Punk legends of Slackers, Aggrolites, and Suicide Machines fame headline Downtown Concert

Listen Up Toledo  |  By Ryan A. Bunch  |  10/03/2016

Sometimes dreams come true. Or, at least sometimes cool stuff happens when you first wake up. That was the case for local musician/sound man/show planner Jon Zenz when he received a text from Vic Ruggerio, formerly of his long-time favorite band, The Slackers.

“During the brief period when Frankie’s and the Ottawa Tavern were both closed I helped out the best I could in organizing DIY shows at places like the FARM and Handmade Toledo. A friend of mine who is best friends with Vic’s wife has asked me for years if I could help put together shows for Vic when he comes through the midwest but nothing ever really came from it. It got to the point where she would say, “I gave vic your info did he get a hold of you?,” and I’d be like, “Yeah right.” Then out of the blue one day I got a text from Vic asking if I could put together a show for his band, Reggae Workers of the World. It was pretty surreal. I’ve met some of the musicians I’ve looked up to since I was a kid and realize they’re just people, but it still is an insanely cool thing to pick up your phone and see that,” Zenz said.

Zenz set to work on pulling together a bill and a space that would do the honor justice. Along with Violent Bloom, a Toledo-based female dark indie piano outfit, featuring intense harmonies and syncopated drums and bass, the bill also boasts Navarro and the Traitors, a Detroit-based ska band fronted by Suicide Machines frontman Jay Navarro. The Suicide Machines were major players in the 90’s ska revival. The Traitors also feature Toledo’s own Ken Haas of Polka Floyd and Reverend Guitars fame. This is their first show in Toledo. Headlining, of course, will be Reggae Workers of the World. A ska/reggae super group of sorts. co-fronted by Vic Ruggerio of the NYC’s the Slackers and Jesse Wagner from LA’s The Aggrolites.

For those perhaps leery of the show’s proposed genres, Zenz thinks it will be a nice surprise. “I know that reggae often gets stereotyped as Bob Marley Rasta stuff, which is great, but I think if you come to this show you’ll find heavy soul and 60s garage rock influences. Definitely wear your dancing shoes,” he says.

As for the venue, Zenz chose the art studio / business / event space of his childhood friend and fellow Slackers fan, Douglas Kampfer, at Graphite Design + Build, which Kampfer co-owns with his business partner Jeremy Link.

“Every event I’ve ever attended at Graphite has been amazing. They make dreams come true in that building. They host the type of events where you never want to be the person that missed it the next day. Like the post Sharon Jones & the Dapkings dance party, where the Dapkings showed up to DJ after their recent Toledo concert. “You went home early?! Holy hell, man. You missed a crazy night.”

Zenz adds, “The Slackers are probably my overall favorite band. Their live shows are cut from the same sweaty mold as Bruce Springsteen’s. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen them but it’s at least once a year since 1997 including trips to see them in their Brooklyn homeland.”

If that kind of passion doesn’t seem you, it’s hard telling what will. Strap up your boots and come out to Graphite Design + Build studio (19 N. Huron in Downtown’s Warehouse District) this Friday, October 7. Event starts at 9 p.m.Tickets are $10 at the door. Purchase online here. RSVP on Facebook for more info.