Slightly Stoopid brings Summertime to Charleston
The energizing and multifaceted band Slightly Stoopid brought their Summertime tour to North Charleston and they brought their friends with them. The Summertime tour brought together alternative reggae rock group The Movement, sharp tongued hip hop artist Atmosphere, and the legendary Sublime with Rome all together under one roof.
The Movement kicked things off, immediately setting the vibe for the evening. They opened with the title track from Always With Me (2023). The room seemed to develop its own ozone when the band dropped “Loud Enough” from Ways Of the World (2019). Jason Schmidts wavy bass, and Gary Jacksons heavy drums highlighted frontman Joshua Swain's Nick Hexum style delivery and punctuated by Matt Goodwin’s keyboard screaming in electric ecstasy.
Atmosphere was up next. Cloaked in a black hoodie Slug sauntered on to stage. Ant dropped the beat for “Okay” from their 2023 release So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously. The beat played, Slug immediately engaged with the crowd and demanded everyone smile from ear to ear. As the crowd exposed their tooth grins Slugs first lyrics hit “it’ll be alright, It’ll be ok”. The next song was “Puppets” from When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (2008) which was ironic considering Atmosphere worked the crowd as if they were marionettes. The prime example being when Slug requested everyone put their middle finger in the air. Thousands of birds flew high and proud, and the beat for “Fuck You Lucy” hit. The song, from Atmosphere’s God Loves Ugly (2002) paints a vividly unflattering portrait of an ex post break up. Slug owned the stage. Energetically bobbing up and down, contorting his face and body in a way that only he can. When the final song, “Trying to Find a Balance” from Seven’s Travels (2003) hit. The audience reverted to an almost primal state, going apeshit. When it ended the crowd was pleasantly stunned, like a massive firework went off in the room.
When Sublime with Rome took the stage the audience and also the smoke in the room had grown significantly thicker. If you had any doubts about Rome Ramirez and his ability to front this legendary band, put those doubts to rest. He slays a six string, and adds his own flavor to the signature lyrics. They opened with “April 29, 1992(Miami)” from Sublime’s 1996 self-titled album. OG member Eric Wilson came in with the signature bass drop and we were off. For the next hour Sublime with Rome played all the hits, all the bangers. “Doin Time” and “The Wrong Way” kept it going and the venue took on a very pungent aroma when the song “Smoke Two Joints” from ‘92s 40oz. Freedom rang through the coliseum. The crowd really lost it when they closed their set with “Santeria”. If you closed your eyes you almost had the feeling of cruising through the LBC in a lowrider.
The septet Slightly Stoopid opened with the title track off of the album Top of the World and flowed into “Officer” from Everything You Need (2003). As the set continued it was a pleasure to watch the two frontmen Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald switch from guitar to bass, and then back. It was a dazzling display of musical prowess matched only by the stunning laser show that was happening overhead. Well known collaborator and Jurassic 5 member Chali 2na came out for “Everyday People” from Everyday Life, Everyday People (2018) and “Hands High'' from the 2017 Chali and Krafty Kuts single by the same name. With 7 members this band had a massive sound,Slightly Stoopid also crafted a great cover of Tom Petty’s “You Don't Know How It Feels”. The show came to an end with an explosive cover of Beastie Boys “Intergalactic”. Lasers danced through the coliseum and cascaded through the thick smoke.
Slightly Stoopid’s signature skulls glowed ominously on stage. Combining the feel of a massive beach party and a Pink Floyd style laser show Slightly Stoopid put on a show to remember and made the massive venue rumble with applause.
