Asa musical brotherhood since 1995, Slightly Stoopid, led by the vastlyversatile duo of Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald, has expandedits fusion of rock, reggae, acoustic soul, hip hop, heavy metal, andpunk rock, and achieved artistic freedom and commercial success whilesubscribing to their own DIY ethos. In theprocess, the talented collective has grown both onstage- from theiroriginal trio to a seven-piece ensemble- and as the generational forebearerof an immensely growing subculture and lifestyle movement. Boundby their devotion to a musical agenda that relies on the spiritof collaboration and improvisation, and a social agenda that advocates forthe freedom and legalization ofmarijuana, Slightly Stoopid’s musical melting potcontinues to earn the respect of their mentors and peers, inspirecountless young musicians, and delight millions of fans.
Doughty and McDonald grew up together in the Ocean Beachneighborhood of San Diego. By age 11they had their first acoustic guitars, bonding over Metallica, Megadeth, and MötleyCrüe. In the mid-1990s they attendedPoint Loma High School and formed Slightly Stoopid, playing their first gig- apunky and subversive lunchtime set on the quad- that earned them a trip to thevice-principal’s office and a reprimand for the trio’s explicit lyrics.
As ambitious high school students, they played house partiesand small clubs, and met Sublime’s Bradley Nowell after attending one of hisband’s shows. Nowell quickly became achampion of the group’s precocious talents, inviting them to play, and signingSlightly Stoopid to his label, Skunk Records. He endorsed them to Michael “Miguel” Happoldt, co-founder of Skunk, whoagreed to record the band at Sublime’s Fake Nightclub studio in LongBeach. In 1996, they released theirdebut studio album, the punk-inflected, eponymously titled Slightly Stoopid. ThoughNowell had passed away shortly before the record’s release, fittingly heappeared, posthumously, on the song, “Prophet.”
The surf-inspired follow-up, The Longest Barrel Ride, came in 1998, also on Skunk. The band’s first two albums generated regionalbuzz and motivated the three-piece to load up the van and hit the road. Persistently they ticked off the miles up anddown the West Coast, venturing east to Colorado ski towns, playing a circuit ofsmall clubs to small but enthusiastic crowds slowly increasing in size eachtime around. “Brad and Miguel wouldalways tell us that, to make a name for yourself, you have to get in the van200-plus days a year,” said Doughty in a December 2018 interview. “They would tell us: ‘Don’t be scared, keepgrinding, and build that organic fanbase.’”
An early breakthrough came in 2001, Doughty and McDonaldissued Acoustic Roots: Live and Direct,self-released on their own newly formed indie label, Stoopid Records. A 40-minute acoustic, one-take, live-radioset captured at San Diego’s Rock 105.3 studio, the album demonstrated aprofound strength of songwriting and vocals that inspired favorable comparisonsto Dave Matthews Band and Jack Johnson. Subsequently, the band expanded, welcoming drummer Ryan Moran, as wellas percussionist Oguer “OG” Ocon from The B-Side Players and a horn sectionfrom John Brown’s Body of C-Money on trumpet and Daniel “Dela” Delacruz onsaxophone.
The ensemble’s diversity and repertoire encouraged charmed collaborationsin the studio, such as with reggae legend Barrington Levy, G. Love (GarrettDutton) and onstage, with the Marley family, Snoop Dogg, and Cypress Hill. Between 2003 and 2008, the band released fourstudio albums- Everything You Need,Closer To The Sun, Chronchitis, andSlightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid- and two livecollections: Winter Tour ’05-’06 and Live in San Diego, routinely charting onBillboard’s Top 100. Their touringexpanded, as well, both domestically and internationally, including sold-outdates in locales from Australia to the Caribbean, Denmark to Japan, Germany toGuam, and the famed festivals of Coachella, Lollapalooza, and New Orleans JazzFest, among others.
In 2011, the band taped a performance with the GratefulDead’s Bob Weir, Live at Roberto’s TRIStudios, performing alongside Weir, reggae icon Don Carlos (Black Uhuru), andIvan and Ian Neville (Dumpstaphunk), as well as frequent band contributor andsaxophonist Karl Denson (Greyboy All Stars/The Rolling Stones). The TRI appearance echoed the band’slongstanding roster of guests that serve, in some ways, as honorary members of SlightlyStoopid, including Carlos, Denson, Chali 2na, and Rashawn Ross (Dave MatthewsBand).
