IN AN era thick with ska punk bands the Slackers, pictured, hail a mellower time with horns, languid bass and soulful singing.
The seven piece band was formed in 1990 in New York City, where they took West Indian vibes and placed them in an urban setting. 13 years earlier Kingston DJ Kool Herc had made the same move to create hip hop.
The Slackers' debut album, Better Late than Never, had the urban awareness of hip hop blessed with the happy go lucky pulse of commercial reggae stars UB40.
Their first album was raw and direct but after signing to Tim Armstrong's Hellcat Records in 1997, the band released Red Light which saw them evolve a smoother, more melancholy and soulful sound.
The title track was a hit and raised the profile of the band.
In 1998 came album number three, The Question, with 19 tracks inspired by lost loves, dead heroes and alcohol. The single from the album Have the Time took them to wider, MTV audience.
Wasted Days in The Slackers fourth album, released earlier this year on Hellcat/Epitaph followed by a tour of the UK, calling on TJ's next week, one of 120 shows this year!
Wasted Days is a confident stomp of Ska suggesting an unremorseful band intent on wasting as many days in the next ten years as they did in the last.
* The Slackers play TJ's, Newport on Thursday October 4 with support from Shootin' good and Skankt. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are £7 on the night.
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