Regulars at all sorts of Bradenton bars, the local boys in BooTLeg lay down a fair approximation of the well-trod punk-ska-reggae sound taken to the bank by Sublime a decade ago. This kind of band is always better live (and drunk) than in the studio, but the group's sophomore effort, Live at the Office, features a surprisingly high-quality sound, with the big bass right up front where it belongs. The drawback here is that the songwriting doesn't wrestle with the often-weighty themes of the trio's inspirations. They pick up on the party, without importing the righteous anger and despair you find in so much Jamaican music. 3 stars
This article appears in Jan 3-9, 2007.