Review | Slightly Stoopid’s ‘Step Into the Sun’ Summer Tour Brings Infectious Energy to the Santa Barbara Bowl

A wave of reggae music splashed onto the Santa Barbara Bowl from Slightly Stoopid’s Step Into the Sun tour with special guests Iration and Little Stranger. What seems to be an annual visit to the Bowl, the San Diego–based band brought their undeniable chemistry and their infectious energy that’s earned them a global following over the course of three decades of making music.

The night began with smooth-flowing duo of Kevin and John Shields, who make up Little Stranger, warming up the crowd with their unique blend of hip-hop and reggae, followed up by a sunset performance by Iration, who played a headlining show at the Bowl just last September. The Isla Vista–formed band played with their usual uplifting signature sound of reggae, rock, and pop. Highlight songs included, “Daytrippin,” “Automatic,” “Falling,” and “Time Bomb.” A fun twist was in the middle of their setlist, a cover of the Steve Miller Band’s classic groove, “The Joker.” 

The legendary duo of Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid dove right into their set performing popular songs like “Niceness,” “2 AM,” and “This Joint.” Doughty and McDonald showed off their musical prowess, sharing playing duties with guitar and bass. Right behind the duo was a full band propped up high on a secondary platform above featuring horns, percussion, and keyboards. They presented a multi-faceted sound that rang out over the Bowl.

The setlist was a seamless divide of new songs and old favorites, pleasing core reggae fans, yet remaining high-energy enough to dance to. The crowd sang along to hits like, “2 AM,””Got Me On The Run,” “Collie Man,” and deeper tracks such as “Ain’t No Reason,” reminded the band of their roots in punk, while mosh pits quickly formed in the pit section with fans jumping right on in.

An encore performance filled with colorful streaming lasers, included a cover of Sublime’s “Slow Ride,” and Snoop Dogg’s “Young, Wild and Free,” solidifying once more why Slightly Stoopid is considered one of the most well-liked live performers in the reggae-rock scene.