After the sweet-and-sweaty baptism by MACSAT, the air in the Sputnikhalle Münster at the Hawerkamp Münster had turned into something dense and unstable, like a mixture of nicotine, spilled beer, and anticipation thick enough to chew on. You could taste the tension. Something big was coming. And then – boom – The Slackers.
Straight outta New York, these six lunatics have been haunting stages since 1991. A name whispered with reverence across every dirty corner of the ska underground. By now, they’re not just a band – they’re a goddamn institution. A travelling gospel of groove. A sonic blitzkrieg wrapped in trombone slides and Hammond organ fuzz.
Vic Ruggiero, the maestro at the organ and voice-box, slid into the set with “Keep Him Away” – a slow burner, sleazy and defiant, like a jazz funeral in Brooklyn after three days without sleep. Behind him, Agent Jay grinned like a man who’s seen too much and kept playing anyway – sharp, mean, precise guitar licks slicing through the air like broken glass.
The rest of the crew? Pure dynamite. Dave Hillyard’s saxophone moaned like a beast chained too long in the basement. Glen Pine, on trombone and vocals, part preacher, part bouncer, belting out the gospel of heartbreak and hangovers. Marcus Geard on bass – holding down the groove like it owed him money. And Ara Babajian, madman on drums, a rhythmic assassin with zero mercy.
They tore through tracks like a gang of outlaws rolling through a border town:
“I’ll Stay Away”,
“Old Dog” (that bassline hit like a brick in the teeth),
“Keep It Simple” (which they didn’t – it was gloriously chaotic),
“I Still Love You” – a love song for the end of the world.
And just when the crowd thought they might survive this set, they closed with “What Went Wrong” – a bittersweet gut punch that had everyone dancing and crying at the same time. Full-blown emotional whiplash. The kind of ending that leaves your soul limping.
The floor was a swamp of spilled beer and flailing limbs. Shirts were drenched. Voices hoarse. Smiles cracked wide open. A great gig? No – it was a religious experience for degenerates with good taste in horn sections.
So to The Slackers: Godspeed, safe travels, and may your livers hold out until the next city.
This tour ain’t a road – it’s a battlefield.
And you just won 😘😎🍻