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How do you take Ska music from Jamaica and make it swing like Harlem in the 1940's? How do you take the Jazz and R&B of New Orleans and make them groove with the Rocksteady beat? How do you get a Mambo to move to the Reggae sound?

The Slackers have been asking these questions since the band was born in September of 1990 on the lower east side of NYC. Their answer is an eight-piece band that features sweet vocal harmonies, honking horns, bubbling organ, percussive guitar and a most swinging rhythm section.

Honing their skills underground in a rat infested basement rehearsal studio, they emerged in 1996 with Better Late Than Never (Moon Records). An album that defined the ska music of their time with such streetwise songs as the punk/reggae of "Run Away," the swing/ska of "Sarah," and the tongue-in-cheek flavor of "Tonight." In 1997, they reached new musical heights with Redlight (Hellcat), a maudlin album about lost loves ("She Wants to be Alone"), lost heroes ("Cooking for Tommy"), and lost innocence ("I Still Love U"). The album also boasted the anthemic Reggae stomper "Watch This," which became the Slackers calling card from Los Angeles to New York, Amsterdam and beyond.

In 1998, The Question was asked once again. The band responded with over an hour of all original music that stretched the definition of Ska music both outward towards the millenial light and downwards towards its timeless roots. Its songs tell tales reminiscent of Dylan and Marley about families ("Manuel"), alcoholism ("Knowing"), growing old ("Have the Time"), and betrayal ("And I Wonder"). All the while underneath, sitars introduce a calypso, ska beats are interrupted by the strange pings of guitars in the night, and nyabinghi drums pound below sweet ballads

In their 8 year history, the Slackers have toured the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. In July of 1998, the Slackers played the main stage of the Warped tour. Their music has been featured in films ("Bang" & "Bleached"), television ("The Mens Room"-Lifetime), and they participated in 1997's Tibetan Freedom Festival, performing in front of 50,000 people at Randall's Island, NYC, on stage with punk legends Rancid. Their music is played extensively on college radio and Redlight reached into the Top 100 on the CMJ charts. Redlight has sold over 15,000 copies - more than 90% of all independent releases. "Watch This" is the featured song on Give Em The Boot (Hellcat), a compilation album which has sold over 130,000 copies.

For interviews, CDs, and any further information,
please do not hesitate to contact:

Ariel Publicity Artist Relations
   and Promotions
2999 Shady Hollow East
Boulder, CO 80304
Phone (303)443-0083
Fax (303)443-0720

© 1999 Ariel Publicity and The Slackers