Scott Armstrong of The Slacks

Transcript

Described as a ‘quirky genre-spanning four-piece band’, The Slacks have just delivered a first-class third album, Information Ape, and PJ talked with Scott Armstrong about their journey as they got ready for a gig at Cassette 9 in Auckland.

https://theslacks.nz/shows-info

The Slacks, of Taranaki, are brothers Scott Armstrong (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Mark Armstrong (vocals, lead guitar), and good friends Blake “Boogie Woogie” Gibson (vocals, bass guitar), and Zane “the Zaniac” Greig (vocals, drums).

Blackout Music NZ says they ‘joyfully produce a varied blend of music spanning a broad-range of influences inspired and informed by the sounds of the turbulent ’60’s and beyond, positioning The Slacks all over the indie-rock folk-pop spectrum.

‘Lyrically robust, the songs are musical throwbacks; vignettes dressed as pub-rock, fizz-pop and country-ska. Shades of Neil Young and The Kinks haunt The Slacks’ songwriting.’

Scotty says: “Each song on the album is an observation on life as an ‘information ape’, which is not necessarily meant in a derogatory way, more in a ‘still green and learning’ kind of way, where a high-level production aesthetic often glosses over the validity of the message. It’s a bit part of what we’re being fed via our phones and why people struggle to discern the plausible from the implausible.”

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PJ Taylor

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