GAMING
COURIER-POST, Thursday, October 11, 2012 1S
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DESTINATIONS & DIVERSIONS
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SLIGHTLY STOOPID PUTS FANS FIRST
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o one could ever accuse Slightly Stoopid of skimping at their fans’ expense. The August release of “Top of the World” features 21 tracks, including the rarity of rarities in today’s world of rock: the instrumental. The thing is, co-founder Miles Doughty says such an explosion of music is not an anomaly. Most of the group’s work extends beyond the typical 10- to 12-song CD. “We want to give our fans as much music for the money,” he said in an interview from his home in San Diego. The band cut 35 to 40 songs in the studio for “Top of the World.” “With your own label, you can do it anyway you want,” said Doughty, who brings the musically diverse eight-piece band to the House of Blues on Oct. 20. “We love to record instrumentals. We dig ‘Introduction to Organics.’ Sometimes we open up shows with it,” he said. Maybe the band will open the House of Blues concert with the four-minute song. The band will mix up the set list to incorporate all seven studio albums, but still do a lot from its latest release. “We’ll play something new, but at the same time, we let fans call out what they’d want to hear. We want to give them what they came for,” said Doughty, who likes the intimacy that comes with smaller venues like the House of Blues. “You can reach out and touch someone. It’s cool in that kind of vibe, like a backyard party,” he said. As a budding teen, Doughty caught the rock bug watching MTV videos. He and cofounder Kyle McDonald formed Slightly Stoopid when they were around 16. “It was just a dream as kids. We started playing g uitars. Nothing sounded great,” he said. It’s all about persistence. “You have to believe it and push for it,” Doughty said. Eighteen years later, they’re still doing it. “We never looked back. I haven’t worked a regular job since I was 20. I’m blessed and lucky. It’s also a testament to our fans — called Stoopid Heads — who
Slightly Stoopid is Miles Doughty (from left), Oguer ‘OG’ Ocon, DeLa, C-Money, Kyle McDonald and Ryan ‘RyMo’ Moran. The band performs Oct. 20 at House of Blues. PHOTO PROVIDED
travel and have grown up with us.” Doughty is also a fan of music. When he and the band recorded “Live at Roberto’s TRI Studios,” they shared the stage with Bob Weir (formerly of the Grateful Dead) and Ivan and Ian Neville, among others. Indeed, the session was an all-star jam with a 12-piece band. “I was in awe of some of these musicians. The dopest part was to go to Weir’s dressing room and do harmonies with him,” Doughty said. “I said ‘I’m sitting here with Bob Weir doing vocal harmony.’
It was a great live show. We’ve done a lot of stuff with the Neville Brothers,” he said. In fact, Ian Neville was one of a number of guest artists on “Top of the World.” Also on tap: G. Love, Angelo Moore from Fishbone, Don Carlos and Barrington Levy. Who would Doughty like to play with? “I’d love to jam with Slash.” Meantime, Doughty lives the dream. “I still wake up smiling every day because I play music, travel the world and hang with my best friends. Not many say they can do that.”
IF YOU GO Slightly Stoopid plays Oct. 20 at the House of Blues in Showboat, 801 Boardwalk. Show time is 9 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 and $32.50 and can be purchased at the House of Blues box office, all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 736-1420.
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