Slightly Stoopid fans are not afraid to dance.
Last night, Stick Figure, Dirty Heads and Slightly Stoopid stopped at Eugene’s Cuthbert Amphitheater as part of their Everything Is Awesome summer tour, and the concert left me with a happy heart and bobbing head.
The crowd at this show was unlike any other: they danced with no shame and everyone was kind to each other. There would be no mosh pits at this show because everyone was genuinely enjoying themselves.
As I approached Cuthbert, a cast of characters greeted me. Reggae fans of every variety covered the lawns. People of all ages were abuzz with excitement. Stick Figure started off the night strong. Their cool, rhythmic sound set the relaxing summertime vibe that continued through the night. Stick Figure was a strong start to the night that gave everyone high expectations for what was to come next.
The Dirty Heads, on the other hand, did not have a particularly lax set in mind. The band took the stage accompanied by throbbing music that changed the mood from chill to electric. Energy was high and the band didn’t miss a beat.
They began by picking up the pace after Stick Figure’s picturesque summer set. Midway through, the Dirty Heads slowed things down with Lay Me Down. The crowd couldn’t resist singing along and everyone in the amphitheater united in song. It was a perfect moment on the perfect summer night.
Then, the sounds were changed up again. The Dirty Heads began playing some heavier songs that had their audience thrashing. They kept a nice balance between reggae and rap sounds without letting the set feel sporadic. As they played “Silence,” the amphitheater became a massive party. The people on the back lawn were doing the wave and energy was off the charts.
The set ended, appropriately, with a dance party. They played a recorded remix of their radio hit “My Sweet Summer” and danced along with the crowd before exiting the stage. Everyone in the crowd was excitedly anticipating the main event.
After a grueling half hour of conversation, Slightly Stoopid finally hit the stage. They started their set by playing “Dabbington”, which is the first song on their newest album, Meanwhile…Back at the Lab. The song acts as the perfect introduction to the album as well as the show.
Slightly Stoopid is a particularly unique and exceptional reggae rock band, because they incorporate a saxophone and a trumpet into many of their songs. This gives their reggae somewhat of a jazzier feel, which makes Slightly Stoopid one of a kind.
Their best song was “Collie Man.” As lead singer, Miles Doughty, called out “collie, collie”, the whole audience seemed to be at peace.
Slightly Stoopid was the Saturday night destination for the perfect summer night. Smooth reggae tunes, warm weather and a vibin’ crowd made for an outdoor concert experience.
If you missed this show, I would recommend seeing Sublime with Rome on August 28^th for some quality reggae sounds.