Getting to Know: Slackin’ Idle
We had a chance to sit down (virtually) with the high-energy pop-punk band Slackin’ Idle to talk about their influences, shows, and the story behind their latest release.
How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard you?
I would describe our band as high-energy pop punk inspired by bands from Green Day, Blink-182, New Found Glory, to Fall Out Boy, Lagwagon, MxPx, and Rancid. But we all bring different influences from one another which I think helps the songwriting process.
Who are the current members of the band and what instruments do they play?
Lennon O’Donnell: Guitar/Vocals
Michel Balazic Ortiz: Bass
Nine McIntyre: Drums
What inspired your band's name?
My (Lennon) dad called us Slackin Idle because we were lazy and watching Blink-182 Big Day Out instead of practicing.
Who is a band or artist that none of your fans would guess is a major influence?
I don’t think people would expect us to say that Oasis has influenced us a lot, from the way we play shows to how we write.
What's one lyric from your music that you're especially proud of? Why?
“Can’t grasp a thought they circle around me, like a pool of sharks, I’m swimming in oblivion”
I don’t think I’ve ever been able to really put what I was thinking to paper like that line for some reason. I wrote "X Marks the Spot" in a day; it was one of the songs that just kinda hit you.
Dream Show: You can book your dream 4-band bill. Who are the 3 other bands, and what venue are you playing?
The Warped Tour stage, with literally any band! But if I had to choose personally: New Found Glory, Simple Plan, and A Day to Remember.
What's the wildest, most disastrous, or best thing that's ever happened to you at a live show?
We got to play Van Horne before it was shut down completely out of chance. We saw a band dropped the show a day before so we asked around if we can play and it led to a crazy cool show. And a video of us playing “What’s New Scooby Doo” got 160 thousand views on Instagram, which is pretty sick.
You have to play a full cover set of a "guilty pleasure" artist. Who are you covering?
Blink-182. I think we know literally all of Enema of the State front to back, along with most of their albums.
If your band was a pro wrestler faction, what would your "walk-out" song be?
"The Looney Tunes" theme song because we’re a bunch of idiots.
Does the band have any weird pre-show or post-show rituals?
We don’t really have a routine but we like to meet up early before the show, have a fun quick jam, hang out, go to the show together, set up, and ya.
What's the band's favorite restaurant or go-to after jams/shows?
My (Lennon) mom's cooking.
Let's talk about your latest release, "X marks the spot." What's the story behind it?
“X marks the spot” is a song I wrote about feeling stuck and just wanting to leave. The whole idea of "X marks the spot" is like a pirate ship in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight, and feeling lost, but X marks the spot and that’s where the treasure is and there’s something out for you.
What are your band's future aspirations?
We want to tour. Full-fledge tour anywhere and everywhere we can!
Is there anything else you'd like to share with your fans or our readers?
To anyone that listens to our band, thank you so much. We never imagined people coming to see our shows singing our lyrics. We are beyond grateful, so thank you! Expect new music soon!
Follow Slackin’ Idle
Instagram: instagram.com/slackin.idle
TikTok:tiktok.com/@slackin.idle
