Thurs., Sept. 12, the Slackers

Influenced by Jamaican ska pioneers like the Skatalites and the Upsetters—which later formed the nucleus of Bob Marley's backing band, the Wailers—the Slackers formed in the early '90s. This New York-based band avoids the happy up-tempo clichés the ska genre is known for, and instead weaves reggae, soul and jazz in with a noticeable garage-rock influence. The Slackers have released 13 studio albums over its more than 20-year career and recently recorded a six-song EP, My Bed Is a Boat, which will be available in a month on wax or as a collectible CD with handcrafted cases. 1417 R Street, www.theslackers.com.