Not as simple, Stoopid

How do you pack a room full of hippies, skaters, surfers, punk-rockers, hip-hoppers, and blues lovers? Tell them Slightly Stoopid is playing.

Oh, and don’t forget to tell ’em they can see the band Saturday at the Orange County Fair.

“We are a super funny, weird, dysfunctional family,” said Slightly Stoopid drummer Ryan Moran.

Originating out of San Diego, members of Slightly Stoopid were still in high school when Bradley Nowell of Sublime discovered them in 1995.

“The two founding members, Miles and Kyle, met Brad and befriended him,” Moran said. “They played some music for him, he liked it, and he wanted to make an album. So he signed Slightly Stoopid to Skunk records.”

The band, which is often compared to Sublime, was the first to sign on the label. Shortly after it recorded its first album, Nowell died of a heroin overdose.

“It handed the torch over in a weird way,” Moran said.

Since then, Slightly Stoopid has captivated audiences around the country and sold out large venues, never forgetting their principles.

“We enjoy what we’re doing and we are going to keep it real,” Moran said.

Most bands would jump at the opportunity to sign with a major record label. Slightly Stoopid, however, embraces the “do it yourself” ethic deeply rooted in punk culture, turning down the big names to take control of its destiny while pumping out that reggae, bluesy, acoustic rock sound that embodies the Southern Californian lifestyle.

“We are keeping the underground tradition going,” Moran said. “We created our own niche, and we are going to stick to it.”

Slightly Stoopid also includes Miles Doughty on guitar, bass and vocals; Kyle McDonald contributing vocals, guitar and bass; Oguer (OG) Ocon performing on congas, percussion and harp; DeLa on the saxophone; and C-Money playing the trumpet and keyboard.

Slightly Stoopid self-released its sixth studio album, “Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid,” on July 22 on their new imprint, “Stoopid Records.”

The album, with its smooth-flowing, feel-good sound, showcases the band’s versatility through a collection of old outtakes and new jams.

“People think we can just do the same reggae thing over and over again,” Moran said. “This shatters that belief. It has blues instrumentals, reggae, and some hip-hop influence. It’s got a real live kind of vibe to it.”

Several songs off the album are solely instrumental.

“There are certain tracks we write that maybe don’t need lyrics,” Moran said. “Certain tracks sound cool on their own.”

Although they have seemed to, in recent years, moved away from punk rock, Slightly Stoopid has not completely tossed away the hard-edge.

“We still play a fair amount of punk live,” Moran said. “We’re planning on doing a punk-only album, as a limited edition, so we’re saving songs for that.”

It may be hard to categorize the diverse sound in “Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid,” but the band hopes it will be considered a party record.

“We want people to listen to it while they are lighting up the barbecue, hanging with friends, and drinking beers,” Moran said. “When we are making it we take it serious, but when people listen to it we want them to have fun, cruise and enjoy it.”

That’s not to say the band is always serious, though.

“There’s a lot of practical joking going on,” Moran said. “Everyone is giving each other a hard time. When you got six band members and four or five crew guys, that’s 11 guys in a tour bus, with a lot of nonsense going on. Mix that with alcohol, and it can get crazy.”

Slightly Stoopid plans to continue making records and touring.

“We are going to continue doing what we’re doing,” Moran said. “It’s working.”

WHO: Slightly Stoopid

WHAT: Concert with Pepper and The Expendables

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Pacific Amphitheatre, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: $35

INFO: Call (714) 708-1870 or www.pacamp.com/pa/