Slightly Stoopid

Slightly Stoopid emerged from Southern California in the 1990s as a self-described fusion of "folk, rock, reggae and blues with hip-hop, funk, metal and punk," beginning life as a standard SoCal skatepunk outfit before shifting, with the arrival of 2003’s Everything You Need, toward cannabis-inspired purveyors of loose, jam-driven good times. While Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald were still attending high school, the group signed to Brad Nowell’s Skunk Records imprint; over time the core expanded into a seven-piece ensemble celebrated for its wide-ranging stylistic range and its high-energy, welcoming stage shows. Since its 1996 debut the outfit has delivered numerous studio and concert albums, among them the notable 2005 set Closer to the Sun, 2007’s Chronchitis, and 2015’s Meanwhile...Back at the Lab.

Following the 1995 Skunk deal, Slightly Stoopid issued two early long-players, Slightly $toopid in 1996 and Longest Barrel Ride in 1998, both marked by thrash-tinged skatepunk and liberal cannabis references. By the time of 2001’s Live & Direct: Acoustic Roots the playing and vocals of Doughty and McDonald had noticeably developed. The lineup later incorporated drummer Ryan Moran, saxophonist Daniel “Dela” Delacruz, and percussionist/vocalist Oguer Ocon. With Everything You Need the band embraced a California-rooted palette of looping sampledelic pop, hip-hop touches, and upbeat marijuana affirmations while occasionally revisiting rowdy skatepunk. Closer to the Sun, released in 2005 and regarded at the time as the group’s strongest work, combined dub and reggae elements with understated hip-hop and relaxed grooves; on cuts such as “Ain’t Got a Lot of Money,” Doughty and McDonald evoked Jack Johnson fronting Fun Lovin’ Criminals.

The band’s stylistic breadth led to tours alongside the Marley Brothers, blink-182, G. Love & Special Sauce, Pennywise, and N.E.R.D. Despite a steadfastly independent approach, Closer to the Sun entered the Billboard Top 200 and moved close to 25,000 copies within its first eight weeks. The EP Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid followed, gathering Sun outtakes alongside additional studio recordings. Maintaining a schedule of roughly 200 performances annually for fans known as Ese Locos or Stoopidheads, the group put out the live album Winter Tour '05-'06 and the DVD Live in San Diego in June 2006; both documents captured the nearly two-hour improvisational sets typical of their concerts. Even with the demanding road commitments, the musicians returned to the studio for 2007’s Chronchitis, then supplied fans the next year with an expanded edition of the breakfast-themed EP that added Chronchitis outtakes, cover versions, and previously unreleased live staples.

In 2012 Slightly Stoopid issued Top of the World, which advanced their move toward polished textures and included appearances by G. Love, Barrington Levy, and Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na. Meanwhile... Back at the Lab arrived in 2015, backed first by a U.S. trek and later by an extended international run that included dates in South America, Australia, England, and the Netherlands. The annual “Sounds of Summer” amphitheater headline tour took place in 2017, accompanied by the single “One Bright Day” featuring American-Trinidadian singer/songwriter and producer Angela Hunte. The following year brought the band’s ninth studio album, Everyday Life, Everyday People, which featured contributions from G. Love, Alborosie, Don Carlos, Yellowman, and additional guests.