They released their seventh studio effort, Top of the World, in 2012, peaking inthe top five of several Billboard charts. In 2014, the band hosted its first Closerto the Sun destination event, for what would become an annual multi-day,multi-act festival in Mexico. 2015 sawthe release of Meanwhile…Back At The Lab,which embodied instant Stoopid classics “The Prophet”, “Rolling Stone” and“Life Rolls On” followed in 2018 with the reggae chart topper Everyday Life, Everyday People thatfeatured guest appearances by Chali 2na, Ali Campbell (UB40), Alborosie, G. Love,Don Carlos, Yellowman, and Sly Dunbar, among others.
In May of 2019, the band delivered one of theweekend’s more scintillating sets at the inaugural BeachLife Festival inSouthern California, welcoming Weir as a special guest for impassioned takes onthe Grateful Dead classic, “Franklin’s Tower,” and a tribute to Tom Petty on“You Don’t Know How It Feels.” Despitethe COVID-19 global pandemic that paused much of the industry’s touring in2020, the band’s founding duo earned Top Ten spots on Pollstar’s Live Streamchart: McDonald capturing #3; Doughty earning #7.
The group returned to the stage firing on allcylinders in 2021; performing as a headliner at the debut of the massive Cali VibesFestival in February, and appearing for two sold-out nights in August atColorado’s famed Red Rocks- their livestreams garnering two-million views and7.6 million minutes of viewing time. They also introduced Stoopid Strains, partnering with established brandsto produce a line of high-quality cannabis products. December of 2021 saw Slightly Stoopid issuethe single, “Everyday People (Remix),” featuring B-Real of Cypress Hill and G.Love, as well as revive its flagship Closer To The Sun event in Mexico for asold-out, 7th installment. The band’s 2022 Summer Traditions Tour celebrated over 300,000 ticketssold, including 13 sold-out shows, leading in December to another sell-out at the8th Closer To The Sun fest.
Consistently throughout the band’s career, SlightlyStoopid has made a conscious effort to parallel their creative output withcharitable work. Doughty and McDonaldhave often recognized their fortunate positions as an opportunity to give back,proving to be a constant source of inspiration. Perhaps two of the better examples of their philanthropic commitment aretheir involvement in the fight against pediatric cancer with Candlelighters NYCand Ronald McDonald House- visiting with and hosting affected families atshows, as well as contributing financially to the cause- and the auction oforiginal art used in the “One Bright Day” video; the proceeds from whichenabled Global BrightLight Foundation to provide solar installations forelectricity in five Third World villages. Additionally, a portion of their sales from Stoopid Strains benefits TheLast Prisoner project; a non-profit devoted to the release of tens of thousandsincarcerated for cannabis-related offenses.
Slightly Stoopid is and continues to be a musicalbrotherhood that always welcomes guest musicians and the art of collaboration.Doughty and McDonald remain unwavering in their principles of independence,honoring their diversity of influences and mentors, and furthering theirinherited legacy of the Southern California sound.
“Once we found music as a form of expression, asan outlet, we did whatever it took to survive,” said McDonald in a 2018interview. “We are who we are- a productof Southern California. And, we arewhere we are in life because of how passionate we are about the music.”
Iam Tongi had America tearing up from the moment he startedsinging, "Monster" by James Blunt. An emotional tribute to his fatherwho'd encouraged him to audition for Idol but passed away before he made it infront of the judges, the performance instantly became a viral sensation. Thequiet yet powerful maturity in this 18-year-old Samoan, Tongan from Hawaii'svoice, is unparalleled. An old soul, his beautiful rasp, with a light island influencepermeates every note in every song he sings, invariably taking listeners on anemotional journey. Although Iam himself is rarely serious, preferring toapproach life with a laugh and a joke, his musical taste and styling shows adepth of range far beyond his years. In his current single, "I'll BeSeeing You", Iam gorgeously laments about the loss of his father. Hisformidable vocal ability brings a yearning to those moments when, althoughyou’ve lost someone, you realize they are never truly gone; you see themeverywhere you look. Iam said, “This song is very beautiful, and itresonates with me, it means a lot to me. It is about my father and if you thinkabout it, this song talks about “I’ll be seeing you wherever I go” because whena loved one passes away you are going to remember them in everyday life. My dadhad to go to dialysis and every time we drive past the place, he had to get itdone we always point and say, 'Oh, look, dad.' We never say, 'Oh look that’swhere he used to get it done' we always just say 'dad.'”
Exploding into the American progressive roots scene in 2018 with their #1 Billboard Reggae album DefyGravity, The Elovaters have quickly become a household name for lovers of Sublime, Jack Johnson,Slightly Stoopid, G. Love, Stick Figure, The Movement, and more. They won Artist Of The Year, and LiveAct of The Year in the 2022 New England Music Awards, and a few months later were voted Reggae/SkaArtist of The Year in the Boston Music Awards. Their music has been featured on CBS’ Hawaii Five-O andtheir song “Boston” was played during the World Series Parade when the Boston Red Sox won in 2018.Several of The Elovaters songs are in heavy rotation on SiriusXM’s “No Shoes Radio,” “Margaritaville,”and “The Spectrum,” and they are currently touring in North America and the Pacific Islands in support oftheir 2023 full-length album ENDLESS SUMMER.
