3rd Annual Slackfest Featuring The Slackers Returns To Reggie's Rock Club November 14-16, 2019

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

17+

Join Us For a 3 Night Ska Bonanza

Last year I had 1 night press/photo credentials. We had so much fun that this year we sprung for two 3-day tickets. Can't wait to catch them live again.

Check out all my Slackfest 2018 live show shots of The Slackers here then come on out this week and catch them live!

(Sunday, December 2, 2018: 2nd Annual Slackfest)

The Circle City Demons 

(direct support for The Slackers: Slackfest 2018)

2019 Three Nights with The Slackers with Three different sets…

Thursday, November 14 – Play Deep Cuts: support by Mephiskapheles, The Drastics and DJ Chuck Wren

Friday, November 15 – Play Love and War: support by Pinata Protest, The Scotch Bonnets and DJ Chuck Wren

Saturday, November 16 – Play Big Tunes: support by Green Room Rockers & special guests, The Prizefighters and DJ Chuck Wren

THE SLACKERS

The Slackers have spreading their gospel of “Jamaican Rock N Roll” for 21 years now. While they have been influenced, and even personally taught by Jamaican ska/reggae originators, like the Skatalites and the Upsetters (Original backing band for the Wailers) they play it with a decidedly American accent. Basically, this band is equally 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 grown up on Bob Marley as well as Muddy Waters.

Smashing the stereotypes of “ska” as happy, uptempo, and shallow music, the Slackers play with an aggressive edge and their songs veer in themes from the personal to the political. Back in 1996, the NY Times declared the Slackers to be part of “the sound of New York”, a mantle they haven’t given up since. Ten years later, Alternative Nation stated that their music is “protest music made for dim, sweaty basements.

INCOMING: The Skatalites and More at Chicago's Beat Kitchen Friday, November 9th, 2018

Chi,IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

SKA, ROCKSTEADY, REGGAE - IT ALL BEGAN WITH

THE SKA-TALITES

This Friday I'll be ChiILin' at Chi, IL's Beat Kitchen, covering The Skatalites for ChiIL Live Shows. Their Chicago show is officially sold out, so check back soon for our recap.

ABOUT THE SKA-TALITES
CURRENT MEMBERS

The Skatalites are Jamaica's premier ska band since 1964 who backed artists like Bob Marley, Toots and The Maytals, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and most of the singers of the day. Their infectious brand of bluesy,jazzy ska spread like wildfire around the island and spawned the entire genres of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, two-tone, and 3rd wave ska. The tiny island of Jamaica has probably had more effect on music globally than any other country or place in the world, and The Skatalites were the pioneers of the music that originally caused this. 

The original lineup lasted only 14 months but recorded thousands of tunes, some of which are still being discovered in the archives today. Although the group broke up in 1965, the members remained active in the evolution of Jamaican popular music as it increased in popularity. After hearing about the resurgence of interest in their music they reunited in 1983 to perform at Jamaica's famed Sunsplash festival. Subsequently in 1986 they migrated to the USA and began performing and touring all over the world as they continue to do now after 52 years in the music business. 

Despite changes in personnel over the years, the band has continued to stay viable in the market, recording and performing at some of the world's largest festivals and has been nominated twice for The Grammys. Their most recent recording "Platinum Ska" features some tracks with Lloyd Knibb , the original drummer who passed away in 2011 and was widely regarded as the creator of the ska beat as well as the "onedrop" rhythm that is the foundation of most reggae music. Also on some tracks is original alto sax man Lester Sterling who is still active but no longer touring regularly with the band. Original vocalist Doreen Shaffer contributes a vocal track on this cd and continues leading the band on it's path as it continues it's great legacy bringing joy to fans, old and new, all over the world. 

LEGENDARY MEMBERS

Click the image to view legendary members

Forever indebted to the inspiration and talent of: Roland Alphonso, Lloyd Brevett, Tony DaCosta, Rupert Dillon , Don Drummond, Joseph " Lord Tanamo" Gordon, Jerome "Jah Jerry" Haynes, Lloyd Knibb, Tommy McCook, Donat Roy "Jackie" Mittoo, John " Dizzy Johnny" Moore, Jackie Opel, Doreen Shaffer, Lester Sterling.

INCOMING: Survay Says! Riot Fest Sunday at 1pm on The Revolt Stage #Riotfest #ChiILPicksList

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

ChiIL Live Shows ChiIL Picks List

Here at ChiIL Live Show we cover loads of large music fests every year. They're great for seeing old favorites, binging on hours of live music, and discovering new bands. We haven't seen Survey Says yet, but we're suckers for a sweet horn section, saxaphones and Ska. Check 'em out if you have a chance.

Sunday, September 14

Revolt Stage

1pm

Six members, 101 shows in 2011, 149 shows in 2012, 208 shows in 2013, and 1 unified goal: To make audiences have the most fun possible. 

Survay Says! is a 6-piece ska/pop punk band from a small town called Blairstown, NJ. Originally forming in 2008 by brothers Henry & D.Jay Menzel, Survay Says! has spent the last 4 years honing their craft to bring listeners the horn-driven sound ska fans crave along with the high speed energy of pop punk. If there is one word that could sum up an SS! set, that word would be "fun", and that's exactly what the band strives for. 

Considered by many to be one of the hardest working self-managed bands on the East Coast, Survay Says has supported national acts such as Less Than Jake, the Wonder Years, Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, and Bowling for Soup. Survay Says tours extensively, playing 208 shows in 2013 including a month-long run with Big D and the Kid’s Table and Red City Radio which took them to Fest 12 in Gainesville, FL.  2014 promises to be just as intense; Signed to Asbestos Records, Survay Says has already completed a two month full US tour to support the release of our new album "Observations of the Human Condition", a month long tour of the US and Canada as direct support to Reel Big Fish, and a scond full US tour since the beginning of April this year. We're spending the rest of the 2014 playing Riot Fest in Chicago, The Fest in Gainesville, FL, doing a support tour with MxPx, Zebrahead and Allister, as well as touring the full US again on our own.

Click here to check out their main site

Current Endorsements/Sponsorships:
Ernie Ball Music Man   SJC Custom Drums TRX Cymbals Antigua Winds