The Slackers

Live At Ernesto's (2000)

Scott Heisel

I recently had an opportunity to see the Slackers live, and for some reason I passed it up. I am now kicking myself repeatedly for missing that chance. "Live at Ernesto's" takes everything good about a ska band [a solid rhythm section, a variety of styles, catchy tunes, and a bitchin' horn section] and mixes it with everything good about a live CD [AWESOME sound quality, extended jams {in Work Song, Pedophilia and You Don't Know I}, and CROWD INTERACTION]. This CD is just over an hour of this band at it's finest, playing in one of the weirdest settings in the world: a Mexican restaurant in southern Holland. They take selections from all 3 of their studio albums [none of which I've heard before, so this was all new to me] and just rock 'em out. You can feel the crowd's energy, as well as the band's. Live albums take a lot to win me over, and this one has it all. I'm not even that big of a ska fan, and I still dug this. The only problem I have now is not being able to buy any of their studio albums. This live album has so much electricity that I just can't see their studio albums doing them justice. Go see the Slackers live and buy this CD, you'll thank me.