Sublime Brings Summertime to Brooklyn

Sublime, the American ska punk/reggae band from Long Beach, California, brought their quintessential California sound and high energy performance to a packed crowd at Brooklyn’s Avant Gardner on Thursday, August 21st. While the band’s original lineup from 1988 consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums), different variations have toured since Nowell’s death in 1996, with the current lineup consisting of Nowell’s son Jakob as a full-time member of the band.

Kicking off the evening was The Bouncing Souls, the American punk rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, who proudly brought some East Coast representation to the evening. West Coast ska punk sound dominated the evening, however, with an appearance by The Interrupters, the Los Angeles based band known for their upbeat rhythm and energetic musical style. Also making an appearance on stage was Rottweiler Melvin, who had the crowd erupting in raucous cheer. His appearance particularly delighted longtime fans of Sublime, as their late lead singer, Bradley Nowell, famously adopted a Dalmatian named Lou Dog who became the band’s unofficial mascot and would regularly be seen roaming the stage during live performances.

As Sublime hit the stage, the crowd was thrilled for a chance to hear the legendary band’s stacked setlist. Starting off the evening with “Garden Grove” and “The Ballad of Johnny Butt,” Nowell’s powerful entrance had fans reminiscent of his father when it came to the pure, raw passion and enthusiasm for the music. Not before tearing through the setlist of their classics, including fan favorites “What I Got” and “Santeria,” fans were treated to “Ensenada,” the first single off the band’s upcoming fourth album. As the evening came to a close, the crowd was left buzzing and wanting more, but knew the experience of seeing the legendary band made the whole experience unique and special.