The Slaps are a Chicago based indie rock trio whose music would have fit nicely in the '60s beach and surf scene. Their music is generally on the mellow side, the songs, well-constructed and melodic, and their execution, clean and sharp, especially with respect to Rand Kelley's vibrant guitar lines. He pretty much lights up the songs with his relatively bare sound, occasionally sliding into jazzy chords. Bassist Ramsey Bell provides plenty of propulsion, while Josh Resing's drumming usually keeps it light and bouncy. Their vocals combine scrappy garage style vocals with 60s Beach Boys type interplay. There is a degree of haze and a lo-fi touch in the way they record their music that gives them a slight psychedelic edge. They took a sidestep into the acoustic folk territory on their 2023 album, This Is My First Day at Drawing.
