Slow Natives rock Halloween Bash

Jamaican flavor has been heating up the chilly North Country.

Slow Natives, a local reggae group, made their musical debut at Plattsburgh State University College, jamming out for the Social Work Student Association's Halloween Benefit in the Angel College Center Ballrooms on Monday, Oct. 23.

Erin Krisher, a member of the Social Work Student Association was impressed by the band's euphoric resonance.

"They're a great band," Krisher said. "That's why we got them."

The six-person troupe has been regularly performing their mellow calypso vibes at Maggie's Bar located at 124 Margaret St.

The ensemble's musical styling mixes various organic beats - including the congas and tambourine - with brass and smooth bass riffs.

The band's sound is described on their MySpace site as "guaranteed to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Slow Natives' jaunty compositions are complemented through their performance longevity, sometimes playing at gigs well into the night without stop.

The "tribe", as they liked to be called, also thrives on creative musical improvisation. This was evident during one particular show in which the police raided Maggie's looking for underage drinkers.

On the spot, the Natives delivered an energetic, tongue-in-cheek cover of the Inner Circle song, "Bad Boys".

Slow Native's soulful dynamics are achieved through an equal team effort.

There are no divas in the group according to Krit Woods, PSUC senior.

"Each band member gives their equal share," Woods said.

This laid-back dynamics of the Natives were on full display for the benefit as Mathias Kamin, an avid Slow Natives fan, filled in on guitar for Monday night's benefit.

"I usually have been at the gigs to dance and whatnot," Kamin said. "This evening I'm going to help them out."

Woods explained that she got involved with Slow Natives after group bassist, James Ward, discovered her and Andrea "Snowy" LaJoie performing together during a jam.

"James knew I played the congas," Woods said. "Snowy, another band mate, and I were having fun singing songs and we did harmony to Bohemian Rhapsody together. He loved how our voices sounded together."

Several band members said that the group likes to articulate their political emotions through their songs.

"We try to reflect a socially-conscious message in our lyrics," said LaJoie, PSUC senior. LaJoie is a trumpeter, keyboardist and lead vocalist for the Slow Natives.

"Music in general helps you to let out our anger and frustration through song," Ward said.

The group is regularly contacted for performances through their MySpace page, the campus performance included, in which the group decided to bill only for travel expenses to help give back to the campus community.

"We like to do benefit shows once in awhile," said LaJoie.

Slow Natives' next gig is scheduled at Maggie's for Halloween night, wherein typical "tribe" form, they'll perform from 11 to "whenever."