In this modern age of music, genres blend together as naturallyas the river flows into the sea. Withthe expansive library of all the music of the world from every time period atour fingertips, creative artists seem to be more and more liberated from thearchaic mentality of being pigeonholed into one genre or demographic. Mike Love is at the forefront of thismovement. With a foundation rooted inthe spirituality and message-based music of Reggae and Rastafari, he blends thesounds of progressive and classic rock, pop, R & B, soul, blues, flamenco,jazz and so much more. Healing is at thecore of his music. With ever evolvinglive performances, Love keeps his organically grown fanbase returning again andagain to witness the evolution of tried and true fan favorites, and theever-expanding repertoire of new music that is constantly surfacing. Fans often leave live performances remarkingabout how they have just been to church, or had a bad day turned around.
Born and raised on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i, Love was broughtup in an environment surrounded by musical influence and the inspiring naturallandscape of his island home. Forging adeep connection with nature, his message of returning to a more natural andspiritually grounded way of living was solidified at an early age. Growing up under the musical guidance of hisfather and grandfather, both composers, as well as his steel pan instructorFrank Leto and piano teacher Beth Uale, Mike's natural musical instinctstowards melody and harmony were shaped and deepened. Mike started playing the guitar at age 15 andplayed in multiple bands throughout his teenage years, playing his first livegig with a band at age 16.
It wasn't until he joined forces with local musicians Tavana,Brad Watanabe (currently of The Green) and longtime collaborator and currentdrummer Sam "Ites" Gonsalves to form the band Melodious Solutions,that his musical vision started to take shape. Furthering his talents as a composer/lyricist and arranger, Lovesubsequently fronted the 10-piece band Dubkonscious for a few years, enteringinto his first studio experience as producer as well on the band's album"At the Foot of the Mountain".
In 2008, he started a solo weekly residence, performing at alocal Irish Pub on Mondays. During hislong four-hour sets there, he developed a unique one-man-band style, usinglooping, multiple instruments, and an array of different vocal techniques andmusical styles. As his creativity anddelivery in a solo format blossomed, so did his audiences. Slowly and organically, this became his mainproject and his solo career was born. InDecember of 2012, Love released his first solo album, the critically acclaimedfan favorite "The Change I'm Seeking". With instant classics like "PermanentHoliday", "Barbershop", and "Human Race", his fanbaserapidly grew, worldwide, with the success of a handful of viral videos onYouTube. Love also delved into morepassionate subjects on the album, with tracks like "Earthlings"exhibiting his desire to "Veganize" the world and wake people up tothe injustices of animal cruelty, and "No More War", a call to"bring the troops back home" from these "wars that no one reallywants". It was clear that finallyLove had found his voice and was ready to share his music with the world.
He began touring that year with best friend and musical soul-matePaula Fuga, playing shows to enthusiatic crowds in the western U.S. supportingbands like Groundation and Nahko and Medicine for the People. As the buzz spread, so did the reach of Mikeand his band. The next year brought themall over the U.S. playing club shows and festivals alike. Love supported Trevor Hall and Xavier Rudd onmajor tours throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada, winning over many fans inthe grassroots style he had become accustomed to. You'll often catch Mike saying "I justkeep playing the music, and this thing just keeps growing. It has a life of its own and I'm justgrateful for it." Internationaltouring soon followed, with warm and enthusiastic receptions across Europe,Central America, Australia, Polynesia and more. Throughout it all, Love hasremained humble, citing the healing power of the music that comes from a largerplace as the sole reason this all has been possible.
With the release of his second album "Love Will Find aWay" and follow-up companion album "Love Overflowing" featuringsing-along tunes like "I Love You" and "No Regrets", hesolidified the bond with his fans and exhibited the evolution that lovers ofhis music had come to expect. Returningto the studio with road-tested material and a more intimate connection with aworldwide audience had obviously resulted in a more refined and focused soundand ideology.
Currently, he has formed a super-band, hand-picked from all ofthe top musicians he's worked with over the years, dubbed aptly, Mike Love andthe Full Circle. They have honed theirskills and come together as a tight unit at home on O'ahu and have now begun totour, taking Love's music to even greater heights. As they prepare to return to the studio in2018, we can anticipate that the new album they are concocting will be the mostdynamic, heartfelt and spirited offering yet. In the years to come we can only expect more growth, more innovation,and of course, more Love.
