Slightly Stoopid? Try slightly brilliant

On the surface, it might be tempting to dismiss Slightly Stoopid as just another pot-praising jam band.

But the Southern California sextet’s credibility extends far beyond bud, bongs and blunts.

After 15 years of nearly nonstop touring and cranking out consistently crowd pleasing recordings, Slightly Stoopid has built a solid reputation for stylistic range, deft musicianship and a fiery live show. Fans will have a chance to experience it all when Slightly Stoopid headlines a show with Steel Pulse and The Expendables on Sunday – rain or shine – in the Riverfront Park Amphitheater.

Slightly Stoopid has grown its fan base and industry-wide respect without having to compromise creative control, business ethics or political views.

The proof is in the performance, said drummer Ryan Moran, aka RyMo.

“Over the years a lot of people have written us off as being a party band because that’s a common theme in our music, but I think our music does the talking in a way that sets us apart from the stereotype,” RyMo said during a telephone interview. “We’ve come up slowly because of the attitude of the fans via touring. We’ve never had a ton of radio success, although recently we’re getting some play on some major radio stations, but the fact that we tour six to seven months a year, averaging well over 200 days a year on the road, the focus of the music has always been: ‘Love or hate the recording, but come and see the show,’ because that’s where we excel.”

Slightly Stoopid has sold more than 750,000 records on their Stoopid Records label. SS’s most recent release, 2008’s “Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid” charted on Billboard’s Top 100. The album features appearances by an array of influential artists, including Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark, Angelo Moore of ska-funk-punkers Fishbone, and late rap legend Guru of Gang Starr.

“We grew up listening to Guru’s records. He was a part of starting that whole movement in music with his solo Jazzmatazz collaborations. It was always Guru featuring someone else,” RyMo said. “Collaborating is what keeps things fresh. When we have guests come up on stage it makes us want to play our best, I was nine years old when my sister started giving me dubbed cassettes of Fishbone. Twenty years later playing a festival with one of them makes us play that much better.”

Slightly Stoopid’s roster features founding childhood friends Kyle McDonald and Miles Doughty – co-leading on guitar, bass and vocals – with RyMo, multi-instrumentalist and percussionist “OG” Oguer Ocon, saxophonist DeLa and trumpeter keyboardist C-Money, playing a mix of rock, reggae, punk, hip-hop and World music styles.

Though the band isn’t all about the high times, Slightly Stoopid has always been vocal about its support for legalizing marijuana.

“We do have a pulpit where we can preach our views, so to speak, and we’ve always been pro-herb. And maybe through our lifestyle and our music we’ve been able to change some minds or at least open some minds to consider the possibility of it being legalized,” RyMo said. “People who have never smoked pot have demonized it. If it’s not for you, that’s cool, but people shouldn’t be locked away for carrying a little weed.”