While waiting for a bus at West Broadway Road and South Roosevelt Street in Tempe, Arizona, we received “a sign from above” before beginning our journey to the first day of Innings Festival 2025.
Pasted to the bus stop sign was a graffiti-styled, red, white and blue, Slightly Stoopid sticker.
A few hours later, SWOMP was in the audience soaking in the live set from the San Diego, California rockers.
Walking onto stage to the sounds of fellow California artists House of Pain’s “Jump Around”, Slightly Stoopid proceeded to deliver their self-described fusion of folk, rock, reggae and blues, with hip-hop, funk, metal and punk.
The steaming Arizona sun shone brightly onto the band during their Friday afternoon set, but the groovy, California vibes were reflected to the audience throughout.
“This is like a second home to us,” Kyle McDonald, one of the founding members, told the audience. “Holding it down in the hot, hot heat out here.”
“Man, you’re all looking beautiful out here today,” added Miles Doughty, the other founding member, who was sporting a brown San Diego Padres jersey. “Let’s get this shit to the heavens tonight.”
Here are some more photos of their performance from photographer Nathan Zucker:
Also, here is a shot of Doughty chatting with former MLB pitcher Ryan Dempster during the festival:
Follow the band at https://www.slightlystoopid.com/.