Edmonton, Alberta's Slates self-titled debut was recorded (mostly) live off the floor to analog tape over 5 days in May 2009, at the Hive Studios in Burnaby, BC by Jesse Gander. Released on vinyl+digital download, their debut record has drawn comparison to Husker Du to the Wipers to early Leatherface and Jawbreaker. In January 2010, Slates headed out for a two week tour of Cuba with Edmonton based group Solidarity Rock. Playing 10 shows in 14 days throughout the island on rooftops, bus stops, yard parties, sugar factories, and the Maxim Rock theatre in Havana, the band met and played with a ton of Cuban musicians, donated all the gear they brought down, and helped spread the spirit of the D.I.Y. movement in one of the first ever punk rock tours of the country. Slates have played with Mudhoney, Nomeansno, Ladyhawk, Trail of Dead, Future of the Left, and more. Slates make music with urgency--driving and melodic rock and roll with thematic references to life on the prairies and story-songs of heart-ache and redemption.