On Top of the World: Checking in with Slightly Stoopid

When a band enters its 20th year of existence, there may be
some desire to kick back, rest on its laurels, and take some time to relax and
reflect. Not Slightly Stoopid. As the band enters its second decade together, it
has chosen to run headfirst into 2015, with not only a whirlwind of tour and
festival date announcements, but also promising the delivery of its new album
this summer. Tantalizing crowd’s with its infectious blends of punk, ska, funk,
blues, hip-hop and reggae, Slightly Stoopid has made a name for itself over the
years for being one of the hardest working independent bands in the world.
Never one to settle into a particular sound, style or way of doing things, the
band has always taken a very Southern Californian approach to its song writing;
letting its music move smoothly and freely from one genre to the next, never
limiting itself with outside expectations and opinions, and always keeping
things positive and open. This attitude and approach is what has kept Slightly
Stoopid a relevant and popular act over the years, and what has made them
endearing to fans the world over ever since they were first brought to global
attention by Sublime’s late front man, Bradley Nowell and his Skunk Records.
Recently CULTURE caught up with
founding member Miles Doughty and sat down to catch up on what the group has
been up to since its cover feature with us in 2013.

<a href=”http://music.slightlystoopid.com/album/top-of-the-world”>Top Of The World by Slightly Stoopid</a>

How is 2015 treating
you fellas so far?

It’s been great! We just finished up recording the new
album, and we just announced our summertime tour with The Dirty Heads, The
Expendables and Stick Figure. So, it’s turning out to be a pretty damn good
year.

What have you guys been doing since we last spoke with
you?

Since the last album, we’ve been doing a lot of touring—just
touring like crazy. Then in our down time, we started recording the new album
in our studio in San Diego. We’ve just been working on it over the last six to
eight months when we’ve had time off the road, and we just finished everything
up. Now we’re waiting for all of the artwork to be done, and it’ll be released
in the summertime. We’re really excited about it!

As you mentioned earlier, you all just announced a huge
tour, which you’re doing in addition to a ton of festival dates this summer.
Are you starting to get excited to hit the road?

Yeah, it’s gonna be great! What’s cool about the festivals,
in general, is that it’s such an eclectic group of bands that will be playing.
There are so many things going on that you get so many different styles of fans
and it’s really cool. Obviously, you’re gonna have your fans who will be there
at the show, but you also pick up all of these extra people who are just there
to be at the festival.

Have you been keeping up with the cannabis legalization
efforts in the news lately?

Yeah, but it’s really kind of silly that it’s taken this
long. I think Colorado speaks volumes for itself with what it’s raised in tax
revenue in one year, and that’s just Colorado! We’ll always support it, you can
make clothing from it, you can make paper from it, you can make oils to heal,
the list goes on. Instead of shutting down schools, fire departments and police
forces, you could just tax the herb and keep it all booming.

Besides the new album and touring, does Slightly Stoopid
have any more ambitions for 2015?

Just having fun, living life, loving playing music and
hanging out with your best friends while touring around the world!