Sun. April 25, The Slackers

Somehow, after all was said and done, the popularity of ska-inspired music during the late ’90s left the pseudo-genre in tatters and the bands’ musicians struggling to find work. Though most of these bands drew their influences from England’s the Specials, Jamaica’s the Skatalites and British Studio One bands, each seemed to drift off into their own directions, and the majority of the bands ended up trying to create radio singles. New York’s the Slackers may have started in 1991, drawing from the same roots, but their sound has matured and blossomed by drawing from influences such as jazz, reggae, dub, ’60s soul, rock-steady, and good ol’ American rock ’n’ roll. 2708 J Street, www.myspace.com/theslackers.