallow music, theSlackers play with an aggressive edge and their songs veer in themes from thepersonal to the political. Back in 1996, the NY Times declared the Slackers to bepart of “the sound of New York”, a mantle they haven’t given up since. Ten yearslater, Alternative Nation stated that their music is "protest music made for dim,sweaty basements, The Slackers would sound at home supporting Rancid as well assome grizzled New Orleans electric blues trio." The LA Weekly wrote about, “theirunfettered energy, unerring skankability, and playful anger.”The band basically divides its recorded output into 2 categories. First of are their“albums”, which are as sax player, Dave Hillyard, says with just a hint of his typicalsarcasm, “these are where we try to take over the universe.” This steady streamincludes Better Late Than Never (1996), Red Light (1997), The Question(1998), Wasted Days (2001), Close My Eyes (2003), Peculiar (2006), SelfMedication (2008), and The Great Rocksteady Swindle (2010).The Great Rocksteady Swindle is a songwriting tour de force with all bandmembers contributing to its gutsy muscular sound. “Mr. Tragedy” references theSpecials while “Boll Weevil” references Sam Sham & the Pharaohs. “Cheated”seethes with bitterness while “Thank You” offers the possibility of hope. As the bandhas matured you can’t even tell anymore where the rock begins and the reggaeends, its become The Slackers. As band leader, Vic Ruggiero says, “we wanted to doan album that feels real. You can hear the band punching its way through.”Not content with letting the record industry dictate their output schedule, the bandhas also put out numerous eclectic and whimsical albums following their differentinterests of the moment. Slackers & Friends (2002) saw the band performing withsome of their idols like The Congos, the late Glen Adams of the Upsetters, CornellCampbell, and Doreen Schaeffer. International War Criminal EP (2004) was abitter broadside against the Bush Administration. Afternoon in Dub (2005) is purereggae bliss. Boss Harmony Sessions (2007) was a collaboration with DJ BossHarmony who arranged and refiltered tracks in unorthodox ways. Lost & Found(2009) is a compilation of forgotten tracks, alternate versions, and remakes from thebands recording vaults.Their most recent release, The Radio, is a change of pace, being their first all coveralbum. This was the brainchild of Whatevski Records’ mogul, Tom Gibbons, who hadan idea of a fantasy old school FM radio station where all the songs were played bythe Slackers. The result is creative re-workings of Atttitude (Misfits), Bitch (RollingStones), The Letter (Box Tops) amongst others. The most startling track was anespecially tender reggae ballad version of a track Madonna made famous, ‘Like aVirgin.’ As Hillyard explains, “cover records have a bad rep in the Ska world, wewanted to avoid this and find songs we could be true to. Our goal was to makebetter versions than the original song. We didn’t want something cute…oh look areggae version y’know? With ‘Like a Virgin’, Vic is able to live the song and takesaway all the cute bubble gum delivery of the original and is able to get to the deepermeaning of the lyrics.”The band has also put out 3 live albums; Live At Ernestos (2000), UpsettingErnestos (2005), Slack In Japan (2005), and 2 DVDs; The Slackers: ADocumentary (2007) and Live at the Flamingo Cantina (2009).More recently, the band has started releasing their live concerts throughwww.whatevski.org and has plans for releasing more compilations digitally.
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$20.00 All Ages
Tuesday, April 25
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
$20 adv / $25 dos
All Ages
+ $3 at door if under 21
The Slackers
https://www.theslackers.com/
The Abruptors
https://theabruptors.bandcamp.com/
For 31 years, the NYC-based and critically
acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world
with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.
Since 1991, the Slackers have released fifteen albums and
countless singles, while their 1000s of live performances
feed their fans with energetic sets of ecstatic music.
The press state that the Slackers are “the best ska band in
the world” (Rude International), “the pick of the US crop”
(Metal Hammer), “the sound of New York’ (New York
Times), “is about as close to perfect as it gets” (Ink 19),
and “one of the best bands in the United States” (axs.com).
In April 2022, The Slackers released a new album, “Dont
Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” (Pirates Press) which quickly
shot to the top of the US billboard charts. This is the first
time that a Slackers’ album has charted! Ironically after 30
years as a band, this qualified them as a Billboard ‘new
artist.’ The Washington Post noted that the Slackers
“remain at the top of their game.”
The chart topping performance of “Dont Let The Sunlight
Fool Ya” capped a 2 year comeback of the Slackers. When
Covid stopped live shows in 2020, the Slackers pivoted to
livestreams and made 5 full band concerts that were
broadcast internationally. After the shows, they stayed in
the studio and recorded the tunes that became Sunlight.
Returning to live gigging in the 2nd half of 2021, the band
celebrated their 30th anniversary with 30 shows across
the United States and Canada.
In 2022, the Slackers have 90 shows booked in the United
States, Canada, UK, and Europe. At 31 years old, the band
has been renewed and is looking to grow their cult
following into its 4th decade.
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
$20 adv / $25 dos
All Ages
+ $3 at door if under 21
The Slackers
https://www.theslackers.com/
The Abruptors
https://theabruptors.bandcamp.com/
For 31 years, the NYC-based and critically
acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world
with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.
Since 1991, the Slackers have released fifteen albums and
countless singles, while their 1000s of live performances
feed their fans with energetic sets of ecstatic music.
The press state that the Slackers are “the best ska band in
the world” (Rude International), “the pick of the US crop”
(Metal Hammer), “the sound of New York’ (New York
Times), “is about as close to perfect as it gets” (Ink 19),
and “one of the best bands in the United States” (axs.com).
In April 2022, The Slackers released a new album, “Dont
Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” (Pirates Press) which quickly
shot to the top of the US billboard charts. This is the first
time that a Slackers’ album has charted! Ironically after 30
years as a band, this qualified them as a Billboard ‘new
artist.’ The Washington Post noted that the Slackers
“remain at the top of their game.”
The chart topping performance of “Dont Let The Sunlight
Fool Ya” capped a 2 year comeback of the Slackers. When
Covid stopped live shows in 2020, the Slackers pivoted to
livestreams and made 5 full band concerts that were
broadcast internationally. After the shows, they stayed in
the studio and recorded the tunes that became Sunlight.
Returning to live gigging in the 2nd half of 2021, the band
celebrated their 30th anniversary with 30 shows across
the United States and Canada.
In 2022, the Slackers have 90 shows booked in the United
States, Canada, UK, and Europe. At 31 years old, the band
has been renewed and is looking to grow their cult
following into its 4th decade.
Share With Friends