The Slackers, Ottly Mercer, The Routine

The Slackers have spreading their gospel of "Jamaican Rock N Roll" for 21 years now. While they have been influenced, and even personally taught by Jamaican ska/reggae originators, like the Skatalites and the Upsetters (Original backing band for the Wailers) they play it with a decidedly American accent. Basically, this band is equally appreciative of old blues, country, 60s soul, rock, and Rnb as it is of reggae, rocksteady, dub, and Ska. It is as if the Rolling Stones or the Yardbirds had grown up on Bob Marley as well as Muddy Waters. Smashing the stereotypes of "ska" as happy,uptempo, and shallow music, the Slackers play with an aggressive edge and their songs veer in themes from the personal to the political.

Ottly Mercer has been lucky enough to have legendary support from both the ska and reggae musicians such as Ken Boothe, Roddy Radiation and The Slackers. OM is not your average reggae band from California. Retro reggae is coined by Ottly Mercer in order to clarify the style of reggae they create, along with other San Diego ska and reggae bands that continue to hold on to traditional styles of ska and reggae.