Category: Videos

New album Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya available for pre-order

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New York City, NY — February 3, 2022 —New York City reggae legends THE SLACKERS are debuting the song and video for “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” on Brooklyn Vegan which is also the title track from their brand new upcoming album. This record, their first in 7 years and 15th full-length in their career, is now available on Pirates Press Records’ webstore.

Frontman Vic Ruggiero describes the writing process and meaning behind the song: “Yeah, it’s the springtime…it looks really nice thru the window. The sun feels good… You go outside and all of a sudden you realize it’s winter still… It’s like you thought you put sugar in your coffee, but it was salt.”

(Clip from the video for “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya”)

Rolling Stone recently hailed The Slackers as “THE legendary New York City ska band” and this is by no means hyperbole. Having formed in 1991, The Slackers released their debut album in 1996, Better Late Than Never, and then signing with Epitaph Records and releasing their breakthrough full-length, Redlight, in 1997. From there, the band traveled the world and began to develop a prolific audience through their fun and energetic shows.

14 full-lengths later, countless EPs, singles, and touring all around the world playing to thousands and thousands of fans from Tokyo, Japan to their hometown of New York City, The Slackers return with Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya. Marc Wasserman, author of “Skaboom! An American Ska & Reggae Oral History,” says The Slackers’ “…songs are about real darkness, depression, anger, sadness and loneliness, and some of the political songs as well are pretty vibrant.”

“In the middle of 2020, every time we started doing a livestream, we would stay after and start recording new music. By the middle of 2021, we had an album recorded. A lot of these tunes like “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” were written right after we had just gotten out of lockdown,” says saxophonist Dave Hillyard.

The New York Times dubbed the Slackers part of ‘the sound of New York,’ and The Slackers just keep at it, only improving with age and experience – writing better and better songs, and continuing to build and strengthen that global Slackers family. Washington Post has described the impact The Slackers have left on the ska scene: “The Slackers have become the elder statesmen in American ska music, setting the stage for a new generation of musicians and a thriving scene….they remain at the top of their game.”

After releasing several singles with Pirates Press Records (“Windowland/I Almost Lost You,” “Nobody’s Listening/Sleep Outside,” and “Love I Bring), The Slackers are once again hitting the road all year long to support a new set of tunes and once again have fans around the world put on their dancing shoes for another evening with these renowned musicians. This album is a testament to the age and experience this band has accrued over their 30+ year career. These special tunes will undoubtedly travel far and wide, just like the band will, performing these songs in a club near you!

(The cover art for Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya)

Catch The Slackers on tour:
03/30/2022 – Harrisburg, PA – Stage On Herr
4/07/2022 – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Arenas
4/08/2022 – Virginia Beach, VA – Bunker Brewpub
4/10/2022 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
5/7/2022 – Jersey City, NJ – White Eagle Hall
5/12/2022 Ottawa, ON – Brass Monkey
5/13/2022 Montreal, QC – Cafe Campus
5/14/2022 Quebec City, QC – L’Antibar
5/17/2022 Salt Lake City, UT – Commonwealth Room
5/18/2022 Denver, Co – Oriental Theater
5/20/2022 – Dallas, TX – Three Links
5/21/2022 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
5/22/2022 – San Antonio, TX – Rockbox
5/24/2022 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
5/27/2022 – Flagstaff, Az – Yucca Room
5/28/2022 – Phoenix, Az – Crescent Ballroom
9/26/2022 – Birmingham, UK – Hare and Hounds
9/27/2022 – Manchester, UK – Retro
9/28/2022 – Huddersfield, UK – Parish
9/30/2022 – London, UK – Underworld
10/1/2022 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
10/2/2022 – Newcastle, UK – Think Tank
10/3/2022 – Bristol, UK – Exchange
10/4/2022 – Antwerp, Belgium – Kavka
10/6/2022 – Haarlem, Netherlands – Patroonaat
10/7/2022 – Den Haag, Netherlands – Paard
10/8/2022 – Sittard, Netherlands – Ernestos
10/11/2022 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex
10/12/2022 – Munich, Germany – Feierwerk
10/13/2022 – Vienna, Austria – Arena
10/15/2022 – Sluderno, Italy – Loki
10/16/2022 – Nuremberg, Germany – Desi
10/17/2022 – Hannover, Germany – Lux
10/18/2022 – Berlin, Germany – S036
10/19/2022 – Hamburg, Germany – Molotov
10/21/2022 – Koln, Germany – Gebaude 9
10/22/2022 – Arlon, Belgium – L’entrepot

The Slackers are:
Vic Ruggiero – vocals, organ
Agent Jay – guitar
Dave Hillyard – saxophone
Glen Pine – trombone, vocals
Marcus Geard – bass
Ara Babajian – drums