There were many flavors of punk rock on the menu at CMAC in Canandaigua on Friday, August 22, as Sublime brought their summer tour to the picturesque venue. The band was joined by The Interrupters and The Bouncing Souls.
The path for Sublime is one that is paved with significant change. The Long Beach rockers formed in 1988 and quickly rose to stardom, blending elements of punk, ska, reggae, and hip hop to curate their own unique sound. They achieved their greatest commercial success in 1996, following the death of singer Bradley Nowell, with the release of their self-titled album (completed just one month prior). The album featured singles “Santeria,” “What I Got,” and “Wrong Way,” all of which dominated the radio through out the mid-nineties.
The band paused for several years following Nowell’s death, but later re-emerged through different incarnations, including the Long Beach Dub Allstars and Sublime with Rome. In December 2023, it was announced that Bradley’s son, Jakob, would be taking the reins as vocalist for the band, joining founding members Eric Wilson (bass guitar) and Bud Gaugh (percussion).
On Friday, the evening kicked off with a frantic and fast-paced 30-minute set by The Bouncing Souls. The band made the most of their 40 minute set, reeling out 15 tracks.
Up next were The Interrupters. Vocalist Aimee Interrupter arrived on stage with a surge of energy that never wavered throughout the band’s set. As she frantically paced the stage, her bandmates matched her every step, often jumping and leaping from the stage platforms. Throughout the band’s 60-minute set, Aimee Interrupter crouched at the edge of the stage, forming a unique and unmatched connection with the audience.
As two massive inflatable dogs inflated on either side of the stage, one had to wonder if Sublime could match the energy delivered by their openers. That question was quickly answered. As singer Jakob Nowell strutted to center stage, he promptly kicked off his shoes, grabbed the microphone, and leapt into the air as the band launched into their 1992 hit “Date Rape.” Nowell ran from side to side while delivering the vocals flawlessly. The band followed with “Prince of Sin” (a Falling Idols cover) and “Garden Grove.”
Over the course of their 90-minute set, the band performed Sublime staples like “What I Got,” “Smoke Two Joints,” and “Wrong Way.” The recently released track “Ensenada” fit perfectly amongst the band’s catalog of songs, many of which were over 30 years old.
As the set rolled on, it was hard to ignore the massive smile that remained on Nowell’s face. A scan of the audience revealed fans old and young, decked out in Sublime T-shirts, rocking out to tracks once performed by Nowell’s father—a true reflection of the past meeting the present.
Comments are closed.